I’d like to make you aware of a great new money saving book called 10,001 Ways To Live Large On A Small Budget, which is a project put together by the Wise Bread team. I’d also like to disclose that along with several bloggers and writers, I had the chance to contribute to this book, and needless to say, I’ve been pretty excited about it!
When I first received the book, I was immediately struck by how well put together it is. It’s nicely packaged and illustrated, and as many have said, it has a magazine feel. That’s because the articles you’ll find in it are shared as a series of tips and ideas covering various topics in personal finance and frugal living. I look at this book as a collection of informative “how to” articles that can serve as a great resource for those who are watchful of their finances.
Here’s a summary of chapters you’ll find here:
- Frugal Living: Food & Drink, Travel, Health & Beauty, Fun & Entertainment, Shopping & Bargain Hunting, Green Living, Education & Self-Improvement
- Personal Finance: Financial Planning & Budgeting, Credit Cards & Debt, Investing Your Money, Housing & Home Improvement, Career & Money-Making Ideas
Here’s what else I like about it: if you believe in the saying “many heads are better than one”, then you may appreciate the fact that this book is a group effort that was authored by several writers and bloggers in the finance and productivity space. You’re probably already quite familiar with many of them; and for those so inclined, you can find out more about this in Wise Bread’s money saving book page. What more, there’s a Resources section in the book that lists helpful tools, resources, web sites and blogs spanning a variety of areas. That alone is something I find of great value!
This book is largely based on the material you’ll find in Wise Bread’s site, but it’s been well edited to become presentable and palatable in book format.
Giveaways Galore!
Hopefully what I’ve described to you has piqued your interest enough so that you consider joining us in a few activities:
1. Book Giveaway: I’m giving away 3 books to those of you who decide to leave a comment on this post letting us know your best money saving idea. Winners will be selected at random. How to be eligible? Just leave me a comment below with a frugal tip!
2. Flip Cam Giveaway: For those who buy the book, you have a chance to win a Flip Mino Series Camcorder. Wise Bread is giving away 5 of these! This is only good for those who buy the book today (May 18)! For details on how this works, please check here.
3. Ebates $15 Bonus: One more perk for those who buy the book through Amazon — you’ll get a $15 bonus for joining Ebates. For details on how this works, check this page.
Congratulations to Wise Bread for this great book effort!
Copyright © 2009 The Digerati Life. All Rights Reserved.
I’m still mastering saving money, but three things that have worked for me recently are:
1. Putting a chunk of money in an inaccessible savings account monthly before I have a chance to spend it. I use a different bank than my checking account so it takes more effort to transfer it back to checking.
2. Brown bagging lunch and having a selection of snacks in the office so I’m less tempted to buy something in the afternoon.
3. Getting a roommate. My rent is affordable, but paying half of affordable is even better.
Best money saving tip: Use coupons and the Grocery Game. Saves our family hundreds of dollars on groceries each month.
I try to save money as much as possible while also be as healthy as possible. I walk to work from the train station (a mile each way) so I exercise and save 0ver $80 a month on subway costs. I bring in my own lunch everyday (and my own drink even when I know I am going to buy lunch). When drinking sugary things at work (snapple mostly, and the occasional monthly soda, preferrably sunkist…mmmmmm) I fill one of the 8 oz coffee cups in our pantry with my snapple, and it lasts through my whole meal. Not only am i limiting my sugar intake and keeping my teeth whiter (although marginally) I am also saving money! I get the snapples on sale, usually at 50 cents a bottle, so half a bottle a day is 25 cents a day. and 2 12 packs lasts a month.
I also, 3 separate times throughout the day, go into the back room and do some pushups using whatever boxes are there to elevate my feet to get a better workout. This, combined with the 2 miles of walking a day saves me gym membership fee/subway monthly pass and keeps me in great shape on my terms. it’s almost fun. haha
My #1 money saving method lately is to take advantage of the CVS drugstore game! I have stocked up on everything needed such as toilet paper, paper towels and laundry detergent for pennies on the dollar – and my wife loves her mini makeup shopping sprees we go on for super cheap! I got hooked after purchasing 4 tubes of toothpaste for$0.00, and receiving $4 back in Extra Bucks Cash!! They paid me $4 to buy toothpaste!
Love your blog – and would love a copy of this great new book! – Carl
Use synthetic motor oil and change your oil once every 15,000 miles or once per year
Save money by attending college online.
Thanks,
Nate
Best money saving tip: Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. Looking back over my life, I swear I’d be rich if I had put money into savings instead of buying junk that went unused and discarded later.
Follow-on tip: Don’t buy stuff you already have. It wasn’t that long ago that I bought a couple books that I thought looked good and remembered noting to myself that I’d like to read. When I finally got around to putting them on the bookshelf, I discovered that I already had both books and they were pretty dusty…
Curb your urge to buy new books and get them from your local library instead. You might have to wait a week or two, but it’ll save you $10+.
I have learned to save money by never being afraid to ask. I had something ring up incorrectly at the grocery store. Because I asked about it, I got the item free. I wanted a larger TV for my video game habit. I mentioned it to a friend and he gave me one that was in his basement. Ask and you shall receive! The worst that can happen is someone says no, but that costs you nothing.
I’ve also learned to ask myself questions when I want something. I ask if I must have it right now, if it’s really worth the amount I’d have to pay, that kind of thing. Most of the time I end up putting off the purchase, and over time the things I really need and want come to the forefront while desires for the rest fade away.
get AAA, it has saved me more on eyeglasses and tows than it costs, every year.
use cash it makes you think twice before spending thanks for the giveaway
Steal your neighbor’s newspaper.
when the toy stores have their after holiday clearance sales, I stock up on toys to give as gifts for all the many birthday parties my kids get invited to.
harborlad@optonline.net
I buy all of my hygiene items from the Walgreens ads each week. Just today I got 2 bottles of shaving cream, deodorant, and toothpaste all for only $3, All name brand too!
Watching the weekly ads and buying ONLY those items when I go in really helps!
biggest tips are- you may have a coupon but if you are not gonna use it- you are still wasting money- no matter how little
make meals and precook meat and hamburger- makes the ease of going out easier to pass when its easy to throw it in the microwave and make tacos- heat up portioned meals- etc
pay cash and ask is it a need or want
Enter contests on Personal Finance blogs to win books so you don’t have to buy them 😉
My saving tip: cancel your Cable TV subscription (only TV, not the Internet if you have a double or triple play package) and subscribe to Netflix. Get a Roku to stream Netflix to your TV. My Cable TV was costing me $50 to $60 a month. Netflix cost me only $10. And the Roku box $100. This way you will start saving after a couple month (saving a month around $40)
Also, in the same idea, I drop the phone service to use Vonage VoIP instead 🙂
If you’re employed, look into your Human Resources Website — My workplace’s HR website has links to Employee Discount Programs for cell phones, groceries, and a whole range of other products. It has an external link to an Employee Discount website which has special offers on just about any product(ranging from AV electronics to home maintenance). It may not be the best deal, but you’ll save around 10% at the very least.
My best money saving tip is to create a budget. It takes a bit of time, but the savings are worth the effort.
Cook at home-for all meals. Thanks
My top three:
1) Use automatic deposits from your paycheque to beef up your retirement savings.
2) Instead of buying books, borrow from the library or from a friend.
3) Cook your own stuff and buy food in bulk — it’s satisfying to cook a whole batch of meat and freeze it, knowing you won’t have to cook again for a while!
Just meditate quietly for a minute, even less, before buying something. It’s amazing what you can turn and walk away from- I’m still learning this!
If we do groceries, we cook it all at once and freeze the food we cook. Turns out we used to waste half the produce if we tried cooking twice. The frozen food saves us on lunches outside and also quick meals when we are not in a mood to cook as well as ensures that we don’t waste any more perishables.
Learn to love leftovers. It will save you a fortune in lunches!
Realize that you will make stupid, pointless purchases. Budget for them so that they don’t get out of control.
Tip 1: Look online first.
I have saved a lot of money on travel by checking airgorilla and sidestep before checking the airline’s own website. These two sites pull information from all of the discount sites (expedia, etc.) and the information is all on one page. If it looks like going with one airline for the whole trip is going to be cheaper I will open a new tab in my browser and see if the airline’s main site is offering the same fare. This has helped me save thousands in trips to Australia and Europe.
Tip 2: I also have an automatic deposit from my checking to my savings account for each paycheck. In three months I have been able to save $450 without trying. I have put an additional $200 in my savings account by not spending all of my “fun money” for the month.
I always check the internet for coupons before I go anywhere or buy anything. You would be surprised at what you can find.
madamerkf at aol dot com
coupons and mapping a grocery shopping route to avoid needless spending
Coupons , Freebies
Coupons they don’t look like much but they add up.
Shop online, i’m always finding great deals and there is usually a 5off or a free shipping code out there for most sites.
Store food in tupperware or freezer bags that way you are not throwing away money and you have it for leftovers.
One of my favorite ways to save money is by using manufactures coupons paired with double coupons with a sale at one of my local grocery stores. This week I got pickles that are usually more than $4.50 each jar for $1.55 for 2 jars! And no one love pickles like my girlfriend, who goes through them like crazy!
My best money saving idea as of late was buying a folding bike and adopt biking as part of my morning commute. I used to drive, and when I wanted to cut transportation costs, I decided to commute. Now, in an effort to cut costs again, instead of taking multiple mode transportation (walking, taking the bus, then train) to work, I end up riding to the train, taking my bike on, and riding from the train station to my office. It’s worked pretty good throughout since I’ve saved quite a bit on transportation expenses and added a whole lot of exercise. I’ve even shed off a few pounds! Great!
Remove juice from your grocery list. It has as much sugar as soda (or more!) and carries little nutrition aside the vitamin C added in. It’s cheaper and more healthy to have actual fruit and drink water at your meals.
I save money by bringing my lunch to work, no more buying my coffee, and I hang my clothes on the line instead of the dryer… and that makes me greener too!
Yeah, I’d love to win a free book!
Nothing profound here, but we’ve saved quite a bit of money by shopping our home and auto insurances, buying used cars at auction, and buying some items in bulk at Costco.
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Dave
1. Try to never go grocery shopping when hungry
2. Put money in ING and make that interest, simultaneously use TrueEarnings Costco Amex to make most of our purchases (getting 1% to 3% per month back) and always paying it off in full at the end
3. Use a budget and track, track, track!
A great money saving idea is to move to a new country. When you first go abroad you are not sure how long you are going to stay so you avoid buying anything.
Also, if you are a traveler it is perfectly normal to live a minimalist existence. You no longer need to compete with your peers to buy new clothes, gadgets and other expensive things. By-passing consumerism puts a lot of extra money in your bank account.
In Japan, foreigners often go gomi (garbage) shopping to pick up discarded furniture and electronics. You probably wouldn’t do that in your own country, but it is perfectly acceptable when all your peers are doing the same thing.
An English teacher in Japan can reasonably save $1000 per month if they want to. (Much more if they are willing to teach extra classes.) Can you save that much in your home country?
I buy less expensive cuts of meat and put them in the Crockpot to cook all day while I’m at work. Add a can of broth or soup for the liquid and dinner is just about ready when you walk in the door.
If a bus is not provided for transportation to school, find who in your neighborhood/area goes to the same school and organize a carpool.
Become vegetarian… beans and whole grains bought in bulk are a third of the cost of meat. If you can’t stomach full vegetarians, “meat-out” a couple of meals a week. Easy veggie versions of omnivore faviourites (Chilis, casseroles etc) can be found on your faviourite recipe website. Epicurious, Allrecipes… I love Vegweb!
Check to see if your college or work email qualifies you for a discount on your cell phone bill.
I couldn’t believe I didn’t find out about this tip earlier! 🙂
I bough a Wii fit and a couple other exercise equipment items and cancelled my gym membership. a little expensive at first, but saves a ton of money in the long run
coupons, comparison shopping, checking on ebay–I’ve gotton a lot of great things even tires cheaper on ebay, flea markets and farmers markets, garage sales and auctions
I follow 3 money saving tips:
1) Buy only what I need. (try not to need a lot)
2) Live and enjoy a simple lifestyle.
3) Invest money you don’t need right now. (because lost investment interest/profits can be money saved)
I keep my coupons in my glove compartment so they are always accessible.
Also, I go to flea markets and garage sales. I recently bought a shelf for my kitchen
for $1 and a swiveled oak desk chair for $5. These were items I’d been on the lookout
for, and easily would have cost me twenty times as much or more if I had bought them
new.
Comparison shop at the loca big box stores, then buy the item online…whether it be at Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, etc. Unless there’s a very rare incredible sale, it’s almost always cheaper online. And if you can find free shipping, all the better. For many online retailers, tax is not charged either (I love Amazon!), depending on your state.
I also just learned about the grocery game, so will be taking advantage of that tomorrow. 🙂
Wow! I didn’t expect such an awesome reception to this giveaway! I’ll keep this running till tomorrow then I’ll make an announcement on who’s won. I also enjoy all your tips here. Thanks everyone!
Save all your change and turn it in to the bank at least every 6 months. It really adds up.
Keep your pantry , fridge and freezer well stocked. You’ll save money not having to run out at the last minute to get some ingredient, you can watch for sales to keep things stocked and you’ll be able to prepare your favorite meals at home.
Wow – that is a hard question. I have done a couple of things to start saving money. First I cut out Starbucks. I allow myself to get one a week, what ever day I choose but just one. I have also started putting $50.00 a pay check into savings. Sometimes I have to get some of it out but I think it is going to work. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
Learn to cook from scratch. It saves money because it increases you menu options.
My best tip is to skip the soda when eating out & order watre instead — save your dollars for the entree.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sometimes it is cheaper to get it online. When shopping online do a search to see if there is a coupon code for free or reduced ship costs and/ or percentage off. And also there are sites that you can register and shop through their link. Costs you nothing but you might get cash back of 2%-5% if where you are buying the gizmo at is participating. While doing this, I use my Discover card to pay for it and get 1% cash back.
Speaking of Discover card… we pay for everything we can on it. Food to some bills to daycare costs- you name it. We pay it off at the end of each month (that is the important part!) but rack up the 1% cash back and buy gift cards for Christmas presents. Added bonus- some of the gift cards cost $20 in “cash back dollars” but are actually $25.
I use coupons and buy what we’d use anyway on sale and stock pile non perishables till we need it. If you buy as you need it, it is almost never on sale right there and right then, let alone a coupon. And prices are just going up.
I buy used as much as possible. I love yard sales, thrifts, ebay. The only downfall to this is that paying retail (even on sale) seems high.
I buy meats on sale. My Wal-Mart reduces them in the mornings. I bulk cook ground hamburger and put in containers to freeze in dinner sized amounts. Makes for making spaghetti sauce, tacos, even whipping up a casserole easy. We were frequently buying fast food because of the convenience. This has helped us eat healthier meals and save money.
Restaurants (that you eat at anyway) that have “buy a gift card for $25, get a $5 one free” – buy some gift cards for yourself to use next time you go. That’s a 20% savings that helps make the meal affordable. Of course, pay with your Discover card. 😉
Hope even one of these has helped someone. Thanks for everyone else’s tips, enjoyed reading them.
Buy in bulk and divide the large packages into smaller ones. No one should have to pay more for “100-calorie” packs – just make your own!
Think about the long term cost of an impulse purchase. Take $40 (for the impulse purchase of two music CDs). Figure out the amount at 7% interest rate after 20 years. If you invested that $40 instead, you could have $155 in 20 years! That’s quite a few more CDs.
Research purchases which also gives you time to see if you have the right finances to actually make the purchase
Thanks for the contest
I stay away from Target because even if I plan on buying 1-2 things – I never leave there without spending WAY more than I planned! I have saved a lot by not going at all!
Thanks
My tip is ..potluck dinners once a week. It cuts down on eating out.
Thanks for everyone’s comments! I’m quite surprised about how quickly we’ve received so many entries here in such short notice; I really appreciate everyone’s frugal tips and suggestions! 🙂 I’m going to close the comment section for now as I plan to announce the winners for the giveaway soon.
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