60 Ways To Save.docx

60 WAYS TO SAVE AT HOME Car fuel, toll fees, electricity, groceries - prices of commodities are shooting up - and so does your blood pressure when the bills arrive. You feel poorer already just by staring at your mounting expenses. But there are many ways to cut down on your expenditures. It takes a lot of discipline but once it becomes a staple in your daily grind, you’d be surprised at how much these little money-saving steps can stave off from your accounts payable. Let’s hear it from real mothers, as they share their own money-saving magic tricks.

ON SHOPPING 1. 2.

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Cut out and avail of discount coupons usually given by restaurants. Always use your rewards card when buying. Rewards cards give you points, which can be redeemed for shopping, groceries, travel, etc. (SM Advantage, Mercury Drug Suki Card, Laking National Bookstore, BPI Delta Miles card, etc.) Never shop for groceries when you’re hungry. You’ll fill up your cart with anything and everything you see. Not only is it unfit for your budget, it is also not good for your health. At the grocery, have a list of what you need - and stick to it. Buy generic medicine brands. When doing the grocery, leave the kids at home. You’ll finish faster, plus you can carefully go through the aisles without feeling the pressure to purchase things your kids would otherwise force you to buy. Buy in bulk - it’s cheaper, wiser, and more convenient. Use cash whenever possible. A little delay in credit-card payment or a disarray in bills management may take its toll on you. Remember: If you can’t pay for it in cash, it means you can’t afford it."

ON WATER CONSUMPTION 9.

The last rinse from your washing machine can be used to clean your toilet or to soak or wash mops and rugs. 10. Water used to wash rice is good for watering plants afterwards. 11. During the rainy season, water from spouts can also be used for cleaning. Use it to wash away debris and mud in the front yard, scrub dirt or mud from the gate, or to clean your dog house ON COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS 12. Dilute your dishwashing liquid with water, and use the mixture for daily consumption. Save the rest. You can also do the same for dishwashing paste. 13. When frying, save the excess cooking oil and reuse. For instance, after frying hotdogs, use the leftover oil for cooking sunny-side-up eggs or fried rice. 14. Research and come up with your own cleaning agents for your home. For glass and window cleaners, simply make this mix in a large bottle: ½ cup ammonia, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon laundry detergent, 2 quarts water. This makes 2 quarts of glass and window cleaner.\ 15. Instead of consuming one whole tube, use only half of hair color for root touch-ups. Save the other half for the next time you color your hair.' 16. Alternate between using disposable diapers and cloth nappies (lampin). Cloth diapers allow you to save and also let your baby’s skin breathe. 17. Check if you can already potty-train your child, so you only use diapers during bedtime. 18. Breastfeed! It’s free and best for babies - and for budget-conscious mommies, too. 19. Gauge when to give your baby large or small amounts of milk. Some varieties of infant formula need to be consumed within two hours from the time it was prepared. Unused milk is money gone to waste."

ON UTILITIES 20. Have an all-in-one cable, Internet, and telephone service. Companies now offer combo services that are cost-efficient and convenient. 21. Is there a magazine you cannot live without each month? Just subscribe! Subscriptions offer bigger savings compared to purchasing an issue each month. 22. Always pay your credit card bill in full and on time, so you avoid incurring interest and penalty rates. 23. Avoid installments. Pay your insurance annually. It may be a big adjustment on your budget, but you save more in the end. 24. Go over your monthly bills, and see if you can cut back on unnecessary services. Do you really need cable TV when you’re out of the house most of the time? Do you really need a landline when everyone’s just a text away?" ON UNNECESSARY EXPENSES 25. If you’re a member of a health club, check if your daily routine is commensurate to your monthly fees; “pay per use” gyms may be more apt for you. You may also opt to use any available office or clubhouse gym. 26. Get rid of tempting product catalogues lying around your house. They only create a need to spend. 27. As much as possible, withdraw from your own bank’s ATM. Deducting P10 off your savings account can add up, especially if you’re a frequent ATM user. 28. Try to do minor home repairs on your own such as replacing a faucet or painting a wall. The money you would’ve spent for the repairman can be used for something else." ON CELLPHONE USE 29. Maximize the allowed number of characters per text, and say everything you need to say in one message. 30. On special occasions where you must text a lot of friends and relatives (such as during Christmas or New Year), it is wiser to use unlimited call and text services. 31. Call from a landline instead of a cell phone, if the person is reachable via telephone. 32. Use call cards which offer great deals on long-distance calls. 33. Instead of sending out SMS to cure boredom, save your load by playing built-in cell phone games, listening to music, or organizing photos and contacts." ON CAR FUEL 34. Note the prices of the gasoline stations you often pass. There’s a significant difference in their rates, and next time you would know where to gas up. 35. Turn off the airconditioner five minutes before you get to your destination. 36. Do your errands in one day. Write down your most common chores for the week, and schedule a day for accomplishing all these." ON ELECTRICITY 37. Instead of incandescent bulbs, use compact fluorescent light (CFLs) bulbs. These bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer. 38. Maximize the use of floor lamps and hanging lamps by placing them in corners. The reflection off the walls allows the lamp to provide more light. 39. Keep the filters of the airconditioners clean to save on electricity. Set the timer to automatically shut down an hour or two before your wake-up time. 40. Opt for frost-free refrigerators, which consume less electricity than conventional ones. 41. Post an inventory of your refrigerator’s contents on the ref door. This minimizes cold air escaping from frequently opening the fridge, resulting to savings on electricity. 42. Cook rice that will last you from morning until lunch to save on electricity consumption and gas." 43. Iron clothes in big batches. Some denim fabrics, jeans especially, need not be pressed. Use fabric conditioners when washing, as it makes fabrics easier to iron.

44. Still on ironing: When down to your last two pieces of apparel, turn the power off. The remaining heat can still iron a shirt or two. 45. Iron in the morning when it’s not too hot, so you don’t have to turn on your electric fan. 46. Optimize your time, electricity, and water consumption - load up your washing machine according to its maximum capacity. 47. Use the right amount of detergent when using your washing machine. Too much will require additional rinsing cycles, which are a waste of time, water, and electricity. 48. Air dry your clothes rather than spin-dry them. It also helps to pre-soak soiled clothes to lessen your wash cycles. 49. Unplug appliances that are not in use. If they are on stand-by mode, they still use up electricity. 50. Choose a gas stove over an electric stove. 51. Set your computer’s power settings so it automatically snoozes after 30 minutes of inactivity. 52. Turn off your electric stove during your last minutes of cooking. The remaining heat is enough to cook the food. MORE TIPS 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60.

Stash all your loose change in a coin jar. You’ll be surprised at how much it can amount to. Teach your kids to save so they learn to be money-smart at an early age. Clothes that can no longer be worn can be turned into a nice quilt. Set up a garage sale, and turn your trash into cash. Sell your old books and magazines to local secondhand bookstores Go on “cheap” dates. Instead of dinner, opt for lunch or merienda. Pack the same baon you prepared for your child to work. If your family loves to dine out, shop, and get pampered, it’s wise to invest in a ‘privilege card’ that offers rebates, freebies, and even buy-one-take-one deals on your purchases.