Free Money Saving Tips – Part 1
With the high cost of gasoline and the amount of money needed to lead a comfortable life slowly increasing many consumers may be worried about how to make ends meet. Fortunately there are lots of ways to save money in a variety of areas. Using any of the 5 tips outlined below will leave a little something extra in your bank account at the end of month and eventually could influence the quality of lifestyle you lead.
Tip Number 1 – If you want to find out whether or not your home is wasting any of your money you can have a home energy audit done. This simple procedure can identify ways to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on home heating (and air conditioning). In some cases your utility company will conduct an audit for free.
Tip Number 2 – In many cases your utility bill can be adjusted in your favor simply by performing your regular chores at a different time of the day. Ask your utility company if they offer discount rates during non-peak usage hours. If they do modify your current routine or schedule in order to take advantage of lower rates. For instance instead of doing laundry during the day wash your clothes at night after 9:00 pm if your electrical company offers cheaper rates at that time.
Tip Number 3 – Your phone bill is another easy target when it comes to looking for ways to save money. Once a year, review your phone bills for the previous three months to see what local, local toll, long distance, and international calls you normally make. Write these figures down and then call several phone companies, which provide service in your area. Using the phone usage amounts you previously wrote down compare what these other providers offer in order to find the cheapest calling plan that meets your needs. Another popular money saving alternative is a bundled package. A bundled package offers local, local toll and long distance, and possibly other services at a better rate then you would normally pay separately. Be sure to also check your phone bill to see if you have optional calling features or additional services, such as inside wire maintenance, that you don't need. Every non-essential option you drop could save you $30 or more each year.
Tip Number 4 – When making your phone rate comparison as outlined in tip number 3 make a mental note to identify if you make very few toll or long distance calls. If so then avoid calling plans with monthly fees or minimums. Another option would be to disconnect your phone service altogether and use dial around services such as 10-10 numbers or prepaid phone cards for your calls. When shopping for dial around service, look for fees, call minimum, and per minute rates. Treat prepaid cards as cash and find out if there is an expiration date.
Tip Number 5 – If you make a large amount of your phone calls away from your home make sure to shop around to find the best deal on cell phones and calling cards. Make sure to compare per minute rates and surcharges for cell phones, prepaid phone cards, and calling card plans to find how to save the most money. Cell phone plans offer so many options that failure to compare and find the best one that closely matches your calling patterns is like throwing money down the toilet.
These 5 quick tips could easily save you several hundred dollars a year which you could put to better use in a savings program or to pay off higher interest loans and other bills.
About the Author
Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides insurance information and offers discount auto, life and home insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his website
written by: Tim Gorman
Related Articles:
Looking for ways to cut costs on your wedding but still have the event you've always dreamed about? You can save a great deal of money by hosting your ceremony outside in a beautiful park, at the beach, on a hilltop or even in your yard. (Of course,...
Frugality is a virtue that can be taken too far. Here are a number of pointers on how to find a sensible middle ground between overly stingy and wasteful. Frugality is a virtue that can be taken too far. You know you're there when you're...
I admit it! I*m guilty! My husband has lovingly accused me of taking *nothing* out of the fridge and making something out of it. I transform it into a scrumptious, edible meal, and he shakes his head in wonder. He*s delighted each and every...
You've probably stood in a checkout line behind someone who has a coupon for every item they've purchased, and it seems like eternity until they are finished. But, they probably saved over 50% to 80% off their grocery bill in that few minutes! How,...
Why is it that the older and richer people become, the more conservative they are with their money? Have you ever done or know someone who has made an investment that promised a 10% interest or profit per month? Everyone wants to make above...
Is your spending out of control when you shop for groceries? These 4 quick tips may help. It can be tempting to spend $100 or more while making a trip to the local store. Here are some ideas to help you keep control of your shopping: ...
by Lesley Spencer, MSc; Founder & President HBWM.com Inc. One of the most common obstacles many home-based working moms face is trying to start or run a new business on a limited budget. The first few years of a business are usually the hardest...
Your finances are your business. But unfortunately it seems like you need an accountant to help you understand and decode the mysteries of balancing a budget or saving money. At some point you might need to get a loan. When that day comes, this...
Here are four tips that’ll save you money when buying your next computer. Tip #1 -- Rebates: A rebate is not always a bargain. Computers with rebates are often close to being discontinued. You may pick up a good deal or purchase technology that's...
Saving money is not easy and is made more difficult if you have a short-term outlook regarding your personal finances. If, like many people, you are living from one pay cheque to the next, it is difficult to put some money aside for a rainy day or...
Related Links:
Resource Center
Submit your topic related site and we'll
review it for our Partner Sites where we
provide link exchange information.
Tour our site using the Site Map. We respect your privacy - see our terms for more info.