10 Ways to Save Money

1. Cook At Home: It may be hard at first, but try and take little steps.  Cook once or twice a week and then begin to do it more frequently.
2. Turn Down Your Thermostat: Wear a sweater if it is too cold.  This will save you immensely on your heating bill.
3. Turn Off Appliances When Not In Use: Even though an appliance may be turned off, it is still using 40% of its energy.  Remember to turn off your computer and unplug the toaster when not in use.
4. Buy In Bulk: If you are ever buying non-perishable items, buy in bulk.  Probably the best store for this is Costco.
5. Look For Expiration Dates: We all hate having to throw away whole steaks an other perishable items.  Just simply look at the expiration date before you buy it.  If you won’t use it before the date, don’t buy it.
6. Ride Your Bike:  If you are going to return a book to the library, ride your bike!  It is good for your health, good for the environment, and will save you money.
7. Reuse: Reuse, Reuse, REUSE!  When we were little kids we would make pencil holders out of soup cans and bird feeders out of milk jugs.  Let’s take back out childhood and continue to reuse.
8. Plant A Garden: It will only take about an hour of your weekend and you will get the satisfaction of eating healthy.
9. Host A Blackout: Choose one day a month to have a blackout, a no electricity day in your home. Kids will love this! Pitch a tent in the living room, or sleep under the stars. In stead of lights, use solar powered or hand-cranked flashlights.
10. Ask For A Bank Fee Waive: Most banks will give you at least one courtesy fee waive per year, but they won’t do it unless you ask them first.

Image via IRI