Keeping the Change

Have you ever been walking in a parking lot and found a group of pennies on the ground?  Perhaps it was a single penny, or a nickel and you walked by it.  When did we become snobs to money?  Walking past it at these hard times is similar to saying that the economic problems we have do not exist.  Right now cutting corners and saving a little extra is the way to go so here are some tips for you.

1. Keep all the change you collect.  If it is not a bill put it in a coin jar and watch it add up.  This is the way to save a lot of money and not even realize it.
2. Carpool.  I know we all hate to do it but it would save a tremendous amount on gas and on the wear and tear of your car.
3. Use every drop out of your shampoo and conditioner bottle.  Shampoo  is like dish detergent; it is concentrated so when you get to the bottom add some water to use that last bit.  When you are paying $15 for shampoo wasting it is a waste.
4. Bike or Blade.  If you are in an area to ride your bike or use your roller blades do it.  It saves on gas,  wear and tear on the car, and gives you some great cardiovascular exercise.
5. Stop spending $1.59 or more for water.  If you buy a 28 count case from Sams or Wal-Mart it is less than $5.00.  That makes them only twenty something cents each.
6. Moving can be expensive so do the packing yourself.  Your local liquor stores are usually willing to get rid of their boxes and every time you run out pick up one of your local freebie papers.  Use that as stuffing with no additional cost.
7. If you take baths, save the water for your plants.  Soaps are biodegradeable and the water can be reused with out harming your plants.
8. If a friend offers you hand me down clothes or toys, take them.  Children grow very quickly and in the young stages of their life they don’t even know where these things came from.
9. Learn to say no to your kids and to yourself.  Don’t buy it unless it is necessary. 
10. Take advantage of four-dollar medications.  Many of the pharmacy’s are going to this but make sure your doctor has prescribed medication that is available at this price.  Often times,  it depends on the actual dosage in order to be eligible.

Well, I hope these tips were helpful to you.  Desparate times call for desparate measures so work on beating the system at its own game.