“Wealth can only be accumulated by the earnings of industry and the savings of frugality” – Ben Franklin. Excellent habits saving money translate into a richer lifestyle of less stress and worry.
Combining your cable, phone and internet service into one unified provider will result in significant savings. That simple action can save you a nice bundle of time paying one bill instead of three.
Newspaper and magazine subscriptions can cost hundreds of dollars every year. Instead, read them online or visit the library. The library is a nice peaceful place to get your reading done at a substantial savings over newsstand prices.
With so many free checking account plans available at competing banks, there’s no reason to pay a fee. If your bank happens to charge you one, question them to reverse the fee. Never pay checking account fees or take your business to another financial institution. Buy your cheap checks online and save 50% off what a bank normally charges.
Don’t pay interest on credit cards. Pay off your credit card monthly bill and budget your spending. Twenty percent interest is highway robbery and you need not be a willing victim. Get rid of credit cards if it is a temptation and grab control.
Replace expensive to use incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFLs) bulbs. These bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer. With an average of .10 cent per kilowatt, they make sense and save energy and money.
Auto insurance deductable can lose their cost effectiveness. Consider advancing your deductible to something you can afford out of pocket and you’ll achieve considerable savings. Also if you pay annually instead of semi annually, you’ll save additional costs.
Make a check for drafts and cold air infiltration before winter sets in. Walk and study the perimeter of your home for any signs of cracks or where cold air could enter and address the problem. Turn down the thermostat and cut back on expenses from wasted heat in rooms that are not used or consider getting a programmable thermostat.