Money Saving Tip #141: Take Shorter Showers

The average shower uses 2.6 gallons of water per minute.  Cut back on your shower time by not wasting the time just standing there.  Time yourself and see if you can reduce your time in the shower in 30 seconds to 1 minute intervals.  Spending too much time in the shower causes you to use more water and more energy in making the water warm. 

Help cut back on the amount of water you use by installing a low-flow showerhead. 

Money Saving Tip #140: Vacation in the Off-Season

Vacationing in the summer months will cost you much more money than vacationing in the spring and fall.  Vacation destinations raise their prices during the months when tourism is at it's peak.  We like taking our family vacations when the "fall" rates kick in, when it is less hot, and when the crowds will be less. 

You will be surprised to find that "fall" rates usually kick in as soon as children go back to school.  Our vacation destination initiates these rates around the first week of September. 

Money Saving Tip #139: Visit the Farmer's Market

This Saturday, I took my two older kids to our local farmer's market.  They enjoyed seeing the produce in a true, natural way.  My kids even got to sample some local honey.  I bought 2 acorn squashes, a butternut squash, a jar of homemade grape jam, and a large loaf of apple bread for $9.00.  I promised them we would go back next week for the honey, since I only had $10 cash on me at the time. 

Buying these items full price at our local grocery store would have cost a lot more.  Plus, we get the added bonus of supporting our local community and neighbors.  The food is grown in backyards and away from any pesticides and hormones. 

Money Saving Tip #138: Give Your Kids Choices

Yesterday, I took my daughter to the store to purchase her some new running shoes for her after-school running program.  She is very excited about starting this new program and meeting some new friends.  My daughter is at that age where fashion is becoming important.  She asked if she could pick out the new shoes.  I am not about to let me daughter (or any of my kids) have an endless opportunity to pick out the latest and greatest $100 pair of shoes. 

I told her that she could help me pick them out.  I told her that I would narrow her choices down to two, and I would let her decide which ones she liked best.  When we entered the store, we went straight to the clearance rack.  She tried on several pairs of shoes; some more comfortable than others.  After she found two comfortable pairs that were within $6 of each other, I let her decide.  One pair was $29.00, and the other pair was $23.00. 

Without hesitation, she grabbed the pink pair of running shoes based on color.  Luckily for me, they were the cheaper of the two pairs of shoes.  Before we left the store, she wanted to put on her new pair of shoes and wear them immediately. 

Let your kids help you decide what they will wear.  You will get your money's worth out of the clothing, and your child will be happy.  The worst thing for a parent to see is a piece of clothing that your child never wears.  This is a waste of money. 

Money Saving Tip #137: Used Video Games

If you have children, chances are you have a video game console in your home.  My daughter saved up her money 2 years ago and bought herself a Nintendo DSi.  She loves it.  As with most video game systems, those darn games are super expensive.  Don't buy new.

For birthdays and holidays, I take my daughter to Game Stop.  They sell new and used video games.  I taught my daughter that she could spend $30 on 2 used games or $30 on one brand new game.  She has always gone on to purchase the used games instead. 

Game Stop has a 3-day return policy.  If we take the game home and discover that it doesn't work properly, we can bring it back for a full refund.  Most stores offer this same policy.

Money Saving Tip #136: Buy Gender-Neutral Baby Gear

If you are expecting your first child (and you plan on having more than one), resist the urge to buy gender-specific items.  Don't buy pink stuff covered in princesses and butterflys.  Don't buy blue stuff covered with airplanes or race cars. 

When you buy your stroller (hopefully at a consignment sale), buy one that works for both genders.  Colors like green, gray, and navy blue work for both boys and girls.  The same goes for other baby items like room decor. 

When I was pregnant with my daughter 8 years ago, I decorated her room with Sesame Street items.  I knew that I could use those items for either a boy or a girl. 

Save all your baby and kid gear to work for multiple children. 

Money Saving Tip #135: Download Songs

If you, your children, or your spouse are music lovers, consider downloading songs to your computer or smartphone instead of buying an entire CD. 

My husband loves older songs.  Luckily for him, I have been able to find most of his favorites on iTunes.  Most songs sell for $0.99 or $1.29 per song.  Buying a song instead of a $15.00 CD has saved us lots of money. 

My daughter loves Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, and Carrie Underwood.  I allow my daughter to use her own money to buy songs.  In the past, I would buy her an entire CD, but she'd only listened to one song.  I could have saved so much money back then if I had just bought the song instead of the album. 

Money Saving Tip #134: Don't Use Plastic Utincels

Whether you pack your lunch for work or your child's lunch for school, don't rely on disposable plastic utincels.  Use the real stuff.  Years ago, I bought a cheap set of silverware from my grocery store.  They look noticiably different than my normal set.  I use my cheap set for lunches at work and school.  They get washed in the dishwasher rather than being thrown away in the trash after each meal. 

Sure, you will spend a little more money up front, but these pieces will last a very long time.  I have been using my cheap set for about a decade now. 

Money Saving Tip #133: Sell Toys

I recently went into my daughter's room and found a complete mess on the floor.  When I told her that she had to clean it up, I told her that this would be a good opportunity to clean out some of the toys she no longer plays with.  Since it is not likely that my sons would want to play with her "girl" toys, I gave her a suggestion.

I told her that she could gather all her un-used toys, sell them on the internet or at a consignment store, and then she could spend the money on some new purchases.  Within a hour, she gave me a bag full of toys that she wanted to depart with. 

If I am not able to sell them on craigslist, I will take her and her bag of toys to a local consignment store in hopes that they will buy them.  This is a great learning opportunity for her and a way for her to make a little money. 

Money Saving Tip #132: Use Cruise Control

When you travel on a highway or interstate with little traffic, opt for your vehicle's cruise control feature.  This will help keep your speed steady and generally lower.  Frequent changes in your vehicle's speed causes you to burn more fuel. 

Money Saving Tip #131: Don't Get a Fresh Towel Everytime

When you get out of the shower, you are clean, right?  So why would you need a fresh, clean towel after each shower?  The answer is:  you don't.  It is completely unnecessary to use a fresh towel after every shower.  Use it for 3-4 days (showers) before grabbing a fresh one. 

Money Saving Tip #130: Your Normal Water Heater Temperature

Instead of keeping your water heater tempterature at a high degree setting, change it down to 120 degrees.  Most all of us enjoy a super hot shower in the winter, but it is not necessary.  This will cut down on the energy it takes to keep your water heater at a higher setting.  Lower energy means more savings.  Plus, it is safer to keep the setting lower too! 

Money Saving Tip #129: Close Your Damper

If your home has a functional fireplace, you probably have a fireplace damper.  A damper is the plate that covers the opening to allow smoke to travel up your chimney stack.  When your fireplace is not in use, be sure that the damper is closed.  This will allow you to keep your air conditioning inside in the winter and the heat in the winter. 

Money Saving Tip #128: Open Your Windows at Night

Daytime temperatures in North Georgia can be quite high.  On the contrary, the overnight temperatures can be quite comfortable.  Right before you go to bed at night, turn off your air conditioner and open your windows.  This allows you to save money on your A/C bill and to bring some fresh air into your home. 

Money Saving Tip #127: Change your Air Filter

Having a dirty air filter can slow down your furnace and air conditioner.  When it's dirty, the machine is not working effectively and will need to expend more energy to work.  Change your filter every 3 months depending on the type of filter you have. 

I also recommend buying a quality air filter for your home.  Those cheap, poorly made filters don't trap pollutants as well as a quality filter. 

Money Saving Tip #126: Carry-On Luggage

Most airlines have been charging for your checked luggage for several years now. The cost is usually $25-30 per bag. This is a huge extra, unnecessary fee. Reduce the amount of "stuff" you travel with, and pack only required items in your carry-on bag. Once you get to your destination, visit a grocery store and buy small or travel sizes of shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, etc. Don't forget to buy some laundry soap and fabric softener or dryer sheets so you can do your laundry.

When you pack your clothing into a small carry-on, only pack items of clothng that are simple and can be worn together.

Bonus Tip: Wear a layer or two of clothing for your flight instead of packing it in your bag. Just don't tell the airline that you heard this suggestion from me.

Money Saving Tip #125: Cover Your Pot

When boiling water on your stove, use the lid to cover the pot. The water will boil faster, thus cutting down on your stove use. Use this same tip for warming or cooking on your stove.

Money Saving Tip #124: Rent Your Kid's Musical Instrument

Now that kids are back (or almost back) to school, some kids may sign up for their school band. If this is your child's first experience with a musical instrument, don't rush out and buy the latest and greatest. If your child's school does not provide the musical instrument, opt to rent it at a local musical supply store instead of buying.

Money Saving Tip #123: Check the Expiration Date

We all like to believe that our grocery stores pack the newest and freshest foods. But in reality, their stock can have flaws. Whenever you grocery shop, always check the expiration date of every food item you buy.

The grocery store personnel will stock the freshest items in the back of the shelf or at the bottom of the pile. They rotate the items by always pulling food to the front before re-stocking. The food in the front may even be expired or near expiration. Save money by checking the expiration dates to ensure that the food you keep at your home lasts as long as possible.

And on the contrary, if you are buying food that is going to be consumed that day or the next day, buy items that expire immediately.

Money Saving Tip #122: Bacon Grease

Is there anything better tasting than a crispy piece of bacon? Ok, maybe a Krispy Kreme donut. What do you do with the grease leftover from when you fry bacon? I save mine and use it to grease pans and dishes. Bacon grease does the same thing that cooking spray and butter can do when greasing your pans. Rather than using butter to coat your pancake griddle, I use bacon grease.

To properly store bacon grease, strain the grease into a tupperware container. Put a mesh strainer on top of your container. Then, take a small piece of paper towel and place it in the strainer. If your paper towels are 2-ply, I recommend separating the pieces. You need to strain out any of the bacon pieces for better storage. Cover and store for up to 6 months in your refrigertor.

Use small spoonfulls to grease dishes for baking or to make pancakes.

Money Saving Tip #121: Install a Programmable Thermostat

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned adjusting your thermostat in your home. My husband and I set our A/C at a higher temperature in the summer when we are not home. In the winter, we set the heater at a lower temperature while we are away. Now, wouldn't it be easier if you had a programmable thermostat that did all the remembering for you?

You can buy a programmable thermostat at most any home improvement store. They vary in price, but I have found some as little as $40. Plus, you could get it much cheaper on ebay or Amazon.com.

You don't even need a handyman to install it. Read the instructions and use videos on youtube.om for guidance.

Money Saving Tip #120: Recycle School Supplies from Last Year

My 8-year old is now in 3rd grade.  For each year she has attended school, she was always provided a list of school supplies that she needs to provide prior to the beginning of each school year.  The list usually includes pencils, crayons, scissors, paper, glue, etc. 

At the end of her school year last year, she was sent home with her extra school supplies.  Rather than buying new school supplies, we recycled some of the supplies from last year.  I already mentioned using a backpack from a previous year, but why not use those extra supplies and save the money?  I was able to re-use her scissors, ruler, folders, glue sticks, and paper from last year.  My school supply cost was cut in half. 

Money Saving Tip #119: Let Your Kids Ride the Bus

If your kids attend school in the public school system, chances are that your school district provides transportation to and from school. Rather than driving them to and from each day, have them ride the yellow school bus. You will save a great deal of fuel and money in your pocket.

My daughter rides the bus everyday. Once my other children enter public school (they are too young right now), they will be riding the bus with their sister each day.

Money Saving Tip #118: Make a Birthday Cake Yourself

My 3 children all have summer birthdays, so we consume a lot of birthday cake in a short period of time. Cakes purchased at a bakery or the grocery store can be beautiful, but very expensive. Because all my kids are young (8 or younger), they don't care if they eat a homemade cake or a bakery cake.

Save the money and buy the cake mix and make it yourself. I bought my son's cake mix for $0.89 and the frosting for $1.58. The total cost was $2.47, rather than up to $40.00. The bonus to making it yourself is that your kids can help you mix all the ingredients and even choose the decorations for the top. My son wanted a cake with blue frosting, so I bought white vanilla frosting and added a few drops of blue food coloring. We added some sprinkles to the top as well.

You can also add some small toys to the cake too, like (new, clean) hot wheel cars for boys or Polly Pockets for girls.

Money Saving Tip #117: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL) are starting to occupy almost every household in the United States.  A change in law is forcing incandescent bulbs out of our homes.  Whether you are for them or not, CFLs are more cost-efficient than incandescent bulbs.  Though they may seem more expensive up front, they last for several more years.

My husband is not a fan of CFLs.  Though we feel as though they will get better with time, we have a few in our home.  Our master bathroom has vaulted ceilings.  On the ceiling are two accent lights.  Rather than putting incandescent bulbs up there, we opted for CFLs, because we know that they will not have to be replaced for several years. 

According to Shift Your Habit by Elizabeth Rogers, switching to CFLs can reduce your energy cost by around $110 per year. 

Money Saving Tip #116: Lemon Juice

If you ever cook a recipe that calls for lemon juice, skip the fresh lemons. It is cheaper to buy lemon (or lime) juice from those small lemon juice containers that you see next to the fresh lemons in the produce isle at your grocery store. They are usually in a cute plastic container that is shaped like a lemon.

Plus, the juice lasts a lot longer than a fresh lemon will. The ones in my refrigerator expire in about a year from when I purchased it. I can cook several recipes from now with the amount of lemon juice that I have.

Money Saving Tip #115: Backpacks for your Kids

It's time for your kids to go back to school.  I have a child in 3rd Grade and a Pre-K student.  Rather than buying a brand new backpack for my daughter's school year, she is going to re-use one of her old backpacks from her previous grade.  The backpack is in perfectly good condition and does not need to be replaced. 

She had 5 backpacks stored at the top of her closet.  I understand her not wanting to use a Dora backpack (too young for her age), but she can use her backpack with the flowers on it. 

My advice to you is to re-use your kids backpacks.  My second piece of advise is to buy backpacks that can carry over from year to year.  I recommend buying a durable backpack and one that is not theme-specific.  Your kids will grow in and out of themes (Dora, Hanna Montana, Little Einsteins, Hello Kitty, etc.).  Buy a backpack that is a generic design or color that can be used for more than one use. 

Money Saving Tip #114: Slow Cooked Roast

One of my favorite money saving tips involves cooking a roast in my slow cooker. Making a large (5 lb.) roast allows me to feed my family for at least 3 dinners plus lunches for myself. On night two, we use some of the leftover meat to make tacos. We can make philly cheese sandwiches for night three. And if any is leftover after that, we can use the meat for toppings on a homemade pizza.

The concept with this tip is to buy a cheaper meat like a pork shoulder (butt) and slow cook it so it becomes shredded meat that can be used for several days. I like to wait until the boston butt goes on sale for $1.99 per pound and then I buy several roasts. I freeze them for later uses.

Cooking a roast can be super simple with few ingredients. Don't feel compelled to buy exotic spices to make the perfect roast. Here's one of my favorite roast recipes:

5-6 lb. Roast
3-5 cups beef or chicken stock
1 package onion soup mix (powder)
2 onions
Salt and pepper

Cut onions into large chunks and put on bottom of slow cooker. Salt and pepper the roast. In a small bowl, combine the stock and onion soup powder. Place roast on top of the onions. Pour the stock / soup mix over the roast. Cook on HIGH for 7-8 hours. After fulled cooked, remove roast and shred with 2 forks. Enjoy.

Don't be afraid to add any herbs or spices that you have on hand based on your taste preferences.

Money Saving Tip #113: Herb Garden

If you have been blessed with a green thumb, try growing your own herbs rather than buying them at the grocery store. Seeds are super cheap, and you can grow lots of a particular herb for pennies. Don't go overboard and try to grow several different varieties. Try with a simple herb like parsley first.

Only buy seeds for herbs that you use on a regular basis. If you don't usually make recipes containing rosemary, for example, don't waste your money buying these seeds.

You can grow herb plants on your kitchen window sill or outdoors. Just don't forget to water the plant; I'm guilty of that.