Money Matters - More Savings: Great Ideas From Our Listeners
BOSTON (CBS) - Anthony found a great article on The 7 Habits of Highly Frugal People. You need to change your attitude and saving will be easier.
- Drive sensibly
- Observe the speed limit, for every 5 miles above 60 it's like paying an extra 26 cents a gallon.
- Use cruise control
- Remove excess weight like that 40 pound bag of Miracle Grow dirt in the trunk.
- Do not idle your car. Consider parking the car and going inside for your cup of coffee. If there are three cars in the drive thru at Dunkin Donuts' park and go in for your order.
AAA benefits:
I have a membership and I was surprised at all of the benefits, here are some:
- Discounts on hotel rooms (which I use all of the time)
- Discounts for entertainment events
- Discounts for movie tickets & theme parks
- Discounts on travel
- Discounts on prescriptions
- Discounts at restaurants
They also offer discounts on everything from hotel rooms to travel.
On their website there is an article 99 Great Ways to save. Good stuff and some funny stuff. Some stuff I will never do…….
- Turn off call waiting.
- Make everyone in the family wear white socks.
- Ask for senior discount at theatres (Harrison Ford did).
- Keep the condiment packages when you buy takeout food. Don't steal them, but save them.
- Go barefoot. You'll save on shoes.
- Buy the huge popcorn at the movies for $6. A small bag is about $4, so instead of buying four small ones, buy one huge bag, split it and save $10.
Know what benefits your employer offers. Here are some:
- Match for your 401(k) plan
- Reimbursement for gym fees or an in house gym
- Reimbursement for weight loss plans such as Weight Watchers
- Health care incentives e.g. gift certificates if you keep your blood pressure in normal range
- Graduate tuition
- Scholarships for your kids
Cable: One listener negotiates with his cable company every 6 months to lower his bill and he asks what specials they are currently offering. He got free movies for a year and now he has a lower rate because of a promotion. You do have to ask though.
Electronic equipment: A listener wanted to purchase three flat screen TVs. When they went on sale he told the clerk he wanted to buy three and asked if he did could they offer him a better deal. They offered him an extra 10% off. You do have to ask and you have to be willing to walk away.
Cars: Use Edmunds to compare dealer prices for cars.
Books, CDs, DVDs: Use your local Library; a listener, a town librarian showed me how a family of four can save thousands of dollars by taking advantage of the library's free resources. Books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, story hours for the little ones.
