Saving Without Sacrifice Blog » Savings Tips

Save Time and Money on Home Renovations

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:05:57 +0000

To save time and money on home renovations, consider these two ideas.

1. Prepare for the contractors. Ask your handyman if it’s okay to do prep work and purchase supplies. Buying supplies in advance can save big because contractors often charge a mark-up for materials.

2. DIY advice for free. Go to youtube.com and type in “askthebuilder” for how-to videos on simple procedures, like replacing a faucet or a light fixture.

Reduce you food costs

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:04:18 +0000

Here are two ways to cut rising food costs.

1. Never shop on an empty stomach. When you’re hungry, you are bound to grab some extra, and most likely, unneccessary items. Always eat before you go shopping.

2. Leave the kids at home. Tired and cranky kids generally make shopping take longer and inevitably make you grab a couple things you normally wouldn’t have, just to keep them quiet.

Save money on electric bills

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:53:14 +0000

Here are two ways to save some money on your electric bill during this winter season.

1. Heat on the rooms of the house that you are using. By using space heaters and ceiling fans instead of your whole-house, forced air system, you can dramatically reduce your ongoing heating bill.

2. Insulate well. Use weather stripping around doors and windows and put plastic sheeting over the windows. Don’t forget, you can get a tax credit for making some energy saving home modifications. Check out http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index for more details.

Save on Gas

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:35:14 +0000

With Christmas and New Year’s approaching, travel plans will begin to pick up. Here are a few ways to reduce your gas costs this holiday season.

1. Cold weather warm-up. Avoid prolonged warming up of the engine, even on extremely cold mornings, 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time.

2. Ice and snow build-up. During cold weather watch for icicles frozen to the car frame. Unremoved snow and ice cause tremendous wind resistance.

3. Fuel line freeze-up. Use special gas additives to prevent winter freezing of gas lines.

Lowering Your Grocery Bill

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:16:51 +0000

Here are a few ways to lower your grocery bill.

1. Check out your local supermarket’s website. Supermarket home pages often have coupons and daily specials listed and they all have the weekly ad posted so you can compare prices.

2. Look high and low. Popular brands pay a premium to have their products placed at eye level. Less expensive brands usually are placed on the upper and lower shelves. Check to make sure you aren’t missing out on something just because it’s hard to see.

3. Always get a raincheck. If the store runs out of a sale item on your list, ask for a raincheck and pick it up next time you are in the store.

Winterize Your Home

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:04:07 +0000

Here are a few ideas to prepare your house for winter and possibly save a few dollars in the process.

1. If it has been a few years since you last had your fireplace chimney cleaned, have it done by a professional chimney sweep.

2. Turn off the water to your outside faucets and drain any remaining water from the pipes. The outside pipes and faucets are the most prone to freezing, which can eventually cause cracks and leaks.

3. Install weatherstripping around any doors or windows that may be letting in cold air.

Low-cost Leisure Activities

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:46:57 +0000

Here are two ways to save money on some leisure activites.

1. Watch a minor-league ball game. You will pay less for a seat behind first base then you would nachos and a drink at a big-league park. And some even have family nights with tickets, food and beverages included in the package.

2. Catch an early movie. Instead of going to an evening show, watch a midday matinee. Most theatre chains dramatically discount shows that start before noon. You could save $4-$5 per ticket!

Home Energy Savings

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:00:55 +0000

Here are two ways to save money on home energy costs.

1. Do an energy audit. If your utility company offers it, get a free check for energy leaks in and around your home. You can also go to energystar.gov for a guide to do it yourself.

2. Lower your thermostat in the winter. You can cut your heating bill by 1-2% for each degree you lower the temperature. If you get a little chilly in the evening, put on a comfy sweater or sweatshirt or cuddle up with your significant other under a blanket.

Save Money on Travel

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:36:37 +0000

Here are two ways to reduce your cost of traveling this summer.

1. If you are planning on flying, don’t book your reservations through your phone. Most airlines charge anywhere from $10 – $30 to take a reservation this way. If you do research on your phone, find the best deal and then call it in.

2. Flying may not always be the cheapest. Amtrak and many bus services give discounts for children. For example, on Amtrak children 2-15 years old can ride for half the price of an adult and those under two ride for free.

Saving Money on Gas

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:58:55 +0000

Here are two ways to save money on fuel costs.

1. Remove excess weight from the trunk. By keeping an extra 100 pounds in your car, you reduce an average car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.�

2. Change your oil regularly. Clean oil can reduce wear on moving parts in your engine. Check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommended changing schedule.