Due to the state of the economy today, most people are looking for ways to save money. Smart people are pinching pennies wherever they can. Saving small amounts on everyday expenses can add up to a nice chunk of change. The following article has advice that you can use to make this happen.
1. Cut coupons.
It may sound like a waste of time, but you can find coupons that make household products very cheap and sometimes even free. The best place to find coupons for grocery shopping is in your Sunday newspaper. If you don’t get the paper, you can find most of the same coupons online with a bit of sleuthing. The great thing about finding coupons online is that you can just select the ones you want and print them out on your home printer.
2. Refill your own ink.
You don’t have to buy costly cartridges. If you have an inkjet printer, you can buy very inexpensive ink, and refill your own cartridge. It is as simple as locating the correct hole in the cartridge, injecting it with a specified amount of ink and letting it sit for 15 minutes so it can settle. You can find specific instructions for refilling your brand and model of cartridge online.
3. Don’t buy expensive bottled water.
If you won’t drink tap water, at least save your gallon jugs, and fill them up using the water machines that are found outside of many grocery and drug stores. This water is usually a brand name but far less expensive than purchasing water inside the establishment.
4. Recycle.
If you live in a state that requires it, you’re paying a deposit for containers of items like soda and beer when you purchase them. If you are just leaving the empty containers for the city to take off of your hands every week, you’re losing that money, which can be a substantial amount if you have a large family. Take these items to a recycling center and recover your cash.
5. Look for promotional codes.
If you do a lot of shopping online, it’s in your best interest to search for promo codes before making a purchase. The big retail companies often run promotions that are are not advertised on their site. A quick Internet search will reveal any current promotions.
6. Pay credit cards in full each month.
For many reasons, this is a good idea, but the most obvious one is so that you don’t accumulate any interest on your expenditures. You may be tempted to pay just the minimum amount due, but this can quickly result in spiraling interest and unmanageable debt.
7. Stop making impulse purchases.
For example, make a conscious effort to not buy things that are not on your list when you go grocery shopping. Make it part of your list so that you are constantly reminded of this as you check things off your list while you shop.
If you’re finding it tough to make ends meet in this economy, anything you can do to save money will help. By following the advice in this article, you can cut corners while still maintaining a high standard of living.
Jenny G. is a writer for http://www.mybusinesscareers.com/. To learn more about a career in business, take a look at this site.