Save Money with Simple Changes

Many of us are looking for ways to save money right now and there are several things to consider! When you go through your budget there are additional every day things that can save big by cutting down and sometimes eliminating altogether. Most of us plan a standard budget that includes rent, cell, electric, gas money, groceries etc., but there are small culprits that may be sabotaging your efforts. Read on for a few things to consider! 

How many of us stop at the gas station for more than gasoline? Those enticing ads for cups of coffee for under a $1 seem harmless but how often do you buy one? Maybe it's not coffee. In this huge fad for energy drinks to "keep you going" many people purchase 2-3 before a shift at work to give them that boost of energy during long hours. Some of those drinks cost between roughly $2-$6 range (depending of course on where you make your purchase plus tax, but that gives you an idea.) Now, if you're already thinking, "No way am I giving up my energy drinks!!!", then you could consider buying them in bulk which will at least cut the cost. If you grab it out of your fridge before leaving home you could also save a little time not having to stop at the gas station. In cooler weather you could always keep one in the car just in case you forget (of course you don't want it to explode so you will have to just use good judgment on that! lol). 

Another big money saver is that quick trip through the drive thru for breakfast (lunch or dinner). Now, maybe you stay on the cheaper side of the menu, but say you only purchase a sausage biscuit each day for example, that costs $1 plus tax. That's $1+ each time you stop for a quick breakfast. An alternative to that, check out the boxes of sausage biscuits at your local grocery store. You can get a box of 12pks of two mini biscuits for around $6. If you buy them wholesale (which is a great idea if you're a creature of habit) you may be able to cut that cost even more. 

Many little things like stopping for a soda or pack of gum can add up quicker than you think. By taking a little time when you're in the grocery store buying your regular list, you could save a lot of spending money by just being prepared. Of course, you can cut out stopping at some of your big name chain coffee shops like Starbucks, or even purchase a bag of their coffee (also available in the grocery store) and just take it with you from home. Take a few steps to purchase these things cheaper and you don't necessarily have to cut them out altogether. This way, you sorta get to have your cake and eat it too! lol 

In this wonderful age of computers, we really do have the world at our fingertips! Another thing computers allow you to do is look for bargains! If you live in an area with many stores to choose from you can decide which one of these places has the items you buy at cheaper prices! Some sites will have you type in your zip and you can actually see their prices on many items. Now, if you don't have many places to go for groceries you can still save money. There are some great sites for coupons out there. Some great ideas for that are go to a site of a brand you use and may times you can get a coupon directly from that page. All you need to do is print it out and start saving. Many grocery stores now have a listing of the sale items along with coupons on their website and although they may also have it in store, you can look online while making your list and edit your list accordingly when you see great buys on some of the things you like. Doing it this way will help you not over purchase when you see all those sales!

Another way to save is to look on the product itself. Many times, things like microwave dinners for instance will have $1 off coupons in the lid. By taking a moment to clip it out you can lower your grocery bill. Little savings like these can add up to bigger savings when it's all done! 

Buying in bulk as I mentioned in the topic above can also be a great money saver. Initially it costs a little more to buy a larger quantity but you won't run out as fast. If you buy things for a packed lunch like individual veggies and dips you could always buy a large bag of veggies and separate them into individual servings into small baggies. You could even freeze some of them if you won't use them fast enough. Many of your pre packaged items like that can have additional additives or preservatives to keep them longer also, so you may be making a healthier choice by doing this yourself. You can purchase bottles of dip and put them in a small container as well. Although some of these things seem time consuming they are great alternatives to not cutting out some of your favorite items as you shop! 

Many of us run to the most convenient place when purchasing items for a party. Most of us go to party supply stores or similar places to make our purchase. Personally, if you aren't having a huge event I would recommend checking out places like the Dollar Tree or similar dollar stores. If you look in the party section you can get everything from plates, cups, napkins, utensils etc at a lower cost. If you have a color you want to use this is an easy place to find general colors. If you have something with a specific theme consider only buying your centerpieces, banners and major decor at a party store and your other items at a cheaper place where you can color coordinate and save big time!!! You can also mix a single color balloon with the theme balloons which will not only save but create a little variety in your decor.

That big party tray can be pretty expensive. If you have a little extra time try taking the things you want to include and cutting them into small portions yourself. You can always make mini sandwiches and if you think combination sandwiches are kinda tacky there are tons of other things you can make to look just a little more sophisticated. You could purchase croissants and make a chicken salad for filling or a meat and cheese of your choice. Another alternative is buying packages of hoagie or sub buns and making small sub sandwiches or even something a little nicer like frying up some philly cheese steak and making miniature hoagies with that! If you want to cut out any type of sandwich you can go with chips and dip, meatballs with toothpicks and other small bite sized treats!

Follow my hub and I will frequently post more money saving tips, recipes, cheap dinner ideas and also some ideas on making leftovers into part of your next meal without having the same thing again! I consider myself to be more on the frugal side so I have many more money saving tips and ideas. I hope you enjoyed reading and please follow my page for more ways to save! Thanks for reading!