Are the rising costs of gasoline, food and other necessities leaving you with an empty wallet? Here are some ways to save money:
Food :
Avoid high-priced convenience stores . Find the local market that has the best bargains, and look for sales.Buy store brands instead of name-brand items .Clip coupons . They can save you up to 25 percent on your food bill. Many stores double the face value to save you up to a dollar per item. You can find coupons in your local newspaper and even on the Internet.Buy in bulk from a discount warehous e. Avoid extra-large packages of perishable foods, though. They may expire before you can eat them.Gasoline :
Keep your tires inflated and your engine tuned . This can save you $100 a year or more on gas.Stay within the speed limit . Your mileage drops quickly once you reach 60 mph.Avoid quick stops and starts .Use cruise control on the highway.Use the right type of gas . Check your owner's manual to see which type of gas to use. Spending more on a higher octane than recommended won't improve your engine's performance.Don't drive around searching for the closest parking spot . Park in the first one you find.Remove extra weight from your trunk.Combine your trips . Or better yet, do errands on foot or by bike when you can.Don't idle in drive-through lanes . Park and go inside instead.Car purchases :
Buy a preowned car . New cars quickly depreciate in value. Buying a used car can save you up to 30 percent. Have the car checked out by a mechanic first. Also make sure it's fuel-efficient.Trade in your gas-guzzler . Downsize to a smaller, more energy-efficient car.Energy bills :
Use Energy Star light bulbs . You may save up to 75 percent on your lighting bills by using them. Over the lifetime of each bulb, you can save about $30 on your electric bills. They also last up to ten times longer than regular bulbs.Buy only energy-efficient appliances , especially air conditioners and furnaces. You'll save hundreds of dollars in electricity costs.Medications :
Switch to generic prescriptions and store-brand over-the-counter medicines . You can often save 30 percent to 80 percent, and the active ingredients are the same.Look into discount drug programs . Some pharmaceutical companies offer discount drug cards. Others offer free or low-cost medication to uninsured or low-income customers.More ways to save Switch from bottled to tap . Bottled water can cost you several hundred dollars a year. A day's worth of drinking water from the tap costs a fraction of a penny about 50 cents per year. Don't like the taste? Buy a water filtration system for your sink - or a filtered pitcher for drinking water for as little as $25.Don't buy when you can borrow . Why buy books, CDs and DVDs when you can check them out from your local library for free?Send e-cards for birthdays and holidays . You'll save a fortune on greeting cards and on stamps.Comparison shop . Check outlets, circulars, newspapers and store Web sites for the best prices. If the best deal is too far from home, see if any nearby merchants match competitors' prices.Sources Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Ten ways we waste money. Accessed June 16, 2008. Available at:http://cccsatl.org/index.asp?_method=view&sc=56&cn=2557
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Saving money on prescription drugs. Accessed June 18, 2008. Available at:http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2005/505_save.html
U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Star. Accessed June 18, 2008. Available at:http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=lighting.pr_lighting
Federal Trade Commission. Important information that can save you money. Accessed June 19, 2008. Available at:http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/energysavings/savegas/flash.html
Federal Trade Commission. 66 ways to save money. Accessed June 19, 2008. Available at:http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/general/gen14.shtm
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