10 Best Ways To Save

By: Sharyl Stockstill

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Curious about the 10 best ways to save money? Finding the best ways to save money begins by looking at what you currently do and what you can do to save money.

  1. Have money deducted from your payroll. If your employer offers a savings plan, take advantage of it. The money is deducted from your paycheck before you even see it and deposited into a savings plan. It is easier to save money if you never see it in the first place. Some companies will allow you to do direct deposits to more than one account. Consider having a small portion of your paycheck deposited into your savings account and the balance deposited in your checking account.
  2. Save money on your utility bills by turning down the heat and putting on an extra layer of clothing. With heating costs skyrocketing, you can save a substantial amount by cutting the amount of heat you use. This also holds true for summer cooling bills. Raise the thermostat a few degrees and pocket the savings.
  3. Save money on your communication bill. Compare different cell phone providers and plans. You may be able to save money by switching plans or providers. Consider disconnecting or changing your home phone service as well. If you use your cell phone for most of your communication, consider disconnecting or using a computer-based phone service.
  4. Use your computer to pay bills. Postage costs keep rising, as do bank charges. Pay your bills online and save the price of a postage stamp and the cost of check fees at your bank.
  5. Use coupons and store sales to save money on groceries. By clipping coupons and using them on store sale items, you can save a substantial amount. In fact, you can occasionally be paid to take food and needed items home.
  6. Make a shopping list. Before you set foot into a store, know exactly what you are going to purchase to cut down on impulse shopping, which can save you money.
  7. Save money on travel by booking early. Many flights have discounted rates if you plan your trip two weeks ahead of time. You can also compare prices of trains and buses versus air for saving money on traveling.
  8. Pay your bills on time. You can save a lot of money just by paying your bills on time and avoiding late fees.
  9. Save money on entertainment by buying used. Chain stores sell previously-viewed movies and games at a much lower price than the new releases. By waiting a week or so before purchasing, you can save quite a bit. It is also much less expensive to rent a movie than it is to buy one.
  10. Plan your errands. If you wait until you have several errands to run, you can save quite a bit of gas over making trips as they occur to you. Plan your errands so you can make single trip and try to do everything in a pattern so you are not traveling back and forth across town several times.

These 10 best ways to save money will provide you with the means for discovering other ways to save money as well. Always be on the lookout for cost-cutting methods you can take advantage of.

Posted on: Mar. 20, 2010