10 Smart Ways On How To Save Money

If you’re looking to get ahead, here are 10 smart ways on how to save money. The old adage of “earn more, spend less” is a good way to get you started, but you’ll probably need something more concrete if you want your bank account to grow. As you’ll discover as you start saving, smart usually means simple when it comes to saving.

1. Set up a budget. Nothing beats this for  smart ways on how to save money. Know how much you’re bringing in, where your money is going and what areas need adjusting because you’re overspending on them.
2. Stop buying bottled water. At $1 or more a bottle, it adds up. Instead, buy a filtration system in the form of a jar or to add to the kitchen tap. Filters usually last several months and all you need to do is to remember to fill up a bottle to take along before you leave the house. This is one of the top 10 smartest ways on how to save money, since it also protects the environment by reducing plastic garbage.
3. Stop eating out so often. This is a smart way on how to save money for two reasons: it saves money and it saves calories, as restaurant food tends to be higher in calories and fat than home-cooked meals.
4. Stop smoking. It will save you money in the short term (the cigarette packs) and long term (medical bills if you get sick from smoking). If you drink, the same is true. You don’t have to give up drinks completely, just have them sparingly.
5. Barter your skills. For smart ways on how to save money, try to get things without paying for them. If you can cook, sew or do math as a pro, exchange those skills for something else you need but you would have to pay for otherwise, from tax preparation to babysitting.
6. Downsize. Do you really need two cars or can you do with just one and a bicycle? Do you watch all the channels in TV? If not, consider switching to basic cable.
7. Cut down your utility bills. For more smart ways on how to save money, contact your local cable and phone companies and ask for a better package deal. They will probably give you a discount if they think there’s a chance you will change providers. Or disconnect your landline and keep only your cell phone, especially if you have unlimited nights and weekends.
8. Plan your holidays smartly. If you’re dying to visit a particular location, doing so during the high season can end up costing you a small fortune. The same during big holiday weekends. Find out when the high season starts in a particular area and then travel a week before or after.
9. Use coupons. Regularly at the top of many smart ways on how to save money lists, coupons are available in Sunday papers and directly from many companies. Don’t spend hours searching for coupons just to save a couple of pennies (your time is more valuable than that), but if you run into one, put it to good use.  
10. Bargain hunt for drugs. Ask your doctor to prescribe a generic rather than a particular brand if possible. You could save up to 50 percent of the original cost. Or buy a larger dose of the medication (200 mg. instead of 100 mg.) and split the pills in half, so you get two pills out of one. Talk to your doctor first to make sure the medication won’t lose strength if split.