Small Steps To Cut Expenses
- If you and your spouse
both have medical insurance,
review your coverage to
see if it would be less expensive
for both of you to be on
the same plan.
- Let your fingers do the shopping. Look for shopping bargains on the Internet, at your favorite sites or at an auction site. There are some sites that do the price comparison for you, so you’ll know you are getting the best deal possible. And use your debit or credit card for protection against defects, breakage or overcharges.
- Shop carefully for debit
cards. Some debit cards have
monthly or per-transaction
fees. Carefully review your
cardholder agreement. Your
issuer is legally required
to disclose any fees you
will be charged for card
use.
- Set your alarm 10 minutes earlier so you can make your own morning coffee and pack a bag lunch. Apply this savings from not going out for lunch or coffee toward your credit card debt and whittle it away faster.
- Check your finances for
these drains:
- Belonging to a health club that you don't use very often;
- Paying for more premium cable channels than you watch;
- Paying for phone services you don't use/need (land lines and cell);
- Paying ATM charges and debit charges when free alternatives are available;
- Using credit cards that charge fees that are greater than the premiums they offer (miles, rebates, etc.);
- Buying more expensive gas for your car than you actually need -- or not comparison shopping for gas;
- Ordering checks from the bank rather than ordering the cheap ones from the mailers;
- Drinking coffee at an expensive java joint rather than at home or the office;
- Anything else that costs you money but for which you do not really get any value.
- Go to the library instead
of buying your books at the
bookstore. You’ll find
an interesting variety of
old as well as new books,
interesting community programs
and activities, and most
libraries have high speed
internet access as well.
- Sign up for the free Money Club Makeover, 21 Days to Boost Your Savings.
