Money Saving Tips 
Practical Ways To Save Money On: 
(ALWAYS CHECK CONSUMER REPORTS FOR GOOD IDEAS AND BUYING TIPS) 
     * FOOD AND GROCERY STORE ITEMS 
     * UTILITIES 
     * FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES 
     * GIFTS 
     *  CAR 
     * CLOTHING 
     * VACATIONS 
     * MISC. 
  
FOOD AND GROCERY STORE ITEMS: 
1. Use a calculator at store. 
2. Avoid junk foods, convenience foods, such as TV dinners, frozen french fries, 
etc. 
3. Watch cashier for mistakes. 
4. Don't waste money on vitamins and health foods. 
5. Day-old bread stores, salvage stores, no frills stores. 
6. Check out store brands. 
7. Prepare cleaning products. Lemon, ammonia, etc., and water work great. 
8. Make salad dressing, tartar sauce, etc. 
9. Never discard leftovers. Veggies and meat, for instance, can be saved in the 
freezer for delicious soup. 
10. Make baby foods in your blender. 
11. Send lunches with children and take your lunch. 
12. Always check price per ounce. Large sizes can fool you. 
13. Be careful of sales. The item on sale may be just one flavor, etc., and 
others are regular price. Foolers! 
14. Use dry milk in cooking if cheaper. 
15. Cooked cereal is much cheaper and usually more nutritious. 
  
UTILITIES: 
1. Keep thermostat at 78 in summer and 66 in winter. 
2. Purchase an automatic thermostat. 
3. Insulate hot water pipes and heater, esp. if electric. 
4. Lower hot water temp. if possible. (Dishwashers require hotter water, but 
probably cut down on doctor bills by 
killing germs.) 
5. Make long distance calls at off-hours. Check calling plans of your phone 
company. 
6. Limit long distance calls, number and time. 
7. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows, all cracks. 
8. Wrap window air-conditioners if left installed. 
9. Put plastic over windows if needed. 
10. Be sure your house is adequately insulated. It will normally pay for itself 
in a few years, then start saving you money. 
11. Sleep in a cool room in winter. It is better for health. 
12. Cut off heat to unused rooms. (Take register out and wrap with aluminum foil 
to block all heat.) 
13. Fix all leaky faucets and toilets. 
14. Haul own trash if allowed. Compare costs. 
15. Clean and/or change air cleaners every 30-60 days. 
16. If replacing furnace or air conditioner, be sure to install energy efficient models. 
17. Same with appliances. Consider natural gas if possible for all appliances, 
furnace, and hot water, since it is much cheaper. Especially the dryer. 
18. Hang clothes to dry. 
19. Wait for a full load to run the dishwasher. 
20. Use cold water in the garbage disposal. 
21. Wait for full loads to wash. 
22. Keep curtains/drapes closed in summer during air conditioning, and open in 
winter during sunlight hours. 
23. Reduce a/c costs by installing a large attic fan and ceiling fans. 
24. Keep damper closed on fireplace unless in use. 
25. Consider florescent lights in place of incandescent. 
  
FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES: 
1. Buy used whenever possible. Look for people moving out of state. 
2. Avoid dealer service contracts. 
3. Be patient and willing to wait until what you need becomes available. 
4. Household auction sales. 
  
GIFTS: 
1. Buy off-season, on sale, closeouts and keep a gift inventory for future needs. 
2. New items often appear in thrift stores and garage sales. Nothing wrong with 
a gift from there if it appears new. 
3. Do Christmas shopping year-round. 
4. Consider cutting back on Christmas giving and increasing the amount for 
birthdays, giving Christmas the proper emphasis. 
5. Make gifts. 
6. Pay cash. 
  
CAR: 
1. Service (lube, oil, filter) regularly and religiously. 
2. Purchase air cleaner at Wal-Mart, etc., and change yourself. (Will cost 
triple at the garage.) 
3. Drive the speed limit and keep tires properly inflated for better mileage. 
4. Avoid over-buying gas. Follow your owner's manual. 
5. You are just about always better off selling your own car rather than trading it in. 
6. The cheapest car you can drive is usually the one you presently have. 
7. Learn to make minor repairs yourself, such as changing the alternators and starters. 
8. Today's cars normally do not need a tune-up. No-lead gas doesn't foul sparkplugs. 
9. Drop collision insurance on older cars. 
10. Higher deductibles. 
  
CLOTHING: 
1. Thrift stores. 
2. Garage sales. 
3. Sidewalk sales. 
4. Off-season. 
5. Avoid designer labels. 
6. Factory seconds. 
7. Buy extra large for children to grow into. 
  
VACATIONS: 
1. Don't overlook points of interest close to home: Museums, parks, camping. 
2. Off-season. 
3. If flying, check well ahead for rates and rules. A Saturday night stay-over 
is usually required for the best rate. 
  
MISC.: 
1. Borrow books from your library. 
2. Exchange books with friends and family. 
3. Do the same with videos. 
4. Tape from TV rather than buying videos.