Saving Money: Cost Cutting Endeavors

Mid-year cost saving ideas:

- Review all your billing statements for mistakes or reoccurring payments that should have been canceled.

- Think about cutting back on subscriptions. Look for free or less expensive options.

- Go through closets and home for things to sell online.

- Consider replacing, consolidating, or going without kitchen appliances to save electricity.

- Warmer weather in the Northern hemisphere means line drying is quick in the sun.

- Shop online through discounters to take advantage of savings. Ex: Ebates. For instance, Dollar General often has online coupons and clicking through discount sites can earn you money back.

- Consider small A/C units instead of central air. Zone cool only where needed behind closed doors.

- With careful control of water, hand washing dishes can be less expensive.

- Consider turning down the water heater and taking luke warm showers in warmer weather. Turn it up an hour before you plan to use it for washing dishes or clothing.

- Reduce your daily calories and eat simple nutritious meals. Three meals(small amount of protein, a carb, and veggies)and three 150 calories or fewer snacks per day. Good ideas here, but research online.

- Yard sales are in full swing - look for clothing and other basic necessities. Think ahead and stock up.

- Use Groupons and Airbnb for family vacations and travel off-season. We got discounted attraction tickets for our vacation destination using Groupons. There is a student discount currently running for a limited time. Consider renting a car through an online discounter to save wear and tear on your vehicle and airfare. Sometimes rates are less expensive from the airport agencies.

- For students, spend the summer CLEPing classes, most are Freshman level tests. Many free online study resources and the test is only $85. If you want to avoid a transfer fee later, add the college where you want the scores sent. We were able to do this even though the student was enrolled as a part-time student with one class. Check with the college first, though.

- Plant edibles in your yard or window. Sprouts are the easiest to grow. I keep adding fruit trees and berry bushes every year to my backyard. Cucumbers are fairly easy in a big planter or sunny bed section of the yard. Pumpkin grows every year where I discard the Halloween pumpkins. A lot of stuff grows where I kitchen compost freely among the garden beds. Easy surprise gardening.

-  I've thought about this, but I grow too attached to my fish. You could grow your own edible fish in stock tanks with an aquaponics garden.

- Remembering to buy and use discounted gift cards.

- Buy school books at Ebay.

- Do you own nails and hair. YouTube lessons. I use Sally's Beauty for supplies for my hair. Some of the  longest lasting nail polish, oddly enough is $1.00 Wet N Wild. I've gone back to this and now the polish lasts a week, or two weeks with some minor touch-ups and a top clear coat.

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