20 Lazy Ways to Save Money

A great Yahoo.com article, “20 Lazy Ways to Save Money,” lists using credit union privileges to save money. Well, this isn’t the only saving tip credit unions can help you with. They can help you with several of these saving tips. Click here to read the entire article to learn how you can save money without much effort.

I use about nine out of the 20 money saving tips.

How many of these money saving tips do you use and are they helping you achieve your savings goals?

Save on Child Care Costs

Is the cost of your three-year-old’s daycare comparable to college tuition? Here are ways to save on daycare expenses and relieve the crunch that they have on your wallet.

Click here to read the Yahoo.com article “Five Ways to Save on Child Care Costs.”

Which of these five ways help you save on child care costs?

Why spend all your money buying textbooks…just rent them!

In this economy, college students are always looking for ways to offset the many expenses that goes with getting a college education. Textbooks account for a big bulk of these expenses. When I was in college, I got hit with a $500 bill for books each semester. This expense definitely left me strapped for cash.

An Associated Press article “How to Save Money on College Textbooks” shares a valuable resource that can help you find ways to save money on textbooks, including renting instead of purchasing them.

Click here to read the full article. Click here to go directly to the Celebration Ideas website to learn how to save money on textbooks.

I’ve taken this practice beyond college and still borrow my books from the library instead of purchasing them. What ways do you save on books, reading or textbooks?

Annette
-Marketing

A little planning ahead can lead to big savings!

As the summer continues, we are really becoming more and more convinced about the importance of doing research, getting multiple quotes, and asking for available discounts for products and services that we need. Earlier this summer, our car needed major repairs so instead of taking it to the first shop we found, we got quotes from a few mechanics to compare the diagnoses and costs. We were then able to make an informed decision about which shop to use instead of going with the first quote out of convenience. Taking the extra time to consider our options was worth it! We saved a couple of hundred dollars and still received quality work on our car. Now, we always plan ahead for repairs. When we got a flat tire on our car, we got multiple quotes for a new tire. We went with the price that was in our budget and saved money on a quality tire.

Also, we always ask for available discounts. Recently, we went to an outlet mall in upstate Connecticut to purchase new work clothes for Sam and me. After Sam tried on some clothes, he asked the salesperson if they gave a discount for AAA members. They didn’t but he directed us to the customer service desk of the outlet mall. We never thought to ask for discounts from the mall customer service office. They gave us a discount booklet full of coupons for various stores in the mall. We went through it, looking for discounts at the stores we like. I purchased a pair of sandals from one store, without checking the booklet for discounts. It wasn’t until we left the store that I realized there was a coupon in the booklet that I could have used. I was a bit hesitant to return to the store to redeem the coupon, which would only save me $3. Sam had to remind me that $3 was still cash that we could save so I promptly returned to the store with the coupon. It is very important to recognize that seemingly small amounts of money add up. It’s important to take advantage of any possible discounts no matter how small the dollar amount may seem.

How do you plan ahead to save when making big purchases?

–Nicole Chevalier

This is an entry from the 2009 Connex Savings Challenge Blog, a place where you can keep up with the Savings Challenge families and they can share great financial tips, ways they are saving and budgeting and much more! For more blog entries and information on the Connex Savings Challenge, visit http://www.connexcu.org.