One of the things that any homeowner will tell you is that a house costs money long after you move in.  It's not just maintenance and upkeep, but adding personal touches to your home can really break the bank.  If you're like me, you love decorating your home and making it beautiful inside.  Being the budgeter that I am, I put together some ways you can decorate your home without spending a ton of money.   There are always cost saving alternatives to look into.

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6 Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order

It's been quite a while since I published my posts about getting on a budget and my budget spreadsheets so I figured I'd do another post that basically sums it all up again.   It's a new year and a new chance for you to get everything organized so you can get out of debt, build up your savings, or achieve whatever financial goals you have. 

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Downloadable Budgeting Spreadsheets

You may have already seen the blog posts I've done about budgeting and finances, including...

 

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In those posts I refer to my Budget Spreadsheet and Debt Snowball Tracker that I made up in Excel. The Budget Spreadsheet is the way I see all of my income and where it all goes. I can play around with the amounts to see what I'd need to adjust for a more balanced budget. I use this Budget Spreadsheet every couple of weeks and make adjustments all the time as bills go up or down and my paycheck increases.

The Debt Snowball Tracker was a great way to keep me motivated on how much debt I needed to pay down to be DEBT FREE! I'm debt free now so I am proof that it IS possible. I even filled out my spreadsheet for months in advance and altered the numbers to see how soon I'd be out of debt if I paid a certain amount each month.

You can get these spreadsheets for free here.

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The Importance of Having an Emergency Fund

If you are familiar with Dave Ramsey and his baby steps, you know that the first baby step is to have $1,000 in an emergency fund before you do ANYTHING else.   Some people question why that's even necessary when they are trying to get out of debt.  

At first, I admit that I wasn't keen on having to gather up $1,000 before I could start throwing any extra money at my debt but man oh man that has ended up saving my behind.

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How To Pay Off Your Debt

Ever since I did the Cash Envelope blog post and the Guide to Being on A Budget post, I've received numerous emails and comments asking for a blog post about paying down debt. 

So here is my breakdown of how to do it, based on how I paid off mine. 

Step 1// Make Sure You Have an Emergency Fund.
If you read the Dave Ramsey books, you will know that this is baby step 2, AFTER you have an emergency fund of $1,000.   This is because in order to do Step 2 below, you must have a way to pay for things that come up.  So how do you get $1,000 together?  It sounds impossible doesn't it?  You are already on a budget and inundated with debt, so how are you supposed to come up with even more money? 

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10 Ways to Avoid Overspending Around the Holidays

1// Avoid Unnecessary Black Friday Shopping 
Sure you can get great deals if you really need the item, but you can usually get the same deal online. Just read the fine print in the sales flyer.  Also most in-store Black Friday purchases are impulse, so if you don't need anything in particular and you are tight on money this year, stay home! 

2// Embrace Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday deals can be done online, obviously so you can add exactly what you need to your cart, without being distracted by sales displays as you would in a store.

3// Shop your home
If you have unused candles and beauty products, put them all in a box so that at the end of the year, you can shop your own supply.  Put together a gift basket for someone using beauty products, candles, etc. 

4// Resist the urge to buy for yourself
When you go out Christmas shopping, keep in mind that you brought along money for other people, NOT yourself.  Don't be distracted along the way.  Make a list and stick to it. 

5// Set a $$ Limit per person
If you only have $200 to spend, and you have 6 people to buy for, figure out what you can spend on each person and STICK to that budget. 

6//Don't buy for everyone
Sometimes we get in the spirit of giving and we see something that would be perfect for our office buddy.  If you don't have the money set aside for that person, resist the urge to buy it!  Unless you have plans to exchange that year, they don't need to be on your list. A card and some homemade cookies will be just fine. 

7// Don't fall for "deals"
Sometimes things are advertised at a low price around the holidays, when in reality, you can buy the item for a lower price in the off season.  It's smart to keep tabs on prices all year round so you know what's a good deal and what isn't.  

8// Shop early
Don't ever wait till the last minute.  Shipping prices will put a dent in your wallet when it comes to buying online, and when you wait till last minute to shop in stores, you tend to be more likely to overspend or overlook a high price. 

9// Home made gifts are just as nice
If you know someone that loves to pamper themselves, and they are on your list, why not look around for recipes for DIY sugar scrubs, lotions, etc.  The cost of the materials you need won't be too expensive, and a jar with a cute ribbon around it will be a great finishing touch! 

10// Services are free to give in most cases
Instead of buying someone a product, think about a service they may need.  Do they have kids? Why not design a cute coupon for them to redeem for a night out with you as the babysitter for the kids, FREE OF CHARGE.   If you are good at cleaning, organizing, landscaping, etc. those are also great services to give away.


What way do you always end up overspending around the holidays?


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5 Ways to Save Money During The Holidays

The next month will likely be filled with hustle and bustle and holiday cheer and it's hard not to get caught up in everything.  That being said, you still need to stay strong when it comes to your money. 

Here are 5 tips to save money this holiday season.

1//Resist the Urge to Shop for Yourself
I know, it's hard, everyone's doing it but do you really need everything that you see advertised? If you've made it this far in life without it, probably not.  Stay home on Black Friday, and stay off the computer on Cyber Monday.   Just because it's a good deal, doesn't mean you should spend money on it.  Remind yourself what other things can be enjoyed this time of year like taking a drive to see neighborhood lights, baking cookies, and decorating your home.

2//Stay Organized for Others
Use lists for everyone you need to buy for.  Set a budget for each person and shop within that budget.  Focus on things they need not just some random thing you saw because you were desperate for a gift.  If you have a coworker on your list, get them some nice pens or cute stationary.

3//Homemade Gifts
Whether it's a sugar scrub in a jar or some freshly baked cookies, try making your own gifts as often as possible.  Some gift ideas that you can make yourself are:
[]Potpurri
[]Baked Goods
[]Sugar scrubs in a jar
[]Stationary (Buy a rubber stamp and ink pad and stamp each page of a notepad)

4//Go Easy on Decorations
It may be too late this year, but in the future, try getting your decorations right after the holidays when they go on sale.  Also, dollar stores have amazingly cheap decorations.  You only use them once a year so why do you need to spend $10 on garland at one store when you can get it for $1-$5 at another. Also, there is nothing wrong with reusing the same fake tree every year.


5// Save on Cards and Wrapping
Every time you get a gift in a giftbag, save the bag!!  I have a huge collection of gift bags that I can reuse so I never have to buy new ones.  Tissue paper is annoyingly overpriced at most stores so don't be afraid to reuse that either.  And when it comes to Christmas Cards, try to hand deliver as many as you can even if it means giving it to the person on Christmas Day when you see them.  Postage is expensive so cutting back in small ways helps.  I also stock up on Christmas cards after the holidays when they are super cheap and when I make my own customized ones I utilize coupon codes I find online.


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How To Budget Better with Groceries

I recently asked everyone what budget related topics they wanted me to write about and one of the topics that came up was budgeting with groceries.  

Groceries can be a major expense but if you budget very carefully you can spend money wisely and maybe even find places to save money every month!  

Here are some ways to budget better with groceries.


Meal Planning//  Meal planning is an amazing thing because it not only helps you figure out what you will eat and when but it gives you an outline of everything you'll need from the grocery store for that week. Sit down and look at what you have in your pantry (spaghetti and sauce, meat in the freezer) and see what meals you can make from that for the week.  After a month of planning your meals you'll find it's easy to get on a routine of what meals you make on what days and you'll find that you have a whole selection of ideas to choose from each month.  All you have to do is change the days you eat the meals on (or if you are a creature of habit like me, just stick to the same schedule every month!)




Make a  List// Seriously, if you don't write down everything you need for each meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner!) you'll always end up forgetting something and then you'll have to make more trips to the store, which means more distractions each time you go.  Also, when you make a list STICK WITH IT.  Those displays they set up are meant to entice you, but keep looking at your list and telling yourself if it's not on the list, you aren't getting it.



Take Inventory// Before you leave for the grocery store, see what you already have from your list so that you don't end up buying too much and then letting it go to waste.  Also, take inventory so you see what you are low on with regular things like Milk or eggs so that you can get them all in one trip.



Cut Coupons// The key to cutting coupons is to only cut the ones you will need.  If you don't eat pasta ever, then don't bother cutting coupons for pasta.  Some people buy stuf on sale and then never end up using it.



Research Sales// Each week after you cut coupons, check out the weekly circular for your grocery store.  Are there any items that are on your list, that are on special?  Put a star next to them, and also make a note if you have a coupon for the item as well. It's great to double up on sales.  You also can plan your meals around the sales after you get good at the meal planning.



Buy Generic// The thing about coupons is that they usually aren't for generic brands, so you may still end up paying more money than you need to.  For example: The pasta on the coupon is .50 off, and it costs $2.50 normally.    The generic brand costs $1.00.  So even if you used your coupon on the name brand, you will be paying $1 more than if you just bought the generic.   Always buy generic.  The price usually is better than any retail brand.  



Don't Be Fooled// A good deal can actually not be a great deal for your budget.  It may be 2 for $6 with ice cream, but do you really need to eat that much ice cream? It's not good for your diet... so maybe just buy a healthier dessert instead.  Also, with me, I don't fall for any coupons that say $1.00 off 2.   I usually don't need 2 of that item, or it will end up being something that will go bad before I use it.  Always stick to your meal plans and shopping list first before worrying about deals. 




Track Your Expenses// Once you start doing the above for a few weeks, you can save your receipts and add up what your monthly grocery expense is.  Since you are shopping more wisely you may notice that you only spend $400 a month for your whole family, rather than the $600 you used to spend.   And you know what this means? You can start budgeting $400 for groceries every month and then use the $200 elsewhere like to pay down debt or to build up your emergency fund.

What grocery store tips do you use to save money?



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How Much of Your Paycheck Should You Set Aside for Emergencies?

This is a question I hear a lot when it comes to money so I figured I may as well give my input.

It happens to everyone.... you're going about your business and something completely out of the ordinary happens.  Whether it's on a large scale like a serious injury, or on a smaller scale like a flat tire, the most stressful part about it is that we aren't prepared for the financial repurcussions. 



So when it comes to how much money you should put aside for emergencies from every paycheck, it's wise to always allocate some money for each emergency category.



My emergency categories are:
Home
Car
Vet
Medical



Home is for anything that could go wrong around the house like a pipe leak.   Car is for anything from inspection to getting a windshield replaced or a tire patched up.   The Vet category is for any kind of vet expense for my 4 dogs be it an emergency or just a check up because one of them has a cough.  And Medical is for me, and to cover prescription medicines.  This comes in handy when I am sick and I have to get to the doctor because I have money set aside for my copay and any medications they prescribe me. 


So make a list of the things that have happened to you or to those around you. 



If you have children, make sure there's a kids fund for medical needs.   And then after you do your budget, and you are setting up your cash envelope system, make sure you breakdown your income and allocate a little bit from each paycheck to go towards each category.  It's easier to do this then to take large chunks all at once, at least for me.  I still put money aside in my emergency savings fund, but I won't have to tape into that when I have money in my other envelope categories too. 



You would be surprised how much the $20 a paycheck in my car fund adds up.  If I go 2 months without any car troubles, I already have almost $100.  That's enough for a tire if I need a new one because mine gets a nail in it.   That's also enough to cover the out of pocket expense to get my windshield replaced.  I know from experience!

What categories will you put money aside for?

Make sure you get your free finance spreadsheets here!

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4 of the Biggest Budget Myths You CAN'T AFFORD To Believe

I love blogging about budgets, but when I talk about it in person, it seems there are a lot of myths that people bring up in regards to budgeting.   So I am here to address them.  

Here are some common budget myths that you really CAN'T afford to believe.

"I can't get on a budget, I don't even make enough money as it is."

You don't make enough money because you AREN'T on a budget.   A budget  is a way to address your finances and make a spending plan.   So if you think you don't make enough money, a budget can actually help.

How?

[] When you write everything down you can see where your expenses go.  Maybe if you cut out your bar visits, dining out, and daily Starbucks you actually DO make enough money to pay all your bills.

[] Budgets allow you to control where your money goes so that nothing gets out of hand.  

"I don't have to time to budget."

Um, being on a budget takes no time at all.  It's the initial process that take a bit of time but once you are set up and ready to go the hard work is done.   I even made a blog post about how to get on a budget.  

"I don't need a budget."

Technically everyone needs a budget.   People don't realize what a budget is. It's a system of managing your money.  So if you say you don't need one or you don't use one as it is, then you must be saying that you literally don't track anything, and you don't even keep a running count of bills in your head.    Everyone can benefit from a budget.

"Budgets are for people that can't manage money."

This is my favorite misconception about budgets.   Even the wealthiest of people are on a budget.  How do you think they manage their money?

What budget excuses do you hear?

Did you know that I offer a budget spreadsheet, debt tracker, and I have a financial book available for purchase? 




PURCHASE Spreadsheet Bundle


PURCHASE Budget Spreadsheet

PURCHASE Debt Tracker

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Bride on a Budget// You CAN Have A Dream Wedding Without Paying the Rest of Your Life For It

Heather and Mark have been dating for five years, and on July 4, 2014, they tied the knot-- but not before strategically planning out their big day on a reasonable and comfortable budget. I've asked Heather to put together a guide on how she put together her dream wedding without breaking the bank. The best part is that if you follow her lead, you can do the same!  


Before you start// Determine your budget. 
You can quickly find yourself going into debt if you don’t factor in the cost of everything beforehand.

Next// Set your priorities. 
Most brides can’t have it all so determine which is more important:

Inviting everyone you’ve known since grade school

or

Throwing your relatives and closest friends a party they will never forget

Is it essential that you find the dress of your dreams at any cost?

or

Are you more into finding the perfect venue?

Finally// Start planning early.
You may be tempted to jump to the alter the moment he pops the question, but a budget-conscious bride will tell you otherwise.   The way to save the most money is to do your research and “D.I.Y” where you can.

So here is how I celebrated my Wedding on a budget of just over $15,000.
((Pssstttt... I know many of you may be thinking "How is $15,000 a budget-friendly figure?" Well, be sure to not confuse the word frugal and the term budget. A budget is a way of keeping expenses and costs to a certain amount.  Often times, parents give their children a gift of money towards their wedding.  That amouont along with whatever amount the bridge and groom want to spend is how they come up with a budget.   I never said this post would be about a CHEAP wedding, it's just about having the wedding of your dreams on a more reasonable budget that you decide on. For some people that may be $20,000 and for others that could be $5,000.  Remember, Heather and Mark chose to splurge on certain things and that's absolutely fine.  Others have decided to cut the cost of food all together by having friends and family cook.))


Engagement Photos// My Cost - $100
 While many budget-minded brides might see this as an unnecessary expense, it doesn’t have to be. Many photographers will throw an engagement photo session on for just a little bit extra (mine was $100) if you are using them for the big day. This also gives you an idea of what you can expect your wedding photos to look like.

When shopping for a photographer, make sure they give you rights to your pictures. One photographer might seem less expensive than another but by the time you pay for every picture, you could end up spending much more than you bargained for.

Invitations// My Cost - $20
You could easily spend hundreds of dollars to have someone make your invitations.
Or, you could buy kits for $40 a box (you will need 2 or 3) and make your own. 

For my invitations I purchased 2 boxes on sale for $10 each.  Look for deals and invitation kits that are the last of their kind because that's when they usually get marked down.

I purchased two different styles of invitations and guess what?  No one knew that!   And the free online templates made them easier to put together!
Some other ways to save money on invitations are:

(Consider the cost of postage)
While ribbons and other embellishments can look nice, it can cost you $2 per invitation to mail.   I handed these invitations out to family members that I knew would want to keep it and mailed the more basic ones to everyone else.

(Forget Etiquette)
Don’t feel obligated to follow stupid etiquette rules. I read somewhere that if you are having your reception at a different location than the ceremony that you should provide a separate invitation for each.  The problem was, the box I purchased didn’t include extra invitations for this. Don’t stress over little things like this because most people probably won’t know you “should” do this or care if you forgo a separate invitation.



Rehearsal Dinner// My Cost - $350
There are many ways in which you can save big here.

Rather than opting for a catered affair, I held my rehearsal dinner at a B.Y.O.B sushi/hibachi restaurant.  It ended up being a perfect place since we had our own private room where guests were seated in a circle and everyone was entertained.   The big advantage to this option was that we were able to bring our own wine so we could control the bill. I even used a 10% coupon! Since I had a small wedding party, the bill was only $350.

Ceremony Venue// My Cost - $200
While I always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding, I opted for indoors.... and saved HUNDREDS of dollars.

Unless your venue comes with a back-up plan in case of inclement weather, you have to pay to reserve an indoor location (even if you don’t use it).

For $200, I got married in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg.   The venue was gorgeous so I didn’t even need to decorate the place with flowers.   Another plus was that I rented chairs through them at $1 per chair and they were already at the location ready to be set up. I priced out rental companies that wanted $2 per chair plus a delivery fee, set up and break down fee.

Programs//My Cost - $4
This is one thing you could skip entirely and not miss.

If you absolutely must have a program you can save money by having a sign that lists the wedding party, or do what I did and save big.  I made my own.

I priced custom programs and they started at $2.60 per program.   You can buy printable programs and make your own but they still run about $30 a pack and you will need a few packs.

So I made 100 programs for the cost of a pack of cardstock ($4 with a coupon), some leftover ribbon I had from making favors, and some gold glitter tape.

Place Cards// My Cost - $4
I would absolutely advise some sort of seating chart. Allowing guests seat themselves could easily backfire.

At first, I thought about doing one big framed seating chart but my venue required that I indicate each person’s meal.  I would have had to do guest menus which would end up costing more in the long run.

So I chose to go with traditional place cards. I would recommend tent cards since they are the least expensive and they are very easy. You can buy simple ones that are already perforated. I ended up making my own so I could decorate them. I searched the internet for free templates, printed them out on cardstock ($3.99 and I had some left over). I gave each one a personal touch by adding some fancy paper and colored rhinestones to differentiate meals.
 
Reception Venue// My Cost - $10,000
This was the biggest expense of the wedding ($10,000 for 100 people). While there are many more affordable options, we decided this was where we wanted to splurge. It may seem like a lot of money, but for the Crowne Plaza, it was actually relatively inexpensive.

Right off the bat, we saved 10% by getting married on a Friday. We could have pocketed that money, but we ended up using it to upgrade to a premium bar and filet migon. Again, this is why it is important to set your priorities. Our package also included a wedding coordinator, floral centerpieces, a Champaign toast, and two nights in a honeymoon suite.

DJ// My Cost - $2,500
The DJ- Again, we splurged here since quality entertainment was really important to us (we used Klock Entertainment). I’ve been to great weddings where the “DJ” was an iPod. While this can save thousands, the DJ actually is really important for making your night run smoothly. After all, you don’t want to spend tons of money on a wedding for people to leave after dinner.

Photographer// My Cost - $1,500
This is another area that you don’t want to be cheap on. If you really must save, recruit two college seniors majoring in photography.

Many photographers will have an assistant so they can capture pictures from different spots but you may be able to get away with just one person. My photographer charged $1500 which was not the cheapest but also not the most expensive either. Just remember, make sure you are given the photo rights.

Don’t waste your money on disposable cameras…who doesn’t have a smartphone these days? Also, while videography can be nice, it will run about $3000. Just have a friend tape the important moments in the ceremony and special dances.

Guest Book// My Cost - $40
One perk I received by registering with Macy’s was a free customizable photo guestbook from Shutterfly (valued at $40). By the way, I highly suggest registering at multiple locations even if you don’t end up telling your guests to purchase gifts from each of those places. Many stores will give you free gifts even if no one buys anything. Plus, you will get store coupons to use to buy any remaining gifts on the registry (hello 15% off at Target!).

Cake// My Cost - $450
When you are planning a wedding on a budget, be prepared for something to go wrong. I tried to save on my cake by hiring a new bakery. Since they were not well established, they charged $3 per slice as opposed to some bakeries wanting $7 a slice. Due to their inexperience, my cake began falling apart. The lesson to be learned is that if you really care about something, don’t be cheap! Fortunately, I really didn’t care too much about the cake. 

If I had known it would have turned out the way it did, I would have gone with one of these options:

1. Have a small cake to display and have sheet cakes in the back.

2. Go with the cupcake trend.

3. Don’t add a top layer. I choose to add a top layer that I could save for my anniversary. After the fact, I realized that I would rather spend the $100 on a nice dinner date than eating year-old cake from the freezer.

4. Pick a simple looking cake. All of those pretty details are time-consuming and are costly. I also went with real flowers as opposed to sugar flowers.

5. Don’t overlook grocery store bakeries. They are reasonably priced and simple flavors are liked by almost everyone.

6. Don’t overestimate how much cake you will need. I made the mistake of choosing a cake that could feed more than the number of guests I had. The truth is, not everyone will eat the cake and you can get away with smaller slices if need be.

7. Go non-traditional- There’s no rule that says you MUST have a cake. A dessert table or ice cream bar are two popular ways to get around a cake.  

Decorations, Flowers, + Centerpieces// My Cost - $500
In the beginning, I decided that I wasn’t going to put much of my budget toward these things. After all, most guests won’t remember what your centerpieces looked like.

By choosing beautiful ceremony and reception venues, you don’t need to go crazy on the decorations. I spent $500 on bouquets and boutonnieres since they would be in most of the pictures, but I selected hydrangea arrangements for my centerpieces. 

My package included flowers but only gave me $30 per table. When I met with the florist, I made it very clear that I could not go over the allocated $30 per table. I also negotiated and was able to get a few pricier flowers in the arrangements by agreeing to provide all of the vases. My mom collected vases from Goodwill (4 for .75) and I got some metallic gold spray paint and ribbon to jazz them up. I used $2 gold chargers and tea lights to make up for the lack of flowers. I also made my own table numbers by choosing a pretty font on the computer and adding some embellishments.

Here are some tips on saving on flowers and decorations:
1. Go with bulkier flowers that are in season.

2. Add personal touches to the centerpiece to take away from not having tons of flowers.

3. Check out thrift stores and Craigslist. People often use these things once and if you buy can actually end up being cheaper than renting. Plus you get to resell them.

4. Don’t waste hundreds on having your bouquet preserved. I looked into it and one florist told me that even with preservation, it won’t look the same. Not all flowers can be preserved either. She advised that I just take a lot of pictures or get silk flowers arranged to replicate the bouquet. 

 
Favors// My Cost - $250
There are so many different types of wedding favors that there is something for everyone’s budget. I prefer favors that do double-duty. Offering a photo booth gives guests something to do plus you get a copy of everyone’s pictures so you won’t need to buy a guest book. 

Everyone that knows me knows I LOVE candy so it was only fitting that I had a candy buffet. Many venues want to try to get more money out of you by telling you that they will do your candy buffet for about $6.50 per person. 

I knew that I could do it for a lot less and get exactly what I wanted. I spent $250 on 20 varieties of pink candy and made some of my own pink chocolate-dipped sweets. The containers could have easily cost more than the candy but I collected one novelty container each week as I found a coupon (and I plan to resell them). 

I also wasn’t afraid to search second-hand. I made all of the labels and decorations and even made customized bags for guests to take. Unlike shot glasses or bottle openers, using a candy buffet as a favor serves as a decoration to enhance the room. Just remember, very few guests want a keychain with a picture of you.
 

Dresses// My Cost - $300
Unlike every other bride, I went to a bridal shop, tried on several dresses, and found the dress of my dreams. Only, it was $2200 plus tax and $250 for each alteration. 

I knew it was a gamble, but I found a very similar dress online for $150. Sites like kissdresses (where I purchased mine) will take your measurements and make you a dress that will fit you perfectly as long as you measure correctly. When I got the dress a little over a month later, it fit so well that I decided to buy another dress to wear to the reception (again, $150). 

My bridesmaids bought their dresses the same way but through Etsy. They spent about $100 on their dress including shipping. The biggest advantage to this is that they will make it to fit your unique body and it will look like it was made for you (which it was).

By the way, don’t waste money on having your dress preserved. You are never going to wear it again and chances are, your daughter won’t either. Again, just get lots of pictures. I am actually going to sell mine and I might even make some money on it seeing as I got them so cheap.
 
Grand Total of My Wedding - $16,218

 Remember, it is YOUR day. Don’t sacrifice your budget just to please people. If they don’t like it, they can leave, you can’t. I know I am not the world’s most frugal bride, but for me, it was all about saving here so I could splurge there. In the end, I had the best day of my life and I came out debt free!

20 Ways to Cut Expenses in Your Budget

Ever since my post about being on a budget, everyone has been asking for ways to cut back on expenses so I put together a list of some ideas.

1. Downgrade your cable package and get rid of the house phone
2. Buy generic brands of toiletry products
3. Buy generic brands at the grocery store
4. Plan meals a week ahead so you know exactly what you need to buy and DON'T buy any more
5. Use a cash envelope system to see what silly cash purchases you can cut back on
6. Buy used books over new ones
7. Buy kindle books instead of paper books
8. Shop at thrift stores
9. Use fans during the summer so you don't have to crank the air conditioning as much
10. Exercise at home using DVDs or by running outside instead of a gym membership
11. Paint your own nails/toes
12. Make your own laundry detergent
13. Hang your clothes to dry instead of using a dryer
14. Pack your lunch
15. Bring your own coffee instead of buying Starbucks on the way to work
16. Cut your own lawn instead of paying someone to do it
17. Use coupons and watch sales flyers so you can double your savings
18. Exchange services for other services (blogging for an event, blogging about a product, tailor someone's clothing in exchange for them to mow your lawn, etc.) 
19. Check www.retailmenot.com before making a purchase on any website
20. Circulate magazines with friends or coworkers so you don't need to pay for so many magazine subscriptions

Let me know in the comments below other ways you can save!

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