20 tips on how to save time and money that you may not have known

How to save time and money.

1. Plan meals in advance. Have a written menu for each day of the week. And stick to it.

2. Buy items ahead of time that you know you’ll buy often.

3. Shop at wholesale and discount stores: They are made for families because they save people a lot of money. The membership cost is well worth it when it comes to long-term savings.

4. Use discount cards. Many stores offer these along with many unique coupons.

5. Shop with friends. If your friend can buy the same items, consider buying and sharing them.

6. Check online for good coupons before you go shopping. Look for coupons for items you know are typically expensive. Also look for coupons for similar items you may not have tried.

7. You don’t have to get the paper to get coupons. All those stores usually offer the same coupons online or sometimes offer better ones.

8. Create an email address that is just for receiving coupons and newsletters. It’ll help decry your spam and you’ll still be able to get all the great deals. Just be sure to check it once a week or twice a month.

9. Teach your children the value of a dollar. Limit them with the money you give them. And ask them to really think about the items before they buy.

10. Compare items before you get them. If you want to buy Photoshop but it is too expensive. Look at the Photoshop elements. You can have the same features you want for a much lower cost.

11. Use layaway whenever possible. If you know you’ll need to buy a gift for a friend in April, start looking in February or March and put the gift on hold so you can buy something great but not have to deal with the price all at once.

12. Keep track of important birthdays and gift-giving days. Like most people they forget about teacher’s day but it can be a big problem. Keep a small notebook or planner to write down these days so you don’t forget.

13. Host a dinner instead of a traditional party. A dinner party requires much less food because people aren’t just eating snacks. You can also save the extra money for entertainment.

14. Hold sales parties when money is tight. You can sell the items you make or find a local vendor for the items you already love. Discover the options on how to receive payments. It must be commission or products.

15. Buy e-books instead of paper books. And consider buying a digital reader to go with them. This will not only save you money because eBooks are usually cheaper, but it will also save space in your home. A digital reader is also great for college students (those books can be very heavy).

16. Donate to thrift stores and buy from them too. You may be surprised at how much you can save and how good you feel after donating.

17. Sometimes you can get help from the government and not even know it. Apply anyway. You never know until you find out.

18. Use space heaters instead of your home heater. For small rooms this can help a lot. Instead of having to pay a really huge bill, it’s much safer.

19. Buy a really good printer that can save you a lot of money on ink. Check printer reviews before buying the cheapest one. The more expensive one may have better quality prints and the ink may last much longer.

20. Play board games instead of video games. Board games never get boring and can be played anywhere. Video games can be very expensive and are not always compatible with family time.