Group Discounts: How to Save Money

The finer things in life are hard to get and it's very hard to enjoy when prices are high, but some people out there have the money to do it. That's why we as the "average" people need to stick together because like-minded consumers can form alliances that defray costs and reduce risk in the open market. Here are some steps in which you can live like an aristocrat on a bureaucrat's salary:

Split the Meat

Round up a crowd to buy a whole cow. Buy beef directly from the ranch and you can score top-quality, grass-fed beef for less than $3 a pound. There are many listings of small ranchers who raise and sell their own cattle. It also taste great with its dramatic flavor advantage, it is packed with more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids than industrial bovines do. You can locate these sites at eatwild.com and localharvest.org. You can save 60% because local rib eyes and ground sirloin at whole foods can cost up to $20 - $6 a pound compared to a half a cow from Autumn's Harvest Farm in New York for $2.59.

Stock Your Cellar

For big savings on the best wines, try to team up with a friend and buy in bulk and at the same time build a relationship with the local wine shop. Log onto winezap.com and you can find discounts on mixed cases. Search by region, varietal, and rating to find and compare prices from retailers around the country. Your potential savings are about 20% which is two free bottles for every case you buy.

Sailing the Seas

By teaming up with your local buddies, you all can tackle the huge investment cost of docking and maintaining a boat. If you are close to each other and know that none of you all are going to run off with the money, set a joint bank account to pay for fuel and repairs, creating a schedule for use and maintenance and writing down rules and responsibilities. You can find your new vessel at sailtime.com. You save about 75% because you are dividing costs by the number of crew members.

Get a Cheap Seat

If you're tired of spending $10 for a movie, then the AMC Theaters Silver Experience Tickets cost $5.50 each and can be used at any of the chain's 311 U.S. locations. Splitting a 50-pack with five friends can save you all $275.

Upgrading Your Computer

To cut the cost of upgrading your Office 2007, buy one program and five user licenses. You'll share the installation discs, but receive an individualized legal-code.

Splitting a Season

Season tickets in general can save you about 25 percent, but it's hard to make it to all the games. You can sell the tickets for a profit or divide them between you all. Usually the tickets would range between the thousands depending on what type of seat you want. You can save up to $440.