How to Save Money at Home Without Cutting Corners

Useful ways to save money, without adversely affecting your quality of life, can be valuable to keep in mind. Recently this family was on the Today show and other morning talk show mainstays; the family talked about how buying meat right before it goes rancid and then deep freezing it can cut costs at home.

I don't believe in nonsense like that. This family is clearly seeking media attention; there is a point where reasonable "cost cutting" turns into masochistic penny-pinching. Regardless of how bad the economy gets, you won't need to clothe your children in plastic bags or deep freeze rancid meat from the supermarket. That's just pure lunacy. With this said, it is fun to save money on everyday consumables. Here are my top tips for saving some major dough, without going overboard like that family did.

Buy non-perishable goods in bulk from now on. Why buy toilet paper only one or two rolls at a time? You are just paying mark up; you know you will eventually need to come back and buy more toilet paper, paper towels, printer paper, Kleenex tissues, paper plates, etc. Buy all of these in huge quantities -- get the eight or twelve package of toilet paper at the minimum. You will start to notice real savings.

Avoid eating out on a regular basis. Cook your own food -- it's healthier, involves the whole family, and saves money. When you eat out at a restaurant or chain location, you are already paying a high markup on any food consumed there. Doubly so for any alcoholic beverages you may enjoy while there (wine and beer markup at many restaurants is around 100 to 200 percent). On top of that, you have to pay a tip, which can add to an extra fifteen to twenty percent of your bill. On a one-hundred dollar bill, that amounts to an extra twenty dollars. Money can go fast when you take the family out. You aren't doing them any favors, either: home-cooked meals can be made much healthier than "fast" restaurant food. Include protein and green vegetables in your home-cooked meals. Avoid fattening items or red meat more often than once or twice per week.

Cut back on things like gym memberships. If you have a free gym membership to your university or alma mater, use that -- cancel your expensive membership at the chain location. A gym membership can run you $100 to $160 (or more) each month, in addition to money spent on transportation.

Get rid of month-to-month plans and go for contracted annual services. If you are using a pre-paid cell phone service, for example, ditch that and sign up for a regular contract with one of the major mobile phone providers in your area. You don't need pristine credit to get a cell phone contract anymore; using pre-paid phones is just stupid, unless you are only going to be in the country for a short period of time. The same goes for cable service, magazine subscriptions, and gym memberships. Annual packages tend to be a much better value than month-to-month services; many places will also offer a pro-rated refund if you end up moving to another area, so there is no reason not to get an annual membership to your gym, yoga studio, or elsewhere.

Ditch high-interest credit cards. Instead, begin using cash again -- withdraw a certain amount from the ATM each morning, or once a week. Set a budget for yourself. If you run out of money, don't spend any more until the next time you have scheduled to make an ATM visit. Watch movies at home instead of going to the cinema frequently; get car washes slightly less often; consider seeing a regular hairstylist as opposed to a "senior" stylist who may charge more for basically the same quality of service.

Good luck in your quest to save cash. It is fun and challenging when looked at as a game. Plus, you will find more money for the things you really don't, such as an unexpected vacation or new car lease.