Money Saving Tips and Schemes

Eat in.
One of the biggest expenses to anyone's wallet is eating out. Even if you only eat at a fast food place, sometimes the meals are much more expensive than what you could make for yourself at home. For eating at home, pasta and canned food is the most inexpensive way to go. Try using store brand goods, if you usually buy more expensive brand names. Also, volunteers at food banks often can get free food as thanks for their work.

Save your change.
Whenever you do spend cash, keep the change in a jar. If you use a closed container you can't see in, then there will be even less temptation to use the money, and you'd be surprised how quickly change can add up for you.

Don't throw away returnables.
This is only valid in states where you pay a deposit for bottles and cans. If you save them up and keep them in your garage or closet, then every few months you should be able to bring them into a redemption center and get a few dollars. It's not much, but it does add up. If you have the opportunity, pick up bottles and cans when you see them.

Carpool.
Everyone's tired of hearing this by now, but with gas prices what they are, it bears repeating. If you're sharing the expense of a daily commute with others, then it's going to cost you less - a LOT less! - in the long run.

Drive efficiently.
By efficiently, I don't mean just driving once a day, or doing all your errands at once, though that's a smart idea. When you drive, don't rev the engine. Be gentle on the gas pedal, slow down and speed up gradually. On the highway, go 65 instead of 75 and your MPG will improve. Try taking roads with less traffic and fewer stops and hills. When you go into the post office or a store, turn your car off. You won't save any gas by letting it run.

Automatic savings.
Many online banks, like ING Direct, offer high-yield savings accounts and automatic savings plans. You can set these up to deduct from your primary checking, and best of all, it's free! There is no minimum, and you will be able to watch your savings grow online.

Cell phone.
If you can live without your cell phone for a month or two, most companies will allow you to suspend your account temporarily rather than default on your payments. Get rid of any special features you can live without as well, like texting or data plans. If you're not a heavy user, and only have the phone for emergencies, consider buying a tracfone. It will prevent you from having yet another monthly bill.

Extra bills.
Do you find yourself with a $100 cable bill, and not watching TV? Cancel the cable, or downgrade it to basic. You'll save money every month and chances are you won't notice the difference. If you can live with dial-up internet, cancel your high speed. If you rarely or never make long distance calls, or you have a cell phone, then take long distance off your landline, or get rid of the landline altogether. If you're worried because these services are bundled, don't- you will still save money!

Clothes.
If you need to go shopping, then try a used clothing store. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and others often have a huge selection of clothing vastly cheaper than anything you can buy new. If you have clothes missing buttons or damaged, learn to sew and fix them up.

Turn the heat down.
If you're in a northern state, you've probably heard to turn the heat down over and over again. If you haven't done it yet, do it! 65 seems low, but put on a sweater and tough it out and your fuel oil bill or your electric bill will thank you. Also, if you have a choice between electric or oil heat, try switching to electric for a month. You might be surprised to see that electricity costs less than oil right now. Maybe a balance between the two would make your bills less, but that would take experimentation. Also, turn the heat down when you're not home and when you're sleeping. Get a timer if you can.

Some or all of these things will help you get those bills under control. Cutting out the perks may not be fun, but it's necessary sometimes.