Budget Tips

Electronics

This is one category where buying inexpensive or used versions doesn't pay off. They usually breakdown quickly and you're back to the store to buy another one. In this case the best option is to be aware of electronic items around the home that are older and look them up on the internet to find out what kind of deals can be had and check out reviews of the products. Also check out how a product will be delivered to you and what kind of return policy there is. Make sure that when the delivery charge is added on that the product is still a good buy. Buying off of the internet is becoming more common than ever but it still isn't the same as going to a store and seeing it in person and knowing what you're getting.

Furniture

Thrift stores have an abundance of decent used items that when chosen wisely are very nice indeed and at rock bottom prices. Picking out little decorations at a thrift store can make a place look very nice.

Appliances

Most cities and towns will have stores that fix up used stoves, fridges, dishwashers. Checking the internet for such stores is a good idea. Make sure there is a 30-day warrantee just in case there is a problem with the appliance.

Household Products

People buy a lot of different products when one product will do. There are all sorts of specialty cleaning products and there are several all-purpose cleaning products. Don’t waste money if one all-purpose cleaning product will do.

Miscellaneous Widgets

Most families also have items around the house that were used once or twice then forgotten. They are sitting in cupboards, backrooms and in storage. These items are semi-junk and they cost money. Be mindful of what is being bought. Think it through and make sure that it isn’t going to used once or twice then left to collect dust.

Electricity is everywhere in households and every month when the bill comes in you wish it would be lower. Here are some little ways to lower your electricity bill a few cents at a time.

How to Save Money on Your Household Energy & Electricity Bill

• There are a few things that can be done to lower utility bills but many of them cost money to make changes. A new heater may have lower long-term costs but the heater and installation may be a lot in the first place. It is usually a tricky balancing act trying to figure out what do but there are choices. Check with your utility companies for some suggestions.
• Start by getting an Energy audit from your local energy provider. They will likely have some information regarding your household appliances and what may be done to reduce your electrical usage.

Lighting

• The latest trend is replace worn out bulbs with new energy savings bulbs like LEDs. They use about 90% less electricity. While they do cost a lot more than the old-style bulbs, they save a lot on electricity over the life of the bulb.
• Installing light dimmers may help in many instances as well. Make sure to check what kind of light dimmer will work with the lamp fixture in question.

Furnaces
Yes, you can simply put on a sweater in some instances but that is so basic.

• New programmable thermostats could save lots of electricity by not heating up your home so much when no one is home. It is even possible to control the temperature of your home from your phone or computer via an app if you get a thermostat with a ‘smart’ feature.
• Old homes are notorious for heat loss because of old or poor windows, drafts around doors and poor insulation. Check around the house during cooler weather. It is easy to feel the cold air then. Weather stripping around doors and window will help greatly and of course, shore up the insulation to help reduce heat loss.
• Good (energy saving) curtains can also help keep more heat in the house on those cooler nights.

Besides electrical use, make sure to clean or replace the air filter as well to keep the dust out which may damage the motor and require costly repairs.

Air Conditioners
In the summer during a heat wave, air conditioners will gobble up electricity and the bills will mount up.

• Installing ceiling fans (for hot days have the blades rotating counter-clockwise) will circulate the air better thusly reducing the need for the air conditioner to be so much.
• Having good curtains or blind will reduce the heat from the sun on the windows again reducing the need for the air conditioner.
• If living in a hot climate, then another option would be tinted window coverings that deflect the sun outwards off of the windows reducing heat build-up.

Air conditioners should be cleaned occasionally so they will continue to function optimally.

Fridge and Freezer

• Keep the freezer full of food. It helps keep the food frozen and reduces the need for the freezer to work and use up electricity.
• Poor seals on fridges and freezers will obviously cause a loss of cold air and the fridge or freezer must work harder and wear down sooner. Simply check the seals by putting a piece of paper in the door when you close it. If you can pull the paper out easily then the seal is wearing out. It is time to get the seal changed.

Clean the condenser area at least yearly, maybe more in dustier and dirtier areas. The more a kitchen is used the dirtier it gets. This hinders the function of the condenser coils and the fridge will break down sooner.

Clothes Washer and Dryer

• Wash in cold water as often as possible. Most of the electricity is in heating the water.
• Air drying means no electricity so do that as often as possible. Air drying doesn’t wear out clothes as well thus making clothes last longer.

Remember to clean out the lint tray as it can create a need for more electricity to dry the clothes.

Dishwasher

• Simply use the energy-saving cycle will save electricity and the machine will also last longer.
• To get the most economical use, fill up the machine rather than doing half loads.
• As with clothes, savings can be made by air drying the dishes (put in a rack or just open the door.

A dishwasher’s seals will dry up if the machine isn’t used enough. It needs to be used at least a few times a year to keep the seals moist. Otherwise you’ll have to replace the seals which is a nuisance and an extra cost.

• With computers being so versatile now days, cable tv is the first place to look at for reducing costs. If there are young kids at home, they always seem to know exactly what to do to about entertainment regarding the tv. It is possible to remove the cost of cable, add wi-fi to house and set a computer up to the tv and use the computer to stream tv shows. If cost cutting is necessary, this is a place to start.

• Some people watch only a few shows on some channels. Instead of paying for a bundle of channels it may be cheaper to drop them and get Netflix.

• Gaming can be expensive when considering that there are so many free games out there. It’s nice to get the best and the latest but if the cost is high and the budget needs to be reduced, drop the gaming charges and play the free games.

Cell phone offer a couple of ways to watch your costs.

• For families, the obvious choice is to buy a bundle package.
• Cell phones come with many services that may not be obvious. Make sure to check out what services there are and what or how they may cost you the customer. If the service doesn’t look useful or cost effective, ask it to be blocked so you never get stuck with unexpected costs.
• Besides the standard plans there is also Pay as You Go. For many people, this feature will work just fine. Make sure to check the features of this system out when deciding on a phone plan.
• Internet costs can be lowered by getting a slower speed.

 

Groceries

General grocery stores have both expensive name brands and less expensive store brands. Most larger chains have their own brand or use one of a handful of secondary brands that save you money by not advertising as much. Store brands simply save a lot of money over the big-name brands while giving good quality. Local corner stores generally provide a much better price for fruit and vegetables.

Snacks

Most snacks aren't healthy for you so cut those sugary treats out. Replace them with fruit which can be bought in bulk at very decent prices and are much healthier.

Shopping

1. Plan out your meals. Keeping a pad and pen at the ready in the kitchen always makes it easier to write down notes when they are thought of. Plan out meals ahead so it is clear what is really needed. Making a plan and a list means that it is much easier to know what is needed and what stores are needed to go to. It also helps if you leave the list at home. At least some of the information will be retained.
2. Make a list to take with you. To stick to the budget, buy what is on the list or something that is noticed that was missed. Don’t buy gum or chocolate bars by the cashier and don’t be swayed by the looks of tempting food. Stay away from impulse buying. The stores put many items at ends of aisles and in the middle of the aisles to get your attention and try to create impulse spending.
3. Know what you have. Check your fridge and cupboards before shopping. Check out what you have in the corners and also throw out anything that is too old. Knowing what you have means not buying something you have and spending twice for it. This usually means keeping food cupboards a bit organized so it is easy to see what is available. It is hard to do with a bunch of kids around but it does reduce time and effort when making up plans and lists.
4. To keep control of the budget it is also wise to take a pad and pen and write down how much each item costs as you go through the store and keep a running total. If the overall costs are getting close to the allotted budget, some changes (a cheaper or smaller package of something) can be made to the pile of groceries to get back under budget.
5. Leave the kids at home if possible. They are notorious for driving up grocery costs because of all of the goodies they want. If necessary, take a friend along that is not a shopper or knows how to control spending and wants to help you get what you need and get out of the store before spending on extras.
6. Fruits and vegetables can be bought cheaper at small grocery stores.

To Cut Costs sometimes means shopping a bit different and being able to spend money to save money. That means that some funds should be available to get the benefits of sales and bulk buying. This is contrary to taking only enough cash to buy what is on the list so it will depend on what kind of budgeting is necessary to keep control of the budget.

1. Don’t shop hungry if on a tight budget. This means stopping for food. Eat something at home before going out.
2. Shop with cash if credit cards are a weak point. It is a strategy that works very well. Withdraw funds from an ATM that doesn’t charge anything.
3. Buy in bulk when possible, take advantage of sales and buy extras of non-perishable items on sale. Make sure that the items will be used though. Getting a sale price is no good if the products are used or go bad.
4. Cooking in bulk and left-overs. Plan on cooking some extra and freeze it. This saves time and electricity. Check leftovers and incorporate them into the meal planning – it saves a bit more cash.
5. House brands (brands of the major grocery chains) are very good quality and much cheaper these days. If they don’t have an in-house brand, then check out the generic non-name brands. They are usually ok.
6. Avoid certain sections. If there are some products that are not needed but loved (potato chips, pop, candy for example) Do Not Go Down those aisles. Simply by-pass them to avoid having to fight the urge to buy them.
7. Dollar stores are much cheaper for non-food items. Large stores simply charge more for such items as cleaners and cooking utensils.

It is amazing how expensive it is to run a vehicle. Fuel, insurance and maintenance means working a lot just to pay to keep the car on the road.

• People need to realize that they don’t need such an expensive car with as many bells and whistles. Be reasonable when looking at buying a car in the first place. Getting a loan to cover lots of bells and whistles is reasonable when working with a budget.
• If you really want to save the pennies, then something as simple as cleaning out any dead weight in your car can improve your gas mileage.
• Keep your tire pressure at the recommended level. This will increase your mileage and make your tires last longer.
• In warm temperature areas, it is cheaper to roll down your windows then it is to use your air conditioner.
• Living in a city allows people the choice of transportation. Bus services are available thus negating the need to use the car all of the time or in some cases for a car at all. Buses can be used for individual trips or a monthly pass can be purchased.
• For those fortunate enough to do much of their work on a computer, working from home on occasion can save money.
• Plan shopping trips so that you don’t go too often and don’t run back and forth all over the place. Keep the trip as short as possible to save on fuel and vehicle wear and tear.
• Other choices can be car sharing. With large cities, it is hard to find people that live close by so it can be difficult to make such arrangements but in smaller cities or towns it can be a little easier.
• Look for gas coupons on the internet.
• Maintain your car. It is expensive to maintain a car but the car will last much longer. The saving is in not having to buy a new car so soon.

 

These categories are all discretionary. You can get really inexpensive clothes or really expensive clothes. The point is to be value conscious and disciplined. Don’t overspend just to get the best clothes or accessories. If need be, spend your money at a less expensive store befitting your budget.

• Dry cleaning costs a lot so only buy dry cleanable clothes if it can be afforded. Otherwise buy machine washable clothes.
• Check out second hand stores and consignment stores. They have some very decent options. Some consignment stores only sell very good quality items. To help others take your good used clothes to the used or consignment stores so they get a chance to get a deal.
• Buy at stores like TJ Max, Marshalls, Homesense and Winners. They have left over stock from other stores but at reduced prices. They don’t have the same selection of sizes and colors but the savings can be quite substantial.
• Don’t always buy trendy items. They don’t have such good shelf life.
• Learn to buy clothes that match lots of your clothes. That way you have more options with your clothes and don’t have to buy quite so many items.
• It may seem more expensive but buying a better-quality item that lasts way longer can be a better deal.
• Children don’t really need expensive clothe. In fact, they are completely happy in anything that is comfortable. Keep children’s clothes and trade them with other parents.
• Learn to sew (mend and alter). This method can help extend the life of some of your good clothes.
• Clothes with stains should be washed right away as a stain left will be much harder to get out.
• Air dry your clothes, they last longer. The tumbling does slowly wear the clothes a bit at a time.
• Maintain your shoes properly (polishing or waterproofing) and they will keep their looks longer. Don’t be afraid to get them resoled as well. It is usually cheaper than buying a new pair of shoes.
• Buying a better-quality shoe usually lasts longer than a cheaply built pair of shoes.
• Learn to use accessories to make outfits look a little different. It is less expensive.

 

Everyone likes to spend lots on entertainment. After all we all work and then want to enjoy our time off. But simple things like going out to a nice restaurant, to a concert or to a sporting event can get rather expensive. One good method is to not go out also often, instead treat yourself occasionally.

• Take advantage of going places that are free. Parks and walking trails are good. Cycling is a form of entertainment as well as good exercise.
• Use your local library for books and videos.
• Go to movies on special nights or matinees when the price is cheaper or rent a movie from your cable supplier.
• Dining out can be inexpensive or expensive depending on your choice of venues. It is never really cheap to eat out or go pubbing but the costs can be somewhat controlled. There are less expensive restaurants, less expensive dinners can be ordered and cut out the desserts, nurse your beverages to last longer and order water sometimes. It is even wise for some people to split dinners. It isn’t always reasonable to eat a whole large dinner by yourself.
• Split a couple of appetizers and skip the main meal. The average cost is much less than a whole meal for each person and can be very reasonably filling.
• Some restaurants and pubs have happy hours at reasonable times. This means having a few small snacks later at night at home.
• In big cities where there are cooking schools, the students will cook meals for very inexpensive costs, very inexpensive. It is something different as well.
• Look for restaurants that offer coupons or punch cards that offer a free meal after so many visits.
• Check the internet for deals. Special dinner deals may be found or some coupons or lists of some the local best cheap eats around.
• Some cities have entertainment books loaded with coupons for sites all around the city. These are generally for larger cities though.
• For even less expensive evenings, a pot luck dinner can be just the thing and liquor from the liquor store is much cheaper than at the pub or dance club.

 

They can cost a lot of money. Try to keep the purchases down to the basics. It isn't nice not splurging on children as you want them to grow up with good things and good memories but once again, keep the purchases to things that will last and really can be used over and over - not things that will break easily and be gone in a week.

Young kids don't need fancy clothes or even new clothes. They will grow out of them soon enough.

Toys are wanted constantly but many of them fall out of favor in a short period of time. Don't buy toys just to placate them. They figure out that if they nag or yell enough you'll buy them something. Then you just keep spending and spending.

It is actually a good learning experience if you explain to them (once they are old enough) why they can't have everything. If you're patient with them, they may learn some basic budgeting. Once a child gets old enough, chores can be paid for so the child starts to know how money goes around. As the child grows up, they will see the value of a small job or how to spend their allowance. This kind of approach can save money in the long run.

Credit cards are notorious for causing debt. They can also create points or money savings.

• Look for cards that create points, but don’t get every card there is just because they say they give a deal. Every time you register to get a new credit card your credit score gets looked at and your credit score is lowered. It may take a while to get your credit score back up. You have to check and see if lowering the value of your credit score is worth it compared to the savings to be had.
• Most cards that give a lot of cash back or points also have annual fees. Those fees may wipe out any savings. Make sure that the points or cash back is worth the annual fee.
• It is conceivable that one good card gives a good percentage of cash back or great points (with good gifts) and has no annual fees.
• Obviously, don’t buy anything on credit unless you can pay off the amount when a bill comes in. The interest on debt can amount to a lot over the course of a year.
• It is wise to keep the maximum expenses to a low amount. Don’t let the card company keep raising your limit. It is a ploy by them to get you to think you can afford and spend more.

How to save on bank fees

• Savings institutions have a very wide spectrum of accounts and fees attached to them. The good thing is that they have so many choices that one of them is bound to be a good fit for you. The problem is that you have to look over the selection closely and make a decision. Picking the wrong account to cost several dollars a month so pick the one that fits and save several dollars a month.
• Watch out for hidden or extra fees. If you do more than just use a savings and checking account, make sure to look for extra fees. A few checks may be free but extra checks could be expensive.
• Over limit fees are some of the biggest problems. If you have a tendency to make mistakes with overdrawing on your accounts, then pick an account with low service charges as well as trying to solve your basic problem. It isn’t nice to see a $10-30 charge to correct a bounced check.
• ATM machines can cost a lot if they are used a lot and they aren’t just from your own bank. Plan your cash withdrawals carefully so you don’t run into extra service charges.
• If using multiple services, ask the bank to give you a break due to volume. Asking doesn’t hurt.

Canadian bank account fee saver link: http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/Eng/about/downloads/Pages/Arebankf-Estceque.aspx
US bank account comparison site: https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/category/banking/?trk=nw_gn_4.0
Australian bank account link: https://www.finder.com.au/bank-accounts/fee-free