Miscellaneous Ways to Save Money (continued)
Check Bills and Statements Regularly. All kinds of businesses, from banks to cable companies will tack on fees for no reason. For example, a bank might suddenly start charging you $20 a month for the checking account that is supposed to be free. Check your phone bill regularly to make sure you haven’t become the victim of “cramming” which is a term defined as third parties putting small fees on your phone bill without your permission.
Swap services -- Trade and barter services with your neighbors, relatives and friends. You can swap services, such as child care, pet sitting, house sitting and the like. You can also borrow equipment, tools and appliances from each other rather than purchasing them. You can find out more about trading goods and services at these websites: swaptree.com – swaptreasures.com and craigslist.com.
Rent stuff rather than buying it – If you only need an item for a one-time event, it’s more cost-effective to rent it for a day or two rather than buying it. For example, supermarkets often let people rent out carpet cleaners for one day. You might want to rent other items as well – bicycles for just an afternoon, camping equipment for a weekend in the mountains, fine china and silverware for a family reunion. Websites such as Rentalic.com and SnapGoods.com allow you to both find and list things available for rent. Similarly, there are websites that let you borrow things from others, such as small appliances or books and such.
Find Valuables at Goodwill. You can bid on all sorts of items at Goodwill stores all over the country by visiting shopgoodwill.com. You might be able to purchase items at a bargain price and turn around and sell them on other websites for a profit.
Give up your gym membership. Why take 30 minutes to drive all the way to an unsanitary gym and wait to use each machine when you can create your own in-home gym for about $1500. That sounds like a lot of money, but it isn’t when you consider what you pay between $30 and $80 each month for a gym membership, which is $360 to $960 per year. The only equipment you need is an elliptical machine, a total-body machine, a few dumbbells and accessories.
Don’t be the first to buy new technology gadgets. When microwave ovens became popular in the 1970s, they sold for $800. Now you can buy a really good microwave for less than $100. Computers used to cost more than $4000 and now they are less than $1,000. This is true of most things, including smart phones. If you wait a year or two or even three would be better to buy new technology, you save a fortune. Someday smartphones will cost less than $100, and if you want to save tons of money, you will wait until that day comes before you buy one. Never be an early adopter of new technology because you always pay a premium for it.
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Ways to Save Money
Mattresses. The easiest way to save money when buying a new mattress is to haggle with the sales people in the mattress store. Most people aren’t aware that if you ask for a lower price on a mattress, you’re very likely to get it.
Mattresses are most likely to be on sale in February around President's Day and in July around Independence Day, where you can get about 20 percent off, but you should still haggle for a better price, even if the mattress is on sale. Watch out for the high pressure tactics sales people will use to get you to buy the more expensive mattresses, which are usually located near the door. A more expensive mattress won’t necessarily be better than a cheaper one -- the promise that you will get a better night's rest with an expensive mattress isn't true. You have to test each mattress and see how it feels to find the one that offers you the most support.
Cosmetics and Beauty Products. Research has found that there is little difference in quality between higher-priced department store cosmetics and beauty products and those you find in drug stores, whether they be name-brand or store-brand products. The price of cosmetics in drugstores varied significantly, so you should compare prices at the major drugstore chains with Walmart and Target to find the best deals. Another way to save on cosmetics is to buy the store-brand name rather than name-brand cosmetics and beauty products. Save even more by buying at end of season clearance sales when you can often buy two for one or deeply discounted cosmetics the store is trying to get rid of so that they can restock their shelves with new merchandise. Wait until cosmetics go on sale before buying them. For example, Avon has outlet sales when it’s getting rid of last season’s merchandise and you can save as much as 70% shopping at Avon online.
Moving costs. Research has uncovered that you can save as much as 30 percent on your moving expenses if you do so during a weekday in the middle of the month rather than a weekend at the beginning or end of a month when most people move. Moving rates are highest in the summer months when people with children try to move while school is out. Fewer people move after school starts in September through December, so you could get a price break there too. Before you sign up with a moving company, visit websites such as Upack.com to find out more about a moving company’s reputation.
