More Saving Money Tips!

Here are a few more ways that we try and save some money.  Most save little bits at a time, but things do add up.  Every little bit helps.

• Use your public library.  Don't buy books, unless you hit a great sale!  The library can supply you with more than enough reading material.  They usually get new selections and you can request books from other libraries, if they don't have what you are looking for. You can also sign out movies, books on cd or tape, magazines, and a host of other things.  One library we used to go to, you could even sign out art for a month. 
• Check at Goodwill or Salvation Army first.  If you are in need of something check these places first.  Alot of times you don't find what you are looking for but SOMETIMES you get lucky. We have purchased two perfect suits for the boys for church for about $5 each. You can't beat that!
• Limit your wardrobe.  Buy used stuff from the goodwill.  The less clothing you have the easier it is to maintain and keep up with the laundry.

• Make your hobbies useful skills.  My children are learning to sew.  They like it.  It will come in handy and they will have something useful to show for all their effort.
• Limit Toys.  Too many toys can cost a fortune, not to mention all that cleaning up.  I have found too many toys give my children toy/choice overload.  They end up dumping everything and not playing with anything.
• Wait 24 hours before jumping in on big purchases.  This is hard.  Really hard.  But if you do sometimes you change your mind or think of a better way.  Give yourself time to reflect.
• Sometimes...maybe once a week or so... turn off the lights.  Use candles and/or oil lamps in one room of the house.  It will be amazing to watch everyone gravitate together towards the light.  It is fun sitting around telling stories and reading together.  Remember to watch the kiddo's around open flames.

• Use coupons.  This can be a whole post in itself.  Needless to say you can learn to coupon.  Try it out.  My husband is very successful at it.  He has been saving about half off our groceries consistantly.  That adds up!  We have been using our whole budget and getting extra for food storage.
• Make your own cleaning supplies.  There are millions of posts about making your own dish washer detergent or laundry soap.  Try them out.  They literally cost pennies.  Most stuff you can make with baking soda and vinegar. 
• Bake your own bread.  This saves some money...it however has not helped our waist line.  We tend to devour homemade bread.  Learning to do this can help you in a pinch with your budget.  If you are out of money budgeted for groceries but now need bread, you can make some yourself and not have to go to the store.

• Plant a garden.  We do have lots of garden.  You don't have to have a big garden.  Start out small.  Plant things you will eat.  If you have enough room plant some extra to can or put up for the winter.
• Repurpose things.  Use your noggin' before you go shoppin'.  Is there a way you can fill the need you have by using something you already own? 
• If you have the need to buy some decorative item for your house...stop and just rearrange the furniture.  I love to rearrange!  People pick on me because the house is never the same way when they come back.  It makes me happy and it is a new way of looking at the things you have and love.

• Plant some berry bushes if you have the room.  We save so much money on fruit by having our own bushes.  We get tons and we can freeze or can the extra to last us all year. 
• Drink water. It's free.

Do the work yourself. Don't automatically go and hire someone to do something. Go to the library if you need help learning a new skill. Read about it and then try it yourself. Steve is great at this one. He has built decks, club houses, kitchen cabinets, refinished floors, tiled, painted, built furniture etc. If we had to hire someone for all those things we would be broke in no time.

• The hardest one for last...Try and stay organized.  When things get disorganized we forget what we have or where it is, we end up spending money on the same things that we already own.  Keep track of your stuff.

Well I hope this post helps someone, or helps you think about some ways you can save money.  Try some new ideas.  Also, help me out...if you have any new ideas let me know.  We can save together!