Can I just say...I can't believe it has been over A YEAR since we did one of our Money Tip Lists! You can see Tip Lists #1-#12 here to catch up on our last 5 years of money saving lists. What are our Tip Lists for our new readers? Well we started compiling lists of things we were doing to save and make money. We have learned so much by doing these, and always have such great feedback from our readers on these creative ways to pay off debt or put extra money in savings!
Don't buy books- To you authors out there...I'm sorry. Really I am, but there are so many free (and totally legal) ways to get a book you want to read. First there is the library, which I love so much. Perhaps the library doesn't have what you are looking for, but if you're patient did you know you can request books for them to purchase? I love doing this, and it usually only takes them a few weeks to get a book in. If the book you want is on a waiting list, go ahead and stick your name on it. My trick is to put your name on different methods of books--for example I can usually get a book more quickly if it is the audio or ebook, or sometimes even I'll do a large print one (I feel bad about this sometimes, because there are people who really need that large print. I tell myself I'll read it quickly, and return it right away...that way I feel less bad about it). You can also sign up for Audiobook or ebook companies that have their own library at a monthly fee (like Netflix but with books) or even better just have a group of friends that you share books with! If you love a book after reading it, and want to buy it...go for it. But if you're like me you read a book once, maybe twice if there is a 10 year time span between them. There are certainly some books that I love to keep around, and love to loan them out too if they are special books that I think everyone should read! I try to make a point of not buying a book until after I've read it and made up my mind if I love it or not. Interesting fact, I can even get some of my MBA textbooks through the library!
Sell back books. We love Half Price Books, which is a chain of bookstores. They let you sell back books for cash. I went through a huge de-cluttering phase when we were in our 1 bedroom apartment and sold back tons and tons of books. There they will also buy back magazines that you subscribe to, DVDs you may have doubles of, etc.
Use a Planner/Calendar that allows you to schedule over a year away- I've mentioned before how amazing it is to automate things...from your savings account to your credit card payments, and a calendar helps when there are things you can't automate. For example we do lots of free trials, and cancel before charges start! We've done this with all sorts of things: Audible, HBO go, Hulu, website annual fees, even things like our amazon prime annual fee...its good to have it on the calendar for when the new year will start, so you can make the decision to cancel it if you're not utilizing the service. I love my google calendar, and I have reminders set sometimes every 2 years for certain fees.
Buy during the off season. We know that next year at the new house we are going to want nice patio furniture. I'm so tempted to wait until next year to get it, but the deals right now are something to seriously take advantage of. That also means we will be scouring the holiday decor after-season this year so we can have great stuff for next year!
Check on price drops of big purchases. You don't have to do this for every little thing, but it is helpful when you buy something large. For example we made some big purchases at the furniture store for the new house (like our new couches!), and I checked on line once a week until it was delivered to see if it dropped in price. We saved about $50 in price matching with that technique!
Negotiate when appropriate. There are places that expect you to negotiate, and some that you shouldn't. Craiglist and Facebook Marketplace (my new favorite) are great examples of where to negotiate. Did you know you can also negotiate at the furniture store? Or don't forget to ask for a damage discount at any retailer if something you're buying is missing a zipper or has a ding.
Ask for itemization. This has been a big one for us lately. It's been one insurance claim after another this year. We just had our roof completed on the old house this week, and we were struggling with coordinating the roofers and insurance company for payment. Thanks to requesting an itemization of what was completed, we were able to get insurance to pay an extra $1,700 they were refusing to pay. Itemizing a hospital bill can save you a lot of money, just to allow yourself to review charges. People and systems make mistakes all the time! Would you be okay if Walmart gave you a receipt that stated "Stuff $400" rather than listing out what you bought? No way! Then why are you okay paying a $5,000 hospital bill without knowing what you are being charged for?
Sell. Your. Stuff. Every year I have to come back to this one. I previously loved Craiglist, then it was "Buy Sell Trade Groups" and now Facebook Marketplace is my new favorite way to sell things. We've sold about $2,000 worth of home items the last month in preparing to move. Here is what I love about it, you take a picture, put up a price, and someone messages you asking for it. We don't rearrange our schedules to meet that person, rather I find out what time they want it and I set it outside the door. I let them know we are busy, we may be around, but rather than coordinating I ask them to put the money under the mat at pickup. No hassle, and every day I walk outside and collect what was put under the mat. I can honestly say I have not once had someone run away with the item and not pay. And even better...I barely even notice my things are gone, so I'm selling things I don't really use, need, or miss.
Use a Planner/Calendar that allows you to schedule over a year away- I've mentioned before how amazing it is to automate things...from your savings account to your credit card payments, and a calendar helps when there are things you can't automate. For example we do lots of free trials, and cancel before charges start! We've done this with all sorts of things: Audible, HBO go, Hulu, website annual fees, even things like our amazon prime annual fee...its good to have it on the calendar for when the new year will start, so you can make the decision to cancel it if you're not utilizing the service. I love my google calendar, and I have reminders set sometimes every 2 years for certain fees.
Buy during the off season. We know that next year at the new house we are going to want nice patio furniture. I'm so tempted to wait until next year to get it, but the deals right now are something to seriously take advantage of. That also means we will be scouring the holiday decor after-season this year so we can have great stuff for next year!Check on price drops of big purchases. You don't have to do this for every little thing, but it is helpful when you buy something large. For example we made some big purchases at the furniture store for the new house (like our new couches!), and I checked on line once a week until it was delivered to see if it dropped in price. We saved about $50 in price matching with that technique!
Negotiate when appropriate. There are places that expect you to negotiate, and some that you shouldn't. Craiglist and Facebook Marketplace (my new favorite) are great examples of where to negotiate. Did you know you can also negotiate at the furniture store? Or don't forget to ask for a damage discount at any retailer if something you're buying is missing a zipper or has a ding.
Ask for itemization. This has been a big one for us lately. It's been one insurance claim after another this year. We just had our roof completed on the old house this week, and we were struggling with coordinating the roofers and insurance company for payment. Thanks to requesting an itemization of what was completed, we were able to get insurance to pay an extra $1,700 they were refusing to pay. Itemizing a hospital bill can save you a lot of money, just to allow yourself to review charges. People and systems make mistakes all the time! Would you be okay if Walmart gave you a receipt that stated "Stuff $400" rather than listing out what you bought? No way! Then why are you okay paying a $5,000 hospital bill without knowing what you are being charged for?
Sell. Your. Stuff. Every year I have to come back to this one. I previously loved Craiglist, then it was "Buy Sell Trade Groups" and now Facebook Marketplace is my new favorite way to sell things. We've sold about $2,000 worth of home items the last month in preparing to move. Here is what I love about it, you take a picture, put up a price, and someone messages you asking for it. We don't rearrange our schedules to meet that person, rather I find out what time they want it and I set it outside the door. I let them know we are busy, we may be around, but rather than coordinating I ask them to put the money under the mat at pickup. No hassle, and every day I walk outside and collect what was put under the mat. I can honestly say I have not once had someone run away with the item and not pay. And even better...I barely even notice my things are gone, so I'm selling things I don't really use, need, or miss.
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