Savings & Investment

Saving Money the Old Fashioned Way

Most people are interested in saving money, especially in tough economic times. The cost of living constantly increases, and there is no shortage of complaints surrounding higher fuel costs. The more you spend on everyday things, the less cash in your pocket. This creates problems when you’re trying to build a nest egg. However, adopting some of you grandma’s penny pinching techniques can increase your disposable income, giving you an opportunity to build your savings account.

There are no hard and fast rules regarding saving money. Some people build their accounts by only shopping at secondhand stores and yard sales, whereas others discover that avoiding debt is the best way to keep money in the bank.

Are you looking for simple and practical ways to build a cash reserve? Here are four old fashioned ways to save money.

  1. Reuse items. Don’t quickly throw items away. This not only reduces your amount of trash, but benefits your pocket as well. Old t-shirts can be reused as clothes or rags to clean your home. And if you receive plastic grocery bags, reuse these as kitchen trash bags. Newspapers are excellent for cleaning windows and other glass surfaces, and once you’ve emptied a liquid dish washing bottle, fill this bottle with water and water your plants.
  2. Clip coupons. This is a tedious job, but the savings can lower your grocery bill and free up cash. This old fashioned strategy has helped millions of families, and if you’re serious about saving money, take a few minutes each week to browse the newspaper. Go online and download printable grocery coupons from manufacturer websites, and check with local grocery stores and inquire about double coupon days. Some stores have ad match and they’ll match any competitor’s coupons, which can result in bonus savings. But coupons aren’t only helpful when grocery shopping. They can also save money at restaurants, clothing stores and electronic stores.
  3. Grow your own food. You don’t need a green thumb to be your own farmer. Not to say you have to grow all your food at home. But if you have the space and the desire to save money, consider a small vegetable or herb garden. It doesn’t cost much to get started, and once your garden thrives, you’ll save money on produce. Do you live in an apartment or don’t have a backyard? No worries. Container gardens work just as well – all you need is a small patio space, sunlight and water.
  4. Start a coin jar. This classic method can turn your spare change into serious cash. Rather than scatter spare change all over the house, put this money in a designated jar. Let the coins accumulate for a year, and then roll and take the coins to the bank. You can exchange the coins for dollar bills or deposit the cash into your savings account. Use this money to build a financial cushion, or put the cash toward a vacation fund. Then again, this might be your only chance to buy something special for yourself or someone else.

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