Are you in charge of your spending or is your spending in charge of you? Learn how to manage your expenses and meet your financial goals.
By now, you’ve probably broken a New Year’s resolution, or two, or three. But there’s one resolution you can’t afford to break and that’s getting out of debt. You’re on the right path to success being on a debt relief plan, but this is no time to let your guard down. Toward that end, here are 9 tips to help you keep your commitment this year.
Following are five ways to save on your garden: 1) Grow from cuttings. Instead of spending at the nursery, use cuttings from your current plants to grow more greenery. 2) Skip the weed killer. Chemical killers can get pricey. Use a spray bottle of vinegar to kill unwanted grass and weeds, and even keep ants away. 3) Check online. From fertilizer to lawnmowers, try craigslist.org before shelling out big bucks. 4) Visit the dump. Large garden pots cost a fortune; old bathtubs don’t. Try your local dump for creative containers. 5) Reuse, recycle. Old panty hose legs make great ties for tomato plants—they even stretch a little to let your plants breath.
Following are five ways to save on your cell phone plan: 1) Review your usage. Are you chatting at night? During the day? On the weekend? Track when and whom you’re calling and find a plan to suit those habits. 2) Bundle your options. If you’re big on texting (20% of us average 10+ texts per day), don’t pay for each message. Make sure texts are included in your rate. 3) Consider a prepaid plan. This is a worthwhile option if you use fewer than 200 minutes per month. 4) Skip the insurance. It’s just not worth it: Insurance can run you $8 per month and you’ll still be responsible for a deductible (usually $50). 5) Track your international calls. If you often call overseas, investigate carriers that specialize in international plans. You’ll save tons over domestic carriers.
Following are five ways to save on groceries: 1) Shop high and low. Higher-priced items are likely to be chest height while bargains will be at the top or bottom of the shelves. Reach a little to save a little. 2) Don’t shop hungry. It’s harder to resist impulse items when you’re starving. Have a snack before you shop. 3) Make a list. When you’ve planned your purchases ahead of time, you’re more likely to stick to your budget. 4) Not all bargains are bargains. Don’t buy two pounds of tomatoes just because they’re on sale. If you end up throwing them out, you haven’t really saved. 5) Compare prices. If you buy the same things every week, shop around for the best prices. You may end up shopping at multiple locations, but you’ll save on weekly staples.
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