Word Document Master List - Budget Advice - Budget Advice by

Word Document Master List - Budget Advice - Budget Advice by The www.GrivingGrinch.com / www.GivingGrinch.Blogspot.com Master List Budget Advice for a Balanced Life PHYSIOLOGICAL TIPS Water/Gas/Electricity: Physiological Utilities , Many electric or gas companies offer home energy audits for free or reduced charges. These audits can identify ways you can reduce your energy costs. , Adjust home temperature settings when you are out or going to bed. Easier, purchase a programmable thermostat that will adjust temperature based on your daily routine. , Use a fan in place of air conditioning. A fan can make a room feel 5 degrees cooler than it really is. , Keep the heat out (or in) by keeping your windows, blinds and curtains shut. , On cool days/nights, open windows to cool your home. , Change your air conditioner filters to keep your system running efficiently. , Don’t heat or cool rooms that are not in use - shut the vents. , Turn off lights when you are not in a room. , Plant tress and bushes to shade sunlight coming in and heating your home. , Wash cloths in cold water; with today’s detergents the results are the same. , If you never run out of hot water, reduce the temperature setting on your water heater to minimize the cost of heating water. , Reduce your shower time in half. , Turn off running water when brushing or shaving. , Use a power strip to turn your devices on/off when not in use. Suggested by Shefali in NYC! , Close walk-in closet and bathroom doors when heating/cooling rooms. Suggested by Sonali in Bangkok! , Let dishes in the dishwasher air dry instead of heat dry. Suggested by Sonali in Bangkok! , Keep your freezer full (an empty freezer uses more energy to remain cold than a full one. Suggested by Kaen in Bangkok. , Water your grass at night when evaporation and wind minimize water waste , Cut shower time in half (sing elsewhere) , Turn off running water when brushing or shaving , Think gas is expensive? Bottled water costs $10 per gallon! Buy a Brita if you don't like the taste of tap. Bottled water is bad for the pocketbook and the environment. Suggested by Tom in K.C. , Water heater: New water heaters have settings like vacation, warm and Hot. They can set to vacation if they leave for vacation or set in warm not hot which should suit for hot shower. Suggested by Vijai in Houston. Clothing , Resole/refurbish shoes instead of buying new one. , Shop at discount, outlet or big box (Costco, Sam's) stores for your basic clothing needs (T-shirts, socks, etc). Submitted by Shefali in NYC! Food & Water , Stick to a prepared shopping list to avoid impulse purchases , Grocery shopping while hungry leads to the unnecessary purchase of junk foods that provide a quick fix. , Cut down on more costly convenience items like pre-cut fruits and pre-mixed salads. , Avoid fresh vegetable spoilage by buying frozen alternatives when applicable. , Eat more greens and beans, cutting back on expensive meat products. The www.GrivingGrinch.com / www.GivingGrinch.Blogspot.com Master List Budget Advice for a Balanced Life , Convenience stores usually charge higher prices for less quantity than discount grocers. , Non-food items are often priced higher at grocery stores than at super centers. , Try store brand products, but check prices…sometimes to name brands cost less. , Use store discount cards, but still comparison shop, discount card promotions are not always the better value. , Grow your own vegetables helping feed both a physiological need and, quite possibly, a social or esteem need. , Purchase non-perishable items in bulk (or when on special). Suggested by Clarence in NYC! , Make a week’s worth of lunches on Sunday and put them in a spot in the refrigerator that you can grab and go. For example - a sandwich (ham lasts a week), yogurt, carrots, and an apple (or other fruit) are easy to transport, won't go bad sitting and won't smell up the office when you eat it. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan. , Take tea bags or instant coffee bags to work. All you have to find is hot water to get your caffeine fix. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan. Housing & Relocation , Rent out extra space in your home or apartment to reduce individual housing and utility costs. , When buying furniture, U-Haul rental costs $19/day versus $100 for home delivery. Suggested by Niki in Houston! , When looking for an apartment always ask for specials and waived application fees. Also, apartments without “views” tend to cost less. Suggested by Niki. Medical (Medicinal) , Switch from brand name drugs to a generic alternative. They are identical products sans the extensive R&D and marketing overhead. , Consider over-the-counter alternatives to prescription drugs. , Comparison shop pharmacies for lower prices, many are offering a catalog of generic drugs at very low prices. , Use mail-order drug providers (ExpressScripts, MedCo) for routine prescription refills. Submitted by Sonali in Bangkok! SAFETY TIPS Financial/Credit , Keep six month’s salary as an emergency savings fund to pay for unplanned expenditures. , Automatically deduct money to go emergency savings or retirement accounts (IRA, Roth IRA). ou don't miss money that is never put into your banking account, especially if it's only $50-100 per week, but you'll be thankful at retirement. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan. , Check your credit report 2-3 times a year. Government regulations entitle you to view and print your credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies for free once a year. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com and rotate between agency reports every four months. , Only buy what you can afford and avoid interest charges by paying off your credit cards each month. , Avoid late charges by sending bill payments 7-10 business days before their due date. , Eliminate the cost and inconvenience of mail by using your bank’s bill pay feature. The www.GrivingGrinch.com / www.GivingGrinch.Blogspot.com Master List Budget Advice for a Balanced Life , Avoid ATM fees by using only your bank’s machines – or – if you must use an out of network machine cut down on the frequency by taking out large dollar amounts each time. For example, a $3 ATM fee on a $20 withdrawal costs you 15%. Take out $100 instead, a 3% fee. Insurance , Lower your auto insurance premium by raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive to $500 or $1000, if you can risk the higher deductible. , Remove collision and comprehensive insurance on old cars with low resale value if you’re willing to part with your car if accident repairs get close to replacement value. , Cut unwarranted services, like auto rental and roadside services from auto insurance; avoid purchasing life insurance if you have no dependents or life insurance for your kids. , Pay insurance annually (or semi-annually) to eliminate service fees associated with making more periodic, smaller payment amounts (monthly, quarterly). , Ask your insurance company if they offer a discount if you consolidate your plans with one company (home, auto, life, etc). , Study your employers benefits, many offer insurance (life, disability, etc) up to one year's salary (or longer) for a deeply reduced fee. Submitted by Sonali in Bangkok! Job Security , Request periodic job reviews to know how you stand with your employer. Submitted by Shefali in NYC! , If your company is experiencing trouble, stay ahead of the game by networking, looking for alternative employment opportunities. Submitted by Sonali in Bangkok! Medical , Participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), which allow you to set aside pre-tax income for medical and daycare expenses. , I recently lost our Major Medical insurance when I quit my job. Since then, I have been ordering my prescriptions on-line from different pharmacies in Canada and receive the supplies in the mail. I visited my doctor, who was glad to review my medications and changed most of them over to generic, which are now available from several pharmacies for $4.00 a month or $9.99 for 3 month supply. I am down to only three items I must order on-line from Canada. After all is said and done, I am now paying out less out-of-pocket for my total prescriptions than I was by paying the co-pays on my Major Medical insurance coverage. Check out the Canadian pharmacies, and ask your doctor to review your meds to see if generics are available. Suggested by Carol in Houston. Transportation , Car pool. , Public transportation. , Bike shorter distances. , Minimize trips, group your errands. , Keep your engine tuned and your tires properly inflated saves gas. , Replace your air filters every 15,000 miles (more often if you frequently drive on dirty roads). , Dive on the highway with your windows up for better fuel economy. The www.GrivingGrinch.com / www.GivingGrinch.Blogspot.com Master List Budget Advice for a Balanced Life , Replace your car’s air filter as recommended improves gas mileage. Do-it-yourself. It’s easy and the people at AutoZone (or other chain shops) will help if you have questions. , Remove excess weight from your car. Stop using your trunk for storage and you will improve fuel efficiency 2% for every 100 pounds of loose weight. , Keep windows shut while driving on highways. When driving in town the A/C is a efficiency killer, but close your windows on highways or an increase in drag will reduce fuel economy by 10%. Utilities: Safety , Phone: Check phone bill to remove optional features or services that you may not use – caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, long distance. , Eliminate your home phone if you don’t have a need for a land line. , Comparison shop the price of VOIP phone planes versus traditional land lines. , Cell Phone: Check cell phone plan to remove optional features or services that you may not use – texting, Internet, ring tones, excess minutes. , Electricity: In many states competing energy companies charge different rates to attract customers. The delivery of energy is regulated so it doesn’t matter who you buy from, but the price difference can really add up. Suggested by Niki in Houston, TX! , Always asks for a better deal. Companies don’t always list their best deals because they aren’t profitable. For example, $12/month cable for basic channels. $10/month home phone line with limited number of outbound calls, etc. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan. Pet Care , And don't forget about your pets and their need for emergency kits. We live in LA and have earthquake kits for both of our dogs. Got most of the stuff at and used code "RADIO" to save 10% and get free shipping. Also, a lot of info shows up at about what's new for your pets in terms of health, safety and play. Suggested online by reader Uccodes SOCIAL TIPS Communication (Cell Phone, Internet, etc) , Avoid cell phone overage fees by knowing your plan limits and fees. , Limit the use of ancillary services like web access, text, ring tones and games. , Before renewing a contract ask for improved services at your current rate (earlier night time, more minutes, text features, etc). Dating , Day at the beach. , Picnic. , Browse around a bookstore. , Art Fair. , Free Community Events: Concerts, Programs, etc. , Dine at BYOB establishments and avoid the mark-ups on alcohol. , Visit the zoo, museum, public parks and recreational centers. , Afternoon movies (off-peak pricing) The www.GrivingGrinch.com / www.GivingGrinch.Blogspot.com Master List Budget Advice for a Balanced Life , Dine for less, visit Restaurant.com for discounts in your area: www.restaurant.com , Have dinner at home, go out for dessert. Day Care , Consider starting a community-babysitting program among friends, family and neighbors. Dinner & Drinks , Coffee shop math: cup of coffee $1, latte no refills $4.50. Ambiance, equal. , Beer $4. Wine $7. Mixed drink $9. Three beers for $12 versus three mixed drinks for $27. , Drink water or soda in place of alcoholic beverages. , Skip dessert. , Dining out? Look for BYOB (Bring your own bottle) restaurants. They charge a small corkage fee (for beer or wine), but you’ll always come out ahead compared to paying restaurant market-up prices. Suggested by Niki in Houston, TX! , Make lunch the biggest meal of the day. Restaurants often run great lunch specials and will charge twice as much during dinner time. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan. Family Activities , Free Community Events: Concerts, Programs, etc. , Programs offered through Parks and Recreation Services. , Borrow books, movies, music from your library. , Visit the zoo, museum, public parks and recreational facilities , Participate in family volunteer activities. , Don’t overspend on children’s entertainment; kids prefer time spent together regardless of the cost. Gifts , Give the gift of time: offer to baby sit, help with a project, teach a skill, etc. , Make your own gifts (jams, jewelry, knit-wear, etc)! Submitted by Sonali in Bangkok! , If you have friends in common, go in on a gift together; usually you can give a nicer gift for less by splitting the cost. Suggested by Saheli in San Francisco! , When you see a good gift idea on sale purchase it and put it in a dedicated area so you can 'grab and go.' Keep good re-gifting items, but post a note so you know where the gift originally came from. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan. , Buy $1 cards for every occasion and keep them in a box (in the gift closet). Write out a full year's worth of birthday cards every January and keep them organized by date. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan. , Reuse gift bags. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan. Hobbies , Make volunteering a hobby. , Visit your library to quench your reading, movie and music fix. Submitted by Clarence in NYC! , Join a book club at your local library. , Join a sports league or other community groups. The www.GrivingGrinch.com / www.GivingGrinch.Blogspot.com Master List Budget Advice for a Balanced Life , Check out the website www.meetup.com and join a local group with the same interests. Suggested by Carol in Houston. Personal Care , Use dry cleaning for professional clothing and not for daily or casual wear. Religion , Many places of worship offer “singles” clubs, youth organizations…join the choir if you enjoy singing. Suggested by Niki in Houston, TX! Social , Invite friends over instead of going out. , Suggest less expensive activities when hanging out. , In the summer time; spend your weekends enjoying many free events your area has to offer: public festivals, free concerts in the park, etc. Submitted by Andy Sarasota, FL. Shopping , Don’t shop when you are bored. , Don’t shop to curb your stress – exercise instead. Submitted by Nick, NYC. , Toss out/cancel mail order catalogs – what you don’t see you won’t want. , Limit small dollar impulse purchases – they add up and tend to fill a need to shop, not a need for the specific product. , Shop for trendy clothes during the off-season for a deep discount (winter clothes after Christmas, summer clothes in the Fall). Submitted by Sonali in Bangkok! , Cloths Shopping: Many retailers have weekly “markdown days (for example, Gap markdown days are usually on Wednesday). Suggested by Niki in Houston, TX! Transportation , Frequent users of public transportation can save buy buying monthly or annual passes. Submitted by Shefali in NYC! , Cruise (control) on highways: Cruise control cuts down on unnecessary speed fluctuation. It also prevents the tendency to gradually drive faster over long trips. , Zero to 60 in 20 seconds? Your car’s engine requires more fuel when you accelerate quickly. , Coast to Zero: Stop and go driving guzzles gas, especially in city traffic. Avoid it when it’s prudent and you can improve fuel economy by up to 8%. Two suggestions: (1) time lights, don’t floor it on green only to The www.GrivingGrinch.com / www.GivingGrinch.Blogspot.com Master List Budget Advice for a Balanced Life have to stop at the next red and (2) limit quick stop and go behavior by coasting - instead of accelerating - towards a yellow/red light or stop sign. Travel , Compare fares between low cost and major carriers. , Consider flying from secondary airports, many offer cheaper rates. For example, instead of Cleveland, consider Akron/Canton. Instead of Boston, consider Manchester or Providence. , Save on airfare by staying over a Saturday night. , Purchase your tickets in advance, around 21 days before travel, for lower fares. , Avoid paying for airline extras: packing under the weight limit, bring your own headset, meal and personal entertainment (DVD, book, etc). , When out of town, visit a local grocery store to stock up on snacks. , Make sure to take advantage of all airline reward programs by collecting points for miles--you'd be surprised on how many discounts/freebies you can get from their programs (besides free travel)! Submitted by Saheli in San Francisco! , Compare the cost of flying versus driving. With gas prices reaching record levels, air travel (even for short-haul trips) might come out ahead. Suggested by Niki in Houston, Texas! , Trip Research: Online or check out travel books from your local library. , Hotels: Before making a bid, compare notes with other Priceline or Hotwire shoppers at www.biddingfortravel.com or www.betterbidding.com , Consider Renting an apartment at your destination: More space, a fully functional kitchen and the feeling of being at home away from home…perfect for family or couples. , Passport Photos: Instead of paying $15-20 for “professional passport photos,” use your digital camera. Take several picks up against a neutral backdrop, select the best 2x2 of your face and print/cut the quantity you need. , Packing for Travel: Avoid baggage check fees by packing light. Coordinate your outfits and shoes so you can mix and match. For those with children consider (a) buying diapers upon arrival (b) bringing disposable bibs that cover outfits to prevent frequent change and (c) packing disposable toys to occupy your child’s attention. Suggested by Kristin in Michigan! , Airport Transport: Compare the cost of taxi, shuttle, bus services and airport parking before choosing your mode of transportation to and from the airport. , At the Airport: Bring an empty water bottle; after security fill it up at the food court water/soda fountain. Good for the pocket book and the environment. Suggested by Kanak in Michigan! , Local Transport: Buy local transportation passes in bulk if you’re going to use the service frequently. Consider staying next to a local transport hub for quick and cheap access around town. , Overnight Travel: In Europe overnight trains with sleeper accommodations more than offset a hotel night, it actually gets you to your destination while you sleep. , Staples: Instead of room service, visit a local grocery store and stock up on water, foods, snacks and drinks saving time and money. Suggested by Kristin. , Museums for Less: If you’re not a museum buff, drop right before closing time. Many are free the final 30 minutes. , Communications: Use internet cafes or public libraries to communicate to avoid over-priced hotel internet services or international calling fees. The www.GrivingGrinch.com / www.GivingGrinch.Blogspot.com Master List Budget Advice for a Balanced Life , Drink for Less: Beers, not spirits. A local beer carries the pride of a region…unless you’re in a vodka producing nation (than drink vodka). For those with children, stock up on libations at the local grocery store so Mom and Dad can have a drink after the kids doze off. Suggested by Kristin. , Less (foreign) Change: Get rid of extra foreign currency by paying as much of your hotel bill with your remaining local currency before using your credit card. Miscellaneous , Cancel unused memberships , Cancel unused cable services , Cancel magazine subscriptions you don’t read Submit Your Articles and Suggestions for Future Newsletters advice@givinggrinch.com