It’s safe to say that most people are looking for ways to alter some aspect of their routine in order to be as frugal and financially conscious as possible — especially with the holidays creeping up. Making small changes in your daily routine can be far more economical than you would think. In order to hang on to your hard earned cash, here are five easy ways to save a few pennies here and there:

1. Shoe Repair Shops- So, one of your favorite pairs of shoes started showing how much you love them. Instead of retiring them for a new pair, visit one of those handy shoemakers you see around midtown. For $20 or less you should be able to mend worn heels, color and polish scuffs or reinforce the tips of your shoes. Many people have forgotten about the art of cobbling, but it is an excellent and cost effective way to extend the life of your footwear for far less than the cost of a new pair of shoes.

2. Savings Club Cards- Have you ever went shopping at the supermarket or drugstore and been asked “Do you have a club card?” If you’ve been saying “no”, you should do a rewind. Take five minutes out of your time to fill out the savings card form. You’ll get some good discounts, and in some cases the cards will accumulate points that help you earn a coupon worth $5 or $10 bucks off. It’ll save you money on household and personal items that you’d buy anyway.

3. Skip the Beverages- When eating out, it’s often the drinks that tip your bill over your desired cost. Sometimes plain old tap water with lemon can suffice and you’ll notice a sizable difference in the bill. If you absolutely need the fizz of some soda or a bottled water, purchase a six-pack of soda at the grocer and store it at the office. You’ll end up spending half the price than that of restaurants and delis.

4. Bring Lunch to Work- One simple and common way to save is to forgo buying lunch during the work week. Stick to a simple lunch that you can carry to work or pack some leftovers from your dinner from the night before and watch the the savings add up. Another idea I find helpful is “half-brown bagging” lunch. For example, lets say you have the necessary parts for a terrific sandwich at home and you pack one for lunch but you know it won’t quite fill you up, stop at the local deli or your company’s cafeteria and pick up an economical cup of soup. You’ll then have a balanced meal that still costs half of what a usual lunch time soup and sandwich combo costs at the local cafe.

5. Be Crafty- If a staple piece in your wardrobe gets a bit worn, be crafty and look into altering it. If the elbow of a long-sleeved shirt is worn out and otherwise in good condition, do a quick cut and sew job and turn it into a short-sleeved shirt. Or, let’s say you have an old jacket that you want to spruce up a bit. Change the buttons or add other details for an inexpensive, but new, look.

By expanding on and combing these tips with others, you can save even more money. For example, try using your club card to buy a six-pack of your favorite drink to keep at work when brown bagging lunch. Making small adjustments can have a large positive impact on your overall budget, so never underestimate what the savings of a bit of pocket change.

No related posts.