In the past couple of years, people have been concocting innovative techniques in order to save money while enjoying their vacations. This has led to the rise in popularity of staycations, local trips, and more emphasis on the quality of time spent rather than the city with great things like road trips, family picnics, and nature journeys.

However, there are still great places to vacation at a fraction of the cost. In this article, I will include some national and international vacation spots that will offer you the most luxurious and enjoyable vacation memories without leaving you with a hole in your pocket. To help you further,

1. Atlanta, Georgia

Home of large cultural institutions and affordable hotels, Atlanta was given the highest ranking on the Travel Value Index. It is full of entertainment and discounts and should be considered for any vacation.

Destinations:

• The World of Coca-Cola Tour (Free to $15)
• CNN Studio Tour, a tour of the news service ($8 to $12)
• Centennial Olympic Park, a magnificent park where the 1996 Olympic Games were held (Free)

2. Huntington Beach, CA

Located just minutes from Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, downtown LA, and the Sunset Strip, Huntington Beach is one of the most popular surfer destinations in California and boasts affordable hotel rates.

Destinations:

• Museums
• Main Street Shopping
• Boat and Kayak in Huntington Harbor

3. Halifax, Nova Scotia

An outdoor escape, Halifax is an affordable destination because most of the tourist spots are natural outdoor areas. Only a 90 minute plane trip from Eastern United States, Halifax has become one of the popular American destination spots in recent years.

Destinations:

• Peggy Cove’s Lighthouse (Most photographed in the world)
• Saturday Brewery Market with arts and crafts.
• Point Pleasant Park (Free forest adventure)

4. Solomon’s Island, Maryland

Solomons Island is a beautiful Gardens of Eden tucked away next to Maryland. People enjoy the peaceful wilderness in the islands, including lush and dense forests. Tourists enjoy numerous outdoor activities, including kayaking and swimming.

Destinations:

• Calvert’s Art Museum ($7)
• St. Mary’s City
• Calvert Cliffs State Park

5. Riga, Latvia

A historic city in Eastern Europe, this former Soviet Union country has modernized its historic centers but kept its beautiful folk traditions. The country has lowered the value of its currency in hopes of joining the Euro. Rated one of the best values for traveling in Europe.

Destinations:

• Majori or Dzintari sea side escapes
• Architecture of Independence
• Jugenstil

6. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Considered the most European of the South American travel destinations, Buenos Aires is a crown jewel for tourists. It has beautiful cultural events, with large Italian, German, Jewish and Armenian populations, a flourishing night life, and the exciting outdoor excursions.

Destinations:

• Tens of inexpensive museums in different parts of town.
• Japanese Gardens
• Buenos Aires Fisheries

7. Panama City, Panama

Panama City is a very affordable travel spot that is getting more attention as drug wars in Mexico scare away tourists. With an economy very much used to American dollars and American tourists, more and more people are visiting during their Spring and Summer holidays.  Airfare is under $100 from some cities in the country, which already saves thousands for a small family.

Destinations:

• Old Town – Mi Puebliti
• Metropolitan National Park – protected rain forest.
• Colonial Panama Cultural Sites

There are many other great spots for vacationing. Everyone should take some time and do some research – there will always be a beautiful spot to fit your budget.

This series consists of the 4 posts below:

Part I- Save Money on Electronic Bills
Part II – Save Money on General Utilities
Part III- Save Money on Groceries
Part IV- Save Money on Clothes

Save Money on Clothes

I have made a habit of beginning these articles with the amount the average household spends on the topic being discussed and this article will be no exception. The average family of four spends $187 a month on clothing – a significant investment for items that could last many years.

Looking good does not mean you have to leave a hole in your wallet. There are many things you can do to dress like a million, but for only a fraction of what you spend. Follow me on these guaranteed to work (and already experimented) tips to save you money.

1) Try surplus outlets for amazing prices, especially during holidays.

You won’t believe the kind of discounts you can find at outlets, for example… Kenneth Cole outlet or Nordstrom Rack. Last week, I stopped by the Tangier outlets on my way back from Vegas (many of you might be familiar with this one – its always full of people).

I’m into dress shoes, so I decided to stop by Aldo to buy myself a new pair. I know that a decent set at regular Aldo can cost around $85 to $110. I got a very slick black pair for only $38.99. A savings of $50 for one pair of shoes is almost unimaginable, especially when its not on sale.

Outlets are great because they have all your favorite brands side by side. I recommend them for sunglasses, purses, and designer watches the most.

2) Buy versatile clothing that can be worn in more than one place.

A website I read cleverly said, “People wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time.” I couldn’t agree with this more. Why not buy clothing that can be worn at work and while your out? Men- some of the nicest dress shirts you can buy are perfect for this. Women- black shirts and sweaters are great for you because they can be formal and also casual.

3) Buy in the off season.

Buying in the off season for any kind of clothing is a great way to save money. Buy your winter clothes in the summer and your summer clothes in the winter. This will save you a lot of money because most clearances in department stores are because of seasonal issues. Last year, I bought a leather jacket valued at $350 for only $75. This winter, I bought 5 short sleeve shirts from Macy’s for only $60. The possibilities are endless- explore them.

4) Shop at Ross.

I don’t want to seem like I have a hidden agenda because I don’t. Ask any of my friends and they will tell you how much I love shopping at Ross because they have great products for a fraction of the cost. Sometimes the quality of the product is lower, but its not like your buying packed meat, you can always check for flaws. You can find great casual shoes with brand names for only $20!

5) Shop Online.

Stores love putting their older stuff online because their selling space is limited. Go to any department store site and click through straight to the Sale and Clearance section. You will be positively surprised at what you find. It’s also faster because the price is right under the product image- so you can just browse for prices that fit your budget.

Many bloggers write about more radical methods of saving money – such as visiting charity stores, buying used, and wearing clothes double sided. I am more conservative in my approach and I feel like you don’t have to sacrifice yourself to look good.

I highly recommend reading one of my older articles – 15 Secrets to Department Store Shopping for more tips.

I want to know what you do to find great clothes for cheap- any particular stores or websites you visit? How do you feel about buying from garage sales or charities?

Where are some places you like to shop?

This series consists of the 4 posts below:

Part I- Save Money on Electronic Bills
Part II – Save Money on General Utilities
Part III- Save Money on Groceries
Part IV- Save Money on Clothes

Save Money On Groceries

The average family of four spends $244 a week on groceries. This translates to over $1,000 a month – a large expense for Americans that can become a very heavy burden if the times are tight. However, the good news is that wherever the spending is high, the saving potential is high too.

Everyone tries their best to save on food purchases, but making a significant difference on your budget is not easy. It takes skill and consistency to turn around years of habits. Personally, I feel like it takes real determination to avoid binge spending.

1) Buy The Groceries You Generally Use Ahead of Time, On Sale.
I learned this tip from a woman in a supermarket who practically bought two full carts of groceries for about ten dollars. Using coupons, promotions, and everything you could think of, she got so much savings that the clerk complimented her skill. I had to ask her what the secret to saving was and she told me she always bought things on sale and arranged her meal plans around what she had. She told me never to wait until you needed something to buy it, but buy it when its cheap. This tip has saved me a lot of money. Once a week, I check the fliers I receive in the mail, and do the shopping accordingly. My weekly spending dropped from $150 to $105.

2) Try the small ethnic stores for cheap groceries
You might know that Indian stores have great spices for a lower cost and that Latino ‘carnicerias’ have the best ranchera meat, for a fraction of the cost. Not only will you be delighted at the beautiful cultures in your neighborhood, you will save a bunch of money on groceries.

Inside an Indian Store

3) Avoid buying items placed next to the checkout.

If you want to waste money, buying these items is the way to do it. If you have any idea about marketing, you should know that most people spend a lot of their time waiting in the line, where they are incited to buy items from around the checkout. Single packed gums that cost 25 cents in a multi pack sell for three times as much compared to those placed individually.

4) Look Below Eye Level for Cheaper Goods
Usually the cheaper brands are on the lower shelves, away from the point of view. Next time, when you go to to a large grocery chain, look at your eye level and compare the prices to the ones below the line of sight. You will notice that the clearance and sales items below.

5) Buy Store Brands
Store brands are always cheaper and are usually the same quality as brand products. The difference in prices comes from the money that the brand names have to spend on promotions and marketing. This can translate to a huge price difference, helping you tack on more savings.

6) Eat before you go grocery shopping.
Studies have shown that people spend 10 – 15% more on groceries if they go to the store hungry. I know I spend more when I am hungry, binging on junk food, convenience foods, and other things I would usually not buy.

Check out the quality fruit and vegetables at a farmer market.

7) Check out the local farmer market.

The farmer market is a win-win for both parties. Not only will you get quality foods for a much lower price than the supermarket, you will also benefit local farmers who work hard to earn money. As a Pharmacy student, I have done lots of reading on the quality of the foods at farmers markets and regular chains and let me tell you, the food you will buy from a farmer is very healthy compared to anywhere else. Your local newspaper should have a farmer market. They are set up daily in larger cities and weekly in smaller ones.

Conclusion

If you follow a few of these tips, you will have much more money to save. I predict that following the best mix of these guidelines can save you $250 a month, for a total of $500 a month savings for a family of four a month.

These are some ways I save money when buying groceries, but I want to know what others do to save money. Are there some good tips I missed?

Part I- Save Money on Electronic Bills
Part II – Save Money on General Utilities
Part III- Save Money on Groceries
Part IV- Save Money on Clothes

Save Money on General Utilities

In our previous post, we highlighted 5 ways you could save on your electronic bills and came up with an average savings of almost $150 a month. In this article, I will show you how to save money on your general utility bills.

I am going to highlight a few ideas from each utility because there are hundreds of ways to save, but only the best ways save the most money.

Save on Your Electric Bill

1) Turn off your electronics when you are not using them. Off means completely unplugged not the “standby” mode. Guess what? Turning your appliances and electronics completely off will reduce energy consumption by 65%. That’s a whopping figure for such a simple task.

I, personally, leave all my stuff on standby and will have to follow this rule more diligently. 2 computers, DVD, Wii, and microwave are on standby at all times.

2) If you’re in the market for a thermostat or if you’re thinking of the long term, a programmable thermostat is can do the trick. About 44% of every household’s electricity bill is from heating and cooling the house and a programmable thermostat can monitor temperature and reduce the cost of maintaining your favorite temperature by 20-30%.

3) My local newspaper always has advertisements about government giveaways for energy efficient light bulbs or lamps. All the light bulbs I have are energy efficient and cut light bulb consumption by 60- 80%.

4) Shop around for another energy provider. You’re not stuck with Edison. Sometimes, another provider in your area can give you a cheaper deal, sometimes for a saving of 15%.

Save on Your Gas Bill

1) Reduce the temperature on your water heater or insulate it to keep the temperature warm. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees,For every 10 degrees you lower the temperature setting, you can reduce your bill 3% to 5%.

2) Most energy used for doing your laundry is for heating up the water. In order to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes, there are two alternatives: using less water (if you took chemistry, you should know that water has a very high heat capacity, so it takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature) or setting the temperature low.

3) Insulate efficiently and avoid drafts. Drafts are usually caused by unsealed ventilation ducts, so make sure you insulate them. Also, check for air leaks. I urge this step because stopping drafts can lower your energy bill drastically.

Save on Your Water Bill

The average American family of four uses over 250 gallons of water a day. Besides racking up costs on your water bill, its also good for the environment to save water. LA is actually doing a lot to save water and consumption has dipped 18% since last year to near 1980 levels.

1) Some people tell you to only wet your body in the shower and not to keep the water running all the time. I find this a little extreme. A better way is to use a low-flow shower head which can reduce water use during showers by 40%.

2) Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or shaving. This can save up to 5 gallons of water each 2 minute cycle. For a family of four, this can save as much 20 gallons a day, or about an 8% reduction.

3) Install an aerator in kitchen water faucets to reduce flow of water through the faucets.

4) If you need to water your lawn, make sure you are not wasting water. If you need to water the lawn, use just a little water (grass doesn’t need buckets and buckets). For trees, use a bucket to water, not a hose.

5) When doing laundry, reduce the water level to the amount that is just right. No need to go large load every time. A regular laundry uses 40- 50 gallons a wash. Following this method can save you 10 – 15 gallons each time you do laundry.

6) Do you let the water run out until it becomes warm enough for use? If you are only going to need a little warm water, why not heat it in a kettle? It won’t take more than a few minutes and can save you a lot of money.

Conclusion

There are more ways to save money on all your utility ways, but just following these few tips will decrease your usage on all three utilities by at least 50% (and up to 80%)  - translating to a 50% reduction on your overall bills. Nationally, the average monthly cost for gas, water, and electricity is about $220. Cutting this cost by 50% will add another $110 bucks in your pocket a month.

My last article showed you how to save a total of $140 a month. Our current total savings is $250 a month.

Check back in soon for the next article in the series “Saving Money on Groceries.” I have a lot to say in the upcoming article and will show you how to save a few hundred more by shopping smart.

After several investing topics, I have decided to return to writing about saving money with a series about “Saving Money at Home.” As many of you know, I have been writing about saving money for over a year now, and believe this would be a great way to give great tips on building smarter spending habits where the most money is spent- at home.

The series will consist of 4 posts:

Part I- Save Money on Electronic Bills
Part II – Save Money on General Utilities
Part III- Save Money on Groceries
Part IV- Save Money on Clothes

——————————————————–

Part 1 – Save Money on Electronic Bills

With the first decade of the 21st century officially over, most households have subscriptions to technology that they mostly didn’t have twenty years ago- cell phones, Internet (DSL or Cable), and Cable TV. Nowadays, every kid that can walk has their own cell phone line with text messaging bundles.

Slashing bills on Internet, cell phones, and television can add a lot of money to your budget. I have compiled a list of the best ways to save money in this area.

1) Find the ideal cell phone Family Plan:
What do I mean by ideal? This: You can have 1,400 anytime minutes or 2,300 minutes for a family of four and still never talk more than 1,000. Find the lowest minutes your provider offers that is suffice for your family. Check your old phone bill statements – what’s the most you’ve talked in the last year? A little more than this should be your plan’s allowance of minutes.

Compare providers: Verizon offers Unlimited Talk & Text for 2 people at $150 and another $50 for each extra line ($250 for a family of four) while T-Mobile offers the same thing for only $140 for two and $35 for each additional ($210 for a family of four).

Total Savings: $40

2) Do you really need a home phone?
Paying for cell phones for a family of four makes land-lines obsolete, since everyone has their own phone. AT & T”s second most basic home phone service costs $23.99. If you don’t drop them now, they will drop you later. AT&T has already contacted the FCC about discontinuing the service.

Total Savings: $24

3) Cable TV – A relic of the past.
Unless your a true sports fan who has to watch all sports games on a Plasma TV, Cable and Satellite TV are relics of the past. Check out my article on great websites where you can find streaming television, news, and sports for free.

With prices for such services ranging from $40- $60, why not pay $10 to get real streams online?

Total Savings: ~$40

4) Take advantage of competition between Internet providers

That’s right- The Government passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Law for a reason: To increase competition between large companies. In the 1910s and 1920s it was sugar, steel and petroleum. Now, its communications and media. Use this to your advantage… call your Internet provider and tell them about other offers from rival companies (e.g. Call to At & T: “Your 29.99 is too high for basic Internet, Verizon is offering the same service for 19.99, can you lower the price for me?”)… tell them you like them, but want to quit. They will give you a special promotion- I do this every six months and save about 15 bucks a month on my Internet.

Total Savings: $15

5) Inquire about Corporate, Government, and Student Volume Discounts

Another path I have taken using my T-mobile Service. UCLA offered a volume discount for T-mobile. Even the workers there didn’t know about it, but it saves me 15% or roughly $10 off my phone bill. There are larger discounts for larger corporations and groups and you can save a wad of cash if you apply it to a family plan for a cell phone bill.

Total Savings: $10- $25

The Big Picture

Overall Savings: $120- $160 a month.

Add it up and we save… $140 a Month just cutting bills on three popular subscriptions. Most of the money was saved by reducing waste. Even if you follow only a few of these tips, you can still save $100 bucks a month.. or $1,200 a year.  Think what you can do with that much money- a 7 day Cruise on Carnival lines is about $800 for two.

I hope you come back for the second part of my series – saving money on general utilities to add to your savings.

In this article, I highlighted some of my personal steps, but I know there are things out there that I’m not aware of. What do you guys do to save money on these bills? Do you think this article was useful? Let’s talk!

I have searched the Internet and local magazines for the ten best fast food promotions (and coupons) that will surely save you money.  If you know some more, please let me know and I will incorporate them into a future article.

1) Wienerschnitzel – Special Offer Coupon: Free Medium Drink

URL: http://wienerschnitzel.com/email/coupon.html

Click Here for Printable Coupon

2 ) Carl’s Jr. – Special Offer Coupon: Grilled Cheese Bacon

URL: http://www.carlsjr.com/promotions/coupon/one-dollar-off-gcbb-combo/

3 ) KFC. – Special Offer Coupons: Several Coupons

URL: http://kfccoupons.cre8.com

Enter your zip code and enjoy 6 free coupons.

Planet Hollywood USA

URL: http://www.planethollywood.com/partners/entertainment_coupon2.htm

5 ) El Pollo Loco. – Special Offer Coupons: FREE Steak & 3-Cheese Quesadilla with Any 9 or 14 Piece Feast

FREE-Quesadilla-Feast-Promo

URL: http://www.elpolloloco.com/whatsnew/promotions.html
6 ) Donut Connection – Various Printable Coupons (Small Free Coffee with any purchase, Buy one coffee get another free, etc)

URL: http://www.donutconnection.com/NewFiles/coup.html

7 ) Godfather’s Pizza – Various Printable Coupons – Buy One Medium Pizza Get another free and MORE

Godfather Free Medium Pizza with Purchase of Large

URL: http://www.godfathers.com/coupons/

Boston Market – Catering Special- $10 off a $60 or more purchase

Boston Market Catering Special

URL: http://www.bostonmarket.com/specials?page=coupons

9) Jack in the Box- Printable Coupon – $1 off Grilled Sandwiches

Jack in the Box $1 off Coupon

URL: http://www.jackinthebox.com/coupon/grilled-sandwiches_20100201.php

10) Panda Express – Printable Coupon – Free Firecracker Chicken with Purchase

Free Firecracker Chicken

Money Management Tips:

1. Get a free checking and savings account. Make sure you shop for a bank that can cater to student and doesn’t have any hidden fees. Also, be sure you can check your account online for additional charge.
2. Keep track of the money in your checking account to avoid ugly overdraft fees, starting from $30 per charge. Banks won’t decline your card, they will just charge you for going over your balance.
3. If you need a credit card, make sure you get one with the lowest interest rate possible and no annual fees or membership charges, build your credit by using your credit card for small purchases and raising the limit in case of an emergency.
4. Pay credit card bills on time. Credit card companies might charge you up to $50 for late payments and lower your credit score, making it harder for you to get newer credit cards and raise the totals on current ones.
5. Try to avoid wasteful spending habits by keeping track of all expenses.

Food and Drink

1. If you live on campus and pay for a meal plan, then use it wisely. Some programs don’t restrict you from taking some things to go or setting a limit on the number of meals you can have per day.
2. If you have to drink coffee everyday, don’t waste it at Starbucks or Coffee Bean. Making it yourself can save you almost $100 a month.
3. Collect coupons from local newspapers and follow the weekly sales at the grocery store. Buy when the prices are low.  Avoid high-end markets like Trader Joe’s if you want to save big money. Read our article on Grocery Spending for more information.
4. If you are on a date, it’s better if you set up something romantic at home that’s affordable and cozy rather than going out and spending extra money.
5. Avoid sit down restaurants with larger groups or else you’re going to have to pay extra for other people’s binge eating habits.
6. If you need alcohol, buy the cheap stuff. Also, buy in large quantities to reduce cost per drink. Don’t spend extra money at bars and clubs.
7. Never order alcohol at restaurants, where the average markup is up to 3x the regular price!

Books

1. Ask your friends or classmates if they have taken the class already, chances are someone has an extra book lying around you can use.
2. Buy Online from used college textbooks websites. Half.com, eCampus, Valore Books, and Amazon all come to mind. I’ve personally bought some of my books that cost $150 for less than $20 bucks online. Shipping included.
3. International editions are very cost effective (if a few Chinese characters in the front page don’t bother you).

Entertainment

1. If you are paying for cable, you’re wasting your money. Read our article on websites that offer all your favorite shows, sports and movies,
   http://smarterspend.com/2009/02/free-tv-shows-moviesports-online/
2. If you have to go to the theater, go early in the day and catch the matinee showings, which are considerably cheaper than the night times.
3. Get an online subscription to Netflix or the likes, split it with a trusted roommate, friend, or sweetheart.
4. Use study groups help keep you focused on getting an education, while at the same time, you get to have fun with your peers. This way, you succeed academically and can still enjoy a social life.
5. Spending money on video games? Play online through the countless free websites that offer online games.

Electronics

1. Use your student discounts wisely. Apple and Dell both offer great student discounts for personal computers.
2. So you want a laptop? You don’t have to dish out 2 grand for a Sony Vaio, you can always get a less expensive brand with a great manufucaturer warranty for a fraction of the cost. Save your receipts.
3. Buy a PC. First of all, PC’s are more powerful, faster, and have larger hard drives. Also, they are much much cheapier than notebooks.
4. If you’re going to spend money on computer programs, try to see if there s a similar freeware or shareware version available. If you absolutely have to buy it, most software companies offer very large discounts to students with proper idenitification. Think Windows Office for $50. Plus, its legal.
5. Be careful where you leave your laptop, Ipod, or cellular phone. There are other students that need them and won’t hesitate to steal.

Make Money

1. One way to fatten your wallet during your college career is to tutor. If you’re a senior and you know someone that is struggling with a class, offer to tutor them for 15-20 bucks an hour. Post out fliers, contact your school newspaper or tell your friends about your services.
2. Get a job in the food industry. Not only will you get money, but you will also get free food.
3. Save up money during the summer so your school year can be more comfortable.
4. Volunteer for a paid research positional or a medical study. These tend to pay quite well in proportion to the amount of work done.
5. Sell your field of expertise: If you’re an English major, offer to correct your friends’ research papers or Essays for a small price. If you’re a scientist, tutor the unlucky liberal arts junkie down the hall taking Stats. The list goes on.

These are some of the many ways a college student can save money and live comfortably. If you’re a parent or a family member of someone in college, offer them these tips. Chances are, they will learn a few things!

1) Keep your gas tank over 1/4th capacity.
First of all, keeping your gas tank low can cause the obvious problems. Maybe you might get stuck on the freeway and have to pay hundreds to get your car towed. However, barring the catastrophe, keeping your tank empty can cause little pieces of dirt at the bottom of the gas tank to run into the engine with the last drops of gas and clog the fuel filter. Over time, this can cause damage to the carburetor.

2) Keep a Jump Start Electrical Cord
It’s happened to everyone. You leave your door open or lights on and then come back a few hours later and find your car doesn’t start. Don’t panic. The most problem is a uncharged battery; just ask someone nearby to jump start you car and problem is all fixed.

3) Check for a Blown Fuse
Sometimes a major problem with your car’s electrical system results from a single blown fuse. Check to see if you have any blown fuses before taking your car to a mechanic.

4) Keep track of your MPG
Obviously, sometimes you’re on the road more (Less MPG) and sometimes you’re on the highway (More MPG), however, a consistent drop in your average MPG means something is not right. Maybe your tires aren’t pumped enough or something is damaged. Also,k eep track of how much oil your car uses. A sudden change in oil consumption means you need to see a mechanic.

5) Change your break fluid
Save your brakes (almost $250 to change 2 brakes) by having your brake fluid changed every 30,000 miles.

6) Regularly check the PSI (Pressure per Square Inch) of your Tires
Check your tire pressure once a month. This simple maintenance check can add up savings at the gas pump. I’ve noticed a difference of 3-4 MPG if I don’t pump my tires

7) Don’t Drive too Fast
Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gas. Now add that up. If you drive 4-5 gallons worth a day, that’s a difference of almost $30 a month.

8 ) Avoid Stop and Go traffic, don’t press the gas pedal too hard.
Stop and go traffic causes excess wear and tear on your vehicle because of constant increase and decrease in RPM. Go ahead and give your car a nice twenty minute ride at 55 mph on the highway every couple weeks if you “major” in short trips.

9) Do your Homework before buying a car
Do your homework when buying a car from an auction or a private party. Many vehicles that have been damaged either by accidents or by floods and hurricanes are going on the market. These won’t last long – leaving you with a flood of bills. Be a little concerned if the carpet looks too new, and check carefully for signs of rust. Also, check for new paint on an older car- classic signs of prior accidents. More on this in an upcoming topic.

10) Cruise control DOES save Gas.

11) Reduce the cost of your insurance by increasing deductible (if you have money saved)
If you’ve budgeted for possible out-of-pocket expenses in case of a car accident, you might want to consider increasing your insurance deductible to the next highest level. This will lower the cost of your insurance by about an average of $15 a month per $500.

12) Exploit insurance savings.
Car insurance companies offer a variety of discounts. Ask your agent if the company offers reductions for driver training courses, anti-lock brakes, car alarms, air bags, mature drivers, good students or maintaining a good driving record.

13) Buy a new air filter
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. An air filter is usually under $10 and is one of the e

14) Lease a new car.
If you are spending too much money on your car, leasing a new car is always an option. A decent sedan won’t cost you more than $250 a month.

Everyone has days when they come back from work and don’t have the time or energy to cook. Some people go to restaurants with their friends or on a date on a regular basis. These simple tips might help you save a bunch of money the next time you dine out!

Cut Out on Expensive Drinks

Soda is one of the highest marked up items on any menu and can cost upwards to $3.00. Most restaurants will make quite a killing selling these drinks. Maybe you want a simple smoothie? There goes another 7 dollars. When you consider that for a party of five that could probably be another 20 to 30 bucks extra on your tab. Water is almost always a smart choice. Not only do you feel less bloated afterwards, you save a bunch of money.

Say NO to Desserts

Many deserts cost almost as much as the main course and very few people ever finish them. Chances are after a good eating session, you won’t even have any more room for dessert. Unless its your first time out with a girl and you want to leave a good impression, cut back on the dessert. You can usually buy a whole pie or cake at the grocery store for less than the cost of a few slices at a restaurant.

Sharing is Car..Saving.

Sharing large entrées, large appetizers, or salads is a great way to save money on a meal. Many restaurants offer large portion that end up going to waste. This is a great idea if you have small kids. Rather than buying a kid’s meal you can just ask for an additional plate. Be aware some restaurants frown on this practice and will charge for an additional plate.

Take Advantage of Kids Night

If you will be eating out with kids look for a restaurant that offers free kids meals or special offers for children. Sizzlers, for example, has a child dish for under $6.00 Some companies have one night a week that they designate as kids day and all kids under 12 eat free. You can also look for restaurants that have special kid’s menus. These menus will often have many of the same items on the adult menu, just at a scaled down size. Kids don’t each much anyways.

Limited Time Specials

Some restaurants will offer limited time deals like buy one get one free, or two meals for a set price. You should also check for the special of the day.  In most establishments, one meal is offered at a discounted rate each day. You
might even find some restaurants offer a free appetizer or dessert with your meal. These specials can be a great way to stretch your dollar a little further.

Download or Buy Coupons

There are two types of coupons to be considered when you are considering going out for dinner. You can download regular coupons online for special savings or free items with you meal. However, you can also buy coupons or gift cards for many places online. Check your local radio or television site. With these deals, you can purchase a certificate or coupon to spend twice as much as you pay. For example, if you buy the coupon for 25 dollars you get to spend it for 50 dollars.

I have placed a coupons to KFC. Check them out! Change the 5 digit zip code at the end with yours!
http://kfccoupons.cre8hosting.com/index.php?option=com_kfc_coupons&zipcode=91205