7 Easy Ways to Save $100 a Week
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Quick Cash Fixes
You're freaked out about money. Food prices are up, your home's value has depreciated and your job is on the line. While there's not much we can do to reduce the cost of fixed expenses like a mortgage and taxes, there's a great deal of miscellaneous savings staring us right in the face.
Click through our gallery to see MainStreet.com's quick cash fixes that can save you at least $100 a week.
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First Up: Tip No. 1More From MainStreet.com:
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Stockdisc
Get Rid of Your Landline
Use your cell phone plan exclusively and save at least $25 a month. If you need to make international calls, encourage your overseas friends and family to join you in signing up for Skype.com, which offers free VOIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) services.
Weekly Savings: At least $8-$15
Next: Tip No. 2More From MainStreet.com:
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Limit Visits to the ATM
ATM transactions, on average, charge about $3 in fees. Take out cash from ATM machines that belong to your bank to limit fees, or ask for cash back (no fee) when you use your debit card at stores like Whole Foods, Staples and Best Buy. Visit the ATM once a week, take out as much money you'll need for the next seven days and use that cash for your everyday expenses from gas to coffee, lunch and that must-have sweater that's on sale at J.Crew. Sticking to that cash with help you better budget and avoid the ATM during the week.
Weekly Savings: At least $3 to $10
Next: Tip No. 3More From MainStreet.com:
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Buy Generic Grocery Brands
Buying generic pharmaceuticals and filling your grocery cart with store-brand products instead of upscale labels can help save up to 50% on everyday goods. While the quality may not be identical, it's pretty hard to tell the difference between most products. Considering the average two-person household spends $200 a month on groceries, a single person could save a quick $50 just opting for basic brands. Want to cut another $30 to $50 a month? Reduce your eating out habits in half, since families spend more than 40% of their food budget on dining out, according to Consumer Reports.
Weekly Savings: At least $30
Next: Tip No. 4More From MainStreet.com:
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Self Mani/Pedi
Beauty specialists suggest pampering your hand and toe nails about twice a month. That's at least $30 a visit, more if at a fancy spa. Instead buy some white nail polish to give your French manicure tips your own touch-up, or go two weeks without a professional manicure -- no one will think less of you. There's a much cheaper home remedy solution involving a nail file ($1) and nail polish ($6).
Weekly Savings: At least $15
Next: Tip No. 5More From MainStreet.com:
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Get a Library Card
It's free! From books to DVDs and WiFi, the library is a cheapskate's mecca, and makes Blockbuster and Netflix look like highway robbers.
Weekly Savings: $5
Next: Tip No. 6More From MainStreet.com:
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Pre-Game
The markup on alcohol at a restaurant or bar is easily 100% more than the retail price at a liquor store. Next Saturday night when you plan on going out, first have a little cocktail party at your house to help limit how much you spend at the bars. And of course, drink responsibly.
Weekly Savings: At least $25
Next: Tip No. 7More From MainStreet.com:
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Nix the Gym
A UC Berkeley/Stanford University study found that average gym members visited their fitness clubs just four times a month – or once a week. That's hardly enough times to satisfy a $60 to $100 monthly membership. If you're not using your gym, lose it. Go for a run in the park, instead.
Weekly Savings: At least $15
Next Feature: More Money WastersMore From MainStreet.com:
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Top Ways to Waste Money
As food prices soar and pain at the pump grows to an unbearable level, it's a perfect time to look at the money wasters in our life. So for the third time, we asked our readers what they think are the top ways to waste money.
Click through our gallery and see if you agree with this list that we pulled from our message board. Are there worse ways you waste your money?
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Recent Comments
eyerish64 03:39:11 PM Nov 03 2008
What about the poor saps (like me and my family) who live in BFE and have to use dial up because nothing else is available? (I've looked into it...believe me)
Wheatonpup2 10:20:30 PM Nov 02 2008
You can also not skimp and find local and online deals. SpaFinder has some great spa deals; travelzoo has some great travel deals; Cityskoop.com has lots of online and local shopping, food and travel deals
RickReeS8 12:07:04 PM Oct 29 2008
Try this great Book it will help you save money and/or get out of Debt"Where is Your Money" by Jackie Mayfield
OoOtelaOoO 08:44:47 AM Oct 28 2008
Yes, you must be a complete idiot if you don't do most of these already.
Getwau 11:48:11 PM Oct 10 2008
Excellent advice! I discovered one of the best books you'll ever find about finance, "How to Become Filthy Rich on Your Current Income" at www.how-to-become-rich.com. If people read books like this one they would discover they could live better and wealthier.
Bbont 11:09:12 PM Oct 10 2008
Get rid of your landline sure and run up a cell bill great idea.
AdrienTEdwards 10:27:38 PM Oct 10 2008
I don't know how bad things would have to get to get me to go back to government cheese!AdrienTheNakedHippie.comOrganic Tshirts
Hjhf150 10:20:32 PM Oct 10 2008
The only way crude oil prices will go down low enough to make a difference is to prove to the oil companies that they are losing money over it,until that happens expect to keep paying high prices for everything.
Markletmein2 08:16:43 PM Oct 10 2008
SAVE MONEY....Got rid of my spouse,my chaufer, the limo, the private jet, the yacht, the ski chalet, the private resort membership, cut back to one chef....well, that's about all this poor man can handle for the time being...
Gomarsmom 08:12:49 PM Oct 10 2008
I think the drinking one was aboutthe lamest thing I have ever read on here. I agree with previous poster, get lit at home and finish it off at the bar. When I am out on the road there is nothing I like more than someone who has got shitfaced and got behind the wheel. Dumb advice. I think walletPop should pull that one.I do pretty much all of these things. I also shop stores like Aldis that offer groceries cheaper. I do not get my hair cut but once a year and its done at a chain salon. I buy my daughters horse show clothes off ebay and off other show moms. I do not buy expensive shampoos, soaps etc. I work out at home and not go to the gym. I refuse to go to a casino because my philosophy is why am I going to help a millionaire pay their bills when I am struggling to pay my own. We have our vehicles paid off and do not buy new ones just to have people look at us or how much money we have or lack of. It all falls down to common sense. If you do things so people will say "look at me" yo
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