Trim your budget the easy way

We all know that to save money we need to spend less, however it’s not always so easy to see through the areas that need to be tightened a bit.  And unless you know where to look, or you’re well versed in budgeting, you won’t find them so easily.

Here are a few tips on tightening your spending:

• Many people have two phone lines at home, one a landline, and one a cell. You can safely cut one of the two and use only one. Alternatively try shopping around for companies that provide in one place with your phone, cable and Internet services.
• When shopping, buy in bulk. Buy generic brand names,  as they cost less (you don’t have to pay for the brand name, only for the actual product). Shop more often during sales, use coupons (particularly the combination of sales and coupons is very powerful), and buy only things you will need one week ahead, nothing that would spoil in your fridge because it was not consumed the week before.
• Pay off your credit cards as soon as possible. I mentioned here before that you need do this, and start by  paying off the heavy interest cards first. Once the first card is paid off, you can then go on to the next one.
• When holidays come, make the gifts rather than buy them. There are plenty of things you can make with your own hands, and people for a while now appreciate hand made gifts way better than bought one. They see them as more personal and having more value. And it’s only in your benefit that they cost less to do as well!
• For reading, or watching movie, borrow and rent instead of buying them new. Also make sure you return them on time, to avoid having to pay any late fees. Also there are some online book trading websites where you get used books for free from other reading enthusiasts, your only fees to pay are the shipping costs to the person who wants you book. Paying $2 for a highly wishlisted book beats paying $12 for a new hardcover! One of these online book trading places is Bookmooch, I highly recommend it.