If you're interested in saving money, you'll love the new book 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget. It's from the writer's at Wise Bread, one of the members of the Money Tips Network. I didn't write any of the book, but Free Money Finance is listed as a reference in the back with the following recommendation:
[Free Money Finance] has one of the best background stories ever: "Through the years, I've done the things I've talked about here at Free Money Finance -- spent less than I've earned, paid off all my debt, managed my career, invested regularly and the like. During that time my net worth has grown and grown, allowing my family to be in the upper percentages of wealth in the U.S. I'm not writing about topics I've read about one time and regurgitated with opinions based on nothing -- I have lived these topics, applied these principles, and know what works and what doesn't." Can you resist following this blog after reading that description?
With that recommendation, can I resist recommending this book? ;-)
I asked the authors to provide some money saving tips to give my readers a feel for what they'll find in the book, and they sent me these 16 great money saving tips (along with the pages in the book each tip comes from). Enjoy!
BTW, I will be giving away a free copy of this book (in addition to my box of books and a few other items) in my June giveaway newsletter. Sign up now if you want a chance to win.
Cell phone discounts with work/school email (p. 153)
Cell phone companies are pretty good at sharing things like “rollover minutes” and “family plans,” but there is one secret savings opportunity that they won’t tell you about upfront. It involves using a work or school email address, so if you attend a college or work for a large company, you may be eligible!
Cell providers are always making deals with large companies. In fact, they might have a corporate contract with your company already (or your brother’s company, or your kid’s company.) As long as you have a work-related email address, you could possibly save up to 25% on the cost of their traditional plans as a “member” of the discounted group. Sound good? It also works for colleges.
Many college email addresses are easy to identify (they usually end in “.edu” and contain the college’s name.) If your college has a deal worked out with a cell phone provider, you would automatically qualify by using the school address. It’s important that you ask upfront for any special deals, and many cellular websites will let you get a price quote instantly, based on the email address you provide. Remember, these deals are usually unadvertised, so you may have to do a little digging to see what you qualify for!
Hiding money in a tampon box (p. 220)
“Stashing cash” is a common theme in today’s economic climate, and as people pull their funds from the stock market and into their sock drawer, the issue of security will eventually come up. And while the simple method of storing cold, hard cash under a mattress has its appeal, there is obviously a better way to do it. Before you get tempted to spring for that high-tech, Fort Knox-inspired safe, consider using everyday household items to camouflage your investment. These cheap tricks have worked for countless others, and they could just as easily work for you! (I’ll never tell you which I might be using to hide my money!)
Squirrel away your money in a tampon box, and you’re guaranteed that few people will hassle with it. Recently mentioned on the Walletpop website as a tip for ages, it instantly left me curious. The secret to its success is to leave a little of the “product” inside the box to keep things looking authentic. You’ll be all set to secure your cash to the inside of the packaging, where pesky thieves are sure to never look. (Women can breathe easy that their man won’t be nosing around anytime soon, either.)
Mystery shopping (p. 317)
Earning cash is always a subject of high interest, and what better way to make some money than mystery shopping! Jobs range from a few dollars to hundreds, and usually require very little education and no background in retail. Before you get started (or start to think that mystery shopping is “easy cash”), there are a few basic truths that need to be learned.
A reputable mystery shopping company will have already aligned with the MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association) and won’t ask you to pay any money to look at job listings. Once you’ve accepted your first assignment, however, it is your responsibility to cough up the cash to buy whatever product or service you’ll need to evaluate the shopping experience. Reimbursement of your purchase can take months, and is dependent on your eye to detail and promptness in turning out reports. Mystery shopping takes cash to make it, so be sure you can fit it into your budget!
Don’t expect to get rich off of your new part-time job. After the expenses of driving to your assignment and paying for any incidentals, a beginning shopper may find themselves making a little more than $7-15 dollars an hour for your time. Years of consistently exceeding the expectations of the mystery shopping companies can yield some unique opportunities, however. Hotels, fine dining, and even international travel trips all use mystery shoppers to keep their level of service high!
How to sound more confident in one simple step (p. 183)
Most of us don’t need years of personal coaching to get the confidence we need to engage an audience. In fact, many of us were given the gift of assurance at birth! Believe it or not, your name is the key to commanding respect and earning loyalty, but how you present it makes all the difference.
Your formal introduction to others doesn’t have to flashy or gimmicky. Instead of using that 5-minute elevator pitch, just introduce yourself by name. By using the right voice inflection and an appropriate tone, you can sound confident with no extra skills required. (Try practicing it a few times before using it out in the world. The key is to “own” your name, saying it as a statement, and not a question.) Try just saying, “Hi, my name is ….,” without any additional explanation. Easy, huh?
The payout from this rather easily-acquired talent is endless: better jobs, more friends, and a free pass to new opportunities. Believing in yourself is an investment you can literally take to the bank!
Secrets of sweepstakes winners (p. 319)
Sweepstakes enthusiasts (or sweepers) are a motivated bunch who like to enter every online, walk-in, and telephone contest promotion in hopes of winning big! My personal winnings include trips, electronics, and gift cards, but prizes can vary from cheap trinkets to new houses! Things have really changed since the days of mail-in only entry, but that just means that anyone with an internet connection can get in on the fun!
The best way to level the playing field and increase your chances of winning will be to find a comprehensive website that both lists and tracks your entries. www.Online-sweepstakes.com and www.Sweepsadvantage.com are two favorites of mine, and with blogs taking over the world-wide-web, you’ll also find giveaway directories dedicated just to these opportunities. Another vital tool to getting your entries done quickly is to download a free form filler (Roboform works best), and use the program to “auto-fill” all your contact information.
Once you’ve decided that sweeping is your thing, you’ll need to be consistent and persistent to see the fruits of your labor. It can take from 6 months to a year before you see any winning notifications from the giveaways you enter, and the more you enter, the better your chances of winning!
Corner pantry (p. 128)
A great way to create space in small quarters. You can build one cheaply by stretching a rod or tension cable across a corner in any room, and hanging a long curtain to create the division. Stop by Good Will to pick up an old shelf or build one yourself with a couple of planks. Place the shelf behind the curtain and you’ve just created instant storage space out of a usually ignored space. The curtain setup allows you to get things in and out quickly without bothering with a cabinet door.
This is especially great for apartment dwellers who can easily uninstall the “pantry” when they move. For a whimsical touch, go for plastic curtains with rubber duckies and amuse your guests.
Get excited about percentage rate savings (p. 134)
If you could save $200 on your next purchase of window coverings would you -- especially if those same window coverings normally cost $1200 or more? Scoffing at savings this significant just wouldn’t make sense, and yet many of us continue to do so with our day-to-day, incidental purchases.
Saving that same 10% on a razor or a box of cereal may not seem like much savings at all, but it still translates into the same percentage off as our first example of the window coverings. You wouldn’t turn down a 10% return on a savings account, so why disregard it as insignificant for your groceries?
When you add up all of your small purchases, it really does count for something. When you start paying attention to what you buy and remember that it’s the same percentage rate savings as your larger purchases (or sometimes better), you can really get behind those small actions that help get you there. A penny saved really is a penny earned!
Willing workers on organic farms (p. 56)
Looking to see the world but can barely swing the cost of your passport? There may be a perfect opportunity to travel as a farmer! Even if you don’t have any horticulture experience, Willing Workers on Organic Farms (www.wwoofinternational.org) may have an open position for you.
As a volunteer for an organic farm in a foreign country, you can experience fresh air, organic food, and giving back to a local community abroad. What better way to see how food is grown, harvested, and prepared than by doing it yourself? Getting to and from the farm will be your responsibility (including cost for travel and supplies), but once you get there, room and board is provided in exchange for your sweat equity.
A small annual membership does apply to anyone who wants access to the program and its list of participating organic farms. If you love gardening, adore sustainable living, and are destined for adventure, I see some agriculture in your future! (And can you imagine how fit you’ll be when it’s all over with?)
Relax your jaw (p. 95)
Looking for a free way to feel like a million bucks? It may help to keep things loose, especially when it involves your facial muscles! Your jaw muscles are similar to your hamstrings, meaning that they are connected to many other things in your body. Tense them too often or too long, and you’ll have a whole world of hurt ahead of you.
Learning to relax your jaw, on the other hand, can keep everything else in line (especially our neck and shoulders.) To see how well you relax, try letting your jaw go slack (not gaping open) with your tongue resting naturally on the bottom of your mouth. This advice works so well, doctors are encouraging Moms-to-be to use the tip during labor to help them relax, too!
The next time you start to feel a little uptight and achy in your upper extremities, give the jaw-relaxing technique a try. It’s free and effective (our two favorite kinds of self-care), and with only a few minutes invested from you a day, there’s no reason you can’t do it regularly.
Sex up the travel mug (p. 67)
Many people buy coffee because they don't want to look cheap at Starbucks. With a fancy travel mug, you can tell people that you're such a coffee connoisseur that you'll only drink gourmet coffee you make from home. What’s the trick to pulling off this expensive “look?”
Steel-brushed travel mugs are always in style, giving your coffee a fashionable home, and giving you a much-needed excuse to ditch the Styrofoam and cardboard in lieu of something more sustainable. Not only are you reducing your carbon footprint, but you’re motivating yourself to abandon the overpriced latte and get your goods at home. (Invest in some mid-range gourmet ingredients: syrups, sprinkles, and creams. They are available most anywhere fresh ground coffee is served, and the extra touch will up the oomph in your already envy-inducing beverage presentation.) With the right mug, a few easy-to-find ingredients, and an attitude of confidence, you can bring most any brew out on the town, and look good doing it! (Your coffee will also stay hotter for much longer, giving you more time to sip your swill in style.)
Save money by taking a vacation (p. 59)
Most frugalists would swear by the thinking that taking a vacation costs money. (In fact, anyone with a budget usually adds to their expenses in anticipation of the occasion.) What if you could take a vacation that not only gave you a much-needed break, but also paid you to stay home. That’s right… you can save money by skipping work. Here’s how:
Assuming that you have paid vacation time, you can stay home from your 9-5 and still collect your regular paycheck. In addition to the money you’d be making anyway, you’ll also be saving some considerable expenses, including commute costs, dry-cleaning, lunches with co-workers, parking fees, and tolls. If you even incur $60 in these miscellaneous charges during the course of a regular work week, you’ve saved it by taking the time off.
If that weren’t motivation enough to use up that forgotten vacation time, you can also use it to earn more money on top of your salary, if you’re so inclined. Odd jobs, moonlighting, or starting that small business are all great uses for that 1- 2 week escape from the ordinary. Just 10 additional freelance hours could net you enough money to store up a very small emergency savings plan.
Even if you decide to use your time away to do absolutely nothing, there is a value that goes beyond anything that would be printed on your paycheck. Taking time to relax, reevaluate, and refresh are priceless. What are you waiting for?
Reinforce hems (p. 67)
Just because you didn’t spend all that much on an article of clothing, doesn’t mean that you can’t treat it like a million bucks. In addition to helping your clothes last longer, you’ll feel good knowing that you won’t be sucking it up while you try on clothes in a badly lit dressing room anytime soon. What’s one of the best ways to keep clothes around for a long time? Reinforce the hem. Clueless about sewing? We’ve got you covered:
Most normal sewing machines (even the cheapo ones) have a simple stitch setting that lets you go in a straight line. Simply trace the existing stitch on the hem of your skirts, pants, and even underwear to keep them staying fray-free for many years. You give your older garb a new lease on life by snipping off any ragged shirt sleeves or pant bottoms and sewing a new hem. It’s usually safe to remove a half-inch without causing any fashion faux-pas. (and the cost to repair instead of replace? Zero dollars.) Practice makes perfect, and even if you’ve never touched a needle or a thread, you’ll be up to the challenge of reinforcing and repairing in no time.
Save money on college degrees by going off season (p. 181)
Remember the good ol’ days, when you could sleep in until noon and still make it to college classes on time? Well, that may be great for your social life, but there’s another way to do college that’s way more wallet-friendly. You could actually save up to 50% on the cost of tuition by being more flexible with your schedule.
Many colleges (especially community, other non-traditional or accelerated learning environments) will give huge discounts to students who enroll in “off peak” classes. These are usually class times with an early start, very late evening meetings, or that take place during the holidays. (Colleges still have to pay to keep the lights on, and they’re willing to reward you for your eagerness to accommodate.)
Ask your admissions office if they offer any “reduced” fees on these less-popular time slots, and be prepared to put together a hodge-podge schedule to get the cheapest education possible. Once you have confirmation that these classes will be discounted, enroll early to ensure your spot. (Now all you need is to get 50% off those textbooks!)
Decanters (p. 144)
Being frugal can be a curse (especially if a look-see around your apartment shows a lack of style or effort). Fortunately, there are some very affordable ways to live lavishly (or at least look like it). Enter the decanter… a fabulous container with a dime store price.
Friends and family don’t have to know what you didn’t pay for that bottle of wine, and with many $2 house wines tasting as good as the high-end varieties, why bother? The decanter can help bridge the gap between keeping your cheapskate tendencies under wraps and building a welcoming table setting for your choosey guests. Get a cut glass or fine crystal decanter and let the games begin: just pour your budget booze right in. No questions asked! (Tip: Many decanters can be sold as part of a glass set at thrift stores and glassware outlets. Opt for a mismatched set, and claim it’s part of your “eclectic” decorating style.) Be sure to place your decanters near other beautiful pieces, like candles, fancy table runners, or a well-placed bowl of fruit.
Unclaimed property (p. 315)
Did you know that you could have anywhere from a few dollars to thousands in assets just waiting for you to claim it? The items can vary (ranging from cash, to land, to an old certificate of deposit). While loud TV commercial and flashy online banner ads will all offer to find this magical unclaimed property for you (and for a small fee), the truth is, you can do it yourself. For free!
Most state treasurer’s offices have their own website, with a searchable directory of all persons owning unclaimed property. This is a rather time-consuming method of finding property, however, especially if you’ve lived in various states. Websites such as Missingmoney.com and Unclaimed.org (both maintained by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), can save a little time by giving you a one-stop shop for all the state departments and a combination search tool for many states at once.
When you’ve found your treasure, it’s usually easy to claim. A simple form and some identification is all that most states need to send your property to you. (Note: Be sure that you are always dealing directly with the state treasurer or an assigned party on their behalf. You should never be asked to pay money to get what’s rightfully yours.)
If you don’t find that you have any unclaimed property, you can still benefit! Many state treasury departments sell the goods that have sat unclaimed for too long (putting aside the proceeds in case of a later claim), and you might get a great buy for these treasures on Ebay.
Brown bag theater (p. 14)
If your shrinking grocery budget has left no room for eating out at restaurants with co-workers, don’t despair! Chances are, you are just one of many facing similar concerns. This new twist on the classic “brown bag” lunch can take your break room experience to a whole new level!
Arrange your tables and chairs around the TV in the break room – if yours doesn’t have one, work it out to where you can place a small portable television temporarily during the lunch hour. Pick a common “lunch hour” that is convenient for most of the employees, and pick a show to watch together while you dine! You can take turns picking your show, and if live TV options are limited (due to bad reception or unworthy programming), go ahead and watch a single episode from a DVD of your favorite TV season. (TVs with DVD players in the unit are only slightly more expensive than the TV alone, or agree to bring in a stand-alone DVD player for your special event.)
Your cinematic feature can change every so often, giving everyone a chance to view something funny, touching, or exciting on their lunch break. Who knows? Maybe brown-bagging it will become the next best “thing” at your office!
Sweepstakes Advantage is by far the best site for sweepstakes entry. This site is also 100% unlike the other one mentioned. Good Luck to everyone!
Posted by: Jim | May 18, 2009 at 05:16 PM
I love the tip on relaxing your jaw.
I'm so bad I have to wear a retainer at night, otherwise, there would be nothing left of my teeth!
I think clenching one's jaw is a sign that you're holding things in.
Posted by: TStrump | May 18, 2009 at 07:05 PM
Thanks! Love this post.
Posted by: a91030Mom | May 19, 2009 at 12:26 AM
is there anything like roboform for a MAC??
Posted by: grace poe | May 19, 2009 at 04:35 PM
Great post! And great point about saving money on window coverings. Most online retailers allow you to take percentages off products each month.
Posted by: Esther @ Blinds.com | May 19, 2009 at 05:54 PM
Some of these make sense, others less so. Books like this are only useful if the tips are practical. Since each individual/household is unique, not every one of the thousands of tips will work. I take what I can use so there may still be some ideas I haven't thought of before.
Posted by: Mary | June 16, 2009 at 07:22 AM
neat book
Posted by: Brett | June 16, 2009 at 07:32 AM
can I get a copy?
Posted by: tiffany | June 16, 2009 at 10:50 AM
I am in
Posted by: Sanjeev | June 16, 2009 at 11:51 AM
This sounds like a great book. I'm sure that I can use some of these tips.
Posted by: Michelle Stewart | June 16, 2009 at 11:09 PM