Today I’m featuring tips from my readers! Thanks to Ashley for submitting most of these! Updated with four more tips!
1. “Put ALL spare change in a big bank year round. Break in it only to use for Christmas shopping or a special family occasion like a vacation or something. My mom taught me this. My daughter loves the sound the coins make when they go inside the piggy. That’s a good sign.”
2. “Check accounts online everyday. And get credit reports every six months. This is the best way to prevent fraud, or to catch it before it gets out of hand. Mint.com is an excellent way to track your money!”
3. “Invest a little bit (in the stock market). Start an account at TD Ameritrade, put in like $20 a month and do a little bit of research as you go. Ask lots of questions to people that know something about it. Lots of us think it takes thousands to start investing. Not true!”
4. “Give yourself an allowance. If you use credit cards or debit cards all of the time you don’t notice the money leaving your hands as fast as you do when the money is actually physically leaving your hands. ”
5. “Online savings accounts like ING give better interest than most banks, and most have no minimums.”
6. “Everytime I buy something online I look for a free shipping code or discount code.”
7. “I always search my favorites sites clearance section. I save money buying gifts (teachers, grandmothers, friends b-days, anniversaries, holidays) or clothes for my myself, husband and son for the next years season.”
8. “Every since I had my son I have become a coupon Nazi! I’ve signed up with gerber.com, enfamil & similac.com, huggies, dreft, everything I could think of! They really do add up and help each month. I’ve also notices now at like Meijer or Target, attached with my receipt will be a coupon for $5 a can of Enfamil…the brand my baby uses too, how did they know? LOL.”
9. I can’t say it enough: resources, resources, RESOURCES. Most people don’t know what is out there and would be amazed at the types of things they can get. If someone is unsure of what’s available in their area, call United Way, 2-1-1 (I don’t remember the 800# off hand). I am in two programs now. One is called Earn While You Learn. I can take a series of classes (1 hr long, ranging from topics on sexual health, money management, effective parenting, etc). For attending these classes and doing the homework once a month, I get points. I can use my point to “buy” or rather redeem them for baby items: diapers, wipes, formula, clothes, etc. So essentially I get them for free!
10.”Make a few extra bucks by doing consignment. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of stuff–especially things like my sons clothing, I pass down to friends who could benefit from them. But for instance, I just bought a new cell phone, so why let the old one sit around and take up space?! Old CDs taking up space I could use for other things. I burn them to my computer and take them to a record shop to sell them back. Sure you aren’t going to get anywhere what you paid for them, but any little bit helps.”
Consignment really is one of those things that can pay off in various ways. I’ve done the whole CD thing and the outgrown baby clothing thing. Its a great way to pass on what you can no longer use AND get what you need in return.