Ten Easy Money Saving Tips

If you are a home owner and are driving, you should consider bundling home and auto insurance. If you are paying high interest rates on credit cards, it is time to get rid of them. Before buying things, bargain. Shop around and compare the prices. Inquire about tax saving tips. This practice will save  you a few dollars that you can invest to make more money over time. Tom Drake is a contributor to the Canadian Finance Blog. He is giving you tricks to save money.

Tom Drake, 10 Simple Money Saving Tips-Everyone these days wants a better idea of how they can save money. Most of the time, though, the best savings come on everyday purchases, or on regular expenditures that you make. If you want to save more money over time, and if you are ready to improve your finances overall, looking for ways to save money regularly can be a big help.

Here are 10 money saving tips that have helped me and hopefully you can benefit from doing these as well.

1. Don’t pay an annual credit card fee. There are many cards that don’t have fees and still include the extras like warranty extension and travel insurance. You can get great perks that can save you money overall, and you don’t even need to pay an annual fee. The warranty extension can be great because then it saves you money on extended warranty costs as well.
2. Cut back on going to restaurants. Instead, plan your meals. You’ll save money on your food bill, and you’ll eat healthier, too. If you like to go out to eat on occasion, you can save money when you consider getting your local Entertainment Book. This book includes a lot of 2 for 1 deals at restaurants. It can pay for itself in a couple outings!
3. Consider switching you local phone to a VOIP provider like Primus or Vonage. For $30 you can have local, long distance, caller ID, messaging and all the other bells and whistles. It’s a much better deal than many of the “traditional” telecommunications providers.
4. Get a quote on your home and auto insurance (try Kanetix) to make sure you’re getting the best price. Staying with the same insurer can get you loyalty discounts, but if someone else is cheaper it might be time to change. At the very least, shop around once or twice a year, and if you find a cheaper rate, let your agent know and give your current insurer a chance to match the rate.
5. Switch to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). While the bulb will cost more than a regular bulb, one $3 bulb can provide you with $15 to $50 in energy savings over the 5 year life of the bulb. Over time, that starts to add up. It’s a long-term win.
6. If your cellphone contract is up within the next few months, call the company and ask to speak to their retentions department. If you let them know you’re considering switching to another provider, most are able to give you a deal better than you’ll find advertised. It’s an awesome way to get a good deal on your service.
7. Instead of buying coffee at Tim Hortons or Starbucks, make it at home and bring it to work in a thermos or travel mug. This will also save you some time in line ups and gas since you aren’t making the detour on your way to work!