Losin' It

106 Money-Saving Secrets

Reuse anything and everything.
Don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry.
Don't shop without a list.
If it moves and shouldn't, use duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use WD-40.
Take ketchup and mustard packets whenever possible.
Cruise the grocery store on Saturdays for free samples.
Two words: mom's fridge.
Do laundry at your parent's house (right around dinner time).
Buy black towels and wash them less often.
Keep a change jar. It adds up.
Walk and bike everywhere to save money on gas and healthcare costs.
Buy generic food brands.
Visit restaurants with happy hours and order only off the specials menu.
Borrow DVDs and CDs from friends, neighbors and parents.
Buy canned fish. It's cheap and you can add it to nearly any dish, including desserts.
If your family has health insurance, make sure your college takes the health insurance fees off your tuition.
Buy textbooks online. Campus bookstore prices can be as much as 80 percent higher than online.
If you can avoid it, don't have a car at school. Save on the cost of parking, insurance and maintaining the car.
Stay on your school's food plan as long as possible. Cooking and buying food can actually cost more than a food plan.
Live on campus to save on rent.
Make sure to apply for work-study early in the year. The good jobs get taken fast.
Make sure to apply for grants before, during and after college.
If you live off campus in the Midwest, you may qualify for fuel assistance during the winter months.
If you make less than $13,000 dollars per year while going to college and are not a dependent, you may qualify for food stamps.
Share textbooks with friends.
Stop drinking soda.
Share music, legally of course.
Shop at a second-hand store for clothing, dishes and furniture.
Ride the bus.
Buy a bread machine.
Make your own laundry soap - costs about one cent per load.
Re-use Ziploc bags - wash them out with dish soap.
Make your own deodorant using baking soda.
Cook large pots of soups/stews and save for lunches and dinners.
Recycle aluminum cans for cash.
Brew your own coffee instead of paying coffee-shop prices.
Use a refillable water bottle rather than buying bottled water.
Frozen fruits and veggies are often cheaper and just as nutritious.
Shop the "day old" rack for bread deals and freeze the loaves/buns you don't need right away.
Compare weekly grocery fliers for good deals.
Eat less.
Buy clothes that mix and match well with each other. That way three outfits can become as many as nine interesting ensembles.
Know the difference between a "want" and a "need."
Shop for Christmas presents or outdoor gear during the off-season, when things are on sale.
Use a toaster oven instead of the big oven in the kitchen.
Ask your doctor for generic drug prescriptions.
Keep the thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter and turn off your furnace during the summer.
Keep cool in the summer without the AC: open the windows at night and close them during the day.
Bring a lunch - leftovers or prepared at home - to work.
Cancel your cable subscription - read, watch DVDs, go outside!
Get a second job - preferably at a store you shop at frequently and that gives an employee discount.
Borrow tools from neighbors and friends.
If you have a cell phone, cancel your landline.
Use the Internet at campus computer labs and wi-fi hotspots.
If you can, dry your laundry on a clothesline.
Clip coupons.
Make crafts for gifts.
Pay off debt ASAP. The interest on most credit card balances is more than any investment is likely to return.
Avoid buying or leasing a new car.
Sell anything you haven't used in the last year.
Shop at discount clothing and food stores.
Make a budget and stick to it.
Avoid using credit cards.
Spend Friday nights indoors with friends instead of going out.
Use public transportation.
Use school equipment like printers, phones and faxes.
Carpool whenever possible.
Sell textbooks back after semesters, but try online first - you may make more.
Go on service trips during spring break instead of vacations.
Install a dual-flush conversion on your toilet.
Turn off the shower while soaping up.
Baking soda and water make a refreshing toothpaste.
Barter and trade with your friends.
Check out DVDs, CDs, magazines and books from the public library.
Many TV shows and movies can be watched online for free.
Parks are free.
Many libraries have free museum passes that can be checked out.
Wash only full loads of laundry.
If you use cold water (which is cheaper), whites and colors can be washed in the same load.
A game or movie night is a cheap group gathering.
Unplug anything you aren't using. TVs and most appliances still draw current even when switched off.
Candlelight is romantic.
Turn down the heat at night or use a programmable thermostat.
Try consignment stores.
Don't buy dry-clean-only clothing.
Wool can be worn more times without washing than cotton or synthetics.
Think your hair cares if your comb is missing teeth?
Keep your thermostat set at 60 degrees and wear a sweater.
Keep your thermostat set at 50 degrees and jog in place.
Turn lights off when you leave a room.
Use fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent.
Seal your windows during the winter.
Keep track of what you spend.
Take shorter showers by candlelight: save on electricity and relax.
Don't buy things you can live without.
Drink tap water.
Eggs are the cheapest form of protein.
Get to know someone with a truck. Sooner or later, you'll need a favor.
Remember to use your pockets when you're in the cafeteria.
Have a friend cut your hair.
Even liberal arts colleges have at least three guys on campus who know how to fix a car.
Use reusable everything.
Use pencils instead of highlighters. They're cheaper and you'll be able to sell your books back for more.
Stock up when things are on sale.
Play intramural sports.
When in doubt, go cheap, and if someone comments, tell them that you are "going green" and trying to save the world.