Jana Says

I read the Not MSN Money forum pretty faithfully. They’re a great way to fill time at work and sometimes, I even learn something! Recently there was a thread about painless and effortless ways to save money. Essentially, it was about making cuts on things you do anyway to save a few dollars here or there when you don’t want to make big lifestyle changes like finding a cheaper place to live or giving up a car (please understand that I am aware that sometimes these are not possible. It is why my family will, for the foreseeable future, be a two car family).

To me, these aren’t so much effortless as they are lazy. There’s still some effort required to remember to make a grocery list or turn the dishwasher on at night (if you don’t have a dishwasher and wash dishes manually, the double entendre was not intended. If you don’t get it, think about it for a minute…Done thinking? See, now you get it!) but they’re changes that even the laziest of people can make.

For instance:

• Change your lightbulbs from standard bulbs to CFLs. Yes, everyone recommends this. It’s a good suggestion. They use less energy, last longer and are fun to look at. They do cost a bit more money upfront but that money pays off in the long run in two ways: you have to buy bulbs less frequently and they save money on your electric bill. Just make sure that you are aware of how to properly dispose of the CFLs when they eventually do burn out. The Energy Star website has some great information on CFLs.
• Lower your policy premiums. It’s fairly common knowledge that the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. But there are other ways you can save money on your insurance, be it homeowner’s or car. Let’s use car insurance as an example. One way to save money is to take a defensive driving class. We did this 6 years ago and we save 10% each year on our policy. To keep the discount, we are required to take a refresher every 3 years which is offered through our work for $6/person and since it’s a state sponsored training, the class is taken on work time and no extra money for babysitting is required.
• Use employer discounts. I know someone who works for a supermarket. One of the perks of her job is a discount on groceries. This usually applies to people who work other types retail as well. But what about other employer discounts? My father-in-law works for a nationally known company and about 2-3 times per year, they offer deep, deep discounts on their product (like a 5+ pound package of boneless, skinless chicken breast for $1). Does your work offer discounts on cell phone packages or cable? How about free counseling? Check into what your employer offers on items you might use anyway.
• Check your bills. Are you paying too much for a feature you don’t use? Then get rid of it! For instance, if you have unlimited texting on your cell phone but you’re only using 200 a month, then change the plan to 250 or 500 texts and save yourself some money. Unsure what a charge is on your Comcast bill? Call the company to find out; maybe it’s a feature they added that you don’t want. Is there a “service fee” on your electric bill that you don’t need? Eliminate it. But you need to make sure to read your bills rather than just paying them blindly. It’s a shame how much money is thrown away from not examining a bill.
• Unsubscribe from emails. If you’re anything like me, you get a constant barrage of emails from stores enticing you to spend money. New York and Company, Old Navy, CostCo…they’re all guilty of sending me coupons telling me how much money I can save. If I only spend $100 to get that savings. Seeing those emails might encourage you to spend money that you might not have planned or budgeted for. So, much like turning off commercials, unsubscribe from those emails or set up a junk account and have them forwarded there. By not seeing them, you won’t be tempted.
• The standards. Make a menu plan. Shop your pantry. Combine errands. Pack your lunch. Make your coffee from home (I hate coffee but from what I understand the Keurig even has K-cups for Dunkin’ Donuts coffee now). Buy generics. Run appliances at off-peak times. Turn down the temperature on your water heater. Pay your bills on time (more on this next week) and online.