10 Money Saving Ideas 

I think we all like to save money in any way we can. Prices are high and everything seems to go higher instead of going lower. I've been thinking of the ways I try to save money for our family and have come up with a list below.

1. Go on a day trip instead of traveling far away. There are lots of festivals going on in the summer and it doesn't cost anything but your gas to drive to them. Also, going to the beach is a great way to get away for a day. You could also go to a museum like we did a week ago. We visited our daughter in another city and went to the Gerald R. Ford Museum, which was very interesting and informative.

2. Wash and wax your own car instead of going to a car wash if you can. If you have your own home and don't live in an apartment you can get a bucket of soapy water and wash down your car, then rinse it clean with a garden hose. Apply some wax and your car will look better than ever!

3. Get specials at restaurants instead of high cost meals. I love to go to my favorite restaurant (The Cracker Barrel). It's a real treat and I get a grilled chicken salad with a baked potato for only $5.99. It's a lunch special and is only served until 3:00 from Monday through Friday but the servers all know me and let me get it any time or day!

4. Clean your own carpeting. I never hired a carpet cleaning company in the past. If I want to clean my carpet I rent a carpet cleaner at a local store and do it myself. You can go over your carpet as much as you want and will be surprised at the dirty water you get. I did have a carpet cleaner years ago although it broke, but it really is a good investment also.

5. Quit buying bottled water. We rarely buy bottled water because it really adds up. Occasionally I do purchase a case for when we go away in the car. We have a reverse osmosis water purifier hooked up to our faucet and fill a couple of jugs to keep in the refrigerator. This way it's always cold and ready to drink.

6. Can your own food. I love summer and fresh tomatoes. When they are in season, I can my own tomatoes which we use in chili, spaghetti sauce and goulash all year long. They really do taste better than store bought tomatoes and it isn't hard to do. All you need is jars, lids, and a canner.

7. Cut your own hair with a hair cutting set or go to a beauty academy school. My son has been cutting his own hair for years so he's saved a lot of money doing so. I go to a beauty school where the cuts are only $6 and $20 for a highlight. Before I started going there about 4 years ago my hair cuts at a beautician were $14 and a highlight was about $50. I'm sure the prices have risen since then also.

8. Only buy clothing or shoes that are on sale. I never buy clothes or shoes that are regularly priced. Stores have flyers in our newspapers that include coupons sometimes. You can also get some nice gently used clothing in some thrift shops which is a lot cheaper than buying new clothes.

9. Have your own garage sale. I save all my unwanted items through the year and have an annual garage sale in the summer. You'll be happy to get rid of clutter and make extra money for things you need or want.

10.Instead of going to a movie at a theater you can have a movie night at home. There are lots of places you can rent movies or even buy cheap movies. You can even watch lots of good movies on television. Then make make your own homemade popcorn and have fun!

Do you have ideas to save money? Let me know them!