16 Super Simple Ways to Save Money

By Heidi DeCoux

Saving money seems to be the buzz right now. Here are 16 simple ways to save money without making sacrifices.

  1. Go out for dessert instead of dinner. Dinners out can get expensive, but it's not fun to stay in every night. Eat dinner at home and go out for dessert. To save time and reduce the temptation to go out to eat, make up large batches of food and freeze it in individual serving containers. This way you can heat up a homemade gourmet meal in minutes, then go out for a yummy dessert afterward.

  2. Borrow instead of buy. Need a special tool for a project, or maybe a hedge trimmer or tent? Go to Neighborrow.com to find someone near you who will happily lend you theirs, free of charge.

  3. Turn down (or up, depending on the season and climate) your thermostat before you leave your house. Shut the vents off in rooms you do not use during the day, such as bedrooms or family rooms, and keep the doors closed. No sense in heating or cooling rooms that are not being used.

  4. Have a Clothing Swap with friends. Invite your friends to clean out their closets and bring over their unwanted clothing and accessories, along with a dish to pass around. Lay out everyone's clothes. Eat, mingle, and shop—for FREE! You'll probably leave with at least a couple of fun new pieces to add to your wardrobe, and you'll have a fun and free night out. Simply donate all of the leftover items to charity.

  5. Unplug items you are not using. Even if they are off, they are still pulling current. This cost savings will add up to more than you think. If you don't want to continually be unplugging items, invest in a Smart Strip (different than a standard power strip). It does not allow your items to pull electric current when off. You will probably cut your electric bill in half. Visit ClearSimpleLiving.com/cutyourelectricbill for more details.

  6. Don't run your water continuously when washing dishes or brushing your teeth. Wash all your clothes in cold. It's better on your clothes, and they typically come out just as clean. Use a little pre-spot if needed. If you are replacing any of your appliances, purchase energy- and water-efficient models.

  7. Before paying full retail price or even sale price for anything, check Craigslist.com, Ebay.com, and HandMeDowns.com. Added bonus: It's great for our environment when we redistribute items instead of tossing things out and re-manufacturing new things. For examples of what you can get for super cheap—visit ClearSimpleLiving.com/buyused

  8. Get Cash-Back rewards on all of your purchases. How much do you spend at Target or Walmart each month? We spend about $100 a week. Target offers a 3.5% cash-back reward. For us, that's a savings of $182 a year. I can get three massages for that! Target is just one of 600 stores that offers cash-back rewards. To find out more, visit ClearSimpleLiving.com/cashbackrewards. You can get a cash-back reward at just about every store you shop in. That can add up to huge savings at the end of the year. BONUS: The rewards are automatic, no paperwork to fill out. Some of them are even given in the form of a discount when you check out.

  9. Get your hair cut and colored at a school. It will save you a bundle (especially on color services). The student is monitored closely by an instructor. The Aveda Institutes and Juut Academy are great places to go. At the Juut New Artist Academy, those students have graduated from cosmetology school but are in a 30-week advanced training course required by all Juut Salons. Haircuts at the Juut Academy are a little more expensive than the Aveda Institute, but you get a more trained cosmetologist cutting or coloring your hair. Haircuts at Juut Academy run about $25. Haircuts at Aveda Institute run about $15 and usually include a scalp massage and make-up application. These schools also provide color, facials, waxing, and massage treatments.

  10. Save on Travel! Instead of skipping your vacation, just learn to travel better for less. For the guaranteed cheapest hotel rate and cheapest Carnival Cruise Rates, book your travel through GreatDestinationDeals.com. Bookmark the website on your computer so you have it handy when you need it. They also offer incredible (and usually unbeatable) Last Minute Deals. There is no magic bullet for the cheapest airfare, but Orbitz.com and PriceLine.com are usually good bets. Package deals are almost always cheaper. If you need hotel and/or car with your flight, then GreatDestinationDeals.com is usually your best bet for getting the cheapest rate on a package deal.

  11. Use alternative healthcare options. Healthcare is huge expense for many of us, and there are cheaper and better options. For some examples visit ClearSimpleLiving.com/alternativehealthcare.

  12. Hire it out! I know, it seems counterintuitive. The reality is, if you focus on what you are really good at and hire out all of the little "tasks" that need to get done, you will be more efficient, probably happier, and will earn more money. Consider hiring out your yard work, snow removal, house-keeping, laundry, errand running, and any other chore you despise. Leave it to the professionals who love to do your chores and can probably do them better and faster than you can. To find a professional in your area, visit the PreferredVendorNetwork.com (under construction). This is a directory of the "best of the best" professionals. Professionals do not pay to be listed. They get listed based on the services they provide. Another great resource is Angie's List.

  13. Save with Coupon Codes. Find current coupon codes for the items on your shopping list at CurrentCodes.com. In the market for a new personal paper shredder? ShredYourPapers offers a Best Price Guarantee, plus you can use the Coupon Code: Friends to save 10% on your order.

  14. Save on groceries without clipping a hundred coupons and still being able to buy organic and local. For details visit ClearSimpleLiving.com/saveongroceries.

  15. Trade labor. Have a project that needs to get done? Trade labor with a friend. Think about what skills you have and who you can offer them to, in exchange for their skills on your project.

  16. The number one way to save money is to be organized. How many times have you lost paperwork that has cost you time and money? Lost a receipt for an item you wanted to return, lost rebate paperwork, had to pay to get an important document replaced, and the list goes on. If you want to be able to find any piece of paper in your home in 30 seconds or less, get my Fast-Filing Method audio program. This home filing system is inexpensive and easy to implement. Spend your life being productive and doing what you love, not searching for paperwork. Enter coupon code Article to save 25% on your order at ClearSimpleLiving.com/homeofficefilingsystem.

May this be your best and most organized year yet!

Heidi DeCoux is a Professional Organizer, Public Speaker, and Author of the Fast-Filing Method audio program available at ClearSimpleLiving.com/homeofficefilingsystem. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Heidi is dedicated to helping people live their best lives. She offers a FREE monthly e-newsletter with tips and solutions on how to make your life easier, calmer, and more organized. To sign up, visit her website at HeidiDeCoux.com and click on e-solutions.