Tips on Saving Money

This post almost sounds crazy coming from me, but I have received some good tips lately and wanted to share them with you.

Mom and I started talking and had a wonderful idea. We as a whole family are going to take a cruise together. My parents went on an Alaskan cruise in 2004 and want to take another cruise. I forfeited the cruise I won because we are moving back to Ohio and the rules state that you have to be employed by your current agent at the time of the cruise which was not happening for me. And my brother feels that he will never have the money or the chance to take a cruise. So we decided to make it a family effort. We are going to aim for next year and save in the current year until we depart for the vacation.

We need a minimum of $5,000 for all seven of us (hopefully eight at the time) to fly to and from the cruise port and per person on the cruise. We have decided how we are going to try to get this done.

Here are a few things we are going to try. Let me know if you have any others that could work:

• $10-$20 per pay - we are going to automatically take this amount and put it aside per pay period. This will ensure that we are keeping up our end of the bargain
• Garage sales - we are going to go through all of our stuff and try to sell as much as we can. A portion to pay bills and the other portion to sock away. Besides, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
• CD's anyone - have to give a little boast on what I like to sell. State Farm Bank CD's. For a one year CD the percentage is over 4%. Therefore, we can earn money while it is sitting there. And for every $500 we do that with, it will add up quick.
• Quarter rally - when we receive quarters from cash purchases, instead of spending them we are going to save them. My mom did this one year and at the end of the year she had $550 saved. Not bad!
• How much for groceries?!?!? - this tip came from my cousin. Take a look at the grocery bill at the end of your trip. Find the amount that was saved from buy one get one free or discounts due to shopping cards and put that money away for savings. You were going to end up spending it anyway, might as well save it and put it away.

There are a few for food. I found other tips for families and how to save money. Here are some that I found:

• Save the juice from canned fruit (not the syrup kind, the juice kind) and add a little bit of water. Mix it together and put them in ice cube trays and make popsicles.
• Find manufacturer coupons and take advantage of double and triple coupon offers. The food items can actually become free from this.
• BOGO is our friend. Take advantage of buy one get one if you will actually use the item.
• Go in with others on wholesale items from wholesale clubs. You can each get what you need and at a fraction of the price.
• Eat a big meal before shopping. It curbs impulse buying. And you get your exercise while you walk the store.
• Invest money into a Pizzazz pizza maker and buy frozen pizzas. Store brands are usually the best and you save a bunch of money. We have done this and on average for a pizza dinner it is under $6. I don't know where you can get a delivery pizza for that cost even on a good day.
• Keep your freezer full. That way it runs more efficiently and uses less electricity.
• If grocery shopping at Wal-Mart, buy their brand of food. That can save you quite a bit of money. For example: Crystal Light To Go is usually about $2.50. The Wal-Mart brand is $1.76. Get the picture?
• Shop at Big Lots for non-perishable items. They are really inexpensive and can save you from when you go to the regular grocery store.

Now if you are looking for cheap family activities, here are some suggestions:

• Take your kids to Storytime at the local library. It helps to develop their minds and gives them a chance to explore their imagination.
• Pack a picnic lunch and go to the park. Costs less than stopping for fast food and you save on calories.
• Go to a play area at a fast food restaurant. Get an item from the dollar menu and let your kids play until they wear themselves out.
• Save on a movie by going to a dollar theatre. Yes, they are still around!!! Or splurge a little and go to a matinee during the day.
• Find out what movies your friends have and swap them for a Family Movie Night. Saves on rental fees and your friends get to watch a movie they don't own either.
• Find out what family activities your local church has. They may have picnics or nights designed for family fun.
• Check the newspaper or local rec centers for activities that they have planned. Mark them on your calendar.
• Find out where there are local water play areas at. I know that at Easton Towne Center in Columbus the kids can play in the fountains there and they LOVE it.

Hope that this has helped you out a bit. Please feel free to leave other suggestions that I may not have put down on here.

Happy saving!!!