Last week I shared Systems for Savings and Teaching Kids About Financial Literacy. In that article I promised to give you a a bunch of ideas to help you collectively save $100 in just one week and perhaps even $100′s if not $1,000s in one year.
Ditch Your Cable/TV package
Call can review your TV package. Do you really NEED all of those channels? Are you really wanting to spend that much time in front of the TV anyway? This saved us $30 a month and we were on a VERY low plan already. Now, we watch for FREE on YouTube or get a Redbox video on occasion. ($7.50 per week)
Downgrade Your Cell phone package
Do you need all those minutes? Unlimited data? After talking to your cell carrier, you may find that you can save yourself a bundle each month! This simple call, saved us over $50 per month ($13 per week)
Drop Your Land Line
We were reluctant to do this, but after looking at all the numbers and reasons for really needing the phone line in the first place, we decided the savings of $36 a month was worth it. We now have unlimited calling on our cell phones and we’re still saving money for having dropped the home phone line. ($9 per week)
Pantry Scavenger Hunt
What could you make just from “shopping” in your pantry this week? This is HUGE savings, plus it will give you a great excuse to finally get your cupboards/shelves/pantry clean. We did this and saved $100 plus in our weekly grocery bill. ($100, but not something you can do every week! 
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Shop Price Per….
May people are used to shopping with coupons or buying the bottle or package that has the lowest price listed, but many people are unaware that those aren’t always the best prices. Learn to read the fine print of how much you are paying per ounce, per item, per pound, etc. Doing this could save you $100′s per year. For example, we use a lot of turkey in our house because we don’t eat pork and have very limited red meat. Turkey bacon at one store is actually 30-60 cents less per ounce that at another store. When you are buying several pounds per month, that really adds up. (LOTS – at least $30 per week!)
Brown Bag It!
With the minimum price for lunch being $3 (and that’s for school lunch at the high school cafeteria where my son goes to school, it’s MUCH more if you are ordering takeout or going to a restaurant), you will save over $15 per week just by bringing lunch with you to school or work. ($15 or more!)
Go A Library Card
You can check out books instead of buying them and even read or listen to many of them without even going to the library because the checkout is virtual! This would save my daughter dozens a month on her Amazon account. (Savings depends on how much you read!)
Crack the Code on your Card Statements
It’s likely that you have recurring expenses that you have forgotten about that are being billed to your credit card/debit card every month. Take some time to go through EVERY SINGLE charge on your credit card and call to cancel anything you are not longer using. You may find other miscellaneous or erroneous charges on there as well. When going through ours yesterday, I found three charges from our local gas station right after the other. Only one was accurate and the other two were removed, but they would have likely stayed there and I would have been charged for them had I not taken the time to look through my statement. You also want to look at any FREEBIES your card offers that you aren’t taking advantage of. These benefits may include extended warranties, free tickets, price drop protection, extra discounts, concierge services, cash back, and cash giveaways. (Could REALLY ADD UP! We paid for ALL of Christmas with CASH BACK from our credit cards! NOTE: NEVER carry a balance of your credit card, even if the perks on the card are fabulous! The interest you are paying on the balance is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!)
Make Friends with eBay and Craigslist
If you’re like most Americans, you have a few EXTRA things in your home that you could likely get some cash for if you listed it on eBay or Craigslist. Not only can you make money getting rid of your old items, but you might also find some treasures you had forgotten about.
Re-Design Date Night
In my husband’s book, Grow Your Marriage By Leaps and Boundaries, he lists over 100 DATE ideas and most of them are free! Considering a date to the movies or dinner is close to $40 these days, getting his book may likely be an investment that could save you $1000′s over the course of a year!
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