Number 7: Find a Friendly Credit Card.
Are you forking out needless fees or losing-out on rewards? The site CardRatings.com can help you compare options and pick the best card for your spending habits. The Department of Consumer Affairs says you may want to seek out a card from smaller banks.
"If you do bank at a credit Union, we often recommend that people go there, they are historically an organization that has lesser fees, no annual fees,” said Consumer Affairs Staff Attorney Carri Grube Lybarker.
Number 6: Hunt for Coupons
Whether it's in the paper or online, you can cut your grocery bills in half. SouthernSavers.com matches up coupons and weekly store sales which add up to big savings.
Number 5: Seal Up Your Home:
Some caulk and weather stripping goes a long way to cutting down your heating and cooling bills. The EPA estimates sealing the cracks can improve your home's energy efficiency by as much as 20%.
Number 4: Haggle.
Sellers expect you to negotiate nowadays on prices, especially big ticket items. In fact a recent survey by rent.com found that 68% of landlords are offering lower rents or a month free to retain tenants.
Number 3: Stop Paying for Things You Don't Use:
Whether it's cutting down your cable TV package, or cancelling that gym membership you never use, cut the fat on stuff you'll never miss.
Number 2: Compare Phone Plans:
Chances are you could get the same minutes on another carrier for fewer bucks. Check with LetsTalk.com to compare options against your current cell plan.
Number 1: Track Your Cash:
“The single biggest thing people can do to get a handle on starting the part of saving is knowing where they're spending," said Brent Bishop with Compass of Carolina. Bishop suggests writing down every purchase for one month.
Free financial management websites can also help you track your cash. Mint.com and Wesabe.com sync with your bank accounts to automatically sort and track purchases.
You may be surprised by how much you spend on that cup of Joe, a little motivation to cut back.
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