Finger Savings
Get Your Finger on the Savings
In today’s tough economic times, everyone has to make adjustments to their spending habits in order to survive. Every time you turn on the television, all we hear is “Economy, Economy, Economy” and we’re all starting to feel the clench of this financial squeeze. Whether it’s shifting your diet to eat more potatoes or cutting out going out to eat – we all need to adjust to the current economic climate.
One of the best ways to save is to "let your fingers do the walking" – or in this millennial case, "let your fingers do the typing and clicking".
The team at Finger.com has taken the time to research some of the best online resources for saving your money.
Electronics and Gadgets
Everyone loves having the latest iPods, laptops and video games, but keeping up with technology can be costly! Shopping online is a great way to save some money. In fact, at auction sites like www.Haggle.com, you can get electronics, gift cards and more for a fraction of the price! Register for Haggle to receive your first bid free and shop the live auctions!
Grocery Savings
This mom was recently featured on Oprah for a solid money saving tips on how to eat what you like, for a fraction of the cost. Her money saving tips could save you thousands over a year.www.couponmom.com
A few tips from the Finger Team:
- Check out local grocery ads
- Shop at a grocery store that’s close to a few others. Buy the items you like on sale at each store
- Search for coupons online
- Make lunches instead of buying at work
- Start a garden to cut costs on produce & herbs
Utility Savings
While you may be able to turn off the lights and reduce you power and gas bills, it’s tougher to get around some of the other monthly costs of living in home or apartment. Here are a few tips that could help save you $100 or more a month.Phone Bills
Most of us use cell phones all the time, including while at the home. We may not even use them that much, but we are using minutes that we pay a premium for when they are being used. If you’re able to cut back on your monthly cell phone minutes, you may be able to switch plans and cut costs considerably.
Skype & Google Talk offer free phone solutions when you’re near a computer or at home. The services are both free and offer video chat options. You can now use those 100 minutes you use to talk to your mom every month in India for free. If you don’t need those minutes with the switch, change plans and start saving.
www.skype.com
www.google.com/talk/
Landscaping
Cut back on home maintenance by cutting out the monthly landscaper costs to manage your property. Try gardening yourself on the weekends or paying the neighborhood kids to do the work. The job might not be as nice as the landscapers, but it’ll save you a ton and help kids learn the value of working.Clothing Savings
Even in these times of financial woes, we still need to look good & there are tons of ways to save on designer goods if you take the time to look.Here are a few tips:
- Shop Around
- Know your sizes for various brand names to take advantage of online deals (maybe even go to a store and try them on before you buy)
- Always check out the clearance and sales racks. It may be work, but there are a ton of quality goods here if you do your research
- Try looking into some of the second tier stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, etc. These stores all buy their products from top department stores & while there may be a lot to sift though, the price in the end is well worth the struggle
- Compare prices with online resources
- Don’t be afraid to shop at the outlets
There are also a few great online shopping sites that have designer labels at almost half the price. The key here is to keep checking weekly for what you want as everything constantly changes. These sites get goods from some of the best national chains.
Bluefly.com – Designer Clothes & shoes of all kinds
Backcountry.com – Outlet for outdoor goods
Zappos.com – Brand name and designer shoes
Fashionhousela.com – All kinds of woman’s designer clothing on the cheap
Furniture Savings
New furniture can have a hefty price, but there’s a ton of ways to save thousands of dollars. One of the best ways to save is to let the chip off your shoulder slide when it comes to used goods. People constantly redecorate and sell furniture at a fraction of the cost.
One of the best ways to capitalize on this is by checking Craiglist.org and other local classified sites for used furniture. When you see something you want, start making offers. People need money these days and are willing to sell goods at a fraction of the cost. Don’t be let down if the offer doesn’t go through, you’ll find another item soon and the seller may be in need of the money more – so negotiate away. Be sure to check the site daily while looking as new items come and go on a regular basis.
Other Useful Savings Resources
Daytipper.com
Savingsnut.com
