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1. Video Games
Retail Cost : $30.00 -
Kids love to play video games, but they don’t always love to take care of them. We all know a video game is only good for the first two weeks. Then they are onto the new and improved game that just came out
Approximate Cost of Video Games Per Month : $60.00
Approximate Cost of Video Game Rentals Per Month: $15.00
Savings Per Year : $540.00 (and less clutter!)
Gamefly is the absolute best online video game rental service. They offer different plans, they just added more shipping facilities across the country, and offer on site user reviews of all the games.
2. Natural Gas Bill
With rising gas costs, more people are looking into reducing their monthly heating expenses. Adding insulation and window coverings are one way to reduce heat loss, but what about the actual Natural Gas bill?
Last winter, we stopped using our natural gas and added these ‘safe’ space heaters. They have internal thermostats and a timer. When the children ran into them or they tipped over there were no burns. Our biggest complaint was that the controls were so easy the toddler kept turning them off or on while running past.
Here were our winter savings, yours may vary as electricity costs are regional.
Retail Cost Of (6) Heaters: $300.00
Winter Months (5) Natural Gas Bill per month: $264.00
Winter Months (5) Additional Electric Bill per month: $70
Savings Per Year (Initial Cost Included): $670.00
Savings Per Year (After Initial Cost): $970.00
We look forward to saving about $1,000.00 in winter heating this season!
3. Phone Bill
Can you believe there are some people that still don’t have a VOIP phone? It’s easy to sign up, you can keep your same number, and it is a FLAT fee. No minute by minute calling plans. The days of telephone companies adding up surcharges to make a little bill into a landmine are over.
Retail Cost : $24.95
Approximate Cost of non-
Savings Per Year: $300.00
4. Home Oven
If you have a gas or electric oven, try this quick check to see how much it costs to run. Turn everything off in the house. Have a partner go outside and watch the gas or electric meter spin while the oven is on. Use a stop watch to time and record.
Now, purchase a toaster oven and do the same thing. You’ll be amazed at the difference between a toaster oven and a conventional oven.
Retail Cost : $100.00
Usage: From breakfast burritos to chicken dinners.
Cost to run per year: Up to 66% less energy versus an electric wall oven.
5. Household Supplies
From toilet paper to make-
Don’t know anything about it? Visit the following sites to learn the ins and outs of CVS’Ing.
Savings per year: Varies, we’ve found this saves $1,000.00+
6. Coupons
Purchasing five papers on Sunday should be enough to get you stock piling. Some stores offer papers at a discount when purchased after Sunday. We get five papers delivered to our home each Sunday, as this is the most reliable way to secure all the inserts. Sometimes when purchasing in store, the inserts are missing.
An easy way to store coupons is to take each insert out and place it in a file folder with the date and insert name. This handy file cabinet makes coupon organization even easier.
To look up a coupon become a member of www.hotcouponworld.com and search through their database of coupons by product name. Combining sales with coupons is the best way to pay the lowest price for any item.
Retail Cost of file cabinet : $29.74
Savings Per Year: Varies , we’ve found this saves $1,000.00+
7. Dating Your Spouse
Using the right credit card reward’s system can provide for two nights of family entertainment each month. Choose your free gift card wisely. Find a credit card company that doesn’t charge a percentage to use the checks and pay your mortgage with them.
Last month we chose a Starbuck’s $50 Gift Card. Our local grocery store has a supervised children’s play area and a Starbucks. On Saturday mornings, we like to bring the children to the play area and sit 30 feet away to enjoy a nice cup of coffee. This is a free break and allows parents a chance to talk without interruption.
If you aren’t lucky enough to have a grocery store like our’s, then get the starbucks and bring the kids to the playground, park. Sitting on a bench while watching the children play can be a good time had by all.
8. Entertainment -
I can’t recommend Netflix enough. Netflix allows the user to watch internet streamed video through the computer.
Here is a scenario to maximize your Netflix dollar:
Purchase the least expensive plan for $4.99 a month. This gives you two movies to
view and return. Four days before the end of your membership month(midnight works
well), switch to their most expensive plan. Because their plans are pro-
On the third to last day, 8 movies should be shipped out to you. The day before your plan changes over, switch back to the $4.99 plan. In total, you receive 10 movies per month for about.$10.00.
8. Entertainment -
The Disney Book Club is a wonderful way to add to your children’s collection. Reading materials are an important part of child development and help to foster their love of reading. The books contain children’s favorite Disney characters and tell stories they know and love.
We love the free gifts and easy return policy of the scholastic book programs. Once your library has reached maximum capacity, their cancellation policy is quick and easy.
Many public libraries have free reading programs for kids. Check your local branch for a schedule.
9. Family Personal Audit
Every three months plan for a family personal audit. Go over the family’s bills and edit the budget. Find out where most of the money goes and figure out plans to keep everyone on budget. Involve the children in the decision making process with their allowances. Remain calm if your spouse spends unwisely and be forgiving. Allow mistakes and work on how to compromise in the family budget.
Make decisions together. Staying within the limits set by both of you helps to build trust and security in a relationship.
A good finance journal is all you need to prepare a budget. If you need help creating a budget or preparing an audit, Microsoft Money is only $6.99 at Amazon.
