The Key to Saving Money? Stop Buying Stuff

by AlisonS on June 27, 2008

Koyuki checking out handbagsHere’s a message to all of you shopaholics out there: it’s time for change. Grocery bills are going up. Gas prices are skyrocketing. Energy prices have jumped. Something has got to give and needless shopping is a good place to start. The key to saving money is to stop spending it. There are several things you might be spending money on that you could be saving.

Creative Commons License photo credit: gwaar

Stop Buying Shoes

Yes, shoes are awesome. But try fixing the ones you already own rather than buying new. Take them to a cobbler and for about $10 they’ll re-heel them, put on new soles, and polish them up so they look like new.

Stop Buying Name Brand Food

It may not say “Cinnamon Toast Crunch” on the label, but I can tell you from experience that the Target version– Cinni-Mini Crunch– is pretty much the same in all ways except one: the price. It’s only $1.67 compared to about $4 for the real stuff. Sure, sometimes name brands go on sale and then it’s a good deal, but when faced with the choice between a generic brand or a regular priced name brand- go generic.

Stop Paying for Movie Channels

Take a month and write down every time you actually watch one of the movie channels you pay extra for on your cable bill. When the month is over, ask yourself if it’s truly worth it or if you could be saving money by renting a movie now and then or just trading flicks with a friend for free.

Stop Buying Bottled Water

If the fact that your plastic water bottle will sit in a landfill for 500 years isn’t enough to make you stop buying them, just think of the money you are wasting. Rather than paying for a pack, buy a reusable bottle and a water filter.

Stop Buying Magazines

If you’re reading this, you use the Internet. Save money by stopping some of those magazine subscriptions. Just visit the websites instead. Much of the content is the same. Also, your local library keeps current issues of hundreds of periodical titles.

You Might Enjoy:

  1. How Saving Small Can Add Up Big
  2. Saving Money Using the Envelope System
  3. Be Green and Save Money
  4. Tips for Cutting Your Cable Bill
  5. How Movie Theaters Make Money

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post:

 

You need to log in to vote

The blog owner requires users to be logged in to be able to vote for this post.

Alternatively, if you do not have an account yet you can create one here.

Powered by Vote It Up