Today's tough financial times call for a little creativity. I like my holiday packages to look nice, but buying tissue paper for wrapping is an extra cost I can do without. Instead, I just use my happy birthday or merry Christmas stamps with ink on some SCOTT Towels. Puff up the sheet, so they look pretty in the gift bag, and presto -- you have a very pretty, wrapped gift at a lot less of the cost. Or, leave the towels plain and the gift receiver can reuse them for cleaning.
I believe in parking my car and walking into a fast food restaurant. Not only does it save gas and the environment, the walking is GOOD FOR YOU!! Then you don't have to feel quite as guilty when you eat ALL those fries, etc.
When making purchases with a check or debit card, round your total up to the next dollar when you write it in your check register. Write the amount of change out to the side. At the end of the month, add up your change and transfer it to your savings account. This keeps your checkbook easy to balance and helps you save.
Go cash only!! It sounds simple and it is. After a month of keeping track of ALL expenses and seeing where the money is going, take out the amount you truly need before filling up your tank and going grocery shopping. Since you know you only have that much to spend at the store, that's all you'll spend. You can bring a small calculator to add items up as you go. I've saved $500 doing this!
If you're current on your payments, your bank or credit card company will often offer a lower rate. The only catch is, YOU have to ask for it!
I found this article on a blog about how to save money on your dental costs. It was pretty informative. http://frugal.families.com/blog/cost-compare-on-dental-care
At dusk, don't turn on all the lights, go for a walk with your family instead. With practice, you can measure the time and distance so that it's bedtime when you arrive back home. This trick can work as both much needed exercise as well as a drastic cut to burning electricity in the evenings.
Never charge any items that you can't pay for when the bill comes in. Larger items should be bought on 90 days same as cash. My husband and I have done this for 37 years. I can't tell you how good it feels to not have to worry about money. We did many extra jobs to help buy the things we wanted. We never compromised ourselves or family.