Debt Info Site

Tips to Reduce Your Living Costs

• Eat at home!  Small amounts here and there add up.  If you spend $7 a day eating out, that’s $49 a week and nearly $200 a month!  Buying groceries and eating in or packing a lunch is far less expensive - plus, it’s probably more nutritious and sanitary!
• Don’t go to the grocery store hungry!  Keeping your stomach full when you head to the store will ensure you don’t leave with unwanted items.
• If you are in the market for new appliances, purchase those with the Energy Star label, which means it meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Such appliances use less energy, thus costing you less money over time.
• Install toilets that use less water (Toto toilets are a great example).
• Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL light bulbs - they provide more light, last longer, and can save as much as $50 a year.
• Turn down your heat or A/C when you are not home during the day to save on heating and cooling costs - doing so could save literally hundreds of dollars a year.
• Reduce your laundry by combining loads so you waste less water.
• Run the dishwasher only when it’s completely full.
• Can you cut out the extra (often unnecessary) features you’re paying for when it comes to phone and cable service?  If you can live without it, forgo the call forwarding, pay-per-view, and specialty channels you’re wasting money on.
• Apply for grants. There are FAFSA type grants that can greatly reduce tuition costs