/ Better Living

Top painless penny pinching tips

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01:02 PM EST on Thursday, November 4, 2004

By Sherri Brennen

--Pay yourself first. Arrange to have money deducted from your paycheck and put in a savings account. If you don’t see it, you’ll never miss it and you’ll have a nest egg for emergencies.

--Try to avoid finance charges. This is a huge budget buster. Try to pay cash or charge only what you can afford to pay off at the end of the month.

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Buying an older model car can save you money on insurance and taxes.

--Buy an almost new car instead of a new one. Not only will you save on the price of the car, but insurance and taxes will be less as well. This one tip can save you thousands of dollars over time.

--Save on gas by driving efficiently. Don’t accelerate too quickly; drive at slower speeds; don’t weigh the car down by carrying unnecessary items; drive with your windows closed to avoid drag.

--Don’t waste electricity. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs and always turn out the lights and TV when you're through.

--Invest in a slow cooker and learn to use it. That way, you can have inexpensive meals ready to serve when you walk in the door from work.

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Wait for a sale to get what you want for less.

--Save on restaurant meals. Keep restaurant coupons in your car and look for one where kids eat free. Drink water with your meal instead of ordering drinks. Sodas for four people can add $10 to your bill.

--Shop with a calculator. Use it to calculate your total costs by adding in extras such as taxes and tips.

--Try not to buy anything until it’s on sale. Almost everything will go on sale at some point, so ask the sales person to let you when the next sale will be.

--Give your kids an allowance and make them stick to it. Kids spend a lot more when they don’t have to budget.

So there they are - the top ten Better Living tips for Painless Penny Pinching.