If you are like me, you need to either find more money to add to your income, or you need to budget what you do get. Fabgrandpa and I are both retired. We both get a Social Security check, and that’s about it. We have enough money to be happy, and get the things we want. Right now. But, with changes being made in Washington every day that could affect our income, we need to find ways to save whenever possible. Here are five ways to save money in 2018.
Cook More Meals At Home
Cooking meals at home for two may seem at first glance to be more expensive than eating out. But, when you consider that you can buy the ingredients to make a meal with four large servings for less than the price of one meal in a restaurant, it makes sense to cook at home. For instance, when I make a meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, it is enough for us to eat three meals, sometimes four if I make meatloaf sandwiches for lunch.
Look For Mark Downs In The Grocery Store
I know a lot of people won’t buy meat that has been marked down and marked “For Quick Sale”. But, if you look at the label, the sell by date has not passed on these meat items. It is usually a sell by for tomorrow or the next day. You can reap significant savings on meats by selecting the ones that have been marked down. I got a very nice T-Bone steak last week that had been marked down to $5.85. I took it home and put it in the freezer. You can find mark downs in every department of the store if you keep your eyes open.
Use Coupons
Clipping those coupons from the Sunday newspaper, monthly magazines, and flyers that come in the mail can save you lots of money. The store I shop at regularly sends me coupons on items I buy all the time. They make it easy to add coupons to my loyalty card with their app, too. Those coupons are automatically deducted from my grocery bill when the clerk scans my card. Coupons are available on just about everything, even on automobiles. Reedman-Toll Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Springfield has a coupon good for $1000 off the purchase of any 2018 Pick-up Truck. Keep your eyes open for coupons for whatever you want to buy.
Recycle and Reuse
There are so many things that people just throw away that can be reused in some way. I had a closet full of clothing that I no longer wore, so I gathered them up and took them to a consignment shop in town. I might not get much for them, but the money that I do get can be added to my savings account. Many people recycle aluminum cans and other scrap metal. Selling these items can put money in your pocket and keep tons of “stuff” out of the landfill. Next time you think about throwing something out, try to think of a way to recycle it or recuse it.
Plant a Garden
Home grown vegetables taste so much better than those you buy at the store because they are so much fresher. Whether you plant in movable bins, a raised bed garden, or directly in the ground, you can save money and get some exercise by planting your own garden. Some vegetables that are very easy to grow and produce a big harvest are green beans, tomatoes, summer squash, zuchinni, onions, and peas. Plant basil, oregano, thyme, dill, and marjoram for delicious fresh herbs for seasoning your food.
What do you do to save money?
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