101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Dollar Stores

Many years ago, dollar stores offered only off brand products or poorly made merchandise. However, that has completely changed.

Now you can walk into a dollar store and find the same name brand laundry soap, cleaning supplies, clothing, school supplies, everything for a fraction of the cost.

Where a store name brand bottle of laundry detergent might cost $6.50 at a grocery store, you can find the identical product and size at the dollar store for $2.50.

Check out your local dollar store and enjoy the mountains of savings.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Incentives – Reward Plan

To help you and your family spend more wisely, set up a system where rewards are given when the rules set forth are followed.

For example, if a family decision was made to start making lunch and brown bagging it to work and school instead of paying each day, the incentive might be that if this is followed strictly for one
month, the entire family can spend a Saturday at the Zoo or favorite theme park.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Sales Clerk Compliments

Sales clerks are often paid on commission. Therefore, when you walk into a store and try on an expensive suit, you can be guaranteed you will hear several times over how wonderful you
look, how great that suit fits you, etc.

Because this is how the clerks make their money, they will say whatever it takes to make the sale. You probably do look good but do not allow yourself to be pressured into buying something
beyond your means.

Know what you want, the price range you can work with, and stick with your own rules, not theirs.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Stop Competing with the Jones’

You do not have to compete with anyone. Be proud of what you have and who you are. If you can only afford an inexpensive sofa from a thrift store, find a nice throw, make a few pillows, and be
proud and thankful.

Competitiveness is a part of nature and to a degree, healthy.

However, when competition creates a buying war to see who can have the “best” when they have no business buying at all, then it becomes damaging. Stick to what you can afford regardless of
what anyone else has or pressure you might be feeling.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Comparison Shop

Comparison-shopping can make a big difference in the price you pay. You might be looking at a barbecue grill at one place for $350.00 and by making two more stops, find the exact grill or one
comparable for $300. In addition, consider the price of items assembled versus unassembled. For example, you might find the barbecue grill unassembled for $250. A couple of hours of “fun”
assembling the grill is certainly worth a $100 saving.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Matinee

Do you love the movies but hate the prices?

Switch your nighttime show to the late afternoon or early evening matinee. The price is about 50% less and when taking an entire family, that is a nice savings.

Pop your own popcorn, put in a plastic bag, and place in a large purse and make or buy your own candy, leaving only drinks to buy.

Food at the theater is outrageously priced.

The next time that you head to the movies, hit the matinee, stuff those jellybeans and licorice sticks in your purse, and enjoy the savings. Also, check for movie tickets online, which can be
discounted.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Barter System

Gather friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers and set up a bartering system. Offer babysitting to one family in exchange for them mowing your lawn or offer to clean someone’s house in
exchange for a week of car-pooling your child to school. You would be amazed at the opportunities and the money that can be saved using a bartering system.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Make your Own Gifts

If you ask people if they prefer a store bought or handmade gift, the majority would choose the latter. Handmade gifts are individualized and come from the heart.

When you have a birthday, anniversary, baby shower, wedding, or Christmas gift to give, make the gift. For Christmas, you could make a beautiful ornament or door wreath, for a baby shower you could purchase an inexpensive bib pattern and make special bibs, or for a wedding, you could create a wonderful album of photos showing the couples dating life.

Other great options include making homemade hot chocolate, soaps, candles, or lotions and placing them in inexpensive glass containers or baskets purchased at a thrift shop. If you use a mason jar, add foam and fabric under the lid for added color, use a label to write the contents and a message of endearment, and wrap a nice piece of ribbon around the ridge. The options are
endless, so get creative.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: The Right Time to Shop

Studies have proven that when shopping while hungry, depressed, tired, and stressed, you buy more. Before you head to the grocery store, eat something. If you are upset or feeling a little
blue, calm yourself down or wait until you feel better before you head out to shop. As funny as it may sound, having a clear mind is important when it comes to shopping and spending money.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Avoid Temptations

If you have a particular weakness, stay away from it. If you love to gamble, stay out of the casinos. If you have a weakness for shoes, drive past your favorite shoe store. While avoiding temptation is hard, it is also necessary in order to save money. When you want to give into your temptation, this is the time to use your “allowance”.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Break old Habits

Take time to learn the various things that “trigger” your spending.

When you are depressed, lonely, sad, anxious, excited, whatever it may be, do you spend more?

Once you can identify these triggers then you can learn how to control them. As an example, if you were just laid off from your job, although money is tight, you may have an overwhelming “need” to spend money.

Perhaps you notice that when you are bored, you head for the shops. Knowing what affects you will help you to discipline yourself to find other ways of comfort.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Financial Consulting

Many financial companies and even churches offer outstanding classes on how to manage money. While some of these programs are free, others may have a nominal fee of around $35 to attend
but the money is well spent.

Another great option is consumer-counseling services. This is a great option for people in over their head with debt. The counselors will work directly with your creditors to lower your balances, interest rate, and establish workable payments that you can afford.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Patience

Be patient when it comes to saving. This means that you need to accept that it will take time to save and good planning. Be patient and remember that just because you want something, do not rush to buy just to satisfy your urge. Instead, wait for sales in order to get the best price, which in turn will save you money.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Credit Card Interest

If you have credit cards and your credit is in good standing, call your credit card company, and ask for your interest rate to be lowered. It is truly that simple. Unfortunately, most people do not even realize this is an option so they never make the call. Just tell the representative that you want a better rate on your credit card and they will take care of your request.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Mortgage Payment

Paying one additional mortgage payment each year, whether in a lump sum or monthly increments can lower a 30-year loan down to 18 years.

If you pay more than one extra payment, the number of years will decrease even more. Since this additional payment will be applied only to the principal and not the interest, you end up saving
thousands and thousands of dollars once the home is paid off.

If you are budget conscious then home-equity loans will provide even greater savings.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Credit Cards

Use credit cards only for emergency.

Although convenient, credit cards are dangerous and damaging.

In addition, if you have a credit card that has a $1,000 balance and you pay only the minimum payment each month, it will take you between 20 and 30 years to pay off that $1,000 balance since
the majority of money is going strictly toward the interest and not the principal amount.

Sadly the incorrect use of credit cards is the major cause of bankruptcy.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Coupons

Okay, maybe you used to laugh as you watched people pull out their coupons at stores but the truth is that using coupons can save you hundreds of dollars every year.

Coupons can be used at grocery stores, retail chains, any store where the item is sold. Some stores offer double coupon days, which is an extra bonus.

On average, you could easily save from 5% to 15% on a bill for $100 simply by presenting a coupon. Coupons are not just for food items and by scouring your local newspaper you can find coupons for all sorts of merchandise.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Insurance

Shop around for insurance and work with a good agent that can provide information on discounts such as good student, multi-car discount, etc.

Some people think the price of insurance is the same from one company to the next. However, prices can vary dramatically and to ensure you get the best deal, you need to consider all your
options.

A good place to find savings on insurance is http://www.affordable-insurance-cover.com

This is not to be ignored.

You can save enough from your insurance costs to pay for a decent end of year holiday.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Flexibility

Once you have set your goal for saving, realize that things can and will change. The secret is learning ways to be flexible. If you normally save $150 a month, when something unexpected
happens, you may only be able to save $50 that month. This is fine as long as you focus on getting back on track.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Be Realistic

When it comes to saving money, make sure the goals you set for yourself are realistic. If you earn $50,000 a year, saving $20,000 would be nice but it is very unrealistic. Make your goals attainable or you will never save.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Setting Goals

Break your goals into short-term, intermediate-term, and longterm. Being able to see your accomplishments is a great motivator for you to work hard at saving.

If you set a short-term goal of saving for tickets to the symphony and reach that goal, you will be encouraged to keep saving for the intermediate and long-term goals.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: What Matters to You

Make a list of the 10 most important things in your life. Next to each item, rank them in order of importance using numbers 1 through 10.

The purpose of this exercise is to help you see the things you consider the most and least important and to provide you with a visual of why you need to save.

Some examples of things that a person might put on their list include new home, car, special trip, artwork, starting a business, or pay off debts.

Sometimes it pays to itemize how you are going to get those items. For example if you go for the new home first you could use the equity from the home to purchase a car.

However if you went for the car first you would more then likely struggle to get the home.

See what I mean?

Sit down and itemize what you want and then draw up a plan for how you can achieve those results.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Allowance

Do not forget to give yourself an allowance for things you enjoy. Even if on a tight budget, buy something that you enjoy, which could be as simple as buying a new shirt or grabbing lunch at your favorite café.

If you do not allow yourself this small “splurge”, you could find yourself in the same position as if dieting. Total deprivation leads to overindulgence.

The whole idea of this book is to show you how to save money while at the same time living a normal life.

What’s the point of scrimping and saving to only live a miserable live. You can still spend money and be generous to others and perhaps even more so by being smarted with money in other
areas of your life.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Buy in Bulk

It is true that warehouse shopping can save a lot of money. Even if you have a small family, you can always split large quantities.

The price of items in bulk is generally a great bargain.

If you are single, you might go in with friends or family on bulk items.

Every town usually has a warehouse of some sort where you can buy bulk purchases.

Another place to find bulk items is eBay.

Most of the time when we think of bulk purchases we think of food or cleaning items however it doesn’t have to stop there.

Most search results in ebay also offer bulk lots.

For example if you need a new camera you could buy a bulk lot and sell them individually to others and share in the savings. You would even be saver teaming up with 10 other people who needed the same item before buying then the cost is covered with no risk.

You can buy all sorts of things in bulk from ebay and it’s well worth the effort to keep an eye out for a bargain.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Plan

Planning is a great way to save. Before you go to the grocery store, make a list and stick with it.

If considering a vacation, plan everything.

Heading out with no set direction will certainly lead you to impulsive spending.

This sounds so simple and obvious you may even overlook it.

For example do you know that the supermarket is deliberately laid out to entice you to buy more then you planned to?

If you don’t write a list and then stick to it then you WILL definitely buy more then you budgeted for.

Same goes for vacations. You can save a lot of money by booking ahead of time. In fact you can save money on accommodation just by booking online.

Accomodationonline is just one such place where you can make hotel reservations for huge savings.

And another is RatesToGo where you can get unbelievable savings for late bookings.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Budget

Everyone should create a budget. If you are not sure how or just not good with money, many businesses such as H&R Block, offer free financial consulting to help you put a budget together.

Knowing where you are spending your money is by far the best way to save. In most cases, people have no idea where their money is really going and once they see it on paper, not only are
they surprised but also eager to change their spending habits.

If you are wondering where to start go to Google and search for budgeting tips and you will find plenty of free advice including spread sheets.

Another great place is to try your banks web site and go to the loan application area and they should have some free budget sheets as well.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Landscaping

If you are considering creating a nice flower garden area, shopping for plants even on sale, can be expensive.

Before you go out and start spending, look around to see if you have other plants that can be split from your existing flowers.

Also compare prices before you go. Check out this Outdoor Decor online shopping center to get an idea of what the prices should be before you venture out.

Additionally, if you have a good relationship with any of your neighbors, you might ask them if they have any plants you could use as a starter.

Another great idea is the next time you are in the market to buy a lawnmower, purchase one that mulches leaves. This way, rather than buy mulch for your flowerbeds every year, you can simply use the mulch you make.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Reuse

When you shop, look for items that can be reused. Rechargeable batteries are a perfect example.

Even though the initial purchase may be more than nonrechargeable batteries, there is a definite saving over a long period.

Another way to save lots of money on batteries is to buy them online from here.

Another option would be to purchase a nice artificial Christmas tree. Many of the current artificial trees look amazingly real and with the right lights and ornaments, you can change the look from year to year.

We actually purchased one of these trees this year and the kids absolutely loved it and now we can use it every year without any further expense.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Wrapping Paper and Bows

Create your own wrapping paper, which is not only unique, but also fun. Use plain brown grocery bags and craft-like paints to make your design.

After wrapping the gift, let your creative juices flow. For example, using black and yellow craft paint, create a miniature road. Then dipping toy truck tires into red paint roll them along the paper making tire tracks.

You can then draw free hand a stop sign, yield sign, or stop light. Next, using a hot glue gun, glue a couple of the miniature trucks to the paper. This is perfect for a young boy. He will be just as
thrilled with the wrapping as the actual gift.

For a girl, you can simply create miniature bows from existing fabric or lace and glue them on brown paper then free hand draw colorful flowers. Just use your creativity and look around for
items you already have on hand to use.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Thrift / Surplus Stores

Unfortunately, thrift and surplus stores have been given a bad rap. Many of these stores are filled with hundreds of top quality items.

Name brand merchandise is easy to find but just like clearance racks, it takes some time to find. Find a thrift or surplus store close to where you live and then plan spending some time to find
those outstanding bargains.

One woman in Kansas City, Missouri located such a store about 20 minutes from her home. After shopping through every isle over the period of two hours, she walked out of the store with
eight huge garbage bags filled to the brim with designer clothes for her and her children, many with the original tags still attached.

She even found a couple of Liz Claiborne suits for herself at $5.99 each and a Dooney & Burke purse normally valued at $225 for $19.95. Her children had an entire season of school clothes and best of all, she paid less than $200.

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Do you know you can make money from this as well?

I know one family who find brand name clothes at these stores and then sell them on eBay. It’s amazing… they are consistently making about $300 profit every week working part-time at this.

It certainly helps pay the bills.
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101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Clearance

Always head straight for the clearance rack where you can find amazing bargains. Sometimes you may have to dig a little to find the right item but the savings will be well-worth your time. Most clearance racks offer variety, current trends, and great value. For example, Bed, Bath & Beyond has a clearance section where you can find all kinds of wonderful household items for a fraction of the original cost.

Another great way to save money is to shop on the Internet. There are big savings to be had from online auctions especially eBay.

Be careful to take into account the cost of shipping before buying a product this way.

Other huge savings can be made from online stores because in most cases you are purchasing direct from the wholesaler. Here is a list of just a few items you can save money on…

Top Selling Footwear

Hobbys and Toys

Contact Lenses

Accomodation

Telecommunications

Baby and Nursery Items

Dental Coverage with Huge Savings!

Oriental and Persian Area Rugs

Treadmills

Womens Clothing

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Holiday Gift Giving

This tip is especially helpful for large families. Although it is fun buying for and receiving from everyone, it can be very expensive. Make an agreement with your family that you will continue to buy for the children but that the adults will go with a name exchange.

This way the children are not disappointed and you can spend a little more on one or two people rather than spreading your money thin. For the members that you did not pick to exchange
with, bake a loaf of their favorite homemade bread or cookies.

Here’s another way to give gifts to everyone for less then $1.00 each…

Do you own a computer?

If so the chances are you will have all the equipment you need to implement the following money saving gift strategy.

You will need to already own a computer, scanner or digital camera and CD burner.

The idea is to take photos… either with your digital camera or scan in photo’s from your existing album of your family.

Create a slide show and burn both the individual photos and slide show onto the CD. This will cost you less then $1.00 for each CD and your family members will love it.

By having the individual photos on the CD your family members can print out there own images afterwards.

This is especially great if you have photos of major family events throughout the year such as reunions, gatherings and birthdays.

You could also create calendars and even video shows with the same content and burn them on the CD as well.

101 Ways To Stop The Money Leak: Introduction

People are always trying to save money, especially with today’s economy. No matter what your reason for saving, through this ebook, you will discover ways never considered.
The price of everything has gone up, requiring people to be more conscientious about money. The problem is that by the time the mortgage, car, utilities, and credit cards are paid, there is little money to put aside. Saving money is not that hard, just a matter of learning all the different options and being creative.
In addition to the obvious of putting money into a retirement fund or savings account, there are hundreds of ways to save money. Although some ways of saving may not seem like much, once you add them up at the end of the year, you will see how substantial the savings really are.
Keep in mind that saving is more than a single lump sum of money put aside. Saving is something found in your everyday life by the way you live and the choices you make.
Rome was not built in a day and neither will your bank account be.
Each penny saved is one more penny than before. If you have the ability to save big, that is great. However, most people are not in that position, which is why this e-book will show you how little savings can add up quickly.
Be encouraged that it is never too late to start saving, regardless of your age. Set your mind that now is the time to start building your future.