397 Ways to Save Money

Do you know how much money you're spending daily? Most of us don't balk at dropping $1.50 at Tim Horton's or $4.00 for a tall skinny latte at Starbucks and we all know, it all adds up.

So instead of the usual money-saving tips like 'pack your lunch' or 'turn off the lights when you leave a room,' I'm going to suggest that you pick up (or borrow from the library) a copy of Kerry K. Taylor's '397 Ways to Save Money: Spend Smarter & Live Well on Less'

Among her choice bits of advice, Taylor suggests bartering, price-comparison before buying, and buying off-season. Some of her 'never-thought-of-that' shopping suggestions include searching freecycle.org for free goods.

When it comes to saving money on your home, Taylor offers these suggestions:

• Shut the vents in unused rooms. According to her calculations, shutting the vents could save 5% on your heating bill. My parents do this in their home and the temperature difference between used and unused rooms differs by at least five to eight degrees.
• Seal electrical outlets. Outlets on exterior walls are a huge energy (and money) suck, costing up to 5% in energy loss. By insulating them, you can save that 5%.
• Close seldom-used fireplaces. Fall's here and that means winter's coming. If you don't use your fireplace, Taylor suggests closing it. By properly sealing it, you could save up to a whopping 30% on your energy bill. That's 30%. Think on that for a minute.

There are tips on how to save money cleaning. That means a lot of doing it yourself, and making your own cleaning products. One of the most important ingredients is vinegar which you can buy cheap.

I don't want to give too much away, but you can check out the book for more tips.

To show how serious Taylor is about saving money but still living large, she posted how she makes popcorn using bulk-bought popcorn seeds and a brown paper bag.

Popcorn in a paper bag: http://www.squawkfox.com/2010/07/27/popcorn-recipe-gourmet-popcorn/

Related Topics:
Your Frugal Tips
Seven Ways to Save $100 a Week