Tips to Save More and Live Better

In this difficult economy, it is easy to get carried away and to think that you will have to give up your life style. But if you really think about it there are ways that will help you keep your life style and still save a bit for future.

1. Purchase gift cards for less and use it for yourselves !!

I just bought Talbot's gift card from http://www.plasticjungle.com/ . It was 317 dollar worth gift card and I purchased it for 219 dollars !!. ie. almost 30 % less.
You may purchase 25 dollar worth Panera Bread gift card for 20 dollar. ie. 20% less!

2. Use Coupons.

Combine cheap gift cards (as mentioned above) with coupon for the same store and you got your self a great deal. You may get stuff for almost 50% off.

http://www.coupons.com/
http://www.valpak.com/

are some great source for coupons.

3. Shop at consignment stores.

Consignment shops don't only carry used items. They carry items that department store needs to get rid of to make space for new items. Perfectly new items marked down almost 50-70% . You may find cloths,furniture, appliances , jewellery at consignment shops.

Burlington Coat Factory and SteinMart are upscale consignment stores. This is where you may purchase CalvinKlein, Donald Trump, DKNY brand clothings for at least 50% off. Sometimes even 70% off. Ross and marshalls are also simillar consignment stores. Not that upscale though. All these stores also carry wide variety of baby, maternity and house hold items as well.

You may find simillar consignment stores for furniture in your area as well.

Shop for floor models while purchasing appliances, electronics etc. They are slightly used and most of the time look new. You can easily get 20-30% off on floor models.

4. Credit Card for Cash Back

If you carry balance on your credit cards and best bet is to transfer your balance on credit cards charging low interest. If you do not carry balance then it will be good idea to use credit cards that provide cash back. Many credit cards provide cash back between 1-5%. Sometimes during some promotional period they provide even 10% cash back !

http://www.creditcards.com/ is a website that will let you compare credit cards side by side for options such a cash back, rewards, yearly fee etc. Make sure you do not use any card that charges yearly fee.

5. Brownbag at least twice a week
A family of 4 can save up to 200 dollars per month by either eating at home only twice a week or brownbagging. Eating at home/Brownbagging does not really mean you have to cook at home. You may do that, and that will save you even more. But you may just as well get frozen family meals from wholesalers like COSTCO or SAMS club. Here is the math. You spend at least 20 dollars for family of 4 every time you eat out. And this is like cheapest thing you can get. You may end up spending even more. If you get a 10 dollar worth frozen ravioli from COSTCO, it will last two times for dinner. Thus making it little over dollar per meal per person. You may add a little home made salad or soup and make it a complete meal.