How to Save $10,000 in 2009 (msnmoney.com)

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How to Save $10,000 in 2009 (msnmoney.com)

Submitted by: Tip Hero 06/03/2009 4:11 PM

Liz Pulliam Weston of MSN Money wrote this helpful article on How to save $10,000 in 2009. She does warn that:

If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that $10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, housing, transportation and food>

Here's an outline of her how to's:

Saving on Shelter:

try negotiating for a lower rent perhaps even offering to manage an apartment complex
move to a smaller house or a more affordable neighborhood
consider taking in a roommate.

Rethink Your Car:

share a car with a service like zip car or with friends/family
carpool to save on gas
'car maxmizing' get 10 years out of your car instead of 5.

Eat for Less::

coupons and sales can cut 25% off of your food bills
grow your own garden
purchase in bulk

Some Additional Tweaks::
Contribute to a Flexible Spending Account - saves on health insurance costs could save you $1000/year in taxes
Stop Smoking, this alone could save you $1500/year
Join the 21st Century, watch tv for free online or consider skype, vonage or magic jack for phone service savings
Do your own nails
Drink tap water
Stop driving like a maniac, slow speeds and conservative driving save on gas
Pay off your credit cards
Rethink Date Night, go out less or swap babysitting duties with friends
Cut your clothing bill in half

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Comments:

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You can only save what you make, though the tips works in tighter situations as well.

Posted by anonymous on June 04, 2009 1:29 PM

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If you're already in a house, moving to a smaller house has the disadvantage that you'll have to outlay a lot of $ for moving, plus spend money getting your own house ready to sell (painting, carpets, etc.). Plus right now you'd be selling when the market is down, and might not get back what you originally paid for your house. I just don't think this is a practical suggestion -- and although it might save you money over the much-longer-term, I don't think it will help save $10K in a single year.

Posted by anonymous on June 04, 2009 1:47 PM

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What if you already do all these things? I am looking for something new to cut my costs. Buy less food? Sit in the dark heat? Freeze all winter while wearing sweats, scarves & jackets inside? Some of us are as bare bones as we can get.

Posted by anonymous on June 04, 2009 8:18 PM

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To the above post: If you are already doing everything you can do, then that's all you can do. I have never met anyone who does everything possible to reduce the cost of living.... unless they also drastically cut their standard of living.

One could live in a tent and forage in dumpsters, but few people really want to live that way. So accept the limitations of thrift, it is not always possible to find new ways to save major chunks of money... there is there is a bottom. Realistically, some people need to earn more money.

So while there is a realistic limit on ways to reduce your cost of living, there are an unlimited number of ways to make life on a shoestring pleasant and fun.... even feel rich. Having fun making a scarecrow does little to reduce your cost of living, but a creative and entertaining parent can make this sort of activity more fun for kids than an outing to the movies.

As long as your basic needs are met... food, warmth, shelter etc., there is no reason to feel deprived. I love the challenge of seeing how wonderful I can do things for little or no money. Many of the tips you read on this site are more about how to make life feel rich, even when you have little surplus money to worth with.

Posted by Arlene 123 on June 04, 2009 10:12 PM

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About Housing, I think some of the tips are only applicable when renting. On the other hand, taking in a boarder may only be possible if you own your house- see your own rental agreement and be sure to call your land lord. They call it sub-letting.

Posted by anonymous on June 05, 2009 11:30 AM

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Great tips if you just decided that from now on you will try to save money and have not even attempted to do so before, but if you've spent any time on Tip Hero, you already know more about saving that this article can teach you.

Also, I know many will disagree with me on this one, but driving slower saves you money on gas, but not overall. For example, I make $25/hour and if I will save $3 for a gallon of gas by driving slower but will spend 30 minutes longer on the road, I have just lost $12.50 to save $3. and, in my case, leaving the house earlier is not feasible because the time I spend with my family at home or time I need to rest is worth to me even more than what I actually make.

Again, I am speaking about myself only, and this will not apply to everyone, but it is something worth thinking about.

Posted by anonymous on June 06, 2009 9:59 AM

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Due to my husbands work, I have had to move two times in the past year. Its a renters market right now. I offered $300.00 lower on the rent asked for, then pretended I was not interested. I took a chance, they called us back and said yes. I took that money saved and my husband and I took out life insurance on ourselves since we just had a baby. It does no good to try to save money, unless there is a goal to meet, otherwise you continue to live by spending...

We just moved again, and again offered $300.00 a month less than asked for. They agreed. Now I save $100.00 per month of that for our child in her savings, and put the other $200.00 into our savings..Again, have a goal. Our goal is to someday buy our own house, we gotta start somewhere.

Posted by Tricia on June 07, 2009 8:36 PM

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