So, I hear you are in debt… like most Americans are. Don’t worry; I have put together a few tips on how to shave those few extra dollars off of your debt roll. Yes, it’s true; we all have some financial baggage that needs a little attention. Whether it be toning, losing, or building that debt/bank account, read below:

Quit buying a water bottle daily. It’s great that you are drinking so much water, but have you thought about investing in some kind of water purifier? Or how about just drinking from the tap? Thank about it… let’s say you buy 1 water bottle a day from a vending machine there at work. You work 5 days a week 1 year (52 weeks). That means you are spending $260 a year just on your daily water bottle.

Lunch time! Let’s go to a cheap fast food restaurant every day for a week. Average meal amount = $6.00 per day 5 days a week. That’s $1,560 you are spending on food a year, when you could eat for less than half of that by taking your homemade lunch to work and still get all your vegetables!

Women, I know how important it is to get your hair and nails done; however, going to a beauty school can do justice. It’s a lot cheaper than a salon! So, it might take a little bit longer for them to work on your hair, and maybe they are still learning how to style, but it’s a cheap way to treat yourself and keep those roots maintained!

Limit yourself to purchasing 1 article of clothing a month rather than 10! – And don’t buy the name brands.

Buying unnecessary items – Here are a few… car air fresheners, expensive brands of tooth paste, carwash—wash it yourself, cigarettes, gum, mints, imported hair products from Italy, expensive picture frames, and acrylic nails—grow your real nails out, and learn how to paint.

Leisure activities – (1) Going to the movies when you could rent the same movie for half the price in a few months anyway. (2) Gym memberships, if you are a student, use the gym at your local school. For those who live in colder climates, do workout videos in your home during the cold season. (3) Walk to nearby stores/buildings instead of driving. (4) If you like to throw parties in your home but don’t’ want to foot the bill, have a pot luck party! Sometimes they are more fun—you get to try new dishes! (5) Need a dress for your sister-in-law’s wedding? Don’t buy a brand new one, rent or purchase a used one. (6) Instead of shopping at the mall, go shopping at a consignment store—besides, sometimes this better because the clothes are already worn in. You won’t have to worry about your little dance/shake you do as you pull the brand new pants over the growing thighs.

Shop around for good deals – Internet, phone, and insurances companies will often compete to give you the better deal—let them do this for you! Don’t go with the first one you come across.

Pay bills online rather than through snail mail. With the rising cost of stamps you might pay more for the actual mailing fees than the bill itself.

To sum up… look for ways that you can save. Look at your monthly expenses and cut those unnecessary expenditures out! If you have to sacrifice for a few months to get out of debt or put a few extra bucks in savings, so be it! Use these few tips in shaving off your debt rolls and become more financially fit!

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2006 at 6:42 pm and is filed under Credit. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.