Save Money San Antonio
Whether you were for the bailout deal or against it, we’re all going to have to deal with the imminent bill. Make no mistake, this doesn’t mean the economy is back to normal. You still must eliminate a large part of your unnecessary spending, save, pay off debt, and put on your frugal hat. Here are some things I recommend to cut the fat out of your budget:
1. Buy food at a bulk rate and eat at home. Restaurants are money pitfalls. (Meal + drink + tip) x number of people in your family chews up money fast. Grocery stores are not exactly cheap either, but you do save a noteworthy amount of money. I recommend buying bigger packaging of food – if you can get a discounted rate over smaller packages. Also, when doing this go for the immitation brands. You can rack up dollars of savings if you sacrifice a little taste and reputation. If you do go out to eat, you can easily save $1.50 per person by drinking water instead.
2. Don’t shop for entertainment. I’ve noticed many in San Antonio use shopping this way. It is very costly. The best way to not buy anything is just not to go to the store. Right now there really is no need to buy anything so don’t tempt yourself by going to the store. You might stumble into something you need. You’re saving time and money here.
3. No Starbucks. If you’re a coffee or doughnut person, forget about it. You’re paying out the roof for the convienence and brand of coffee. Either make coffee on your way to work or just skip it altogether. This goes for all quick food and drink add-ons such as ice cream, mall pretzels, and the like. You’re simply paying too much for these luxuries on the go. If you really want them, buy them at the grocery store and treat yourself at home. You’re dollar will go 5-8x farther.
4. Cut down on trips to the bar. I’m not a bar or club person, but I know those that are and they drop a lot of cash in the smokey environments. Try cutting down at least half the times you go to a bar or club. This will infuse a lot of cash into your pocket.
5. Read up on tips for how to save gas. Gas is a huge source of your costs so anything you can do to curtail it will help.
6. Pay your credit cards down. You must understand and then realize that you holding a balance on your credit card is what credit card companies are hoping you do. This is a big money maker for them. Work diligently to clear your balance. This is one of the very best investments you can make.
