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HomeBlog Blog25 Tips for Saving Money This Winter
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25 Tips for Saving Money This Winter

November 5, 2014 by Adam Tijerina

saving money this winter

With the holidays closing in, most of us are ready for our own kind of fiscal hibernation. The adventurous risk-taking behaviors of spring and summer are losing heat with the air around us and the next six months are all about playing it safe. Do you have all the nuts and berries you’re going to need to make it through to May?   Perhaps it’s time to start optimizing your daily finances with the following 25 money-saving tips:

1) Avoid ATMs

Most banks charge a fee for ATM transactions completed by customers who are using a debit card issued by a different bank. ATM fees can range as high as $5. While that extra few bucks may not seem like a lot at the time, the charges can really add up.

2) Skip the Gym Membership: The Spartans were pretty darn in shape, by all accounts, and they didn’t spend $50 a month on gym memberships. Buy some weights, a scale, and a second-hand treadmill, and voila–you have yourself a home gym.

3) No More Data: In today’s world, a smartphone is a must, but how essential really is your data plan? If you’re home, you have wi-fi. If you’re at work, you have wi-fi. If you’re at McDonald’s, you have wi-fi. Is checking your Facebook while you’re in the car really worth the extra $420/year?

4) Cut the Cable: Okay, so reality check. How often do you actually watch your cable tv? For most of us (football/basketball fans exempt), cable tv is a frivolous waste. Stop flipping through channels and wasting time on advertisements. Netflix is only $7.99/month, and boasts a library of over 10,000 streamable movies and DVDs.

5) Order Pick up: Between the delivery fee and the tip, it’s more than worth it to just get off the couch and pick up your pizza.

6) Stop Eating Out: Eating out is sort of like flushing your money down an extremely high-calorie toilet. Try to eat out only on special occasions, or as a bi-monthly self-reward for good financial behavior.

7) Be More Energy Efficient: As well as being good for the environment, cutting back on your energy usage can help keep your monthly bill to a minimum. Switch to energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, and for goodness sake turn out the lights when you leave the house.

8) Cut Coupons: You don’t have to take up extreme couponing, but by cutting and using coupons you can rack up significant savings.

9) Caffeinate at Home: Whether you buy your morning coffee at Starbucks or Burger King, you’re spending more than you have to. Get up five minutes earlier, and brew it yourself (or stop by your bank in the mornings and grab yourself a free cup).

10) Avoid Credit Card Fees: Even it you pay off your bill on time, you’re paying extra when you use your credit card. Transaction fees can range from $0.10 to $2.50. Avoid these fees by paying with cash or debit.

11) Use Gift Cards: When your friends and relatives ask you what you want for your birthday/Christmas gifts, tell them to get you gift cards. Far better to get a gas station gift card from your grandma than to let her pick out that clothing that she thinks you’ll like.

12) Buy Generic Brands: For the most part, generic brands are the same as the brands you know and love, just with less attractive packaging. Stop paying for advertising costs by going generic.

13) Get the Medium: Whether it’s popcorn, Mountain Dew, or french fries, how often do you actually finish your “large” order? It might only be $0.70 to upgrade, but $0.70 over the cost of the year amounts to a whopping $256. That’s enough to cover your car payment.

14) Buy Second Hand: Okay, so a second hand shirt might not be ideal for your hot date, but why not start buying your work clothes at the thrift store? By getting second hand button-ups and dress pants, you can save your clothing budget for the weekends.

15) Car Pool: Stop spending more on gas than you need to by car-pooling to work–or even walking or biking if your commute is short enough.

16) Get the Rewards Card: When you’re at the checkout and the cashier asks you if you’d like a rewards card, say yes. Most of them actually offer pretty decent money-saving incentives.

17) Stop by Your Local College Move Out Sale: At the end of the college year, most schools have move out sales, where they sell off all of the furniture, clothing and electronics left behind in the dorms by students. These sales are often even cheaper than thrift stores–you’ll be looking at $1 for a garbage bag full of clothing, or $25 for a flat screen tv.

18) Go to the Library: Stop paying for books and head to the library instead. If you’re not a reader, check out the DVD and video games selection. You’ll be surprised by how many titles they have to offer.

19) Buy in Bulk: Instead of just picking the cheapest package of paper towels off the shelf, get out your calculator and figure out how many sheets you’re getting per dollar. For the most part, you’ll save a few bucks by buying in bulk instead.

20) Water it Down: You can double the life of your shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, dish soap and laundry detergent by watering it down. Unless you go over the top with it, it won’t affect the effectiveness of the product.

21) Get a Toaster Oven: Instead of turning the oven on every time you want to make yourself a snack, switch to a toaster oven. Toaster ovens are more energy efficient, and can even cook your food faster.

22) Shop with a Friend: By shopping with a friend, you can split the cost of buy-one-get-one-free offers, saving you both on the cost of the original item.

23) Freeze Old Fruit: Fruit is expensive enough, without throwing half of it out every time it gets old or bruised. Instead of dropping it in the trash, pop it in the freezer. You can use it later on for smoothies or baking.

24) Drink Tap Water: Stop wasting money on water by buying a nalgene bottle and drinking from the tap. If you’re concerned about purity, just buy a home water filter.

25) Order Large Meals on Dates: If you’re not paying for it, let him. Order the biggest portion on the menu, and then take the leftovers home with you. If you’re a serial dater, you’ll be amazed by how much this can save you in groceries.

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Adam Tijerina
Adam Tijerina

Adam Tijerina is a personal finance expert for National Debt Relief, a BBB A+ accredited business offering debt settlement services since 2009. Adam knows a thing or two about debt resolution after successfully settling $43,250 in credit card debt on his own. He has also co-authored two books about overcoming adversity and has been featured on Credit.com and USNews.com. Adam holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity University and lives in Texas with his wife and four children.

Follow Adam Tijerina: Linkedin

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Easy National Debt Relief Caller: April Transcribed WE 1/17/2021 April: Our call may get recorded. What financial concerns had led you to seek out National Debt Relief's services? RILEY: I guess just not being able to pay my debt. April: What had you choose National Debt Relief over other companies that provide the same service? RILEY: Really just researching online. Everything that I had read about them seemed pretty positive. April: What service or program did National Debt Relief help you to get through? Like a payment or consolidation program, anything like that? RILEY: I just do bi-monthly payment to them, and then they reach out to my debt account, I guess, that negotiated everything for me. So, it’s pretty easy. April: Can you walk me through the process of what you went through to enroll for the services? RILEY: God, it's been like two years, so I kinda don't really remember. I just had to fill out some stuff online and then talk to them on the phone. I had to give them all my account information and everything. And then they worked out a payment plan for me. And they communicate with me like once a month with my statement. And whenever they have communication with my accounts, they have called me and had me verify before they've done anything and whatnot. April: That sounds like a really good service there. RILEY: Yeah. April: At this point, are you still in the program or have you completed it at this point? RILEY: I'm almost done. It was, I think, a two-year plan. So, yeah, I think I just have one other account that I'm paying on. April: How about any interactions with the negotiators? You said they will call you at any time that there was maybe an account activity that they want to confirm with you first. RILEY: Uh-huh [yes]. April: So, how is the interaction with them when they reach out to you and you're able to discuss with them? How is that interaction? RILEY: It's been super easy and positive for me and relieves a lot of stress and anxiety. So, yeah, it’s been very easy. April: And then how has National Debt Relief been able to work with you in terms of your payment plan? RILEY: I basically just told them what I could afford, and they figured it out. And they have offered COVID relief if I need to stop payment for the time being or whatever. Fortunately, I haven't had to do that. So, I don't really know how that would have worked, but that was an option. But they're always like, “Call us if you can't make payment, and we'll figure something out for you.” April: What are your thoughts about the cost in relation to the quality of the service you received? RILEY: I'm really happy with the program. [unclear 0:04:22] as far as I know. I don't have any complaints. April: Has working with National Debt Relief impacted your life? RILEY: Yeah. April: How would you say that it's impacted your life at this point? RILEY: It just has relieved a ton of pressure and stress, financial stress, anxiety. I'm not living paycheck to paycheck now to pay my interest, so that’s been nice. April: Have you had other experiences to National Debt Relief that perhaps you want to share with us in regards to your experience with them? RILEY: No. I think that’s it. April: On a scale of 1 to 5, where would you rate National Debt Relief, if 5 stars is that you recommend to your friends and 1 star is you're very dissatisfied? RILEY: I would say 5. April: In a few words, how would you summarize overall the National Debt Relief in your experience with them? RILEY: Just easy and stress-free. April: Would it be okay for us to also utilize your commentary as a review that we can publish for National Debt Relief? And that would go to public webpage here, but that's to help other consumers make good choices if they're also in the same market. RILEY: I guess. Would it have my first and last name? I don’t— April: Only the first name. And if that's an issue, we do the first letter. RILEY: [unclear 0:06:03] you want my full name. April: Not at all. So, we only do the first name as an option. We can also do the first letter. So, it's really up to you on which option you prefer. But just the first name. We don't do last name. We don't post anything personal like your phone number. RILEY: Yeah. I think you can use my first name. April: I do offer a link that we can also send you with a direct link to your review. So, once it's published, you also get to see directly. Is that something you would like to have sent to your email? RILEY: No.

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