AARP Rewards Online Community Smart Saver Contest

Here's a few saving tips I do:  I make up my own window cleaning solution:  Vinegar and water in a bottle and only use brown paper towels to wipe glass clean& streak free. I run a Himalayan salt lamp to clean air. 

I’m retired, but still working as a substitute teacher. As much as possible, I use my earnings there to pay more on the last of my debt. I add up all my annual bills (property tax, car and motorcycle insurance, and similar), estimated expenses for vehicle and home maintenance, and other non-monthly costs that can be substantial. Divide that amount by 12.  That gives me how much to transfer automatically out of my main checking account into another account that earns a bit of interest. When, say, vehicle insurance comes due, I have the money to pay it in full. That saves a few dollars that would be charged by the insurance company if I paid monthly plus the bit of interest earned from the account it was stored in. The separate account also keeps me from forgetting it is earmarked for a future expense and spending it elsewhere.  

I ride my motorcycle as much as I can for work, errands, and just because. The premium gas required is more expensive, but I use much less gas than in my car so I save money in the long run. It’s way more fun than driving my SUV, too. BONUS! 

Put an affordable amount in savings every month without fail.  Even small amounts add up.

A plug in hybrid allows me to limit my gas use, except on long trips for seeing our great country.  On those trips, I have loyalty membership in a lot of gas providers so I never pay full price.

  It's that time of year again- spring cleaning. Save money by making your own cleaning solutions with materials you have in your home. They are cheaper, better for environment (no volatile organic compounds), and easy to make. Here are three of my favorites  

1) General cleaning solution - 1 part white vinegar, 1 part water, lemon rind - put in dollar store spray bottle and clean - best if you let sit for day or two for lemon to soak in

2) cleaning glass/windows- 1 cup water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon dish soap (Dawn- blue kind- always use blue kind- other colors have added chemicals in them to make them yellow, clear etc).  Put in spray bottle. Spray glass /window....wipe with newspapers

3) For stubborn counter stains, bathroom stains etc. - make thick paste with water and baking soda.  let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub with sponge...or brillo pad......works like a charm

These items are non carcinogenic (non cancer causing), contain no volatile organic compounds and therefore are more sustainable (more sustainable than the products out there that claim to be eco friendly) and you usually have all the ingredients in your kitchen.

Christmas decorations are so expensive, but it's fairly easy to make some of your own.

Here's one idea I do every year.

On Black Friday, at Lowes/Home Depot, they have fresh balsam wreaths for approximately 8 dollars a wreath with red velvet bow. I buy 10 of them. Prior to that, go to dollar store and buy bunch of christmas decorations on wall (all kinds, bells, reindeer, poinsettia flowers, - some have little clips on them- these are great. get a bunch of them.

Bring wreaths home and decorate your wreaths by clipping or tying the decorations into the wreath, about 5 or  on each one. Use bread ties, or fishing line to wrap around twigs in breath - it blends in. 

Now you have decorated wreaths at cost of about 13 dollars a wreath , for yourself, to give ot neighbors, and I use mine to put on family cemetery sites (Much cheaper than 40 dollar grave "blankets" that are sold...

Also you can recycle the ornaments from year to year...

We discovered facebook MarketPlace and used it to buy used but needed items at lower cost. Now we're also using it sell unneeded "clutter." The used market is a great savings opportunity.

I used my credit card thank you reward points for gift cards to give for birthday and the holidays, Also, every month they offer 3-4 gift cards for lower points.  Makes my gift giving manageable. 

 Utilize your local library, not just to take out books or download on line, but to buy books. Most local libraries have book sales every few months. Attend one, bring a big bag. hardovers usually 2 dollars, paperback a dollar, all kinds of books, biographies, cookbooks, classics,mysteries, thrillers, fiction, non-fiction, large print etc.

When finished reading your books, keep the cycle going...you could 

1) pass along or exchange books with friends

2) give back to library so that they could use them in their next book sale (and therefore generate more funds for your local library, generally sorely in need of funds given cut budgets)

3) donate books to other organizations who use them for needy causes

  I donate mine back to AAUW local chapter, who runs book sale every year, collecting books from folks for two weeks, then holds event, with small entrance fee, where people come and buy books. All volunteer, and all proceeds, go to provide local scholarships for high school senior girls in need of funds to purchase their college books

4) donate books to other libraries, like school libraries (public) or non -public (parochial schools, etc.). to "beef up" their libararies.They are always welcome.

It's a great way to read cheap, and give back, and everyone wins.

AWAY T SAVE MONEY IS TO BUDGET.  DON'T BUY ANYTHING NOT NECESSARY IF YOU CAN'T PAY FOR IT WITH CASH.  CHARGE CARDS ADD UP QUICK AND CAN GET YOU INTO TROUBLE.