because there ain’t no shame in picking through dumpsters (part 3)

Broke? Almost there? Want to get the dream revved into high gear but money honey is giving you vertigo?

Here are twenty-five ways I saved those very necessary pennies when I was who am i kidding? still am, in a financial slump :

1. Switched to CFL bulbs: If you think this doesn’t make any difference in your electricity bill, take another hit of the pipe, my friend. As the sage folks over at Geico remark: It’s so simple, even a cave man can do it. I saved at least $100 a year in electricity. I also turn off all lights in a room when I’m not using it, I have an energy-efficient A/C in only one room and only use it at night. I also unplug all of my appliances when not using them.

2. Because the rich have got some serious trash: For a once shallow materialistic, rotten whore, I owned Chanel, Prada and Gucci and no way in hell was I going to sift through trash. Until I found that darling lamp, that extension cord (JUST LAST NIGHT?!), that cutie Coach purse, the Shabby Chic end table. Spring in affluent areas is good for two reasons: rich people (we’re talking upper middle class Park Slope, not P Diddy and whatnot) who use garage sales as a means of socializing, offering up china for a nickel, and rich people who throw out the old in favor of the very trendy and the new. Best pickings are on weekends and the day/evening before your local garbage pick-up.

3. Reduce your cable package or cut out cable altogether. Do you really need 300 channels? Really. I do draw the line at internet, however.

4. Clothing/Book/Whatever swaps: How do you people think I scored that fully-lined, practically new J Crew winter coat? That other Coach purse (I’m waving to it as I type), the gently worn shoes and wool skirts. Another person’s cast-offs could be your seasonal wardrobe. I host biannual swaps (with ground rules, naturally) where I have a bunch of gals over for cocktails, tea and various treats and they offer up their duds. Think shopping spree without all the bullshit salespeople.

5. Repair, Repair, Repair: I wear clothing down to the very last thread, I’ve worn shoes down until I can feel my socks on the pavement. Over the past few years, I’ve invested in a decent tailor and shoe repair person. If a purse strap breaks, nine times out of ten, it just needs a little mending. Better to repair than buy new and suck yourself into the shame of gross over-consumerism.

6. Write down all your purchases: Ok, I’m clearly insane as this should be #1. Once you tally all of your purchases in a notebook (and that includes that 50 cent pack of gum, thank you very much), you’ll have an idea of how you’re spending your money and where to cut corners. This is a key component to Debtors Anynomous and it works.

7. Captain obvious: reduce eating out/cocktail hours: Grab a bottle of wine and drink with your friends at home or stop drinking. Host pot-luck parties and brown bag it. Dining out is murder unless you have a trust fund, a sugar poppa or momma or a well-paying job.

8. Get out the pen: Got a popular blog? Write for one? Writing for your local paper or one of those big glossy magazines. Have no shame in sending media queries for spa treatments, dinners, etc. I mean, don’t go crazy with it, but I snagged some great beauty products and spa-day trip, all for writing it up online.

9. Be a sample whore: And we’re not talking the annual Barney’s warehouse sale or the DVF extravaganza. We’re talking samples from department stores, spas, Whole Foods, whatnot. They definitely tide you over until you can afford the full-sized creams, cosmetics, etc.

10. Consider DIY’ing it: Crafting is big pimpin’ right now so are eco-friendly products. You can make those pricey eco-friendly cleaning products from a few ingredients in your kitchen cabinets. You can make a jar of exfoliating scrub out of oatmeal and other yummy ingredients. If you have a spare Sunday, making your own products is worth the investment and good for the environment.

11. Pay all bills online: Reduce the cost of stamps & checks and some folks will even offer you incentives to pay online (some student loan lenders will knock off a percentage of your rate for auto-online payments)

12. When on sale, buy non-perishables and items you can freeze, in bulk

13. Wait for movies to hit DVD: Who needs to get robbed at the movie theatre? And if you do go, for pete’s sake, smuggle in your own food.

14. Song Swaps: I’m sure I’ll get arressted and flogged for this. But why buy CDs when you can swap CDs with your friends? Or when you can download the few songs you want for .99 each? I buy one, maybe two new cds a year.

15. J-O-B Benefits: I just learned that I get *free* admission (with my work ID) to expensive museums and discounts to a lot of great shoppes and eateries. But forget all that and focus on the *free* part. Also, if your company doesn’t ask you to turn in your ID, keep using it! Same thing with your college/graduate school ID. As long as you don’t roll up in a walker, who’s really going to check?

16. Single-use terror: Buy those $1 waters at the gym? Buy those single energy bars for $1.60. Why not bring a water bottle and refill one? Why not make your own snacks or bring a bit of fruit in your bag, instead.

17. Use cash when you can: Amazing what kind of discounts you can snag.

18. Cut down on magazine subscriptions: Hello??! Local bookstores and libraries even have areas where you can read your fave mags.

19. Book fiend?: As I work in publishing, I do a lot of “trades” to snag free books. See #8.

20. Buy used before you buy new.

21. Walk when you can: Save $$ on cash and transportation costs and why not get a workout? So amazing when you have insane gym fees.

22. Reuse all plastic bags and containers: Great food storage and you’re helping the environment, a little.

23. Consider recipes for meals you can stretch: Yeah, yeah, we all want to make that delish steak or that baked alaska? I’m a foody times ten, but I usually make meals which last for more than a few days or can be re-invented.

24. Save all change, even change you see in a street in a money jar.

25. If you can pay off your debt in the time allotted, consider switching to those 0% interest credit cards. But READ the fine print and KNOW what you’re getting into to.

more to come!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 at 12:47 pm and is filed under daily murmurs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.