Reducing your living expenses is a great way to Dump Your Debt. The more money you save on living expenses, the more you will have to pay off debts and to pay for purchases in CASH! Here are some examples of what you could do to reduce your debt and other monthly expenses.
Spend less on food:
Use coupons
Shop sales
Grocery shop with a list and stick to it
Cook at home instead of eating out
Cook from scratch rather than eating premade dinners
Take your lunch to work
Make your own coffee
Buy reusable water bottles and filtered pitcher rather than bottled spring water
Cut your transportation costs:
Avoid unnecessary driving
Run all errands in a single trip
Carpool
Work from home if you can
Reduce what you spend on clothes:
Forget about designer labels
Buy trend-proof clothes
Wear layers in the winter instead of buying new sweaters
Don’t forget sales racks, thrift stores, consignment and garage sales
Launder your clothes appropriately to get longer wear
Avoid dry clean only labels
Reduce entertainment cost:
Cancel movie subscriptions like Netflix or Blockbuster
Exchange movies with friends instead of renting
Catch movies on cable instead of going out
Books: Use the library instead of buying new books
Music: Purchase a song or two through Amazon or iTunes instead of purchasing an entire album
Have game night with family and friends
Reduce living expenses:
Move to an apartment with lower rent
Refinance your mortgage for a lower interest rate
Get a roommate (or two)
Do it yourself:
Wash your own car
Mow your own lawn
Paint your own nails
Get a low maintenance hair style and do your own hair
Lower utility bills:
Turn off lights you’re not using.
Unplug gadgets like your cell phone charger and microwaves. They suck energy and generate heat as long as they’re attached to a power source.
Use blankets in the winter rather than adjusting the thermometer
Clean the dryer lint trap after each load to improve dryer efficiency
Insulate behind electrical outlets and switches
Install storm doors to prevent energy loss
Install motion sensors inside and outside
Program your thermostat
Change your bulbs. Swap your incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents.
Water the grass less
Because the refrigerator is one of the biggest energy-users in the home, a refrigerator should be operated at maximum efficiency. This means opening the door only briefly and adjusting the “Cold” control according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Reduce other bills:
Cancel premium channel subscriptions
Go basic
Shop you car insurance around you may be able to find a lower rate
Get rid of pay-per-view and movies on demand
Ask for a promotional rate
Get rid of your home phone and use your cell phone as your primary phone
Try Voice Over IP(VOIP), it’s usually much cheaper than standard phone service
Bundle your phone with your cable and internet
Get the right minute plan for your cell phone
Turn off unnecessary features, even if you have to talk or text less
Stick with the pre-installed ringtones and applications instead of downloading new ones
As you are working your way through this process of trying to reduce your bills and expenses, don’t’ get frustrated and give up. This process may take you a few days or even a few weeks depending on your situation. Once you have completed this step you will find that it was well worth the effort. For more information, download our Free Ebook “Winning The War On Debt”.
Related Blogs
- World Recession – Trade » Blog Archiv » “My Grocery Store” Amer. Ex Contest (Closed)
- Flatmate Money – How To Count Your Money Better « When Tomorrow Meets Today
- GTMax Black Rapid Retractable Car Charger for Sprint HTC Hero Cell Phone | GoPDA Windows Mobile(Windows Phone) Blog
You must attack your debt with quick and decisive blows. The first thing you will need to do is find out where you stand. You must know where you stand before you can determine where you need to go. This step should only take a few minutes but it is an extremely important first step towards establishing a budget. It’s called taking a Financial Snap Shot. For more details on how to take a financial snapshot review this article “First Step To A Budget”.
Oct
One of the best ways to reduce your debt is to use CASH. You will quickly find that you spend much less when you use cash. You won’t have to worry about overdrawing your account or running up your credit cards when you use cash.
Only carry with you the amount of cash that you want to spend for the week. When it is gone, you are done spending. Buy your groceries with cash. Shop for clothes with cash. You will suddenly find that coupons and bargain shopping becomes a much higher priority when you are spending your cash. Take the money you save and apply it to a bill. You will find yourself quickly on the road to debt freedom.
Simple tricks that’ll lighten your debt load.
Related Blogs
- Debt Relief in Alaska | Jobs|Careers|Video Resume|ApplyandGo.com
- Student loan debt load keeps climbing | EdNewsColorado
- Getting out from under a load of debt | Finance Knowledge
Im a Single mommy of one beautiful boy, and im 20 years old. I have somehow managed to mess my credit up so badly that i cant get a credit card, line of credit, contract of any kind. nothing.
I want to get married one day and be able to do that freely & I want to be able to have a credit card and build my credit back up Im about ,000 in debt or so. and i need out, and i dont know what to do. HELP!
Related Blogs
- The Tips To Buy The Car With The Advantage « How to Become the Chosen One
- Option Trading Tip – Credit Spread Cashflow
- 10 Reasons Mommy Bloggers Deserve Condescension From The New York Times — The Girl Revolution
I’ve already been screwed by my ex, his lawyer & our divorce trial judge. I couldn’t afford a lawyer, there are no probono lawyers in Alaska. I called 40 different lawyers & no one was willing to work on contingency. Even Legal Aid ignored my calls. The trial is over, I got screwed, I filed a complaint against the judge, that’s over with, so please don’t tell me I should have gotten a lawyer, that is not my question!
My ex was ordered to sell 2 properties, after taxes are paid I am supposed to get 60% of what’s left over. The clincher is, the idiot judge ruled that my husband can pay off ALL of his bills (pre & post separation) with the sales money, despite all the evidence & even my ex’s admittance on stand that he sold & took 0,000 after wrongfully selling our house last year, leaving me with nothing. He makes 00 a month. I am disabled & have no income & owe thousands on medical bills, but I was ordered to pay those myself. (How? I don’t know.)
There’s interest in the 2 properties now. If they sale there will be about 0,000 to be divided after the taxes are paid. His name is on the properties only & he owns them free & clear (no debt). There are no liens against them. My Ex will drum up bogus papers (like he did before) claiming he has bills to pay & will use ALL of the money from the sales to "pay" for these bogus bills. In actuality he’ll hide the $, put it in someone elses name for now, making sure I get nothing! AGAIN! This is what he does, & a judge already let him get away with it once. He’ll do it again.
What can I do?
Every time I ask for advice on what to do, such as putting liens on the property, I am told that I should have gotten a lawyer. My problem is I have no income, I only have debt, I’m out of AK & don’t have the health to go take care of things myself, I’m stuck here getting told I should have gotten a lawyer.
I’m begging you PLEASE don’t tell me I should get a lawyer. Tell me HOW to get one. HOW? Tell me what, if anything, can I do without a lawyer? How can I make sure my ex doesn’t screw me over yet again? What can I do? Please help me!
Related Blogs
I bought my mother a plane ticket from Mexico to Chicago since she now lives in Mexico.She is an American citizen but when she sold her house she did not pay the property taxes which is about ,000. She was supposed to get on the plane yesterday but she said she was told that the debt showed up when she tried to travel and that she could get out of Mexico but she would probably not be allowed back in because her passport would be confiscated. Is this right? How can she fix this problem?
Related Blogs
- The Story Of The Man Who Owned Broadway 21st September – 16th October 2010 « American Citizen Services
- what is the cheapest Day to Buy a Plane Ticket online?
- Texas Property Taxes ? You May Save Money Living in This State | PdxPole.com
I’m faced with a messy house and a yard that needs work and all I want to do is rest. I’m doing the job of 2 people at work, due to cutbacks, and it’s draining. How do I get a grip on things? Should I hire someone to do the yardwork? I feel kind of guilty thinking of that because I’m trying to live the frugal life and get out of debt. I just want to crawl under the covers and sleep! Any advice is appreciated.
Related Blogs
- Different Sleep Aid Medications | CosmEPIC
- Yardwork: Bankrupt Rangers Open Up 6-Game Lead in the West, Eye First Postseason Since 1999 | The Big Lead
- What is Sleep | Care Our Health
