en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 18 May 2013 18:06:19 GMT 15 By Laura Fillmore

With the current state of our economy, saving money any possible way is essential to the many people who are on a tight budget. To help one succeed at this attempt, the following are proven methods to save consumers money. Besides purchasing right, junior Marie Clifton saves through the bank. “I have a savings account for college,” said Clifton. Besides the bank, Clifton finds using a box helpful. She puts all her money she wants to save in a box. Clifton says through this method she knows she won’t spend it. Food is a pitfall for many consumers. They want to go to this restaurant or buy that gallon ice cream. It’s not needed, but their instincts get the better of them. How do you overcome these temptations? When it comes to eating out, ease your way into this by cooking at home one night a week and add days from there. Make your own coffee. Make a list before you go shopping for food. When shopping for food, don’t go hungry; you’ll buy a bunch of junk food that you do not need. In fact at this point, I suggest just going to a restaurant. Vending machines are marked up high. To avoid the pitfall of vending machine, bring snacks with you to school. Meat is more expensive than most people realize. In fact, consumers can save $25 dollars a week by not eating meat for 3 days a week, according to MSN Money. There are a few adjustments to purchasing that saves cash. Buying in bulk whenever there is a sale can save you a ton of money. Buying the name brand has its bonuses, but the wallet would beg to differ. Shoppers do not need to only buy generic, just decide what you want to buy generic and name brand. Reusing items can save money. Trash bags are a fine alternative for trash bag for the smaller trash cans in your house. The best part being they are free. When you buy a bottle of water, reuse the bottle several times. Sophomore Eric Suire saves money on clothes by implementing this strategy. “[I] reuse clothes until they wear out,” said Suire. Registrar Kay Hayes saves money by buying her clothes on sale. Hayes has her own criteria for it to be a good sale. “It has to be 50% off for it to be a good sale to me,” said Hayes. While sales are a great way to save money, there is a way to save money without it. For those who are willing haggling is actually successful. This is most successful when one offers to pay with cash. Be nice and courteous too. After all, they don’t have to agree to give customers a bargain. There are some tricks to saving money without putting your style in jeopardy. Buy separates, keeping pants neutral. Going with more classic styles prevents clothing from being throwing away that brand new blouse that you never wore and would not be caught dead wearing. Buy clothes at big sales like Black Saturday. Cars are the reason many teens get a job, because gas is too expensive. Thankfully, there are methods if imposed will save all drivers cash. Don’t speed up and then slam on your brake. Turn off your air conditioner and roll down the window. Have as little stuff in the vehicle as possible; the more weight in the car equals more gas consumed by the car. Obey the speed limit, because the slower you drive the better the gas mileage. Plan ahead, to avoid traffic. Walking is a drag for many teens, but if it is close, the money might outweigh the inconvenience. Clifton restrains the amount she drives. “[To save money,] I drive once or twice a week to school,” said Clifton. Beside the gas, the car sophomore Felicia Watkins drives saves her money. “[When I got my car,] I got a car that gets 32 miles per gallon,” said Watkins. For further tips on saving money, visit the following internet links: www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/66ways/ , www.dumblittleman.com/2008/01/30-easy-ways-to-save-money-and-no-you.html and www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/02/06/little-steps-100-great-tips-for-saving-money-for-those-just-getting-started/. There are many methods to saving money. It’s up to you to just do it, despite the extra effort. ]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:40:57 GMT