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002 Life & Finances – Saving Money $40 At A Time
Special saving money episode
This show could save you almost $500 a month
Saving tip #1, mow your own lawn…Save $160/mo
Get the kids involved, it is a great life lesson for them. When they grow up they will need to understand that maintaining a home costs money, it is an investment, and as such involves some sweat equity. Older kids, say around 12 or 13 year old can run the mower after being properly taught about safety with the mower. If you kids get paid an “allowance” this is a good lesson in paying them a commission instead, they work, they get paid…they don’t work they don’t get paid.
Don’t forget the younger kids, pulling weed is a fun project for a 5 year, sure they may not pull too much, but they are working with the family right next to mom or dad. Make lawn day a family fun day. It is worth saving $160/mo that is $1920/year, but what’s even better, is how you will get to know each other a little bit better.
Saving tip #2, wash your own car…Save $160/mo
The average professional car wash runs between $6 to $27 per wash. If you have two cars and do the mid range wash, plus tipping the guys could run you $20/car per week that is another $160 per month.
I bet by now you know what I am going to say next….Yep, make washing the car another family event. Pay the kids commission (i am a big fan of eliminating allowance) to have the kids wash the car each week…you saved another $1920/year
Saving tip #3, make coffee at home…Save $160/mo
Do you know that it is very common to pick up a coffee on the way to work? Starbucks is around $5 per cup, McDonald’s is around $3 per cup. Lets split the difference and say on average it is $4 per cup per spouse, that is $8/day in coffee, $40/week, $160/week again another $1920/year. Making coffee at home, with the coffee maker you have sitting on the counter, can save you big bucks and it doesn’t take any more time making your own coffees than it does sitting in the drive through picking up a coffee.
In just a few minutes I have recommended ways you could save $5760 per year, that is an extra $480 per month for many that is just enough to get back on your feet and current on some bills.
Give it a try, you have nothing too lose and over $5700 to gain
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