Three simple tips to save money

Here are three basic tips from a middle-class family on how to save money on routine things as reported in this brief article

a.Go consignment store shopping-
It is quite an effective to not only save money but also make some.

b.Bundle up purchases-
Look at items from the monthly fixed expense list that can be bundled from a single service provider. A couple of good examples are using the same service provider for mobile phone, fixed line telephone, cable television and broadband Internet. Bundling up services from a single service provider often gets you package discounts.

c.Avoid paying interest on credit cards (or at least avoid high interest rates)-
Ideally, try to make it a point to pay your credit card bill in full by the due date; credit card interest rates can be outrageous and carrying over outstanding amounts on credit cards is one surefire way to deplete whatever savings you have very quickly. Enjoy the benefits of a credit, by all means, take advantage of the credit period to the maximum, but ensure the payment is made in full on the due date (card companies will hate customers like that.. but hey, you are out to save money for yourself, not help those companies make money off you!)

Tips to save money on everyday items

As a big believer in the 'save money' credo, I constantly look out for ways and means to do so. Since every small thing adds up eventually, it often starts at home and everything we do routinely. Think about these and you'll realize most of it is pure common sense, but these are things that get overlooked more often than not.

Take for example, gasoline. With fuel prices shooting through the roof, saving on fuel can actually make for significant savings. This article in thestreet.com lists six ways to save money on gasoline: combine trips; eliminate unwanted trips or carpoool; fill your tires; change your oil and replace air filters; empty your trunk (or boot, as some people prefer to say); and lastly, use the Internet to find the best prices in your area!

Weekly grocery can be another major component of a family's monthly spend. Here, you can choose to visit the premium supermarkets and pay accordingly or save as much as 25-40% by visiting discount grocery stores. As long as you don't have any qualms about being seen in a discount grocery store, there's a lot to be gained. Even if you take the potential savings very conservatively, say 10%, you know how much discount grocery shopping can shave off your monthly expense list.

Changing the way you buy food and what you eat are other effective ways to save money. Some others now prefer to grow their own food and find it a lot cheaper in the long run. It might seem inconvenient and a waste of time initially (granted, it might be impractical to do depending where you live), but if you can and are willing to put in the extra effort initially, you are bound to save quite a bit of money.

More to follow in this series...

Saving money by looking poor!

Many believe, "if you've got it, flaunt it" (and I am talking about money and wealth here), and then there are others who prefer to mask their richness in a veneer of simplicity.

Of course, there is nothing right or wrong about either of these approaches to display how wealthy you are, it is a matter of what one is most comfortable with. Undoubtedly, people from the opposite schools of thought will view things differently- those who believe in flaunting wealth will look down upon those who "act" poor as being cheapskates and behaving below their dignity; and the silent rich probably view the 'wealth demonstrators' as being brash and arrogant.

Now, we know the benefit of being seen to be rich; the perception of money can open several doors. What if I told you there are several benefits of looking poor too? Check out this article titled "The benefits of saving habits that make you look poor" by Shannon Christman, where she lists quite a few interesting benefits.

The fact is the rich have this ability to attract wealth; quite literally money follows them. They get wealthier by getting more money and saving more money than the average person; so what if the savings come from living and behaving a bit poorer than you actually are?

I'm sure not many folks agree... check out the comments to the above article to get a nice insight into how people look at having money, enjoying it and displaying it..