Are you spending more than you need to on common expenses? I’ll be honest, there have been a lot of times that I have spent more just to avoid an inconvenience. However, with the COVID19 pandemic still looming and spending more time at home, I’ve been trying to be even more conscious of spending, especially if I could easily save myself money. So, let me share with you 5 easy ways to save yourself money.
1. Take a Defensive Driving Course
Many auto insurance companies will offer you a discount for taking a defensive driving course. Even better is that there are several online courses you can take to fulfill this.
A few days ago, I completed a defensive driving course through the American Safety Council which will lead to a 10% discount on my auto insurance for 3 years. Unlike the in-person courses that you have to sit in a classroom for 8 or so hours, I was given 30 days to complete the course from when I started it. There were 4 modules and 4 quizzes to pass in order to receive a certificate. Quick and painless way to save $260 a year for 3 years (the course only cost me $22, so a net savings of $758).
2. Fix It Yourself
Having a minor issue in your home or with your car? Try fixing it yourself! There are endless articles and videos on the internet that will show you how to do something.
For example, a few months ago our kitchen sink was leaking. We had a plumber come and fix a pipe for us and he said if it started to leak again, we likely would need a new faucet and he said he’d do it for us. Well, a few days went by and we had another leak, so rather than paying the plumber to fix it, my husband watched some videos and was able to do it himself! That DIY fix probably saved us $200-300 in labor costs.
3. Do It Yourself
Think of all the things you pay someone else to do for you. Maybe that house cleaning or lawn mowing or cooking or car washes. If you’re spending more time at home, maybe you can find the time to do those things yourself instead.
It’s cheaper in the long run to invest in a lawn mower than it is to pay someone to take care of your lawn once a week. House cleaning is time consuming, but anyone can do it if they try. Rather than ordering takeout or going out, try making one of your favorite meals at home. In the warm weather, get outside and wash your car yourself. You’d be surprised how much you can save.
4. Manage Your Own Investments
Investing can be a scary thing when you feel like you don’t have enough knowledge, but paying investment management fees is worse, in my opinion. The internet has an abundance of resources on investing and free trades makes it even better for individuals to manage their own investments. With a little bit of research, you can feel comfortable enough to manage your own investment accounts and cut out the middle man to save yourself money.
5. Buy During Sales
I have been doing a lot less shopping lately because I haven’t been going many places since COVID19 hit, but we do need a few appliances replaced and there are some clothing items I’d like to buy. The reason I haven’t bought them yet, though, is because I am waiting for things to go on sale. I have a Nordstrom gift card and their half yearly sale is open to non-cardholders on August 19th, so that is when I’ll be doing my clothing shopping. I also am in the market for a new toaster, so I have been scouring for good deals. If you have a little patience, you can save yourself a lot of money waiting for sales to come before you make your purchases.
So, there you have it, 5 easy ways to save yourself money. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of patience and a little more effort, but the savings you may see will be worth it.
Here are a few posts on other ways to save money.
The Luxe Strategist – DIY: MAKING A $15 STOOL LOOK WAY MORE EXPENSIVE Why spend money on expensive furniture when you can make something cheaper look just as nice?
She Picks Up Pennies – 6 Ways We Get Free and Cheap Toys Kids are expensive and kids toys can be expensive, especially when you’re buying multiple
Handful of Thoughts – How to Save Money with 5 Simple Phone Calls If all it takes is a phone call to save money, I think most of us can squeeze in time for that
