2. 1) Spend less money Using your money for things that are unnecessary or for things that you can find better alternatives to replace them, can really limit your abilities to save. These are just a few tips on spending less money: -Taking the taxi to and from work or driving your car can really cost you a fortune. Taking public transport or walking can not only save you money and fuel costs, but can also keep you healthy. -Don’t focus so much on buying branded items. Most of the time the quality is almost the same, and sometimes even better. Consider, that you are not paying for the quality, but for the name of the brand instead. -Instead of the newspaper being delivered to your door everyday, buy it from the news agency or even read it on the internet. -Using energy saving light bulbs can save you a lot of money. Also turning off the lights when leaving a room can help not only save money for yourself but it is also helpful for the environment too. -Making yourself your own coffee at home can save you a ton of money rather than buying a coffee from the shop every morning.

3. 2) Be shop smart Preparing a shopping list of things that are needed is a smart thing to do when shopping. DO NOT bring your credit card with you or extra money so that you are not tempted to buy extra things other than what is written on your shopping list. Don’t be ashamed to buy items with reduced prices. Stick to the things written on your shopping list and buy only things that you really need.

4. 3) Consolidate and limit your debts Control your debts if you have any. Try not to get into debt, but if there is a need to use your credit card make sure it is paid on time, that way, you will not need to worry about getting any interest fees charged onto your account.

5. 4) Prepare a budget It is important to have a budget prepared, possibly a monthly budget. Budgeting will give you immediate information on how much money you earn, what you spend it on and how much you spend. It’s a great way to show which expenses are important and which of them can be avoided or traded with a better alternative.

6. 5) Save money Set a certain amount of money that can be put aside every month into a savings account. It is important that everyone has a savings account they can rely on when an emergency arises.

7. 6) Make your own bank Keep an old-fashioned ‘piggy bank’ aside somewhere in your home where you can put your leftover coins in every few days. Make sure not to go back and count them until about as year or two later. It will amaze you how much tiny amounts of money can add up and grow into hundreds of dollars over time.

8. 7) Cook at home Make your own food at home every once in a while instead of always heading out to a restaurant or buying take-away food. Not only will it save you money but will also increase your chance of having good health and also possibly living longer.

9. 8) Check expiration dates Look at when your groceries expire. Often you may buy your groceries and they are already close to the day that they are going to go off. You will have then thrown your food out in the bin and wasted your money on it too.

10. 9) Avoid late fees Paying your bills on time is extremely important. Most utilities and other bills are set to charging from a credit card or checking account nowadays. So make sure you are organized and not forgetful of paying your bills. Better before than later.

11. 10) Disconnect your home phone If you live alone or only with a partner a good way to save your money is to disconnect your house phone and rely on using just your mobile phones. Home phones are not really necessary if there are not much people living with you.

12. 11) Borrow books Instead of buying books, borrow them from your local library. You can organize for a library card which will help you borrow books for free. If there is a book you would like to read and your local library doesn’t have it available, you can request for them to order it in from another library around the area and you can go and pick it up later on. If not, you can always buy a used book.

13. 12) Avoid vending machines Almost everything sold from a vending machine is hugely marked-up. If you are feeling that desperate for a snack buying it from the local supermarket can save you a big amount of money if you’re always buying snacks.

14. 13) Regulate your electric use Whenever you are not using your electrical appliances, unplug them or switch them off. This can also help save on your energy bills. It is also suggested that TVs are unplugged rather than switched off when not in use, it can save a lot of electricity. Also, keep your windows and doors closed when heaters and air conditioners are turned on. That way the cold or heat is trapped inside the house and won’t escape having you turning on the air conditioner or heater on for hours and hours.

15. 14) Forget the treadmill Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a treadmill or exercise bike, go out for a daily jog everyday. It will save you money, keep you healthy and help you get that fresh air into your body. Don’t hesitate to bring along a friend if it gets too boring.

16. 15) Don’t worry about fancy vehicles It is not necessary to buy a new car every few years. Sticking to the same car your have can save you a huge amount of money. Buying a used car isn’t such a bad thing if it’s in good condition. If you think about it, spending money on minor problems you have with your used car can save you a lot more than buying a new vehicle that can cost you a fortune.

17. 16) Go to the beach Swimming in the beach will save you money on the entry fee to a swimming pool because it is completely free, and you can also take advantage of having some extra fun with the sand. Build a sand castle, relax with some friends, etc. But make sure to be responsible and stay within the flags or boundary lines.

18. 17) Check out eBay EBay provides furniture and other items all the time that are very cheap. Normally if you want to buy a new item from the store, eBay will have the same, if not, very similar, item online in good condition and can be sold for up to half the normal price. Although, you need to watch out for postage fees as they can sometimes cost more than the actual purchased item.

19. 18) Check out Op shops Second-hand stores usually have many everyday things you can purchase for a cheap price rather than buying it new and expensive. If it is in good shape there is no reason why it should be ‘not good enough’.

20. 19) Layer up to stay cozy Instead of turning on the heater and leaving it on for hours and hours, layer up and put on an extra jacket or jumper, even if you are inside your home. This will save on your energy bills and keep you as cozy as the heater will without the extra costs.

21. 20) Hand wash dishes Using a dish washer costs you a fortune. Not only is it expensive to buy and an increase to your energy bills, but it wastes a lot of water too. Every wash your dish washer makes uses thousands of litres of water. Now, wouldn’t you rather use that wasted water for your cooking, or even to drink, rather than throwing it down the drain because you are effortless to wash your dishes by hand?

22. 21) Use Skype Save on international calls to your friends and family overseas. Skype is a free download and sign up, and you can call your friends and relatives all around the world without the cost. You get the added bonus of seeing and hearing the voices of the ones you love without it costing you a thing.

23. 22) Avoid the dryer Hang your clothes to dry outside instead of using the clothes dryer. This will lower your energy bill and also collect Vitamin D from the sun and trap it in the clothes which is good for your body.

24. 23) Use solar panels Attaching a few solar panels on your home will collect energy from the sun and help decrease your electricity and energy bills. It is also better for the environment so it can help both ways.

25. 24) Install a water tank Use a water tank for your home. It will save lots of water and decrease your water bill by a few hundred dollars a year. It is also a great form of recycling so you can be more environmental and ‘green’ without any effort.

26. 25) Compare your product prices Never hesitate to look at the difference between two products of the same thing. An example is buying ‘Home Brand’ potato chips instead of buying ‘Heinz’. They’re both chips, the only difference is the name of the product, and in some cases you may find that the ‘Home Brand’ product is better than the named one. The prices are higher on named products, unless on special. You’ll find that if you buy 20 named products and 20 ‘Home Brand’ products of the same items, you may be saving up to $20 from the ‘Home Brand’ side. And if you like, that $20 can be put aside and saved. Quality is not packaging, it’s product. $2.00 $2.80