Saving Chic: Bohemian Revolution’s 25 best money saving hits

1115041_colour_dimes_2 We’re all trying to save money right now because we’re not quite sure what’s around the corner, and the economy is a scary thing right now. We’ve written a lot on this topic here at Bohemian Revolution over the years, and we’re going to be writing regularly about it in the future. I thought it would be neat to put together a “best of” from our Frugal category:

Bottled water is great for your health, but not so great for your wallet. Cut out the plastic bottles with a canteen and save yourself a fortune without giving up the convenience of drinking water on the run.
Donating plasma – a quick way to raise money – it’s safe, and the money’s not bad.
23 ways to clean with vinegar – vinegar can replace several of the more expensive cleaners you probably use now.
12 ways to save money on eating out – with the cost of groceries, I’m finding that when I use these tips, I actually spend less on food by eating at restaurants or doing carry out.
23 easy ways to save on your water bill – I don’t know about you, but my utility bills are shooting up like crazy. Cutting back on how much we use is our only defense.
Unplug electronics to save power – I admit I haven’t started doing this yet. My electricity bills recently went up 80%, so I think I can be bothered now.
Freecycle: trade used stuff – bartering makes its triumphant return. Why pay for stuff when you can trade stuff you can’t use/don’t want? It’s also better than having old stuff wind up in the landfill.
More gas saving tips – gas is cheap lately, compared to where it was a few months ago. But it won’t stay there – and in any case, why not save even when it’s not so bad? That just means more money you can save or put toward something else.
What to do when you forgot to send a payment on time – everyone makes mistakes. Follow these tips to keep your credit from getting dinged, and with any luck you’ll avoid late fees, too. No matter how bad you think your credit is, remember how many people are just defaulting on their debts right now. Your efforts to make it right will be appreciated by most creditors!
Avoid Get Paid to Read scams – don’t get taken in by internet schemes. But there’s also a link to one company that really does pay you for reading ads. They don’t pay much, but I have made about $50/year from them for four years now, for doing virtually nothing.
Paid surveys can also be legitimate. I trust WalletBoosters reviews to help me pick the ones that really will pay. Some give you little cash prizes, others give you stuff. You can win some very decent stuff on these, which will save you money, or which can be sold for a decent amount on Craig’s List. Excellent for someone who has a little (or a lot of) spare time to dedicate. Also see doing surveys for extra income.
5 tips for negotiating lower rent on a new apartment – rents are going up in some markets (as foreclosed homeowners flood into apartments) and down in others (as foreclosed homeowners flee to less expensive areas altogether). Whatever your case, if you’re about to rent an apartment, make sure you get the best possible deal.
Make your own makeup – not from scratch but from makeup you already have that’s going to waste. And while you’re at it, turn an old lotion or body wash into a body scrub.
What to do in troubled financial times – it’s far from a complete manual to surviving a downturn, but there are some suggestions you might find helpful.
Ask your credit cards for a lower rate – right now, credit is cheap. Your card holders can afford to give you a lower interest rate or some other benefits in order to keep you paying.
Investing for retirement when you can barely afford to live now – originally intended as a way to help people barely making ends meet save for retirement, this article could also help you if you’re struggling to save enough to pay your current expenses.
Little savings trick (if you still use cash) – this is a great way to trick yourself into putting aside a decent little bit of cash.
Rewards cards: better than spending cash? – they can be! Remember, if credit cards inspire irresponsible spending habits in you, avoid them. But if you know you can handle them sensibly, they can sometimes work to your advantage. If you have good credit, this is a surefire way to save/make a few bucks every month.
Avoid ATM fees like the plague – this one is so simple, yet a lot of people just accept ATM fees as a fact of life. $1 to $3 adds up quickly, people, and with just a little planning, you can never pay an ATM fee! (I paid one. Once. Because they tricked me. Never again.)
Combating unconscious spending – if you don’t know where your money’s going, read this.
Brush your teeth with baking soda – toothpaste isn’t the biggest household expenditure, but when you compare tubes that are a minimum of $4 to a box of baking soda that’s under $1, baking soda – which my dentist, at least, recommends as equal to toothpastes – is the clear winner.
Cutting out monthly fees to save money – it’s easy to forget stuff you subscribe to, as that monthly payment just magically appears on your credit card or bank statement each month and you don’t think much about it. Do you really need both Netflix and On Demand? How much would you save with a pre-paid cellular plan instead of a monthly fee?
The library that comes to you – or “Netflix for Book Lovers.” Get books in the mail for a low monthly fee. Remember, this is only a savings if normally you would be buying the books. If you’re just as happy to go to a library or trade books with friends, you probably don’t need this service. And don’t forget there are plenty of free books to download.
Shop at thrift stores. Don’t know where one is? Thrift store directory – just enter your zip code.
Got expensive food and beverage habits? Replace ‘em with homemade! Like this Homemade energy drink recipe. Or bake your own energy bars. Or make Starbucks drinks and pastries at home.