More Ways to Help You Cut Your Expenses and Put Money Back Into Your Pocket!

Here's more money-saving tips to help you find hidden cash when it's needed most. Don't let hard times bring you down, implement some practical tips to help carry you through financially difficult times.

1. Don't go shopping with friends who overspend or generally spend more that you do, as it may influence you to spend more than you intended to.
2. If you have kids, when travelling choose hotels and resorts which offer free stays for children. As well as restaurants which offer free meals to kids under a set age. These strategies can significantly reduce the total cost of your trip.
3. If you have pets, bathe and groom them yourself. You know how to do it for yourself, so do it for your pets and save yourself a bundle of money.
4. Control and monitor your daily spending habits. Put yourself on a weekly allowance and stick to it. If you are reaching your limit often, check your recipts and see what spending habits you can eliminate.
5. You can save hundreds of dollars by raising your insurance deductibles for automobile, tenant or homeowner's insurance policies.
6. Scrutinize all store receipts and all incoming bills to ensure accuracry. Mistakes do happen and can be fixed if found promptly.
7. Take advantage of the 'Pay What You Want' restaurants popping up in Canada.
8. If you enjoy reading magazines but find they are too expensive to subscribe to then start magazine sharing in your community to swap with others. Another option is to read free online versions of magazines.
9. Instead of going to the movies or renting them check your local library for DVD movies. Why pay when you can borrow it for free?
10. If you are a senior, ask the places where you spend money if they offer a discount. Check your bank, insurance companies, pharmacy, restaurants, malls, cinemas, recreation centres or other places you make purchases from.

Please leave a comment with your suggestions for lowering expenses, I'd like to hear your ideas and tips!

More tips for cutting your expenses and saving your money

There's a vast array of innovative and conventional ways of saving money and reducing your expenses. I'll continue to share ideas and tips that I have over the next week or so. I would like to hear what you think of these ideas, plus any tips that you may have.

1. Know your prices and watch your purchases being scanned. If the price scans higher than the marked price, take advantage of SCOP if it applies to the store you are shopping at. (More info on SCOP - Scanning Code of Practice - If the scanned price of a non-price ticketed item is higher than the shelf price or any other displayed price, the customer is entitled to receive the first item free, up to a $10 maximum).
2. Coupons are a great way to save money, but smart shoppers know that you can often get the same item for cheaper without a coupon if you buy generic brands. Always check the prices of competing brands to see if you can beat the couponed price.
3. Make your own baby food. Prepackaged baby foods are certainly convenient but not without cost. Learn more about making baby foods from Wholesome Baby Food and save some of your hard earned money.
4. Send away for manufacturer rebates; except when the cost of postage outweighs the rebate savings.
5. Buy clothing at consignment shops. You can get designer and brand name clothing at a fraction of the MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price). Often clothing found at consignments shops are still new with tags. Alternatively, you could take advantage of consignment shops by offering clothing items that you don't wear to them to sell. Perhaps you could make some extra dollars and lighten your closet load at the same time!
6. Sign up for the mailing lists of the stores where you shop. They will send you advance information of sales and special promotions. If they do not have an online site, ask the cashier of your favourite stores.
7. Replace a broken or lost button promptly. It just takes one lost button to put a piece of clothing out of commission. Which in turn could lead to spending money that you cannot afford. All you need is a small touch up sewing kit for button repairs.
8. Make a list and stick to it when shopping. Resist the temptation to impulse buy. A list will allow you to pick up the items you need systematically and help you avoid the aimless wandering around the store looking at everything they have to offer.
9. If you enjoy burning candles, an easy trick to make them last longer and cost you less over the long-run is to freeze them before burning.
10. Bank your savings! When you buy something on sale, use a cents off coupon or a free product coupon; take the money you saved and bank it! Take advantage of a tax-free savings account (TFSA) to maximize and shelter your savings from tax.

NOTE: Scanning Code of Practice is voluntary and has over 5,000 retailers across Canada participating in the Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code endorsed by the Competition Bureau.

PLUS...don't forget to check out the first 10 cost cutting suggestions.