How to Keep More Cash in Your Pocket!

We've been blogging about ways to cut expenses, save money, reduce your spending and ways to be more frugal and have some more suggestions that your could incorporate into your life. You can never cut your expenses too much!

1. Quit playing the lottery! You may as well put your money into a fireplace and light it up! The odds of hitting it BIG are slim. You could use this opportunity to make a lottery fund and instead of buying the tickets you normally would, put the money away. After a while you HAVE won the lottery; a personal goals lottery plus you'll have some cash set aside too!
2. Make sure that you are getting ALL of the tax credits which you are entitled to. An accountant can help you to determine what tax credits you may be eligible for. There's credits for disabled persons, people with children, moving credits and many more. If you qualify for a credit it could easily offset the cost of paying for the accountant's advice.
3. Get a NO FEE chequing account with PC Financial. I generate very few dollars each month in fees for my checquing account at a mere $4.00 through RBC but some of my friends pay as much as $10-$20 per month with all fees combined. So signing up for PC Financial's NO COST chequing account could save you somewhere is the range of $48 to $240 per year.
4. When searching for a job, look for employers who offer not only a benefit plan but ones offering a pension plan too! This is a great way to start a base savings for retirement. Remember, you will also need to continue with your own retirement savings program to ensure a comfortable old age.
5. Make certain that your utility and other monthly bills are paid on time each and every month. The interest charges add up quickly and once you fall into a pattern of paying late it's harder to revert back causing you extra fees each month.
6. If you celebrate Christmas, buy an artificial tree to save the recurring costs of buying a fresh Christmas tree each year. The best time to buy is at the end of the season to take advantage of ticket price slashes for out of season items.
7. If you have kids, ask if they are entitled to a discount when you are out at restaurants and other entertainament venues. Many places offer discounts to kids under a certain age.
8. If you are mature adult or senior, you could be entitled to senior discounts at a number of places you already deal with. Check with your bank, insurance company, restaurants you eat at, entertainment venues and any other place you may spend money.
9. Take advantage of the various FREE entertainment available. Concerts and music events, Easter Egg Hunts, Museums, swimming, skating, guided walking tours, historic sites, movie screenings, bridal shows, library events and much more.
10. Plan for and pre-pay your funeral and cremation expenses. I know, I didn't suggest burial because it is more costly and will require regular maintenance costs to upkeep a grave site. Cremation will save you and/or your loved ones money all the way around. Pre-paying can significantly reduce the costs if you buy while you are financialy stable and when a contract is drawn up with a reputable funeral home stipulating that no additional costs will ever be incurred.

Are you already incorporating any of these ideas in your life right now? Do you have any suggestions to help reduce expenses and keep the money in your own pocket? Please leave your comments, we would like to hear how you cut corners and save your hard earned bucks!

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.

Trying to Cut Costs? Learn Ways to Lower Your Expenses!

During difficult times you shouldn't agonize about money rather you need to economize! If you're like most people, you're probably looking for ways to trim your expenses and reduce overall spending. Every week I'll be sharing the ideas I have for saving money and I'd like to hear what strategies you use to reduce spending habits.

1. Need string to tie up the plants in this year's garden? Cut unwearable pantyhose into strips and voila! you have string.
2. Don't toss that old pair of oven mitts just yet; recycle them into gardening gloves to use when working with thorns and other prickly plants.
3. Make sure that you're receiving interest on your security deposit and/or last month's rent deposit if you rent a home. It's not a lot of money but you're entitled to it, so when you get it, put it in a tax-free savings account.
4. Plant trees to save energy which in turn will save you money. If you plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home, they will provide necessary shade in the summer and in the winter allow the sun to shine through.
5. Use a toaster oven or convection oven rather than a traditional oven to save energy and money on your electricity bill over the long term.
6. Install water saver shower heads. Some municipalities even offer free kits on occasion.
7. Wrap your hot water heater; you will see that your heating bills will be lower.
8. Don't let that tap drip. Fix dripping faucets immediately, especially if it's dripping hot water.
9. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperature settings when you're away from the house or sleeping. This is easy to do yourself and the savings can be dramatic
10. Don't use directory assistance with your local telephone company; use Google 411. Call 1-800-GOOG-411.

Please leave me a comment with your suggestions to keeping more dollars in your pocket. Be sure to return soon for more cost cutting ideas!