SAVE ON THOSE POWER BILLS !

If you are heating with electricity, turn the thermostat down in rooms not being used. Even if you are leaving the room for 1/2 hour, turn it down a few degrees.

When doing laundry, do a full load and use the W/C setting. Also, adjust the water level accordingly. Put them through the spin cycle at least 2 times to get the water off of them. It will make it much quicker to dry. Getting the extra water and moisture off your clothes will save you money not having to dry them for as long. This in turn will save you money with your biggest energy guzzler - the dryer! Better yet, hang your clothes on the clothes line.

Fill plastic pop bottles 4/5 of the way with water and put them in your deep freezer to keep it cold. You can add bottles or take them out as necessary.

Turn lights off in the rooms you aren't using.

MONEY SAVING TIPS !

Pay yourself first. Save at least 10% of your paycheque and put it in the bank or make extra mortgage principle payments.

Use cash instead of credit cards.

If you don't already have one - BUY A HOUSE. Never buy a house that has semi-detached houses or apartments nearby. However, buy a semi-detached or townhouse in a neighborhood with nice houses.

Never pay utilities early, that way you keep your money longer.

Paying bills online saves you time and money.

Pay your own property taxes thereby accruing interest which is yours.

Don't buy anything unless you need it. Someone once said to me "At least I'm getting something for my money". I say, "if you are spending your money, it's spent".

Start a home business to help with income tax deductions.

SAVING MONEY AT HOME !

Save money by doing simple maintenance yourself like painting etc. and hire licensed contractors for the more complicated tasks such as electrical wiring etc.

Use area rugs to protect carpets and hardwood floors in heavy traffic areas. If you have carpet in your house, never walk or let anyone walk on it with shoes. Walking on carpet with shoes will dramatically reduce the life of your carpet.

Preventative maintenance like applying a waterseal to fences and decks every year will save you money in the long run.

Make sure water from gutters is draining away from the house and that the ground around your foundation is elevated so that water is draining away from the house. This will prevent water and moisture problems in your house thereby saving you money.

INVEST YOUR MONEY WISELY !

I-You can lend money to financial institutions for a specified time so that, later, your money can be repayed to you with interest. A lot of investing options are available nowadays, such as bonds, insurances, stocks, etc.

II-Avoid being in debt and manage your investment plans well. Refrain from debts that involve high interest rates.

III-If you prefer a long term saving option, the insured account of money markets can be your choice. Since it is for a long term basis, the financial institution gives a high interest rate.

IV-You can also invest your money in collectibles and other items that will grow in value over time. You know that they are going to grow, so you hold on to them until the time comes that you need to sell them.

V-You should also focus on the primary investment areas e.g. stock market, share market, real estate, business, partnerships, joint ventures etc. Choose an option that suits you the best.

Summing up, if you know the right ways, it is easy to make money. With little imagination, creativity and self-discipline, you can help yourself in holding your hard-earned money to a great extent.

ENERGY AND POWER SAVERS !

I-Reduce your electricity bills by turning off the lights when not used or turning up the temperature of your refrigerator. Use florescent light bulbs in your house. Only use the dishwasher when it is full.

II-Think of replacing your old appliances with energy-saving devices which carry labels being an energy saver.

III-If you insulate your home, it will reduce the cost of heating and cooling.

IV-If you're a homeowner, consider converting over to a gas water heater. They are much more efficient which will help save money over time.

V-Save gasoline for your automobile by check tires regularly, accelerating and decelerating slowly while running and removing unnecessary weight. Keep filters/converters clean and if possible, try to keep windows and sunroofs closed especially at high speeds.

PLAY THE DISCOUNT GAME !

I-Get the best discounts on the things you buy and need to buy so that you do not over pay and you are satisfied with your purchase.

II-Look for freebies, rent instead of buying and buy things in bulk, use recycle papers and look for used good off the internet.

III-Utilize package deals on cable, internet, and phone from cable companies at a discounted rate.

IV-Clipping and using coupons is a great way to save money on everyday expenses. Coupons are abundant through local newspapers and the mail and are very easy to collect, and you can really get quite a few fairly quick.

V-While shopping, take advantage of sales and other consumer schemes e.g. buy one get one free. For grocery shopping, check if you can search for some big whole sales stores instead of making expensive purchases at typical retail shops.

PARK YOUR MONEY IN THE BANK !

I-Open a bank account and determine how you will be saving everyday, month, quarter, mid year and every year and you will be well-prepared and equipped economically, especially when unseen circumstances arise.

II-You can ask your employer to put at least 10% of payment into a high interest bank account, after a while you won’t miss it.

III-Consider putting your money into a term deposit so as to lock it in there for x months and you won’t get it out.

IV-If your spouse is good at saving then ask him / her to setup an individual bank account where your money can be safely stored and you won’t have access to it.

V-Using an interest-based current account will give you an advantage of withdrawing with cheques or ATM. You will have to always leave some balance in the account daily and it will yield interest.

SPEND YOUR MONEY WISELY !

I-Write down every penny you spend on a daily basis and regularly so that you can see and check what, where and why you are spending your money on.

II-Do away what you don't need, look around your house, search and select those things that are not needful, sell them.

III-Refinance the mortgage on your home to decrease your house payments by several hundred dollars.

IV-Cut back on entertainment expenses. For example, instead of purchasing your favorite DVD, you can either look online for used versions or rent the movie. You can do the same with music and video games.

V-Educate your kids about how to save money. Make them understand how important money is and the impact that it will have on their lives.

SAVE AHEAD OF TIME !

It's never too late (or too early) to start thinking about saving for your retirement. In fact , it's something you should think about a lot and plan ahead for so as you're not caught on the wrong foot in the sunset years .

Having your savings in place in time will ensure that they grow and grow and grow ......which means you'll have an abundant supply of the green stuff when you need it the most ........ not only to do away with all your financial worries , but also to ensure that you are able to continue living the comfortable life style you are used to living !