Little things that make a difference

 Lots of people are looking for ways to make extra money right now, whether through getting a part time job, selling belongings, or unfortunately, jumping into crazy get rich quick schemes.
 Today I want to talk about ways to 'earn' some extra money without getting an extra job or getting duped in a scam. There are so many little things we can do to save money for our home store's budget. I'll list a few categories and then some ideas for each. Obviously you're not likely to revamp your house and lifestyle all in one day. So pick one or two of these things to start with, and then try adding a new one every couple of weeks.
Utilities
-Run high energy consuming appliances during non-peak hours. (9pm-8am) Doing laundry and running the dishwasher while you sleep are great money savers!
-Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Not only will you save on your water bill, but you will also help conserve our fresh water supply.
-If possible, upgrade to high-efficiency appliances with the Energy Star symbol, so that you know you are using the least amount of energy possible. You will have to invest, but the machines will pay for themselves over time in savings and government rebates.
-Install a Flow Regulator to your water system. You will still have enough pressure for a nice shower and to do all of your other activities, you just won't use as much water. These regulators run approximately $35-45 each.
-While showering, get yourself soaked, turn off the water while lathering or shaving, then turn the water back on to rinse. Sounds like a pain, but is really not that difficult.
-Do not leave unnecessary appliances plugged in or running when you are out of the house. -Entertainment centers, microwaves, swamp coolers, alarm clocks, cell phone chargers, etc. Simply unplugging these devices will save you a lot. The easiest way is to hook as many things as possible to a surge protector so that you only have one plug to pull. I suggest doing this every time you go out for max results. If that is too much hassle for you though, at least be sure to unplug them if you plan to be gone for a day or more.
-This one seems so obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't do it. TURN OFF your automatic sprinklers during wet weather!!! Why are you paying for something you can get for FREE?????
-Change air and furnace filters on time to allow better air flow and to keep your appliances at peak performance. Also empty your dryer's lint trap often! At least after every other load.

Food
-Use coupons and shop sales to cut costs on groceries.

-Properly store perishable items to make last longer.

-Label and date all leftovers in the refrigerator. Start having a leftover night at least once a week to make sure the food does not go to waste. At the very least, build a compost pile and add rotten or spoiled food to it, rather than just throwing it away.

-Purchase items your family will actually eat. Stay away from things you don't know how to use or cook, unless you plan on studying up. Strange or foreign foods are tough for most kids, so unless you and the spouse are really hungry for borscht or kielbasa, stick to the tried and true staples. 

-Rotate your inventory to eat older food before newer.

-Keep fresh fruits and veggies washed, sliced, and ready to eat, either in a prominent place on the kitchen counter, or in clear tubs in the fridge. This will encourage your family to eat them before they spoil. It will also contribute to better health.

-When/if possible, grow some of your own food. Do the math and make sure it's feasible, and then experiment with gardening and even livestock if you're daring and have a place to put a herd of cows. :) Bottle or can, freeze or dry as much of your home grown foodstuff as you can.

-Get involved in a food swap program. With a couple of other families, set up a plan to share fruits and veggies that you each grow. 'I'll give you a head of broccoli for 5 ears of your corn...'

Clothing
-Shop second hand stores and yard sales whenever possible, especially for children under 8 years old. They grow so fast and less than gentle with their clothes, that this makes more a much more reasonable approach then say, heading to the mall. Plus, they usually still young enough not to care about brands and newness.

-Use the right kind of soap and bleach and follow wash/dry instructions especially for expensive or high quality garments.

-Store clothes properly. Damp clothes left in a pile will stink and can mold. Certain clothing items need to be hung, or folded, or rolled a certain way. Be sure you know the ins and outs before you invest in something you don't want to take care of.

-Hit Clearance Racks to get name brands at lowest prices. End of season sales are fantastic. Allow yourself time to hunt! If shopping for kids, always buy a size bigger than you think they'll need next season. A little loose is easier to work with than way too small.

-Arrange a neighborhood/church clothing swap. Gather 20-50 families. Have each bring gently used clothing, divided by size, gender and type. Set up at any convenient, free location. Allow each family to then 'go shopping' through all of the clothing, accessories, shoes, etc. Set an amount that each person can take, like 4 t-shirts, 3 pair of jeans, 1 pair of shoes, and two dresses per female child. This is a great way to lower your costs and to give clothes a second life. Also a fun way to get to know your neighbors better! :)

-Learn to sew, hem, attach buttons and patches. Simple alterations that you can do yourself will save you so much money by extending the life of your clothing.

Treasure
One man's junk is another man's treasure. 

-Do not be above looking around student garbage bins for used furniture. You never know what you might find!

-Get involved in freecycle.com, a website that allows you and others to pass on used or unneeded items for free. You usually just need to go pick them up. 

-Go through all of your 'junk' and see what treasure you might find. You may think that pile of records or books are worthless, but before you pass them on to a donation center, take a day to do some research and see if they are potential collectibles. Other things to try selling, whether in an online auction or to a local dealer, or even at your own yard sale: clothing, shoes, accessories, pictures and paintings, furniture, old windows, appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures, cards, books, movies, music, memorabilia, sports equipment, home decor, electronics, baby supplies, swings, strollers, pillows and more! The average yard sale can net $100-300 in 2-3 days. To get more variety and to generate more interest, get other families involved and do a giant sale together.

-Stay away from Pawn shops or Title loan places. They give the minimum amount possible, have high repayment rates, and often you end up with more regrets than relief.

-You'd be amazed what you can do with a bit of sandpaper and varnish. Take a class or find a book on how to refurbish, reupholster, or refinish furniture. Pick up inexpensive pieces at thrift/junk shops and yard sales. Sometimes you can find pieces for free on the side of the road that others have given up on. Make sure that the structure of the piece is solid and worth saving, then off you go to bring it back to life!

Medical
-Wash your hands with soap!!!

-Brush your teeth at least twice each day. Floss at least every other day. You may not know this, but not taking care of your teeth and gums can actually increase your risk for heart disease!!! Plus, getting cavities filled is painful and expensive.

-Get to your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and check up.

-Women and men should have yearly physical exams. Women should begin either at 18 or when the become sexually active. Men should begin having regular prostate exams between 40 and 50 years of age as continue to do so yearly as long as they live. Women need to get mammograms!!! Thinking that you are too young to need these tests is not only irresponsible, it can be life-threatening. Cancer of many varieties, is popping much more frequently in younger and younger people. You are NOT too young! Getting a colonoscopy is vital for adults aged 40 plus. Early detection can be the difference between life and death, AND all the medical and funeral bills that can go hand in hand with cancer.

-Ask for you financial assistance. Lots of hospitals have programs to help those in need. Drop your pride and see if you qualify. If you don't have your health, you don't have anything.

-See if your clinic offers special rates to the uninsured who pay in full up front. Also be sure to ask if there are special days, usually Saturdays, where certain procedures (such as the depoprovera birth control shot) are administered at a substantial discount.

-Before scheduling procedures, check with your insurance provider and your hospital/clinic's billing department for not only approval, but also to get an idea of how you will have to pay out of pocket. Always know the details of your insurance plan! 

-Set up a low interest payment plan whenever possible if you do not have the means to pay in full. The rates are usually quite low and they work with you on the payment amount.

-For prescriptions, always make sure that if a generic is available, that your scrip allows for it to be substituted.

-Ask your doctor for samples. Drug companies often stock doctors' offices with loads of samples. It doesn't hurt to ask!

-Shop around for a pharmacy that charges less. Just because you've always filled your scrips at Pharmacy X, that doesn't mean you can't easily switch to Pharmacy Y. Lots of pharmacies actually offer great incentives for transfering new or existing prescriptions.

-Eat healthy foods, drink lots of water and get plenty of exercise. These are the tried and true ways to stay healthy and therefore require less medical attention.
 
 This gives you a start at least, on ways to 'earn' more money for your family budget. Take note of what you paid last month in utilities, groceries, clothing, medical, etc. Keep track of these same expenses while implementing these new practices, then compare to see how much you save!!!