For the past few weeks we’ve been discussing all about coupons, so I figured I would give you a break this week and let you catch up.  I’ve had a few requests to talk about ways to save money that doesn’t involve coupons, so here we go!
Most people don’t realize how much money they spend in an average week on food, especially those families that eat out several times a week.  Let’s say you’ve got a family of four, you eat out twice a week and you each purchase a meal costing at least $10 then that’s $40 per trip and $80 per week.  That may not sound like much but that’s around $320 per month and almost $4,000 per year that you’re spending just on trips to a restaurant (and that doesn’t even include the gas or the tip for the waiter).  Yeah, it sounds a lot worse that way.  Now we’ll assume you purchase a $4 coffee each day, every day.  That’s almost $30 per week and almost $1,500 a year.  That’s a lot of coffee!  Now, let’s turn that around.  If you purchase a coffee maker for $40, and a large container of coffee for $8 that will probably last you about a month.  So you’re paying $8 per month for homemade coffee each day or around $120 for coffee from a name-brand store.  That’s taking your coffee cost down from $1,500 per year to only $100 per year.  Is a “logo” really worth that much?  Then let’s say you cut down your “restaurant nights” to just one night a week.  That’s cutting out nearly $2,000 per year that can be applied towards other things that your family needs.  Most people make the mistake of looking at small purchases in small increments, instead of looking at them as a whole.  When you look at a four dollar coffee over the span of a year it’s easier to see how much money is being taken out of your budget.  The small ticket items are probably the most dangerous because people don’t step back and look at the big picture. 
Another way of saving money is learning to preserve gasoline.  Carpool with a friend, only take one trip to the grocery store per week, take the shortest route to work, and purchase gasoline with NO Ethanol.  I’m no fuel expert, but I’ve seen through experience that you get better gas mileage when you use 100% gas in your car. 
How about all that tanning?  Let’s say you spend $30 per month for unlimited tanning; well, that’s all fine and dandy but what’s wrong with the sun?  I’m pretty sure the last time I walked outside it was still working.  The sun’s rays are free and they work much better than some sticky tanning bed.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve paid for my fair share of tanning minutes, but I don’t tan all the time.  Get out in the sun, work in the garden, take a quick swim; they’re great ways to get a nice tan!
When I was in college it seemed almost every weekend I was always going out with my friends.  We were going to the club, going out to eat, going to the movies, or to the mall; we were always spending money!  It wasn’t until after college, and moving back home to Smithville, that I realized you can have a fun night with just a few close friends, a DVD and some home-made popcorn.  Who’s to say you can’t have your own movie night at home?
So over the next week I want to challenge you to refrain from purchasing so many small ticket items.  I also want to challenge you to keep up with the purchases you make.  Keep a receipt from EVERYTHING and next Wednesday I want you to add up how much you’ve spent within the week.  I’m sure you’ll be surprised, and you’ll probably even see places that you can cut back and save.  Until next week, happy savings and don’t forget to check me out on Facebook by searching “Saving Dollars & Making Sense”.