10 Ways I save money

1. Don't have Cable: This actually is a good time-saver too because hours wasted watching television, because there is limited television to begin with.
2. Don't go out to movies: With Red Box or Netflix instant downloads, we only need to wait a couple months and watch a movie for $1-$2 as a couple instead of $20.
3. Make my own tea: Instead of picking up a cup of tea at Starbucks for $2 a pop, I buy the 25-pack of the same tea for $3.
   
4. Use online bill pay: The money comes out and pays the bills on the same day: pay day. This prevents over drafting funds and the bank charges that go along with that.
   
5. Use cash: While cash can burn a hole in your pocket, using ONLY cash does prevent over-drafting the bank account and the charges that go with that. A couple months of using cash squashed any itch to spend the cash in my pocket because I knew that there was nothing left when that was gone. Plus, the change at the end of the day goes in the piggy bank!
6. Bring a sack lunch. Lunch on the run can mean spending $3-$10 if I am careful, and even if I only have a few meals out during the week, that is $20-$40 a week.
7. Unplug: Unplugging lamps, appliances, and electronics even when they were turned off brought our electric bill down by 15%.
   
8. Make a list: Before I go shopping for groceries, clothes, or anything. Then, I stick to the list. If I need one pair of jeans, then I write that down and it helps me not pick up a couple shirts and some cute sandals because they aren't on the list.
9. Don't buy bottled water: We love our Brita water filter, so we just fill our pitcher from the tap. Then, we use reusable water bottles and refill them as needed.
10. Skip the salon: pedicures, massages, waxing, haircuts...they all add up fast! I have opted for the Great Clips around the corner for hair cuts and save the pedicures for the summer months, but I'm going to try to do my own toenails this year.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

My first purchase of the new year was an old Huffy beach cruiser, complete with a basket on the front, for $65 off of Craig's list.

I had read on one of my favorite blogs, Zen Habits, that one of the reasons that as a whole, the Japanese are healthier than Americans is because they walk or ride a bike everywhere. While I am not going to ride my bike everywhere, I thought, What is close enough to me that I could ride a bike to? And what came to mind is the grocery store and gas station around the corner, which is located on a strip mall that has all sorts of other stores also. We are constantly making those trips around the corner for the ingredient we forgot or what we are "all out of," or renting a movie from the DVD kiosk at the gas station for $1.49 (this is one of our favorite habits).

What if instead of doing those quick trips around the corner in my car, I rode a bike?

I could save on gas and emissions, be green, and put some more activity in my life. Sounds good. And so I searched for a low-cost bike, so that if this plan turns out like most New Year's resolutions, at least I'm not out too much cash.


I also picked up a pink bike helmet for about $15 and a matching pink bike lock for about $13. All in all, a $93 investment. My goal was to spend less than $100 on the whole ordeal.

And yes, I did take my bike for it's maiden voyage to the grocery store, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and I learned a few things:

1. People think it's cute when a child rides their bike to the grocery store, and a little weird when an adult does.


2. People don't want to make eye contact with a grown woman riding a bike with a basket wearing a pink bike helmet.


3. The only adult that made eye contact with me and smiled was an old hippie, wearing a poncho, who was also riding his bike.


4. Cars definitely saw me and gave me the right away--I also attribute that to the pink bike helmet.


5. It takes me about the same time to ride my bike to the grocery store as it takes to drive (because of traffic lights and parking).


6. It takes about 2 blocks before my thighs start burning.


7. Helmet hair is not as bad as I thought.

I have to say that I also enjoyed hearing the sounds of the outdoor world instead of my radio yelling commercials at me. My cell phone rang, but I couldn't answer it because I am not talented enough to talk and ride at the same time, and I enjoyed the time to myself not on the phone. I also got to reward myself with an extra cookie without any guilt.

My conclusion is that it was totally worth it and I will do it again!