Quick ways to trim expenses
By Gordon Powers, Sympatico / MSN Finance
With job losses taking both salary and benefits, people are once again learning to live on a tight budget … just like a student.
And while this may bring back fond memories of KD and cheap vodka, your expenses are probably a bit higher than they were then. Here are a few suggestions to stretch those dollars.
Get a new dentist. Novice dentists and hygienists need real patients to practice on. That’s why costs at university-run clinics are heavily discounted, often by as much as 40%. The work is supervised by veteran dentists and your caregiver won’t be a sleep-deprived first-year rookie. Visits may take considerably longer than what you’d expect from most full-service dentists though.
Switch your phone. For years, phone companies have tried hard to discourage users from bridging the vacuum between PCs and cellular networks. Fight back by visiting Skype or Truphone, which host cheap long-distance calling through the Internet. For $9.95 per month, you get thousands of minutes to call close to 40 countries. There are other choices, of course. Google, for instance, has also launched a VoIP service for mobile phone users.
Stop buying books. Although the library will always be your most economical choice, book-borrowing sites offer the same options that movie buffs get from Zip.ca. If you’re interested in new hardcover books, look at BookSwim. There you keep two titles at a time for as little as $14.99 a month, with graduating pricing for heavier users. The best deal though is probably Booksfree where plans start as low as $9.99 a month for two at a time, unlimited paperback rentals.
If you have more suggestions, we'd love to hear them.
Posted by: Stephanie | Mar 16, 2022 10:38:15 AM
Don't even bother with renting books - public libraries offer thousands of books, magazines, cds and DVDs at free or close to free.
Posted by: Ann | Mar 16, 2022 11:27:26 AM
Very true, but you have to wait months for newer titles. Renting is a good backup if you're looking for recent books.
Posted by: Andy T | Mar 16, 2022 8:11:50 PM
May I add afew points?
To cut expense?
1) understand how you spend your money! Make a spendind note for a week how you spend you money.
2) pay off high interest credit card loan.
3) cut your expenses without lowering your living quality:
- drink your morning coffee at home instead of buy it from drive through.
- consider quit smoking, good for your health [$8 a pack per day = $240 per month]!
- car pool to work
- eating at home instead of dining out.
Posted by: daytimedolphin | Mar 16, 2022 9:23:08 PM
To comment on Andy T's post.
First I know were my money goes rent hydro water and gas for the car.
I don't have credit cards I don't believe in them so there is not the problem.
My husband has coffee at home and bring his own for the drive into work.
We don't drink so the only vice we have is cigerette and it cost us 120 dollars a month
It is nice to say car pooling have you even thought about those people that don't work normal hours and live out side of the city.
Eating out we don't eat out at all. So it is nice to say do this and do that but there are poeple that don't have normal working hours and don't live in the big cities.The problem is everything keeps going up except the pays.
Posted by: janna | Mar 17, 2022 3:13:30 PM
thanks gordon, and thanks for everyone's ideas. i was already in a bad financial situation before the recession. so all this advice on spending less and saving more due to the recession has come at a good time for me.
in reply to daytimedolfin on car pooling...apparenty there are some websites that you can find people with similar schedules, routes etc. not sure of the links, but you could google it. read about that in the 'smart cookies guide to making more dough'. so they may have those url's on their website too http://www.smartcookies.com/ you may be able to at least find someone for a couple days a week or something. good luck!
Posted by: Mary | Mar 20, 2022 4:36:48 PM
One of the best ways I've found to cut my expenses is to use coupons and mail in rebates. My savings so far this year already exceeds $390.00 on just my regular purchases. I'm not a big shopper otherwise.
Here's a few of the sites that I use which can help you save money:
http://freebiesdealsandrewards.com/forum/
http://www.save.ca
http://www.brandsaver.ca
http://www.thehealthyshopper.ca/
www.saveumoney.com
Posted by: shirley | Mar 24, 2021 3:00:40 PM
dont take any cash out at the atm when you deposit your paychecks. Go right home and sit down at computer and pay bills first, hydro, phone etc. figure out how much that week you need to put aside for your monthly bills such as rent and then you have a realistic amount as to what you can spend.