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25 savings tips that take less than 10 minutes

Posted Jul 24 2008, 02:21 PM by Karen Datko
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Every little bit helps if you're trying to stretch your money, and it's even better if you can accomplish savings with little effort. For instance: How long will it take you to put a dry towel in the dryer with a load of wet wash?

Jeffrey Strain at Saving Advice says you can reduce your drying time by 10% by implementing this little trick. It's from his excellent post called "25 ways to improve your financial situation in under 10 minutes."

Of course, you can save even more by not using the dryer. Also, check out a link Jeffrey provides to Dryer Money Saving Tips.

We'll share a few more of our favorites from Jeffrey's list:

    • Do all of your wash in cold water. He says, "There is this huge myth that clothes only get clean in hot or warm water washes." He also links to Washer Money Saving Tips.

    • Keep a kitchen timer near the shower. We take short showers, but we know lots of people like Jeffrey, who used to brainstorm about work while the hot water flowed. He says, "My wife solved that problem by bringing in a kitchen timer that I now set at 10 minutes every time I take a shower."

    • Sign up for reward programs. If you sign up for newsletters from companies whose products you normally use, you can get access to special discounts. Jeffrey provides handy links for registering for promotions from major manufacturers and producers of organic products.

    • Reduce your dependence on soda. Jeffrey was consuming pop to the tune of $1,000-plus a year, but weaned himself by drinking a full glass of water before he allowed himself a soft drink. He's now soda-free.

    For those who missed the links above, click here to read Jeffrey's post.

    Comments

     

    Getting rid of that soda habit will also save him in dentist fees. Nothing eats teeth like soda, except maybe for meth.

    It's a hard habit to break though, because the fizzy stuff is very tempting. Good for Jeffrey!

    That's stupid, how about get a better job and MAKE MORE MONEY !

    In addition to improving his dental health, and cash flow, by going soda-free he is not part of the plastic bottle buyer problem any longer either!

    So what is he spending in water? Generally people only drink bottled water!

    Where is the beef?  That's it?  Towels, sodas, showers, ok, got it.  Did you write this while in the shower?

    I get hooked on these "free trial offers" on the computer but I haven't been reading the fine print at the bottom.  I just got charged $88.97 for Acai Cleanser because I didn't cancel within 14 days.  All I got was a small sample bottle which my system couldn't handle and I had to throw them away.  My daddy always used to say "the big print giveth and the little taketh away."  I learned the hard way.  I'm out $88.97 for nothing.   UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The same way for free products like purses - you have to answer umpteen pages of surveys and they want you to take magazines and sign up for everything under the sun just to get a free purse.  I'm finally cured.

    Getting rid of the soda habit improves physical health in a number of ways, not just dental.  I dropped the one glass a day habit (got it free at my job) and dropped something like 25 pounds in short order.

    To save money, it's worth glancing through the grocery ads to see what's on sale.  If chicken is on sale this week, we're not having beef in my house.  Also, consider cheaper subs for ingredients... ground turkey (85% lean) costs about half what lean ground beef costs, and in the Hamburger Helper, it doesn't taste all that different.

    And pack a lunch!  Even eating off the value menu, lunch costs $3-$5 a day; you can pack something healthy for less than that.  I also bought an espresso machine.  Even when I don't use it, it helps me pass by the Starbuck's, because, "I can have that at home!"  A $50 machine has saved me hundreds in lattes.  If you simply MUST have the morning coffee, try using your own refillable mug at a convenience store, and it's less than a dollar, and less hard on the environment than paper or foam cups.

    I had the same habit. Every morning for breakfast i would take a cola instead of orange juice. Now I take 2 full glasses of water and NO soda.

    wonderful, wonderful and wonderful.  How do I find more great tips?

    Were are the other 20 ideas???

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