14th Step closer to saving $10,000

Trade off baby sitting.

My baby sitter charges $10 an hour. I pay it because I can absolutely trust her, but it increases the price of a movie by at lease $30, more if we have drinks out. I realize we also have friends with kids of similar age who want to see a movie once in a while so here’s the trade off. While one couple goes to a movie or takes 3 hours out, the other couple or member of the other couple stays at their house and watches their child or children.
For example: Our friends, Couple A, want to catch a movie Saturday afternoon. My wife or I will walk over and keep an eye on their toddler while they enjoy the movie. If timed right it will even be nap time. A 3 hour outing every two weeks is a $60 savings a month or $720 a year.

13th Step closer to saving $10,000

Buy the cheapest product in the grocery store.

Whenever I go to the grocery instead of my wife I ignore the brands we have in our cupboards and I often buy the least expensive version. The peanut butter I buy is $1.00 cheaper, the coffee I buy is less than half of what she opts for and the same goes for pasta sauces canned vegetables, etc. Many times the taste or quality is better when she does the shopping, but for cake mix or veggies which are going to be tossed in a casserole I can’t justify buying the pricier item and it feels good to save money.
If a person can save an average of $1.00 per item and the weekly shopping is 30 items that’s a savings of $120.00 a month. It doesn’t have to be uniform, one trip you can buy the cheap coffee, but the next trip buy the coffee you like but cheaper wine or pasta sauce.
Annual savings is $1440.00