Step 22 to saving $10,000 in a year.

Spend money to save money?!?!

It’s not as if a person can sit in the house watching network TV or playing cards and never go out, people want to be social. Look into buying season passes or memberships.

A family Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Membership is $84, but one adult admission is $12.99, $8 for children 2-9 and parking is $5 per car.

A Household membership to the Columbus Museum Of Art is $75, but one adult admission is $5 and extra for special shows.

Let’s use the zoo as an example. Two adults and two children without a membership is $42 and parking makes it $47. So, you only need 2 trips to the zoo to start saving.

The museum is a little longer to realize savings, but if you are big museum goers, like Teresa and I, it will still add up, because we also get discounts on their events. The wine tastings are our favorite, it also helps that we live walking distance away from the CMA.

So 4 trips to the zoo plus a trip to their Wildlights Wonderland during the holidays is a savings of $151 if you have a membership. The extra benefits of exercise, education and family time can not be calculated.

Step 21 to saving $10,000 in a year.

Buy your kid’s clothes on line through an auction site.

I shopped a popular childrens’ clothes retailer and found outfits can be and easy $50-$60. The same kind of outfits, winter, spring, etc, can go for $10 on ebay. My kids will not wear these clothes any longer than 2-3 months and will not know the difference.

If they are still in good shape they can be resold at an online auction or at a 2^nd hand retailer.

On the low end, if you buy 3 outfits a month for your toddler/preschooler, at a savings of $40 per outfit that’s an annual savings of $1,440 annually.