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.

20th step to saving $10,000 in a year

Get a preferred customer card that pays you back in gas.

My favorite rebate card is Giant Eagle. For every $50 you spend they let you save $0.10 at the pump on gas at their gas stations, GetGo. For easy math let’s say $0.20 for every $100.

$500 spent = $1.00

$1,500 spent = $3.00

You are allowed to buy up to 30 gallons at one time, this is a $90 savings

You might think this is hard or slow going, but we are a family of 4 and we save over a $100 a month on gas on average. My last receipt stated we saved $1,300 over the past 12 months.

One key is also buying gift cards there. When we needed a new dishwasher we bought Sears gift cards and found a great model on sale. When we needed a new computer we also bought Best Buy gift cards and found a computer marked down. We don’t play games or work on high level animation so there is no need to have the fastest and newest thing out there.

Annual savings = $1,300

19th Step closer to saving $10,000 in a year.

Be honest about your income level with your friends.

I have friends who earn much more than I do and those who earn less, sometimes much less. Depending on what year it is, I can be the top earner in the crowd or near the bottom. This is important when it comes to socializing, because I can afford the lifestyle of someone in a higher income demographic. I need to feel comfortable enough to say, “I can’t go to Utah to fish this year.” Or “We can’t join you for the weekend away.” This can be a huge savings.

Let’s look at a past time everyone in the world participates in except me, golf.

A local private club here in central Ohio charges $2,700 a year for an individual membership with fees on top of that.

Meanwhile an unlimited pass to all 7 of our Columbus City Courses is $999. A $1,701 and you get to play 7 different courses.

18th Step closer to saving $10,000 in a year.

Nursing or Formula (I can’t believe I’m even going here!)

My wife and I used formula on both our children. It’s much more comfortable for her and convenient for both of us. I enjoy being involved with my kids and while no one likes 3:00 am feedings I enjoy being with my children.
Our children are both very healthy so the only advantage we see that nursing offers is expense.
Those cans of formula are $20.00 on sale! Kids can go through 2-3 of those a week so that’s spending $2,080.00 on the low side.
However, this is one case where, for us, the convenience is worth the price.

17th Step closer to saving $10,000 in a year.

Weight Loss

Freakonomics author, Steven Levitt, said weight loss is a huge incongruity in the world. Millions of dollars are spent every year by people trying to loose weight, when weight loss is free! Not only is it free, it ends up saving people money on food not purchased and improved health. So why do people spend so much on something free? Maybe you should stop.
The information of daily cost is not on the web sites of Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig, they want you to register or call in. This information comes from ezine.com and their research puts the cost at $8.00 to $10.00 a day.
On the high side, a weight loss book from the library would save a person $3,600 a year.

16th Step closer to saving $10,000

Wash your own car
If you wash your car once a week at one of those gas station car washes it can cost you $8 on the low end. Wash the car yourself and you get the exercise and the savings. Wash your spouse’s and double the savings. It’s a savings of $416 a year for yourself.