Even if you're not looking to move into a new place, spending a day visiting open houses can be an exciting date activity. How else can you tour strangers' homes, take on a house-hunting persona, and bond over awful furniture? Visit a mix of places that are practical and totally out of your budget to get the full, fun experience. The best part: it's absolutely free. And who knows? Even if you don't live together now, it might be good practice for the future.
It's never too late to turn over a new leaf and start good saving habits. Get inspired with Wise Bread's long list of saving changes for a healthier bank account in 2013.
Making changes to your savings plan is about so much more than deciding where to save your money and how much to put away. You can save money by not spending it (yet not losing out or making undue sacrifices), by spending wisely, by becoming more aware of where your money goes, and even by making more money.
Here are 37 ways you can make positive changes and save money — today.
RELATED: 25 Frugal Changes You Can Make Today
Changing the Mechanics of Saving
1. Apply your latest raise entirely to your savings. You (hopefully!) managed to get by before you got the raise, so take the after-tax increase in your pay and sock it away.
2. Join company savings plans. Some allow you to save money from your gross pay before tax is deducted (allowing you to effectively save more money without feeling the pinch), and other company plans offer matching benefits. Always save the maximum amount you can that is subject to matching grants; it's like free money.
3. Review your asset allocation plan to ensure your savings are all going to the places you need — and want — them to go.
4. Set up an automatic savings plan.
5. Reevaluate your savings objectives (Why are you saving? When will you need the money?) to ensure you're on track to reach your goals. Tweak as necessary.
6. If you have a variable or unpredictable income, employ a savings technique that works with it.
Every so often, I find myself feeling a little restless with some aspect of my life or another: my wardrobe, my apartment’s décor, my Friday night routine. The problem is, if I bought an entirely new wardrobe or redecorated my crib every few months, I’d be broke. So, I’ve come up with a few savvy ways to change things just enough without ending up penniless. Read on.
Going on dates doesn't always have to mean draining your wallet at fancy restaurants. There are plenty of affordable and entertaining dates you can go on with your beloved. After all, it's really the time you spend with your sweetheart that matters and not how much you're spending on the dates. Here are 99 frugal dates for you to try:
Now that it's 2013, it's time to get rid of the calendar from the previous year. It seems like such a waste to throw away quality glossy paper with pretty pictures, so upcycling the pages into usable objects is a good way to reuse your old calendars. Here are a couple of suggestions.
It always seems to happen; the minute you put on a new shirt, you end up with some sort of stain. Instead of tossing soiled clothes into the wash and hoping for the best, mix together a homemade stain remover that will whisk away challenging stains. And what's extrawonderful is that this concoction is made with three ingredients you probably already have in your home — and costs pennies to make! Keep reading for the directions and to see how the stain remover worked on this oily and muddy mark.
Save money by cutting down on one of life's biggest expenses — cable — with these tips from our friends at Business Insider.
Now that most American workers will see 2 percent more of their take-home income disappear this year, it's as good a time as any to find ways to trim household costs.
By far, the simplest place to start is with your cable or satellite bill.
RELATED: Ever Wonder If a Movie Is Streaming on Netflix? This Site Will Tell You
Anyone with a solid Internet connection, a computer, and a couple hundred bucks to invest should be able to break their cable addiction.
To give you a leg up, we've compiled our favorite gadgets and hacks to help you finally cut the cord — for good.
DVI to HDMI cables sync your computer's feed to your TV
The biggest tool in your arsenal will be your computer, but it won't do you any good without an essential piece of the puzzle: DVI to HDMI cables.
They link your computer to your TV monitor so you can stream any video –– Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and more –– surf the Web, and check out YouTube on a bigger screen.
For this to work, you need to invest in a sturdy Internet connection and a computer that works fast enough to stream video. Without that solid foundation, your feed could come out fuzzy and the HD will look less than stellar.
Cost: $6 and up
Instead of spending several dollars on fancy air fresheners that are filled with unnatural additives and don't have staying power, invest in ingredients that will allow you to make several personalized air fresheners with natural ingredients. Vodka is the base ingredient, so your girlfriends will love coming over to make this easy DIY! Invite each friend to bring a small spray bottle and an essential oil of her choice, and you're ready for creating really fragrant sprays.
We've all heard the tired "spend less, save more" advice, but Wise Bread has some fresh frugal advice for those looking to change it up a little.
If you're a regular reader of my posts or Wise Bread in general, you already have a pretty good education on how to live a frugal lifestyle — the basics, if you will. Now it's time for the advanced course. That's why I've dug deep into my bank of frugal knowledge to pull out these money-saving nuggets. Peep the gems below and start saving savvier than ever before.
RELATED: 25 Frugal Changes You Can Make Today
1. Put Something Back Every Time You Shop
This tip is especially good to remember at the supermarket — save money and guilt by putting back that bag of chips — but it can work wherever you're shopping. If you find yourself with an arm full of new shirts and pants at your favorite store, give one of them back to the associate at checkout. When you're at Target, just say no to at least one of the things in your cart that you definitely don't need. You can even institute this rule when you're Christmas shopping — one of those presents is probably for yourself; put it back, and wait to see what Santa has in store for you.
2. Treat Frugal Living Like Staying Healthy
Exercise and eating right is an uphill battle for me, but it's one that I'm committed to fighting. When I fall off the wagon, I don't give up my hopes of rock-hard abs, throbbing biceps, and bouncing pecs. Rather, I get back in the gym and work a little harder. Treat living frugally the same way. There will be times when you give in to temptation. It's OK. Just try not to make it a habit, and try to make up for your mistake somehow.
3. Look at Your Credit Reports Annually
Many of us only look at our credit reports when we're prompted to — applying for a new apartment or making a big purchase — but you should stay up to date on your financial status regardless. We're all entitled to one free report per year, and you should take advantage of it. It's beneficial to know where you stand, so you know what you can qualify for when it comes time to make those big purchases. It's also a good practice so you can be sure that your identity hasn't been compromised in any way.
The start of a new year is a good time to clean out your closet, and you'll probably have a couple of old t-shirts that you need to dispose of. If you're loath to trash your clothes, then turn your old shirts into usable items. Click on to see some cool DIY projects you can make out of old tees.
Source: Etsy user lilpie, Etsy user fbstudiovt, Etsy user ekra, and Etsy user talkingsquid
