by Trent Hamm
Available in 24 free installments
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76. Find daily inspiration for making intelligent moves. I'm usually inspired by my children. Perhaps you're inspired to make changes by your spouse - or even by someone in the community you respect. Maybe it's just a personal goal, like an early retirement. Find something that makes you want to make positive changes, then use that person or thing as a constant reminder [77] . Keep a picture of it in your wallet, in your vehicle, and on your bathroom mirror. Keep it in your mind as much as you possibly can.
77. Find out about all of the benefits of your job. Most people aren't even aware of all of the benefits available to them. Spend some time with an HR person finding out about all of the benefits of your job [78] - you might be surprised at what you might find. I found free tickets to sporting events, free personal improvement opportunities, and an optional employee match on some retirement funds that maximized the money I was socking away. This not only cut down on my own spending on things like sporting and community events and educational classes, but also improved my retirement plan.
78. Make your own items instead of buying them. I like to make my own laundry detergent £791 and my own Goo-Gone [80] , for starters. I also like making Glade, Windex, and Soft Scrub [81] , In both cases, it's way cheaper than buying the commercial version. Hunt around for recipes - it's amazing how many things you can make at home in just a few minutes that saves a ton of money compared to the commercial version.
Everything PF
http://www.thesimpledollar.com
79. Encourage your friends to do less expensive activities. This is often a tricky thing to do, but there are a number of techniques you can try [82] . My favorite one is to be the first one to suggest something - that often gives you the power to steer the group towards things that are cheaper. If you can convince your friends to go to the park and shoot hoops instead of going golfing, those green fees are going to stay in your pocket.
80. Don't speed. Not only is it inefficient in terms of gasoline usage, it also can get you pulled over and cost you a bundle [83] , It's highly cost-efficient to just drive the speed limit, keep that gas in the tank, and keep the cops off your tail.
81. Read more. Reading is one of the cheapest - and most beneficial -hobbies around. Most towns have a library available to the public - just go there and check out some books that interest you. Then, spend some of your free time in a cozy place in your house, just reading away. You'll learn something new, improve your reading ability, enjoy yourself, and not have to spend a dime - and it's surprisingly easy to get into the reading habit [84] ,
Caught Reading. Photo by Jayel Aheram.
82. Buy a smaller house. I currently live in a 2,000 square foot house with my wife and two kids. Frankly, it's just the right size for us - if anything, it's a little big. We often find ourselves in the same room in the house, just surrounded by empty space. You don't need a giant place to live. Instead, buy something more modest and you'll find yourself with plenty of room - and still plenty of cash in your pocket.
83. Drive a different route to work. This is an especially powerful tip if you find yourself "automatically" stopping for something on the way into work or the way home. Get rid of that constant drain by selecting a different route that doesn't go by the temptation [85] , even if the new route is a bit longer. You'll still be time ahead (because you're not stopping) and you'll definitely be money ahead.
Everything PF
http://www.thesimpledollar.com
84. Always ask for fees to be waived. Any time you sign up for a service of any kind and there are sign-up fees, ask for them to be waived. Sometimes (but not always), they will be - and you save money just by being forthright about not wanting to pay excessive fees. I did this with my last cell phone sign-up and got part of my fees waived, cutting down significantly on the bill.
85. Don't overspend on hygiene products. For most people, inexpensive hygiene products do the trick [86J - for example, I just buy whichever toothpaste is the cheapest, and the same goes with deodorant and the like. The key is to use this stuff regularly and consistently - bathe daily, keep yourself clean, and you'll be just fine. No need to buy a $40 facial scrub if you actually scrub your face properly.
