7 Surprising Ways to Save Money
REDBOOK readers share their best tried-and-true tips for saving cash.
"Set a goal. My family's goal is to go on vacation, so every time I'm at a store looking at something I don't need, I ask myself, Would I rather put more money toward my vacation or purchase this one item?"
-- Susanne Doty, 30, Otisville, MI
"Even if I have room in the closet, I store away my off-season clothes. They always feel surprising and new when I get them out again, so I don't feel like I 'need' to shop for as many new things at the start of each season."
-- Leslie Yazel, 39, Brooklyn, NY
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"Our family has set weekly budgets, and we use an envelope system to keep the grocery money, entertainment money, and children's necessities separate. If we have extra in an envelope, then we can have some 'wants.' Otherwise we stick with 'needs.'"
-- Donna Jo Salhany, 58, Marietta, GA
"When I see something new that I want, I think about all the clutter in my home and ask myself, Is this really something I'll want six months from now, or will it end up in my next garage-sale pile? Necessities never make it into the garage-sale pile. Wants usually do."
-- Jen Carlston, 33, Woodinville, WA
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"If I see something and really want it but it's a bit more than I'd like to spend, I wait at least a week. Ninety percent of the time it's on sale the next time I see it. If not and I still really want it, I will buy it. But I do force myself to always wait at least seven days."
-- Rachel Lewis, 39, Columbus, OH
"I just bring with me the money I'm going to need for whatever errands I'm running, nothing more -- and I leave the credit cards at home."
-- Marcia Chabert, 41, Chula Vista, CA
"To control my spending, I don't cut out every little thing. Once in a while, everyone in my family gets to pick out a small indulgence, whether it's a new lipstick for me or ice cream for the kids. Everyone gets a chance to pick something special that they really want for under $10."
-- Wenona Napolitano, 32, Flint, MI
Related: Read More Genius Money Saving Strategies
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