Reduce Expenses: 24 uncommon tested ways
Posted on July 03, 2011 by Teri-E Belf, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
People spend money according to their values. In some surprising areas you can choose what you spend money on and how much you spend.
24 examples.
Reduce Expenses: 24 uncommon tested ways
Teri-E Belf, M.A., C.A.G.S.,
People’s values differ. Some think nothing of paying parking valets and taking taxicabs; others drive around the block for a half an hour to find a parking space. Some enjoy flea markets and bargain basements looking for a sale; others would never entertain the idea of buying seconds or used items. Where you choose to spend money reveals your values. The idea is not to follow all of the suggestions in this article so you won’t have to spend any money. Everyone has a choice when it comes to spending money. The purpose of this article is to look inside and identify what are your key values and choose where you want to put your money.
Many people trying to counteract the uncertainty of the financial times, take charge of their lives, discover their purpose, create visions, clarify values and set goals, including in the financial area. As a Coach I often hear clients bemoan mandatory expenses while creating their money goals. Here are some typical lamentations:
“I wish I didn’t have to spend so much money on rent.”
“My expenses are too high. I can’t afford that vacation I want.”
“Too much of my paycheck goes to car expenses.”
It is possible to have that vacation, and the car, and the rent absolutely FREE. You can delete and/or minimize traditional expenses if you choose to. These suggestions (all legitimate and legal) have been created and used by client who discovered these alternatives for getting what they wanted without having to spend the usual amount of money. I have experimented with most of these ideas myself. They work! Here are 23 ways you can creatively begin to significantly reduce your expenses.
FOOD
1. Create an ongoing monthly reading club and/OR host the orientation meetings for a group. Have these meetings (potluck, of course) in your home. Often those who contributed the food let you keep the leftovers and you can reduce your food bill by 60%. 2. If you love to cook, offer to do the food shopping and preparation twice a week for a young couple with children, a senior citizen, or a bachelor or bachelorette in exchange for eating what you prepare free. This arrangement is worth it to those who would appreciate coming home to a wonderful home cooked meal instead of eating out or fast foods.3. Chew more slowly and more times per bite. You will feel full sooner and eat less.
CLOTHING
4. Visit consignment shops. You can get everything from silk blouses to tuxedos to baby clothes to furniture. Buy a three-piece suit even if the jacket is the only thing that fits. Consign back the other two pieces. 5. Host a clothing or accessories swap with friends. It cleans out your wardrobe and brings a refreshing new closet for free.CAR
6. One of my clients was given a station wagon with gas, insurance and maintenance for 9 months free in exchange for driving special-needs children to and from school. 7. Attend police auctions where abandoned cars are sold at low prices.RENT or MORTGAGE
8. Have renters or boarders in your home so you can live rent or mortgage-free. 9. Some people would gladly let you live in their home free in exchange for a service they need that you are willing and able to provide, e.g., read to a blind person, clean house, do minor household repairs, provide daycare or babysitting for a working single parent.TELEPHONE
10. If your phone bill has too many long distance calls, get an 800 number and have people call you instead of you calling them. Your phone expense becomes fixed.VACATIONS
11. Many travel agencies let you travel free if you organize a charter vacation through them. Often only 10-12 people are needed. 12. House swap for a year with someone in another location or even another country or continent. 13. Comparison shop for greatly reduced airplane tickets. 14. Ask moving companies and relocation firms to identify people who need someone to drive their car from one location to another. This is a fun way to go on a trip with free transportation. You might even get paid!ENTERTAINMENT
15. Volunteer as an usher for a symphony or theater series and see performances free. 16. Sponsor a budding young artist and invite friends over.PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
17. If you want to take a program, offer to (a) evaluate the program by giving the facilitators’ feedback (b) assist with logistics such as scoring tests or instruments or © tape them for their public relations file in exchange for letting you sit in or audit free. 18. Arrange to market the program you want to attend and get a discount or, even better, a referral fee and a free session.CHILDCARE
19. Seek out an older, retired person, perhaps from a church, who would love to be an inexpensive nanny for your child in simple exchange for the love, joy and companionship your child naturally offers. 20. Advertise in a school that has an early childhood education program for someone who would like to do an internship or project involving spending time with your child in exchange for school credit.PERSONAL CARE
21. Become a distributor for a product you love (cosmetics, personal care, water filtration, etc.). Most of them give you discounts.FURNITURE and EQUIPMENT
22. Identify high mobility areas due to military and political transitions, academic sabbaticals, frequent company relocations (such as in the hospitality industry) and offer to store and use the furniture, piano etc. with tender loving care for people while the family is away. 23. Governments have auctions for their old surplus business equipment.MISCELLANEOUS
24. If you find yourself splurging in a particular store (anything from outdoor hiking gear to ladies lingerie), get a part-time job there and you may be eligible for sizable discounts.From now on you can begin to spend money on what you truly want to instead of on what you think you must. Be clear about your values and consciously choose where you spend your money.
