We started to try something new around the house over the last few weeks and I can already see that it is paying off in saving us money. Instead of buy premade foods at the grocery store or at a take out place we have started to buy the ingredients and make our own.

Take for example the cost of a take out pizza from a pizzeria or even a frozen one from the grocer. Now compare that with buy a can of sauce, some cheese, dough and a few toppings. Some of which you probably have in the fridge anyways. You can cut your cost way down and even control what you are putting on it giving yourself a healthier meal.

Pizza is just the tip of the iceburg think about popcorn machines and the cost to pop you own compared to buy microwave corn. Cooking your burgers instead of going out, making your own wine and just about everything else you can buy out you can probably make cheaper by buying your own ingredients.

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I just caught an interesting news story the other night. An energy expert did a tour of a house and pointed out some of the ways people could save money. One of the killers were the powerbars. He stated that if the plugs in the are hot then they are wasting electrcity.

I tested the powerbar that I have my XBox360, Router and Cable Modem plugged into. Both the Modem and Router were very warm which means as they sit on all day they are draining power. So now before I go to bed and before I leave the house for the day or any length of time I am shutting off the power bar. No sense of wasting money letting it sit all day.

I have a couple of powerbars through the house and actually unplugged a few things I don't use often but were still warm. My wireless headphones for example charge all day and the plug was hot but I only use them when watching movies on the weekend. So they are now unplugged. Have a look around your house and see if you can save some electricity.

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When you are buying something new do you immediately go to a retail store and just purchase your item? Last week at golf two guys were talking about going to a golf store and upgrading their clubs. I couldn't believe it. I told them that I had saved hundreds of dollars upgrading mine by buying online. To them it was a pain but the fact that there are savings to be tells me they aren't smart shoppers.

It doesn't matter what you are shopping for you are always going to find a better deal and save money by doing some digging and buying online. Everything from car parts, computer hardware, sporting equipment or even something like nurse costumes you can get on the internet cheaper. Next time you are making a purchase think about buying online and start saving yourself some money.

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I was just thinking the other day about the time when I moved a friend from his apartment to his house and how awful it was. It was a terrible experience because he had no plan and no organization. Can you save money planning a move? More than likely. A lot of people will favor doing it themselves over a moving company but this might not always be the most economical. Factor in your time, the cost of your gas, a rental truck, food and beverages for those helping, time off from work vs getting a moving company to do it all at once for you.

Get several quotes from as many moving companies you can. Cheap isn't always the best, compare the price to what you are getting and always find out if there are extras involved that are going to cost you.

If planning to do it yourself make sure you are prepared by having a proper vehicle and plenty of moving boxes and supplies on hand. Formulate a plan so as to the least amount of trips as possible.

In the end, calculate the cost of a moving company between everything you have to do to get the job done yourself and go for the most economical.

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Today my boss came into work and was griping about his car breaking down. He had blown an air conditioning compressor and the heat and the price of the repair was getting to him. When I asked him where he took it he told me to the dealer next door. No kidding the price was right out there. I told him that I have a great mechanic just down the street and he should have asked and I could have saved him some money. Finding a good personal mechanic is worth it's weight in gold. First, their hourly wage is going to be a lot less than going to the dealer and secondly if you are a good customer then they are probably going to give a bit of a break here and there. I had a check engine light on recently and my mechanic read the code and reset it for me as it wasn't serious. How many dealerships are going to do that for you.

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My car recently picked up a bit of a nasty rattle in the door and it not being overly old I went to the internet to looks to see if there were any recalls or bulletins on the manufactures website. There were none but it got me thinking, how many of us actually use the internet to research information that might be beneficial to us. In this new technology age there is so much information at our finger tips it's insane. Take for instance recalls on products, group claims for things like mesothelioma or other faulty products, recalls or maintenance bulletins on our vehicles. I guess the point I am making is, if you have a problem with an item or something isn't working out the way it should then jump online and see if you can find some more information. If you aren't satisfied with something chances are you are not alone.

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My hobby was always playing around with computers and even to that end I got into websites a little too late to be a serious player. That doesn't mean that time has left you behind. I work with two ladies that took their love for handcrafted jewelry and turned it into a nice profitable little business. It gives them a nice piece of extra income that they can use at Christmas, for a summer vacation or anything they want really.
If you have a hobby or something which interests you take some time and research it out on the internet. Find out what kind of costs it will take to get into something like making jewelry or wine glasses and research where you can sell it and for how much similar items are going for. You would be surprised just what’s out there. With sites like ebay and craig’s list you could have no problem turning a hobby into a money making opportunity. There are also local flea markets and craft shows or even local free newspapers where you can place your ads. The possibilities are endless.

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I was in a watch store recently and was watching a younger couple pick out a new watch. I was there to get a new wrist band and found their conversation pretty interesting. They were debating over a number of different types of watches, styles and prices. Guess watches had a nice practical watch on sale for a good price, one that did the trick and one that was quite fashionable. Of course they were also looking at some watches that very expensive. This made me think, why do we buy what we buy? Do we buy things not because they are practical and serve our needs but instead because they are more expensive and therefore something more to show off? If you are serious about saving money then you have to get over the fact that you aren’t a kid anymore showing off that fancy new bike to the rest of the kids on the block. Instead, you should be buying things that are practical, durable, do the job and don’t break your bank book. Why be top of the line when you don’t have to be.

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Last week my other half and I decided that we might want to take in a ball game. After doing the math, because we live a couple of hours away from the park it really started to add up. I ran across an article at CNN that gave out some tips to enjoy a major league baseball game and not break your wallet at the same time.

Like everyone else major league baseball teams are feeling the crunch of high fuel costs and giving away some pretty good deals right now. "To ease the pain of record high fuel prices, for example, the San Francisco Giants are giving $25 gas cards to anyone who buys four tickets for $75. In Minnesota, the Twins are discounting the weekly national average price for a gallon of gas off certain tickets."

Here are some more tips:

1. See if you can bring your own food, a lot of clubs are allowing it or eat before you go and try not to be at the food stands every inning.

2. If driving try to find free curbside parking, even if you have to walk a few extra blocks. Parking near the stadium is a premium.

3. Get online and research your teams website and look for deals  on tickets or $2 hot dog day, or family zone specials. Plan your day out, especially if you are bringing kids.

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Much like my previous article on health and beauty supplies I was wondering if you take time to search out and find deals when shopping for vitamins or other health items such as a colon cleanse or products to help control your weight. I was just at the grocery store this morning and couldn't help but notice that most of them now have a full pharmacy but the prices seemed to be a little steep for my tastes. I am sure that if you went online or to a specialty shop you could find better prices and save some extra money. On the same hand, you should research any product you are going to buy. Cheaper does not always mean better, especially when dealing with your health. There are many great resources out there to help you make your decision. Search it out, compare products and prices and make an informed decision.

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