15 of the best savings tips from Yahoo Finance readers
By Ann Jacob
For the month of July, Yahoo Finance featured all kinds of ways to save money. We asked you to tweet or Facebook your favorite savings tips, using the hashtag #waystosave. After going through your suggestions, here are 15 of the best tips from our viewers:
Involve your kids in vacation planning. They research the prices and if they come under budget, they get half the savings. -Anonymous
Keep a large coin jar in a convenient place. Cash in at your bank (not a third-party coin counter) once full and deposit. Repeat. -Rae
If you see something you want to buy, bookmark the page and wait a week. It’ll likely go on sale in a week or two. -Lisa
Want to buy furniture that’s out of your price range? Ask when the next floor sale is – I’ve gotten display furniture at 70% off! -Nicole
I give my kids a set amount of money on vacation. That stopped the “buy me this” begging and taught them to think about their purchases. -MorningDew
Buy per unit price! It’s the number usually next to the actual price. It is the easiest way to compare prices. -Ben
We have a “kid 401k.” I match any funds my kids put in and they have a pretty good portfolio while learning the time value of money. -Rebecca
Don’t go to the natural “whole paycheck” type store. Instead, go to the “we don’t carry name brands” discount one. -John
Join neighborhood Facebook groups. You can find big-ticket items that you can buy, swap or sell without traveling too far. -Jane
If you are paying cash for your medical visit, talk to the billing department. Many providers will give you 10-50% off so they don’t have to go through the claims process. -Kelly
Have free snacks at the office: Snag protein bars, chips, trail mix, etc. & keep them in your bag. So long, impulsive bodega buys! -Melody
If I purchase something for at least $5, I transfer $1 to my savings. For $10, $2 and so on. It’s little enough that I don’t miss it but makes a difference. -Jordan
Collect rainwater to water your indoor and outdoor plants. -Enwin
When I shop I check the bottom of the receipt and see what I saved. I put the total saved into my savings -Annette
I get a “good student discount” from my car insurance company for getting good grades. -Ann
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