Fifteen Ways to Leave Your...Money

This poppped up on Finance.Yahoo.  15 ways to live more cheaply.

OK, let's check 'em out.

1)  Shop sparingly.  Seems the author, somebody named Vicki Robin, had a revelation that people go to the mall and buy things they don't need.  Wow.  So make a list and don't buy what is not on the list.  Or don't go to the mall.  That is probably possible for you but not some 13 year old freak that goes there to meet equally freaky girls.  Shop on the internet and stay away from malls in general.  They are truly depressing places.

2)  Give creatively.  Gifts are expensive and do add up.  She says to donate as a gift.  I like that one, my nieces and nephews don't.

3)  Get groceries for the long haul.  This is the Sam's Club approach to eating.  Buy bulk and bulk up.  When hungry, grab one of those twenty cans of tuna in the cupboard and try not to think about mercury poisoning.  And pay with cash. 

4)  Avoid debit cards.  Huh?  One of the authors says it makes "cash available".  What?  Go over on a debit card and your bank will let you know real fast that there is no cash available.  Debit cards are the best tool for financial planning ever.  Use them for everything and you can track your cash.  You can't do that if you take out $500 in cash from the bank and then spend it on who knows what. 

5)  Clip coupons.  Tried this once, waste of time.  I just can't eat that many boxes of Duncan Hines brownies.  The stuff I use doesn't come with coupons.

6)  Curb long distance bills.  Use phone cards.  Why do that?  Most people I talk to have cell phones with unlimited calling.  Just call them and tell them to call you back.  I mean some things just aren't that hard.

7)  Donate things and get a tax deduction.  This works only if you itemize which makes no sense to me.  You have Bill Clinton to thank for that stupid rule.  But donate anyway.  It will make you feel better.

8)  Keep yourself entertained by having a pot luck dinner or volunteering to be an usher at the opera.  Please, this is really getting bad.

9)  Go to the libary.  Here is one I agree with.  Go to the libary and get out fast.  The homeless have all the best seats.

10).  Drive a car you can afford.  Which means don't buy that Prius because you will never make up the overpricing with gas savings.  Unless you just want to drive a sign that  says "I care for the environment."  If you really want to save money, buy a 15 year old Chevy truck, fix a few things and drive it for ten years.

11)  Take in a tenant.  They can't be serious.  Nobody does that except college students sharing an apartment.  This is written like put an ad in the paper, interview the applicant for five minutes, and let the guy live in your basement.  I don't think so.

12)  Let your credit card pay you.  Pay off your card every month and use the points for miles or golf clubs.  Gosh, why didn't I think of that?

13)  Share expenses.  Carpool.  Try making that work.  Unless you have the exact work schedule as your car pooler buddy, this one will drive you crazy. 

14)  Conserve energy.  Again, why didn't I think of that?  Don't leave the refrigerator door open or run the air conditioner with the windows open.

15)  Exercise for free.  Drop the health club and take a hike.  But what single person ever met someone hiking?

That's it.  No wait, one more.  Skip the latte.  I love it.  Knew they couldn't leave that old chestnut out. 

I hate to be cynical but these articles drive me to distraction.  Take a look at Category 3-Budget Is Not A Four Letter Word for a slightly more humane approach.

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[Amy]

GREAT post- I will feature it in my top picks this week. I hate these dumb lists that list everything you already do.