For folks who live in an urban area and don't require a car to get to work, sell the car and cancel the auto insurance.
According to AAA, average Americans pay $8,000 per year in driving costs, and $5,000 of that is just ownership costs, such as insurance, depreciation, and financing:
And folks who live in cities where Zipcar is available (www.zipcar.com) have absolutely no excuse for keeping the car.
I speak from experience, too. I sold my car 8 years ago, joined Zipcar, and have no regrets. I even saved enough money to buy a condo and fully fund my 401K.
Ditch the car
of IL
@
Aug 13, 2008 23:13:57 PM
Ways to save?
Some of the readers' comments are good, sensible, useful.
The article is a waste of time to read, and an insult to the intelligence of even the stupidest reader. How does crap like this get published?
sensible and solvent
of OR
@
Aug 13, 2008 15:14:42 PM
utilities
Many of us just pay without noticing. I watch that power bill. i found on our vacation home that turning the heat to low was not enough, i checked lights and freezers too. i saved $60 month. do you need 2 phones? cancel the home phone or the cell phone. Turn those lights off when not in use. It does save a few $ a month.
Trudy
of
@
Aug 13, 2008 15:10:48 PM
Saving money
For those with electric water heaters:
When you are through using hot water for the day .... dishes and clothes washed, baths taken, etc. ... turn the water heater off at the circuit breaker. When you get up the next day, turn it back on.
Better yet, invest in having a timer installed.
Gem Bordages
of TX
@
Aug 13, 2008 15:07:40 PM
Best Savings tip...
...stop spending money on luxuries and try to cut back on so-called "necessities".
Chjris
of AZ
@
Aug 13, 2008 13:40:45 PM
Those are the best?
If those are the best, I don't want to read the worst. I think better extreme saving tips are:
Buy as many of your clothes and your children's clothes at thrift shops and garage sales as you can.
Grow your own fruits and vegetables and cook from scratch.
Buy store brand or sale items only. Study your grocery store circular and plan your meals around specials.
Use cloth diapers.
Drive around rich neighborhoods on bulk pick up day. We did not buy any furniture or electronics for 10 years.
My husband and I did all those things in the 90's so we could raise our children on one salary. It worked!
darlene
of FL
@
Aug 13, 2008 13:27:52 PM
Thank you for pointing that out and the link will be fixed shortly!
Kimberly Palmer
of
@
Aug 13, 2008 11:04:43 AM
Incorrect Linkage
As much as I like have an extra link, a reader pointed out to me that #9 was also linked to cleverdude.com, rather than SmallNotebook blog.
Clever Dude
of MD
@
Aug 13, 2008 10:31:52 AM
Tip #9 Link is Wrong
The link on tip #9 should go to SmallNotebook.org not CleverDude.
Tight Fisted Miser
of MO
@
Aug 13, 2008 10:30:39 AM
Extreme is the word
Give your parents a break. Don't move back in with them. They already spent decades raising you and were probably glad to see you go.
Ditch the car of IL @ Aug 13, 2008 23:13:57 PM
sensible and solvent of OR @ Aug 13, 2008 15:14:42 PM
Trudy of @ Aug 13, 2008 15:10:48 PM
Gem Bordages of TX @ Aug 13, 2008 15:07:40 PM
Chjris of AZ @ Aug 13, 2008 13:40:45 PM
darlene of FL @ Aug 13, 2008 13:27:52 PM
Kimberly Palmer of @ Aug 13, 2008 11:04:43 AM
Clever Dude of MD @ Aug 13, 2008 10:31:52 AM
Tight Fisted Miser of MO @ Aug 13, 2008 10:30:39 AM
Courtney Oakley of NC @ Aug 13, 2008 09:43:41 AM
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