20 Solid Gold Ways To Save Money….

Stop the lattes and cocktails. Make your own lunch. Don’t buy that top. Blah, blah, blah. We’re sick of the same old fuggly ways of saving, so we came up with ideas so painless you just won’t believe it.

1. Maxing plastic is so last year. Money magazine reported that people spend up to 20 percent more if they pay by credit, so take out a bit of cash and spend that. You won’t end up with things you don’t need or a debt you son’t want – so you’ll have more money to play with.
2. You might be able to tell the difference between a Tim Tam and a cookie of lesser value. But, come on, once you’ve used one type of cling wrap wou’ve used them all, right? “Generic brands are definitely the way to go,” “They can trim your grocery bills by more than 40 percent.”
3. Vinegar will shine your surfaces? Yep, they’ll all be peachy clean according to www.ehomemakers.net. Vinegar has been called the all-purpose household wonder, so replace the costly sprays with a bottle of vinegar. Plus, it leaves no stench at all.
4. How can you get the season’s staple items without spending too much? “I have these amazing two-year old Zara pants. But after heaps of wear, they’re not the blackest black. “So, every few months, I wash them with black dye. It gives them an instant lift – and now I’ve got RM300 to find shoes to update my look instead.”
5. If you’re a member of the mobile/Internet/pay TV club you could save up to 10 percent on those bills. Most companies will bundle everything together and offer a discount on the package.
6. Here’s one for the road. Did you know the heavier your car is the more petrol you use? So if your boot resembles the sale bin in Metrojaya, maybe it’s time for a little clean out.
7. Give up the puff because – aside from the horrendous health effects – you could save more than RM670 a year if you didn’t buy ciggies (based on two packs a week for 52 weeks).
8. Jet-setters rejoice! There’s a way to holiday without having to shell out. “If you book within 14 days, your hotel room could be sub-stantially cheaper. Sometimes, you can get up to 70 percent off,” “Plus, many hotels often include complimentary breakfast and free parking.” For budget finds locally holiday.
9. If you want to live happily ever after, start putting some of your pay away. “Every month, RM200 of my pay gets debited into the investment fund account. (it depend what you like to plan)
10. Banish loose change from your bag and you’ll be saving straightaway. Empty your conins into a jar each night. Resist the temptation to touch it and, every couple of months, use the change to splurge on something you really want.
11. My best mate gets her hair done by students at A cut Above Academy in Petaling Jaya, where it costs less than RM10. Look for har/beauty academies in your area that may offer their services for a reduced price. All it takes is a little research.
12. Want a booth to die for, but can’t afford the motivation? Most exercise gurus who conduct private classes will lower the rates if more people join the class. So, split the cost with your buddies and you’ll have a bikini bod and a bank balance worth shouting about.
13. “I”ve started baking cookies and giving them away as pressies,” “Not only do I save a ton at birthday time, but my home-made gems now have a rep. My mates say they’d be disappointed if they didn’t get my little brown paredl on their special day.”
14. Chances are your mate isn’t going to part with that pretty new top she got last week. But how about those hot jeans she bought on impulse, but never wears? “Once a month we hold a clothes swapping party,” “We each bring some clothes we are over and then barter amougst our-selvess. The trick is to choose some-thing you know a mate will love – it gives you more pulling power!”
15. How often have you spent oodles on a new cream, only to find out ti doesn’t suit you? Well, it’s time to visit sample land. “Iusually go with my mum,” “she buys expensive stuff, so once she’s done the counter ladies will turn their attention to me and I get loads of free samples to try and when I find something I like, I buy it.”
16. Remember this mantra: Buy big during sales time. “I bought three suitcases for a third of their original price during the Mega Sale Carnival last year,” From electronic items to bedding, the big stores discount heavily during sale time. You’ll save if you wait to make your investment purchases.
17. There’s notihing like a good book. Trouble is, new books cost. So join a library. “I might not get the exact book I’m looking for,” “But I usually find something to sink my teeth into.” Visit www.pnm.my to find out more about the National Library of malaysia and its network of librares.
18. Truthfully, how much money are you wasting on dry cleaning? Could those “dry-clean only” items be sorted out with a gentle hand wash? You’ll probably find it’s just laziness that has you believing white T-shirts don’t look the same when you have a go at them.
19. Jake, Josh, Jude. Ahhh. But, at RM10 a pop, you think we’d tell you to cut out hiting the flicks if you wanted to save money. Nope! Just try to catch your fave movies during non-peak hours or on special fare days. On most weekdays, movies screened before 6pm cost RM8, while on Wednesdays, all tickets go for a mere RM7!
20. If you’re musing over something fav and want iti straight aways, take a sec. “Lay-by is a great way to learn to love your money,” “You’ll appreciate your purchase even more and learn that impulse buying is rarely successful. In the long run, hopefully, you’ll change your whole spending attitude.”