8 Tips & Tricks for Stretching a Buck!

My mom and I have had the same conversation a bazillion times; she could make $20 stretch all week. Cut. Scrape. Whatever is needed to get by.

I'm sure that everyone has been in a tight spot on occasion when it comes to finances and maybe some worse than others. I'm definitely right there more times than I'd like to admit. So I wanted to pass on some money saving tips along with some life lessons I've learned from watching my mom for 30 years.

The following tips will probably not make or break you. They are just a friendly ideas that might help ease the sting:

Be accountable. Become brutally honest with your spouse and if you don't have a spouse, share some information with a friend.  If the amount of money you spent on something makes you feel embarrassed, then it's more than likely an unnecessary purchase. You'll actually think more than once before you spend if you have to tell someone.

Track what you spend. Write it down, save receipts, whatever you have to do to keep track. Don't just keep track of debit purchase, log cash purchases too.

A little adds up.  Don't ignore writing down small amounts because you think they don't add up. If you're spending $3 at a gas station on a coke and a coffee everyday, you'll find those '$3 trips' are costing you $60/mo.

Dine in. Find dinner right in the cabinets. There is nothing wrong with having soup and grilled cheese. It gives the chef a break and is easy on the wallet especially if you have these items available already. No need for an impulse trip to the store.

Drink water.  When/If you dine out, never pay $2.50 for a soda at a restaurant. A family of four will pay $10 per outing just on drinks! That's just ridiculous! You can also save at home by drinking water. Sodas and juices can be a strain on your budget that you might not even notice. And the best part, drinking water is GOOD FOR YOU.

Free fun!  

• Check out your local fairs during the summer - see what I did here? Not festivals/carnivals. We all know how expensive carnival rides and cotton candy are. I'm talking about farm animals and horse shows. Most of these events are free and who doesn't love seeing animals?
• Going outside in your own yard or to a park is an effective way to have fun and save cash!
• Don't count out family game night! It's nostalgic for parents and promotes working together and healthy imaginative  play.

Just last night, we created a treasure hunt for the kids by writing clues on strips of paper and placing them throughout the house. You wouldn't believe the excitement!

Switch your cable/satellite package. When things get a little tight, you can always squeeze a little money out of your cable bill- granted, you won't see this change until the following month but anything helps when you're feeling the squeeze!

Priceline.com One of my favorite ways to save is naming my own price on hotel rooms. You wouldn't believe how cheap you can get away with staying at a hotel. For instance, once Tyler and I were able to stay in the Galt House in Louisville, KY for only $40! Can you believe it??