7 Ways of Saving Money

We all like saving money. For some people it comes quite easily, while other folks struggle finding ways to save a buck.

Sometimes one good idea can lead to several others. Creating a budget will often motivate money saving thinking as well. A little creative brainstorming can add some thickness to your wallet.

If you are looking for a ways to add more money to your saving then try these ideas for saving money. Better yet, use these ideas to generate even more ideas of your own.

1. Develop a water drinking habit
You have probably heard somewhere that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is good for your health. It can also be healthy for your wallet. Drinking water instead of pop, juice, energy drinks, etc. will save you quite a bit of cash and it will improve your health.

If even 1/2 the drinks you have throughout each day is a glass of water you'll find you are not as thirsty for the other drinks, and you'll be saving money.

2. Stop smoking
Again there is at least a two-fold benefit here. Those cigarettes are expensive and the price goes up every year. By dropping the cigarette habit you'll save several hundred to several thousand dollars each year, depending on where you live. The health benefits are pretty amazing as well.
3. Get rid of your credit cards
Most people that have several credit cards also have a lot of debt. That's partially because they make it so easy to spend money. When you cut-up the credit cards it becomes much easier to start saving money. This again could easily amount to several thousand dollars per year.
4. Drive less and ride more
The cost of fuel is out of control. For some reason people still feel the need to drive a mile to the store or two miles to the gym. Unless the weather is dangerous consider walking whenever possible. You'll save a lot of money on gas and you'll feel better from the extra exercise.

If you live in an area that provides community transportation try taking the bus 2-3 times per week. Carpools and vanpools are also great options for saving money on fuel costs.

5. Ask for lower rates
Many people just pay their monthly bills and never consider trying to get a better rate. A short phone call to the cable company, phone company, Internet company, local gym, credit card company, etc. can turn into a huge monthly savings.

Businesses are trying to be competitive and a call asking for a better rate never hurts. The worst they can do is say "no". The best they can do, by saying "yes", will start you saving money right away.

6. Sell your unused stuff
Take a look around your home. What have you not used in over a year that could generate some extra income? If you have a lot of stuff stored for use "someday" you may want to turn those dust collectors into cash. Checkout Craigslist since it costs nothing to use. Garage sales are another great option but they do take a lot of time.
7. Always compare prices
It is amazing how much money can be saved by doing price comparisons. The Internet allows us to compare prices between many online stores with just a few clicks. Even if you plan on buying something at the store down the street you may find it cheaper online. You can often save sales tax and shipping by doing a little research.

The final step to saving money is to actually save the money that was saved. Put the money saved from the above suggestions into a saving account or you will never actually realize your savings.