Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
Is your wallet feeling a bit thin after the busy summer months?
We're about to turn the page on the calendar, not only to a new month but also to a new season. That makes this the perfect time to reevaluate spending and tighten up budgets.
If you're having trouble making ends meet, here are five easy ways to save $100 in September.
Shop with coupons
Of course you knew this would be on the list! I am the head of SavingsAngel.com after all!
But seriously, couponing is an easy way to save, and it's perfect that we're talking about saving money in September, which has traditionally been designated National Coupon Month. Back in 2009, the Promotion Marketing Association Coupon Council estimated a typical family could save $1,000 a year by spending 20 minutes a week clipping, organizing and sorting their coupons.
However, I think the savings potential is much, much more. Many couponers save 50 percent off their grocery bill by combining coupons with sales. And by using a service such as SavingsAngel, you can quickly zero in on the very best deals to save both time and money.
Drop your daily drive thru habit
So many of us have bad habits when it comes to eating out, particularly if we're on the road a lot or have a job with a commute. We have great intentions to eat breakfast at home and pack a lunch for work, but before you know it, you're making a coffee run to Biggby every day.
Make September the month you get back on track by skipping the coffee, breakfasts and lunches on the go. Assuming you spend an average of $5 per work day, you'll have an extra $105 in your pocket by the time October rolls around.
Make dinner at home
Along the same lines, make dinner at home all month. No pizza nights, no McDonalds runs and no heading to your favorite sit down joint. Get disciplined, make a meal plan for the month and stock up on ingredients to make low-cost family favorites like spaghetti, pasta casseroles or chili.
You might have to spend a little more on groceries if you're eating in every night, but the savings are worth it. If you normally eat out only one night a week and spend a mere $20, you'll save $100 by staying home all through September. If you have a larger family and eat out more frequently, your savings will be even bigger.
Find a carpool buddy
If you commute to work, carpooling can save you loads of money.
AAA estimated the average operating cost of a medium sedan to be 21.09 cents per mile in 2013. That cost includes gas, maintenance and tires. If you have a 40 mile round trip commute, your September cost to drive to work will be $177.16. But maybe you live 10 miles farther out and your round trip commute is 60 miles. Then your monthly cost jumps to $265.74. If you drive a 4WD SUV, your per mile operating costs could be as high as 26.15 cents per mile.
Finding a group to share costs can quickly put an extra $100 back in your wallet. You can find people looking to carpool at CarpoolWorld.com, eRideShare.com and RideJoy.com.
Renegotiate your bills
Finally, you can save $100 by negotiating better rates on your bills. Set aside an afternoon to call your cable provider, wireless company and landline service, if you have it.
If you aren't locked into a contract, tell them you're thinking about defecting to a competitor and ask if there is any way they can lower your bill. This tactic tends to be most successful if you have received a mailing or flyer from a different company offering a specific, lower rate you can use to leverage a lower offer from your current provider.
While you're making calls, don't forget to check with your insurance carriers too. If they can't lower your premiums, try shopping around to make sure your rate is competitive. Between utilities and your insurance, most consumers should easily be able to drop their monthly bills by at least $100 a month if not more.
And there you have five easy ways to save $100 this September. Pick your favorite one or, even better, try all five for an extra $500 to put toward your savings, debt or holiday shopping.
