I was so excited to discover NEW ways to save money -- thanks to this great article from AARP Money. I picked my 13 favorites from their list of 99 ways to save money on everything! Please let me know if you have any new ways you'd like to share :) Check out my top picks below...
1. Last Minute Deals
The mobile app - HotelTonight finds big discounts on hotels without having to book ahead of time.
2. Get Cash Overseas At ATMs
On average, you pay 8 percent for foreign cash at an ATM. At currency exchange booths, you tend to lose around 15 percent.
3. Book Last-Minute Hotel Rooms Via Your Smartphone
Rooms will be cheaper than reserving through a personal computer, as hotels deeply discount a few days in advance to lure in mobile guests.
4. Know The Best Time To Buy Tech
TV's, Blu-ray players and cameras go on sale during the year-end holidays. Computer prices drop in late spring. Older Apple products often get discounted when new versions hit the store, usually in the fall.
5. Know The Retail Seasons
January is the time to buy furniture and linens. April brings deals on gardening supplies and outdoor decor. May is the month to purchase mattresses. The best time to buy a grill is after Labor Day. Shop October for appliances and November for cookware.
6. Reduce Your Auto Insurance
As your car ages, the maximum payout for an accident (calculated by subtracting your deductible from the car's value) steadily decreases. Crunch the numbers to see if the price of collision and comprehension coverage is still worth it.
7. Sign Up For Their Email
Say yes when a store you patronize asks to send email promotions. You'll get discounts that other shoppers don't see. Create an email account just for purchases made online so sales offers don't clutter your personal email.
8. Check The Unclaimed Property Sites
Check every state where you have lived, they might be holding a dividend check in your name, money in a savings account that you forgot or an un-cashed refund check. To check, go to naupa.org, find your state and enter your name.
9. Let Dry Shampoo Do Many Jobs
Forget buying mousses, gels or creams. Dry shampoo works as a second-day hair freshener, adds bulk to thin hair and won't leave hair greasy or sticky.
10. Use All Your Food
On average, 25 percent of household food and beverages are tossed out, often because people buy ingredients to make a single recipe and throw out the excess. Instead, develop a meal plan to use all your food purchases over several days before they go bad.
11. Create A "Cuisine Club" With Friends
The group selects a type of food for the evening's dinner -- say Greek or Thai -- and then each person contributes a dish. It's less hassle for the host, and it's cheaper than if the group went out to a restaurant.
12. Spend A Day At A Luxury Hotel
More luxury and resort hotels offer "intra-day stays" which allow guests the use of a room and all the hotel's amenities -- pool, restaurant, spa, sports center or private beach -- for eight or so hours. Discounts can be as much as 70 percent off the price of an overnight stay. Find hotels at hotelsbyday.com and between9and5.com.
13. Use Free Fitness Apps
Apps are available for yoga, walking, running, calisthenics and almost every type of exercise. Plus, you can easily take these workouts with you when traveling.
To read the complete list of 99 Ways to Save Money on Everything, click here.
The mobile app - HotelTonight finds big discounts on hotels without having to book ahead of time.
2. Get Cash Overseas At ATMs
On average, you pay 8 percent for foreign cash at an ATM. At currency exchange booths, you tend to lose around 15 percent.
3. Book Last-Minute Hotel Rooms Via Your Smartphone
Rooms will be cheaper than reserving through a personal computer, as hotels deeply discount a few days in advance to lure in mobile guests.
4. Know The Best Time To Buy Tech
TV's, Blu-ray players and cameras go on sale during the year-end holidays. Computer prices drop in late spring. Older Apple products often get discounted when new versions hit the store, usually in the fall.
5. Know The Retail Seasons
January is the time to buy furniture and linens. April brings deals on gardening supplies and outdoor decor. May is the month to purchase mattresses. The best time to buy a grill is after Labor Day. Shop October for appliances and November for cookware.
6. Reduce Your Auto Insurance
As your car ages, the maximum payout for an accident (calculated by subtracting your deductible from the car's value) steadily decreases. Crunch the numbers to see if the price of collision and comprehension coverage is still worth it.
7. Sign Up For Their Email
Say yes when a store you patronize asks to send email promotions. You'll get discounts that other shoppers don't see. Create an email account just for purchases made online so sales offers don't clutter your personal email.
8. Check The Unclaimed Property Sites
Check every state where you have lived, they might be holding a dividend check in your name, money in a savings account that you forgot or an un-cashed refund check. To check, go to naupa.org, find your state and enter your name.
9. Let Dry Shampoo Do Many Jobs
Forget buying mousses, gels or creams. Dry shampoo works as a second-day hair freshener, adds bulk to thin hair and won't leave hair greasy or sticky.
10. Use All Your Food
On average, 25 percent of household food and beverages are tossed out, often because people buy ingredients to make a single recipe and throw out the excess. Instead, develop a meal plan to use all your food purchases over several days before they go bad.
11. Create A "Cuisine Club" With Friends
The group selects a type of food for the evening's dinner -- say Greek or Thai -- and then each person contributes a dish. It's less hassle for the host, and it's cheaper than if the group went out to a restaurant.
12. Spend A Day At A Luxury Hotel
More luxury and resort hotels offer "intra-day stays" which allow guests the use of a room and all the hotel's amenities -- pool, restaurant, spa, sports center or private beach -- for eight or so hours. Discounts can be as much as 70 percent off the price of an overnight stay. Find hotels at hotelsbyday.com and between9and5.com.
13. Use Free Fitness Apps
Apps are available for yoga, walking, running, calisthenics and almost every type of exercise. Plus, you can easily take these workouts with you when traveling.
To read the complete list of 99 Ways to Save Money on Everything, click here.
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