by Maggie Lee

Created on: October 06, 2009

Sometimes life is quite unpredictable. Last year your husband won a high-paid job and you two bought an expensive new house. However, this year the global financial crisis took place, which makes your husband get a pay cut while you still have to pay off the bank loan. On this moment, you may ask yourself: 'Are there some good ways for saving money? '

The answer is 'yes'. You may get some great ideas from the following tips:

1 - Don't waste the leftover food.

1) You may keep the leftover bread in the freezer and use it later for making pudding.

2) You may keep the trunk of the broccoli for making delicious cream.

3) When the bananas start to turn rotten, put them in the freezer and use them later for making banana bread. In fact, the rotten banana is a good source for making tasty banana bread.

2 - Make a grocery list.

Each week, before you go shopping, you should always prepare a grocery list where you note down the items you really need.

During shopping, you should stick to the grocery list, don't be tempted by the products you don't really need.

3 - Read the promotion flyers and take advantage of the coupons.

Each week, the local supermarket and groceries may send you some promotion flyers where there are some valuable discount coupons or on-sale information.

For some preservable products (for example: cereal, rice, toilet paper and household cleaning products, etc), you can always make a good stock during their corresponding promotion weeks.

4 - Be an economy mother.

Use the washable cloth diapers instead of the paper diapers.

5 - Make a plan for managing your salary.

1) Each time when you get paid, you may deposit a part of your salary into your saving account for future use.

Write down all the payments you have to make during the two weeks after your pay. If you still have some money left after paying bills, you should deposit $100 to $200 into your saving account.

2) Start a month by gathering all your bills for that month. In this way, you may have a clearer idea where your money goes each month, which help you find out where you can cut some budget.

6 - Reduce your energy consumption.

1) In winter, you can install plastic film over the interior of windows for reducing the heat loss; you should put on more clothes at home; when you watch TV, you should use a blanket to cover your leg for keeping you warm instead of turning the heater higher.

2) In summer, dry the clothes outdoor. In fact, the UV light in sunshine can effectively kill the bacteria stained on the clothes.

3) Use energy-efficient light bulbs at home.

4) When you can walk or go by bicycle, don't use your car.

5) Shave in the shower and save the money from buying aftershaves.

7 - Serve yourself instead of paying for service.

1) Dye your hair at home, instead of having it done by the professional salon.

2) Bring your lunch box to office, instead of ordering take-out.

3) On the anniversary day, prepare you and your partner a candlelight dinner instead of going to restaurant.

4) Make your morning coffee at home and hold it by a thermos cup instead of buying it.

5) Drink water instead of liquor. In fact, it's better for your health.

6) Do the simple household reparation and renovation by yourself.

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