by Tony Balthazar

Created on: June 18, 2010

There are many ways that you can begin saving for a house.  Sometimes it is simple ingenuity that allows you to squirrel away a few extra dollars until you have enough funds saved for a down payment on a new home.  Saving for a house does not mean that you will have to go without a lot of things, what it does mean is that you will have to simply put more thought into those things that you are spending on.

Lunches at Work

Rather than heading out with the office crew for lunch day after day recommend that you all take turns bringing a pot luck type item into the office one day per week. Enjoy lunch with your co-workers without having to spend extra amounts of money going to a restaurant. Not only will the food taste better, but it will be far more enjoyable than trying to calculate who owes what.  Then put those savings from your "take out" meal into a savings jar;

Coffee in the Morning

For many that hot cup of coffee on the way to work means the difference between arriving at work refreshed and ready to take on the day and arriving grumpy.   Invest in a travel mug of your choice and prepare extra coffee in the morning before you leave home and carry it along with you. In the course of a week, you could save more than ten dollars on morning coffee. That results in more than five hundred dollars a year in savings that you can use for your house;

Frugal Shopping

Be more aware of how you spend your money at the market. Take the time to price out store brand products instead of national brands, buy in bulk when possible and do not overlook coupons and rebates. In addition to this you should look for manager's specials, dented cans, day old sales and other ways to save a few dollars on marketing. All of these savings can add up over time and help you save for your house;

Frugal Dining Out

If you are going out to eat you can still save some money. Consider going during hours when the restaurant offers the same meals at a dollar or two less. This is typically known as an early-bird special.  Once you have ordered a meal, avoid ordering soda or other beverages and instead request ice water with lemon or lime.  The water alone can save you two or three dollars on each meal which can be substantial;

Frugal Clothing Options

Clothing wears out, it needs to be replaced. We gain weight and we need a new wardrobe. We lose weight and we need a new wardrobe.  Clothing is expensive, there is little doubt about that.  Rather than running out to purchase new clothing right away, watch for end of season clearance sales. Purchase quality clothing at a fraction of the cost and still look great.  Stick to more classic looks rather than trendy looks to save even more money on clothing. Children outgrow their clothing far more often than adults. Play clothing may be purchased at second hand stores for additional savings on their clothes;

Green Options

Stop and consider how many things in your home are disposable.  Instead of purchasing expensive paper towels, use rags in your home from discarded clothing (t-shirts make great rags).  Use a standard razor rather than their disposable counterparts - not only does this reduce waste but it also helps save money.  Instead of purchasing expensive plastic bags for trash, use the paper sacks you receive from the grocer for tossing garbage. This exercise helps the environment and helps you save money for your home.

Summary

These are just a few tips for saving for a house. If you stop and consider the little things you do that cost money, there are plenty of ways that you can easily change some small things and soon you will have the money you want to buy the home of your dreams.

Source: SaveForHouse

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