6 Painless Ways to Save $100 a Week


Law School	Frugality	Personal Finance	Productivity	Career

If you're new here, you may want to learn what this site is about or check out the most popular articles. If you like what you see, make sure to sign up for email updates or subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Some people just aren’t ready to take the plunge into full flung frugality. If you’re not ready to take the plunge, here’s a quick list of 6 painless things you can do to save $100 bucks and get your feet wet for frugal living.

1. Stay in one weekend a month. A night out on the town can easily set you back $50. Restaurant, drinks, and a movie all add up. Instead of going out, buy a frozen pizza and a liter of soda and check a movie out from the library. You can have just as much fun without having to spend so much money.Savings:$50
2. Skip Starbucks once a week. There’s a reason why Starbucks is a successful company-their coffee is super expensive. A cup costs $4 and if you’re like most people, you’re probably picking up a $3 pastry to go with your joe. If you can’t live without Starbucks in the morning, try to go at least one day without stopping by. Make your coffee at home or just drink the coffee at work.Savings:$7
3. Buy no-name brands at the grocery store. I’ve written about when to go name brand and when to go generic before. Buying generic can save you a ton of money at the grocery store. There usually isn’t a difference between the store brand and the name brand except for the packaging. Savings:$20
4. Brown bag your lunch once a week.Eating out everyday is killing your budget. A lunch at a simple burger place will cost you at least $6. Instead of heading out with your co-workers, bring you own lunch. Not only will brown bagging it save you money, it will also help your health. Restaurant food is full of unhealthy calories.Savings:$6
5. Skip the vending machine for a day.The last time I went to a vending machine I was shocked how much things cost now. A soda is $1.25 and a bag of donuts costs more than a $1. If you make more than one trip a day, you can easily spend $3. Bring your own snacks from home. It costs less and is healthier.Savings:$3
6. Set aside $10 a week.Each week make it a goal to find $10 that you can put somewhere so you can’t spend it. This can be pretty easy. After you break a $20, take $10 and set it aside. Piece of cake.Savings:$10

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Tags:

No Tags

Why not subscribe? Here's what you're missing out on!

Brett McKay | 20 Dec 07 | Frugality

3 Comments

FrigidFinance on 28.12.2007 at 07:50 (Reply)

I don’t know why I keep looking at these lists. Are people really spending money on all this stuff? I get excited to see the headline and think to myself: “yes, I need to save more money” The problems I have with this list:

1. I don’t go out hardly at all, maybe out to eat once a month. and that is without drinks or a show

2. I don’t drink coffee.

3. Already buy generics when available (I have bought generic ramen).

4. This is a suggestion that I really need to work on.

5. I can’t remember the last time I used a vending machine.

6. ok, this one is a good one that I need to make an effort on. I will have to modify it since I don’t use cash.

It appears that this list is for people who live non-frugal lives.

I have found several useful tips however. They are changes that affect mandatory bills.

1. Change light bulbs to CFL’s in Frequently used fixtures
2. turn heat and a/c down and up respectively. while slightly more uncomfortable, the difference can be handled with wardrobe changes.
3. combine trips. Go to a large discounter that has everything from food to toiletries to household goods (Wal-mart, Target, etc.) this saves on gas bill as well as time.

Does anybody else have suggestions for somebody who has already cut out (or in my case, never indulged in) all of the splurges in this list?
Michelle on 12.01.2008 at 12:05 (Reply)

Completely agree with FrigidFinance - already do all this stuff
although I disagree with some of the posts (the ATM deposit one - have done that forever - don’t see what the fuss is about), and this one, I really like your blog and some of your other suggestions :-))
Adam Keck on 20.02.2008 at 21:46 (Reply)

#6 goes well with the “Make a budget” advice under the school loan refund post. If you budget X cash per week, then you can make it a personal contest to spend as little as possible each week. Put away whatever is left over for incidentals/fun at the end of the week, when you get next week’s cash. Since the weekly cash amount has already been budgeted, you can take your weekly savings out of circulation without affecting your monthly cash flow.

-Adam

About The Frugal Law Student

The Frugal Law Student is for anyone trying to mitigate their crippling debt. Me? I'm trying to mitigate the tens of thousands of dollars I've taken on in student loans. Join me on my quest to avoid taking on more debt, paying off some of the debt I have, and trying to survive law school while doing it. Read more about The Frugal Law Student, check out some of the best articles, or become a subscriber via RSS feed or via email

RSS Feed

Subscribe via Email

There are currently 882 Subscribers

Resources

Put Your Link Here

Private Student Loans - A private student loan can help you cover the additional costs of a law degree. Tuition, books and living expenses all covered with a check sent directly to you.