Multiple ways to cut household expenses

There are many ways to cut your monthly household expenses.  When you consider these expenses, it is easy to make the necessary cuts to your expenses and allow for more discretionary income every month.  This will be an ongoing archive that we will explore continuously.  Visit often for new ideas that you can implement.

Here are some of the ways that we will investigate with this posting:

Monthly phone bill
Cell phone plan
Gym Memberships
Pay-per-view
Lunching out everyday
Coupons

Have you considered you monthly home telephone bill?  Many people now make and receive all their phone calls by iphone or a mobile cell phone number.  This leaves little necessity for the landline telephone that was once so important in the home.  How much money could you save if you deleted this option from your monthly budget?  Fifty dollars per month equates to $600.00 per year. 

What about that monthly cell phone account.  Have you opted for too many minutes or perhaps not enough.  Cell phone companies charge for plans based on the number of lines included on the plans as well as the total time alloted to each phone for incoming and outgoing calls.  Sometimes, these minutes can be bundled or combined with other phones on the plan so that the minutes are "shared".  This allows for times when one member of the plan may have heavier call volume than normal.  The "leftover" minutes from the other numbers on the plans can be consumed by the heavier usage and not charge a difference in the spending plan.  Without these "bundles" the additional minutes can add numerous and heavy charges to your account.  Because so much texting takes place now, some of the companies offer unlimted texting and offer families the opportunity to significantly decrease the amount of "on phone air time".  This can save the members of the plan a considerable amount of money, especially if texting is how the phone is most used.

Gym memberships can be very costly.   Purchasing exercise videos and taking long walks in the neighborhood can offer repeated exercise opportunities without the high cost of gym membership.  There may also be the opportunity to play ball with your children and even garner neighborhood support by assembling neighborhood games and opportunities to involve others.

Another form of family entertainment that can add much unwanted household expense is the "pay-per-view" movie channel.  Because it is convenient, it is sometimes easy to spend more dollars on this type entertainment than you really intend.  Also consider any premium channels or eliminate cable altogether.  Many of the shows that people like are now available on websites, ipads, and droid applications.

What about the lunch that you "eat out" everyday for convenience.  A brown bag or old time lunch box works great to offer an inexpensive alternative.  Many businesses now have break rooms equipped with full kitchens.  These refrigerators and microwaves work as well in the break room at work as they do in your own kitchen.  Making a little extra when you cook the family meal, works wonders for the next day's lunch.  

One of the most effective ways, also one that we promote on this blog, is the use of coupons.  Manufacturers and businesses have come to a clear understanding that a portion of their advertising dollars are well spent by "giving back" to loyal consumers.  This is sometimes done through a store card or loyalty program, but it is also done by printing and distribution of coupons through a network source.

Consider some of these options and see if they will make a difference in your annual resources.  Visit this site often and tell your friends about it.  We will continue to offer sound advise as to how you can accomplish all your savings goals by following simple guidelines that offer practical tips for cost cutting.  

More tomorrow........Until next time, Improve your Saving Sense!