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101 Ways To Save Money AndLive Better
©-2002
Compliments of 
Dennis Volz
101 Ways to Save Money and Live Better 
is provided for onepurpose and one purpose only!TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING.
You thought I was going to say, “To save you money,” didn’t you?You will save money by using these ideas. You might even save a lot of money. But…
Until you change your thinking about how you spend your money,you’ll only be scratching the surface of what you could do!
Many of our clients, who really use this guide to change their money habits, take off on their own when they “getthe fever.”These ideas
will not work unless you do!
 The more you save, the more you can save for yourself in the form of retirement, mutual funds, bonds, whatever youthink is best for you.It will take a purposeful dedication to your goals, but you can change your situation!Well I promised you
101 Ways To Save Money And Live Better
, so here it is.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
IN GENERAL................................................................................................................................3TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES................................................................................................5ON YOUR JOB.............................................................................................................................6MEDICAL COSTS........................................................................................................................6LIVING EXPENSES.....................................................................................................................7AROUND THE HOUSE................................................................................................................8TAXES..........................................................................................................................................8INTEREST AND FINANCIAL CHARGES....................................................................................9SHARING.....................................................................................................................................9 YOUR FOOD AND SHOPPING.................................................................................................10VACATIONS................................................................................................................................11ENTERTAINING AND DATING..................................................................................................11INSURANCE...............................................................................................................................12PLEASE SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH US!...............................................................................14
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In General
1.
Don’t go shopping!
If you don’t go shopping, your won’t spend ANY money. Of course if you really need somethingfrom the store, go and buy it. But don’t
 just go shopping 
. Don’t get trapped like 34,300 surveyed mall shoppers whowere asked the primary reason for their visit to the mall. Only 24% said they had come for a specific item.So don’t go shopping. And while you’re at it, stay away from the advertising that whets your appetite for stuff that youdon’t need and likely don’t even want! And for heaven’s sake, don’t tune in to the Home Shopping Network.
2.
Avoid
 Everything Stores
like K-Mart, Target, or WalMart.
These stores are just too dangerous. Because they carry
everything in the world 
it’s just too easy to go and stray from your plan. If you need hairspray, get it at the grocery storewhen you do your food shopping. If you’re especially weak in these stores, take your spouse or a good friend whounderstands your quest for Intelligent Frugality and ask them to be sure you stick to your list.
3.
Live within your means.
This notion is so outmoded that some readers might not even know what it signifies. To livewithin your means is to buy only what you prudently can afford and to avoid debt. Living within your means suggeststhat you wait till you have the money before you buy what you
need 
. No interest charges, no sweating the end of themonth and no unconscious spending. It also gives you a “waiting period” in which you may very well discover that youdon’t need or want those things after all.
4.
Take care of what you have.
This is sort of a no brainer but some people simply don’t care for what they have. Whenyou neglect what you have, when you defer inexpensive maintenance and care for replacement instead, you feed thesystem instead of feeding yourself. Get into changing the oil in your car, clean your tools, clean you appliances (hair dryer, vacuum, refrigerator, etc.) Machines, unlike our bodies, are not self-healing. You let ‘em go, they’ll let you down.
5.
Wear it out.
I know this sounds contrary to what you just read. It’s not. Think for a minute – What’s the last item youactually wore out? Americans discard 1,455 pounds of garbage every year. Much of it is perfectly usable. We replace,upgrade, trade up to the newest fashion, and just plain junk perfectly good electronic equipment, furniture, clothing,kitchenware, linens and automobiles.Think of ways to recycle (for yourself) items that are just a little worn and possibly not just the latest. Think of ways touse parts of items you’re going to discard. And before you buy anything new, ask yourself, “Do I already havesomething that will do the same job this one will?”
6.
Learn to enjoy each moment as a special gift.
Truly in the 90’s we can get so busy chasing the carrot, raising the kids,improving our minds, eating low-fat, striving for excellence in all that we do, that we fail to enjoy doing any of it. Partof the title is
 Living Better 
and with that goes some change in our thinking. One very important factor in living better isto enjoy each moment. Waiting in line, driving to the beach, drifting off to sleep, reading a story to the kids, makingdinner, and answering the phone are all necessary components of our lives. Just accept it. Learn to love the process of getting there instead of always focusing on that distant goal or achievement that will “make you happy.”
7.
Do it yourself.
Can you tune your car? Fix a plumbing leak? Do your taxes? Rewire a toaster? Think of all the thingsyou pay others to do that you could at least try yourself. There’s hundreds of books (FREE at the library), or sites on theBIG WWW that will walk you step by step through just about anything from building your own computer to changingout a broken window.
8.
Anticipate your needs.
Forethought of purchases can bring you tremendous savings. With enough “lead time” you canget items at savings of 20 to 50 percent under the usual price. Think in terms of white sales, end-of-the-season clothingsales (buy your winter coat at the end of winter when they’re all on sale). When you wait till the last minute to buythings you need you’re at the mercy of whatever is out there RIGHT NOW. A little planning allows you time to searchfor sales, coupons, and garage sales.
9.
Get it for less.
With the availability of discount catalogs, discount chain stores and the miracle of the Yellow Pages, andshopping on Ebay or other WEB sites, you can, with just a little effort usually save up to 30 percent just by checking afew options before getting out that checkbook!
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