If you're new here you may want to join the 5000+ smart shoppers that that subscribe to my RSS feed or Free Newsletter. Thanks for visiting! - Dean aka Mr. Cheap Stuff

After a long period of thought, have you finally decided to go green and save the environment? But when you look at the options, you suddenly find that ways to environment friendliness are expensive. Are there ways to go green and save money at the same time? Indeed, there are several simple, yet powerful ways to achieve this goal.

1. Usable water is one of the most precious things on this planet. Judicious use of water goes a long way to protecting the environment and also serves to bring down your water bill. Simple steps like fixing pipe and faucet leaks, remembering to close taps tightly every time and not allowing the tap water to run continuously while brushing or lathering, etc… useful ways to save water.

2. Avoid using disposable razors and switch to safety razors. Apart from costing more, the plastic packing around disposable razors is a major threat to the environment. Also, disposable razors with all their extra packing take up more storage space in the house. Safety razors that require only replaceable blades are a more economical option. Multi-packs of razor blades come cheaply and with much less plastic wrapped around them.

3. As far as possible try to use energy efficient devices. For example switching from ordinary light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLBs can save an enormous amount of power and can serve to bring down your electricity bill quite drastically.

4. Another simple way to save the environment and save money is to cook food at home. People who eat at fast food joints not only damage the environment but also add to their monthly food bills. Buying groceries and vegetables from the store and then cooking your favorite dinner back home is the best option.

5. House insulation is an important contributor to unwarranted power consumption. In improperly insulted homes, both heating and cooling will take up more power compared to well-insulated homes. Having a correctly insulated home saves power and money.

6. As far as possible buy and use second-hand items. Furniture, toys, clothing and kitchenware are good examples of items that can be bought second-hand. This prolongs the journey of these items into the garbage bin. This option is both environment friendly as well as a great money saver.

7. Prudent use of your printer can go a long way to saving paper, ink and money. Before you choose to press the print button on your computer, please stop for a moment and think twice about the necessity of a hard-copy. And if you do decide to print out a document, try to use economy-mode. This saves paper, ink and makes sure that the cartridge doesn’t need refilling very often.

8. Stop buying bottled water.  Invest in a nice water bottle and it will pay for itself quickly.  Not buying bottled water means less plastic bottles and more money in your pocket.

9. Try to recycle items that are amenable to the process. This avoids garbage pile up and the need to buy new things very often.

10. Try to use a glass water bottle that be used again and again instead of using several disposable plastic water cups over the course of the day.

Got any more tips to go green while saving money?  Let me know.  Photo Credit

Attention UK readers

For all you UK readers looking for coupons I recommend checking out PromotionalCodes.org.uk.  Not only do they have tons of updated coupons and promotional codes, they also have a great blog going with money saving ideas and frugal hacks.  One of their popular coupons right now is their Comet  promotion code.  Please let me know if you can recommend any other great websites to share with our readers.

Featured Guest Article by Sunnie Hedley
 
Dollars even cents can go a long way, especially when your budget is being stretched due to high energy costs, the threat of a recession and an unstable job market.  People love to ask me about a new purchase I’ve made. There’s always a story behind my purchase, some wild journey with a fairy tale ending as myself, the Victor against the high cost of retail mark-up!
 
A lot of this may sound like common sense to you, but sometimes you need to hear or read to actually apply and do.  This monkey see monkey do venture will pay You in the end!

I.    CLIP:  Clip coupons, anywhere and everywhere.  I am a faithful Sunday morning newspaper reader because of the coupons.  Clip the coupons that you wouldn’t normally because, well I’ll tell you why in Commandment II.
 
II.     CLEARANCE AISLE:  Do not pass up your clearance aisles.  Most retailers are getting hip to designating an aisle or a certain section of an aisle for clearance items.  You can really clean up, especially if you have a corresponding coupon with a coveted clearance product.  You can get up to a 95% savings in some cases. (Those are the ones that  I brag about at the dinner table!)
 
III.    CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS:  Your receipts can be a little fortune of savings or give aways. Make sure you check the back and the bottom of your receipts for future savings just for returning to that store and/or restaurant in the near future.
 
IV.    LISTEN:  Watch your morning news programs. They are a fantastic, up-to-date source for what events, big sales, and where the going out of business/we lost our lease sales are in your city or town. If there’s a coupon or rebate they’ll make sure you know where to get them.   I’ve had good luck with local radio stations as well.
 
V.    NETWORK:  Do you know a savvy spender and someone like myself that is a bargain saving nut?  Talk with them, get to know what makes them tick and make it work for you too.
 
VI.    SURVEY SAYS!  Surveys, they’re annoying, who knows if they’re really worth your time.  Does the information you supply trickle down to the right people, who knows.  Taking the 30 seconds to 15 minutes to complete a survey opportunity you get on your register receipts, etc. has paid off big for my family.  We entered a survey for Jack In The Box after a lunch of deep fried goodness!  Almost a month later we received a call from Jack In The Box asking us a few qualifying questions and they mailed us a Jack Gift Card worth $100 along with a personalized signed letter from "Jack" himself.  That’s a lot of tacos mi amigos!
 
VII.    APPLY FOR ON-LINE E-NEWSLETTERS: Perfect example, Mr. Cheapstuff.com, this site helped me to look on-line for freebies and coupons.  I have to admit, I was more old school when it came to saving money. Thanks to Dean, I’ve jumped into 2008. You can find me feverishly surfing the net looking up coupons and deals on line.  Beware and sign up for reliable sites like mrcheapstuff.com.  Be sure to look at the ads on your personal e-mail or internet service.  Yahoo and AOL have been great at advertising give aways and coupons that I’ve submitted to mrcheapstuff.com.
 
VIII.    REBATES:  Take the time, pay the stamp to send in the rebates, some can be a little as $1.00 or up to $20.00 or more for items that you and I buy on a regular to semi-regular basis.  We completed a rebate for Jose Cuervo ready made Margaritas and received a $15.00 rebate check a couple months later.  In terms of dollars and cents we only paid the sales tax for that bottle of good times!  Viva la Cuervo!
 
IX.    DUMB LUCK:  Sometimes you just stumble into a great deal.  My all time claim to fame is shopping at my local Old Navy for a t-shirt for my then 5 year old daughter.  The sales associate walked by and announced the wall to her left was being marked down to 50 cents.  50 cents for full sized children’s back packs and matching pencil holders and other items.  I bought every single back pack and pencil holder totaling a little over $25.00, this was 50 items.  50 items that I sold separately for $5.00 each to family and friends. My $25 investment netted me an over $200.00 profit.
 
X.    CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE:  You’ve heard the saying attitude is everything so change it, saving your own money is not a burden or a chore, it’s a competitive sport!  When you reach the finish line or score that goal, the reward is all yours!  When I walk into a store armed with my ads, coupons and my shopping cart, retail doesn’t stand a chance!
 
The bottom line is your money is your money. You work hard for it!  A couple of hours a week to research the best deals, gather up the coupons and make an informed decision on your purchases will net you a substantial savings that you can feed your piggy bank with…GUARANTEED!

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Get a free sample of True Lemon water flavors.  True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange are made with 100% all-natural ingredients.  They also have 0 calories, 0 carbs, no preservatives or sodium, no sugar or artificial sweeteners. 

I never tried True Lemon before but this product sounds pretty good if you want a healthier alternative to drinking high calorie juice.  Also, if you drink a lot of water this is a nice way to add a refreshing taste.

Of course you could always just buy a fresh lemon or lime but this products is much more convenient.  Personally, I am like drinking iced green tea from Itoen.

This offer is also available for Canadian residents.  Yeah!

Expiration Date: While Supplies Last

For a limited time get a free one year subscription to PC Magazine.  Usually the free year subscription does not last long so sign up while you can.  PC Magazines is the #1 computer technology magazine.  Be sure to tell all your "tech geek" friends about this one.

This is personally one of my favorite magazine reads.  Usually this magazine subscription goes for around $24 a year.  The annual newsstand price is over $80.  Allow 4-6 weeks for your magazines to start arriving.  This is for the actual print edition not the the digital edition.  Enjoy.

Expiration: While Supplies Last

Forbes magazine recently publish their list of the top 10 cheapest cars to own.  With gas prices skyrocketing and projected to go even higher I think many people that live in the suburbs should take a look at purchasing a more economical car.  I have read some reports or analysis saying in a couple of years we could see $6-$7 a gallon due to a bubble.  Thank goodness I work from home.

Note that the cheapest cars to buy are not necessarily the cheapest cars to own.  For example a Kia or Hyundai may be cheaper to purchase than a Toyota or Honda but the resale value is much stronger for a Toyota or Honda, also in general it is more reliable.  Many people buy cars not thinking about the resale value and other long term costs.  By the way, I think in the past couple of years resale values of those gas guzzling SUV must have really taken a nose dive.  Supply and demand, nobody wants a gas guzzler anymore.

Top 10 Cheapest Cars to Own:

1. Toyota Yaris
2. Honda Fit
3. Chevrolet Aveo5
4. Nissan Versa S
5. Hyundai Accent GS
6. Dodge CAliber SE
7. Kia Rio
8. Chevrolet Cobalt LS
9. Scion xD
10. Honda Civic DX Sedan

See Full List

Check out the 2009 Toyota Prius which is rumored to get up to 80 miles per gallon.  They are also talking about bring out a plug in version of the Prius in 2010 or 2011 which would easily be a 100+ mile per gallon car.

An Even Cheaper Ride

On a side note, I have been thinking about purchasing a bike since I live in the city of Honolulu.  I think I want to purchase a foldable bike because it is very convenient  and allows you to put it in your car, office, home or even on the bus.  It is a bit smaller and easier to ride.  Plus the weather is great and I could use the exercise.  My only concern is my own safety from aggressive drivers.

I recommend anyone that lives in a large city to check this list of foldable bikes at TreeHugger.  Parking in downtown Honolulu can cost as much as $250 a month.  When I visited Japan, I was amazed how many people used bikes and public transportation.  I think as gas prices go up we will see more bikes friendly cities.

Photo Credit

Right now you can get a free 1 year subscription to PC Magazine.  This is one of the most popular magazines featuring computer hardware and software news and reviews.  This is for a limited time so sign up quickly if you want to get it.  There are also dozens of other free business magazines subscriptions available.

Other Popular Business Magazine Subscription Available:

• MacWorld Magazine
• Oracle Magazine
• Website Magazine
• eWeek
• PC World

Usually you can only get a 2 month subscription to PC Magazine but this is a rare 1 year free subscription.  There are some requirements to receive some magazine subscriptions, just fill in your information to see if you meet the requirements.  Business magazines are a quick way to keep tabs on the news in your industry.  Even though they are supported by advertisers within the magazine, ads also a good source of information.

Expiration: Limited Time

I stumbled upon FrugalDad.com not too long ago and was impressed with the sites content.  There are many good reads on this site and I recommend checking it out if you want more money saving tips.  I was fortunate enough to be able to interview Jason White the blogger behind the blog.  He offers some great advice and tips.

10 Questions with Jason White from FrugalDad.com

1.  So what is FrugalDad.com all about?  How & Why did you start your blog?

FrugalDad.com is a site featuring ideas on frugal living, but it’s really more than that.  I like to share my ideas and opinions on broader personal finance topics, careers, personal development, parenting, and even blogging.  I started FrugalDad.com as a creative outlet to cultivate my interest in writing, and as a way to connect with other frugal families.  I wrote articles for Associated Content for nearly a year before deciding to venture out on my own.

2.  So what is a day in your shoes like?  Location, Age, Job, Interests?

Since beginning my blog my days have become even longer.  I start the day around 4:30am to get some time to myself for writing, researching, responding to readers, etc.  I get most everything related to Frugal Dad out of the way during those precious two hours before the wife and kids are awake.  A quick breakfast with the family and I’m out the door to work my regular 8-5, as a database administrator/web designer. 

Afternoons are spent helping the wife prepare dinner, playing outside with the kids (Spring in the southeast means long, warm afternoons where you can play outside until 8:00pm).  I finish the day off with catching up on email, prepping the next day’s article and then off to bed around 10:30.

3.  Ok, now the fun questions, what is your favorite cheap meals that you make at home and when you’re eating out?

I probably ought to come up with some intriguing made-from-scratch meal here, but I’d be lying if I said I was a good cook.  My favorite meal is my wife’s spaghetti, and while I haven’t done a full cost breakdown I’m guessing it is around $1.00 per person, per meal.  She makes a double batch and I eat it four or five meals in a row, including my lunches at work for two days.  We don’t eat out often, but when we do we like to order an appetizer as a meal, or split an entrée.  We also like to hit restaurants on the nights when kids eat free.

Dean, "Ahh, spaghetti it is one of those meals that really fills you up.  I never thought of doing a double batch, great idea."

4.  What is the one thing you own under $20 that has gotten the most bang for your buck?

We bought an indoor griddle on sale at Target for around $20 and that thing has been the best purchase in our household.  We use it for the traditional breakfast items such as pancakes, eggs, etc., but the real value is how well it cooks meats. 

It sure beats heating up the whole house to bake meats in the summer, or standing outside in a cold rain in the winter to use an outdoor grill.  Homemade hamburgers are delicious cooked on the griddle, and because of its design much of the fat runs off into a drip container making meals even healthier.

Dean, "I agree, those indoor grills are fast, convenient and easy to clean.  I like to marinate meats the night before then throw them on the grill for a quick and easy dinner."

5.  You seem to be an avid reader with plans to read one book every week for 52 weeks.   What are your top 3 life changing books you can recommend for people wanting to learn more about money or finances?

I haven’t always been an avid reader.  Like most people, I burned out after doing so much required reading in college.  However, I soon realized that there is a common thread amongst the most successful people – they read a lot!  The very first life-changing book I read on the subject of personal finances was The Millionaire Mind by Thomas Stanley.  I read it on a business trip to Ft. Lauderdale, and it completely changed the way I thought about millionaires. 

Next on the list is The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey, which forever changed my attitude towards credit cards, and debt in general.  It even moved me to change careers, out of the financial industry and into technology.  Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, probably had the most profound effect on my life in general, not just financially.  It really forced me to stop and think about the things for which I was exchanging my life energy.

Dean, "I have "The Millionaire Mind" audio book, nice pick"

6.  Can you share your number 1 tip in being a "frugal dad"?

My number one tip is to be frugal, but flexible.  Sometimes we frugal dads let the pendulum swing too far, and the whole family suffers from our obsessive belt-tightening.  Life is meant to be enjoyed.  My grandfather wrote me a letter when I turned 20 and reminded me to "smell the roses."  Over a decade later I still think of that advice when my first inclination is to say "no" to anything my family wants to do that requires money.

Dean, "Very true, it is very important not to lose track of why you are saving money.  Too many people save money just to save money.  If you save money on one thing then blow it on something meaningless, what is the point."

7.  In your blog you recently wrote that you downgraded your cable television package, how is that transition going?

It was one of the best moves we’ve ever made!  My daughter was initially upset because she lost the Disney Channel, but it’s been surprising how little she mentions it now. We spend more time outside in the evenings and on weekends.  My wife and I spend more time reading after the kids are in bed.  If it were up to me we would pull the plug on cable television altogether, but remember my tip – be flexible.

Dean, "I couldn’t agree with you more, I wrote about my experience of actually living without a TV.  Personally I don’t think there are a lot of good shows on television, maybe I’m just getting old.  I also don’t like the confinement of static programming, that is why I love my Netflix, I get to watch what I want when I want."

8.  What is one of the biggest mistakes or problems you feel parents make when it comes to teaching kids about money?

One of the biggest mistakes I see parents making is cosigning for a credit card for their teenager in the interest of "building their credit score."  When that teenager hits college they will inundated with offers for credit, and by normalizing it you have in fact encouraged them to take on a credit card of their own. 

Before they know it, they are $10,000 in debt from pizzas, Xbox games, clothes and iPods.  Instead, teach kids to use cash.  Teach them to save for large purchases.  Credit cards are not evil by themselves, and used wisely they can be a useful financial tool. 

However, they are not for the financially inexperienced.  Giving a teenager a credit card is like giving a 12 year-old a learner’s permit to drive.  They may have the physical skills necessary to operate a car, but they do not yet have the maturity nor the experience required to make responsible decisions.  I would rather see a young person avoid credit cards until they are on their own financially and earning their own way.

Dean, "Very good point, I bet there are a lot of young adults in debt that with their parents taught them how to be fiscally responsible."

9.  Give me your top 3 blog posts that every Mr. Cheap Stuff reader should read.

How I’ve Survived Without the Help of Wii, TomTom or iPod

Teach Your Kids About Money With Only Four Quarters

How to Implement an Envelope Budgeting System

10. Finally, can you give me your favorite tip on how do you use the Internet to save money or time?

Like most men I despise clothes shopping.  For me it ranks up there with dental checkups and an annual physical.  However, thanks to sites like eBay I’ve managed to avoid mall shopping for all but a few required articles of clothing. 

When the time comes to add to my wardrobe I visit a mall and try on several styles of pants and shirts.  I carry along a pen and piece of paper and note the size, style and any other unique characteristics of the things I like.  I leave the mall and go home to look up the items on eBay.  Run a search for the item with the tag "NWT" added to the end of your query.  You can usually find your item new-with-tag (NWT) at half the costs of retail prices.

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Article Contribution by Danielle:

One of my biggest pet peeves is not having enough money for things that I want to purchase or invest in.  I’m frugal when it comes to paying bills such as my student loan, phone bill, delinquent credit card bill, etc.   Frugal meaning, once a month I will shop at the local dollar store just to save money to pay my bills.  I will wait to Super $5 Tuesday’s at the movies so that I don’t have to pay full-price for a movie ticket.  One day I even walked 15 miles to work (both ways) just to avoid putting gas in my tank.  That didn’t help because I tripped and twisted my ankle while crossing the street – I limped to the hospital and lost a day of pay.  That basically defeated the purpose of me walking, which was to save money. 

I eventually learned how to be frugal with my money.  Why did I decide to live frugally?  First, because it allows you to spend a lot less than you earn.  You can use the difference to pay off debt, save or invest.  Second, because the less you spend your money, the less you need to earn extra money.  Getting a second job just to earn more money was out of the question for me, I barely like getting out of bed in the mornings make it to my first job.  The following are proven tips that will help you live a frugal life.

1.    Purchase a small-sized vehicle. You can save hundreds of dollars by driving a smaller vehicle.  Unless you have a large family, don’t purchase a SUV.  You will save a lot of money on gas by driving a small vehicle. 
2.    Go with a smaller house.  Heating a large house can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars just to heat during the winter and air condition during the summer.
3.    Eat out less – Eat in More.  The average person spends over $2000 per year on eating out at restaurants.  You can save a bundle by cooking your own food.
4.    Brown bag it to work. Bring your lunch instead of ordering out for lunch.
5.    Adopt a minimalist wardrobe. When purchasing clothes, purchase separates (shirts, pants, blouses, skirts, etc.)  With separates, you can turn a 5-piece wardrobe set into a 10-15 piece wardrobe set.
6.    Stop online impulse buying.  Instead of purchasing items online every week, purchase only once a month or every two months.  This will ultimately save you money.
7.    Cancel cable. This will save you a bundle every month (in my neighborhood, about $45, or more than $500 a year).  As a substitute, I do things like read or I rent DVDs at the video store.
8.    Use the library. Instead of purchasing books, check them out at the library.  You can also find a selection of DVDs (depending on where you live) this will save you even more money.
9.    Find free entertainment. You can find cheap ways to have fun. Entertainment can cost a lot of money.  The average person spends more than $1,800 a year on entertainment. You can find free entertainment in your local newspaper and on the Internet.
10.    Stay healthy. Visiting the doctor and going to the hospital for catching the flu can be costly. Eat healthily, and exercise.  This will help you from getting sick.
11.    Commute by bike. Commuting by bike to work or the store will save you money on gas and transportation.  
12.    Carpool or ride the bus. Take public transportation to work or school.  You can even carpool and save a bundle on gas. Carpool or ride the bus. OK, you don’t want to bike it. So find a friend or neighbor who works near you, and arrange a carpool. Or take public transportation. Simple advice, but something a lot of people ignore.
13.    Walk. If you are traveling locally like the corner store, or to a place of business that’s less than a mile away.   This will also save you money on transportation. 
14.    Sell your clutter. You can sell your clutter at a garage sale or even on eBay.  You can make a few extra bucks and free up space in your house or apartment.
15.    Frugal gifting. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on gift giving.  Gift cards make perfect gifts if you’re not sure what to purchase and they come in denominations as low as $20.
16.    Quit smoking.  It is estimated that people spend over $3000 on cigarettes.  Quitting smoking will not only save you money but will improve your health.
17.    Quit drinking. People who go to happy hour more than once a week, spend a lot of money on drinks.  Beer is much cheaper.
18.    Sweets in moderation. Cut back on sweets (you don’t have to completely eliminate them entirely) this will help you to save money and cut calories.
19.    Drink water. Instead of buying bottled water, get a filter for your kitchen faucet.
20.    Stay home. Become a homebody.  You don’t have to go out in order to have fun.  You can cook a nice meal, watch a good DVD or listen to music.
21.    Stop using credit cards. Avoid credit card debt and only use it for emergencies.  By the way, $200 designer bag is not an emergency. 
22.    Cancel magazine subscriptions.  If you have more than 3 magazine subscriptions, cancel them.  Many magazines can be found on the Internet
23.    Make your own. Instead of buying a bookshelf, make one.  There are many do-it-yourself projects that you can make instead of buying.
24.    Save energy. You can actually lower your monthly power bill by turning off your the lights when not in use.
25.    Telecommute. Instead of commuting to work everyday, ask your employer if you could telecommute to work.  This will help you save money on transportation.

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to become more frugal with your spending.  Just like everything, practice makes perfect.  In time, you will begin to notice the benefits of cutting back on your spending.

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