Make coffee at home instead of hitting up Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or your local coffee shop every day. A cup of coffee brewed at home cost on average 27 cents, while a grande Starbucks coffee costs a whopping $2.29. That’s a huge savings over the course of the year!
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Rent a Redbox movie or buy a Netflix account rather than going to the movie theater. Redbox movies cost $1.20 to rent per night and Netflix has thousands of movies and TV shows available for streaming right on your computer for only $8.99 per month. The average cost of one ticket to the movies is $7.96. Think about it fellas: Wouldn’t you rather spend $1 to have a movie-night at home than paying a hefty price to take your girl to the theater? With the extra cash left over you can splurge a little by buying some microwave popcorn and your favorite sweet candy treat. For Central PA residents, you can also check out the West Shore Theater, a one screen theater that shows two movies per week for a cheaper ticket price of $4 or $5.
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Pack your lunch instead of buying school lunch. Avoid those dreaded Meatloaf Mondays and soggy sandwiches. Not only will you be saving money, but you will also eat much healthier.
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Sign up for a library card. Bye, bye Barnes & Noble, ITunes, and movie theaters! Your local library has books, music, and movies. All for FREE! Stop by the library to see what they have on their shelves. Also for those with eReaders, check your library’s website. They will most likely have free rentals for eBooks. You can read thousands of titles without paying a cent.
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Only pay for things with bills. When you get change back, put it into a jar. Over time, your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters will accumulate and you can turn those coins in for some serious cash.
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Sign up for rewards cards for your frequently visited places like Sheetz, Rutters, and Giant. These rewards cards will give you money off just by swiping them. By signing up, you will receive deals and steals that will help you save some major money. You can also sign up for texts and/or emails from your favorite stores. They will send you alerts whenever they have sales and special offerings. Also, take advantage of birthday deals at stores and restaurants. For example, you can receive a free brownie sundae at Chili’s and a 15% off coupon at American Eagle on your birthday.
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Drink more water. Not only will you be establishing a healthy habit, but you will also be saving a few extra dollars on your food bill. Instead of ordering a $2.50 strawberry lemonade, opt for “I’ll have a water please.” Your body and your wallet will thank you.
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Tired of that old sweater that’s been sitting in your closet since last Christmas or those gold heels you wore to homecoming that have been collecting dust ever since? Organize a clothing swap with your friends to get rid of some unwanted or outgrown items. You can pick up some new duds from your friends instead of spending a fortune at the store. Get a lot of people involved to vary your options.
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Visit the outlet/factory store of your favorite shopping stop instead of stopping by the mall. Everything will be cheaper than the fullprice retailers. These outlet stores also have big sales that add additional savings onto existing lower prices. For example, stop by the Nike outlet store to find a new pair of running sneakers instead of picking up an expensive pair at Dick’s Sporting Goods or Finish Line.
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Have a gym membership that you don’t really use? Tired of paying $20 per yoga class? Rid yourself of these expenses by streaming fitness classes online. Any kind of class that is offered at your gym can be found online, for FREE! Check out YouTube channels such as BeFiT, Yogasync.TV, and PopSugar Fitness.
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For teens, filling up our gas tank is a dreadful experience. We see our money disappear as the number of gallons we are pumping in the tank rises. Carpooling is a great way to make fewer stops at the pump. Take turns with your friends on who drives to practice or rehearsal. If you’re the only one with a license, don’t be afraid to ask your friends to chip in a few dollars for chauffeuring them around. Another easy way to cut down on gas is by walking or riding a bike whenever possible. Next time you are heading to your friend’s house four blocks away, skip the car and get some exercise by walking.
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Make homemade gifts whenever you can. Not only will it save you some money, your friends will cherish those presents much more than something bought at a store. Try making a photo collage, tie blanket, or tie-dye shirt for your bff’s next birthday. You can also save some gift expenses by making your own greeting cards. They will be much more personalized and meaningful than their $2-$4 counterpart.
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Lastly, don’t carry much cash if you are able. That way you won’t feel like it’s burning a hole in your pocket and be tempted to spend it. Keep the cash at home whenever possible!
// your money
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