 Last month, we asked about your best, practical ways to save money. Here are Synergy readers’ top penny pinching and budget-stretching strategies.
Many of you have put more money in your pockets by paying attention to how much you spend on food. For example, when dining out with children, parents told us they head to restaurants that offer free meals for kids with a paying adult. A reader turned vegan and found she not only lost weight and feels better, but spends less on food by foregoing meat and dairy – and she enjoys researching and trying new vegan recipes. Stopping the eat-out-every-day habit and cutting back on fancy coffees or lattes at Starbucks and making your own is another popular way to save a few bucks daily.
 Making a grocery list and sticking is one way readers avoid costly impulse food buys. “I also save money by making all of these common gourmet treats at home (including pizza, sushi, popsicles, popcorn, soda and even cakes and ice-cream) instead of purchasing the ready-made products, paying for delivery, or going out to eat,” a survey participant told us.
Another savings enthusiast advises shopping at grocery stores that offer rewards you can redeem for gas, checking for online sales and coupons and eliminating your home phone landline. Thrift and consignment stores are popular for both saving money (especially on kids’ clothes and books) and making a few extra bucks by selling gently used and unwanted clothes.
Recycling and reusing items as well as hitting the clearance racks first when clothes shopping are more budget stretchers. Readers told us how they save getting from here to there, too. “I save about $150/month by taking the bus to work rather than driving,” one wrote. Another avoids gas and parking expenses by taking the bus and light rail to the airport when traveling.
Some of you simply enjoy putting aside any extra money you save by shopping carefully or by having a regular habit of paying yourself and putting cash into a 401K or other savings plan. One Synergy reader uses the “envelope system” to place an allotted amount for expenses such as food, gas, and clothing into individual envelopes and then only pays cash from those envelopes to avoid using cash and credit cards. “We have a large bucket in our pantry to save pocket change,” another reader told us. “It doesn't take long to save a few hundred dollars!”
We selected Kenia S. at random from our survey participants to receive a $50 Visa gift card. “I love saving and have been able to save a couple of thousand dollars in three years just by shopping at my local thrift stores for work clothes. I'm also a dedicated couponista,” Kenia shared. “I sign up on restaurants' websites to receive special promotions which are great for when you want to dine on a dime.”
Thanks to everyone who participated!
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