800-579-2414

• Keep the proper air pressure in tires. Under inflated tires waste fuel and cause more wear on the tire tread.
• A well tuned engine uses less fuel. 
• Combine errands into one trip. Plan your shopping day using the most efficient route. Save your time and your money

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• Insure ALL autos in the household on the same policy, with the same company. You may qualify for a multi-car discount for two or more vehicles on the same policy. (Exception: if there is a driver in your household with a "poor driver" rating, someone who has many tickets and/or accidents, it may be beneficial to insure that driver separately or even with a different insurance company.)
• Insure your home with the same company as your autos, to qualify for multi-policy discounts.
• Buy safer vehicles and vehicles with added safety features like four-wheel antilock brakes, airbags and anti-theft devices. Vehicles now receive a rating indicated by a "rating symbol", which affects the insurance premium. Some factors reflected in the rating are vehicle safety index, damage and theft index and liability index. The higher the symbol the more expensive the car will be to insure. Check with your insurance agent before buying to find out what the rating symbol is; for lower insurance premiums, purchase vehicles with "rating symbols" below 15.
• Enroll your 15 year-old in driver training classes and encourage them to maintain a B average or 3.0 G.P.A. in high school. Inexperienced drivers, those under age 21, are the most expensive group to insure, especially males. Most insurance companies will give a "Good Student" and a "Driver Training" discount; both of these discounts are good until age 21.
• Choose higher deductibles for both "Comprehensive" and "Collision" coverage. If you have an auto loan, the lender may not allow a deductible higher than $500; however, once the loan is paid off, consider raising the deductible to $1000. Paying for smaller claims yourself will diminish the likelihood that you could be "non- renewed" or "cancelled" because you had two or more claims within three years. Remember, "Collision" coverage pays for the damage you do to your own vehicle, if you are "at fault" in the accident.

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• Reduce your acceleration and deceleration speeds. You can save as much as 30 percent in fuel.
• Keep the correct air pressure in your tires. Underinflated tires waste fuel and wear out tire tread.
• Slow down.  The faster you drive the more gas you use. Driving at 55 mph instead of 65 mph can improve your fuel economy by two miles per gallon.
• Get regular tune-ups and get routine maintenance completed.
• Turn off your engine.  If you are going to be idling more than a minute, turn off your engine. You can save up to 20%.
• If you set your cruise control and drive the speed limit, you can save as much as 18% on longer trips.
• Replace the air filter.  By replacing your dirty air filter, you can save up to 10% of your fuel usage-which is money in the bank.
• Plan your route ahead of time. If you are taking the kids to school, stop by the grocery store on the way home-don't make a special trip.
• Try starting a carpool at work. Gas prices may continue to rise, but we can take control by reducing the amount of gas we use by sharing the trip with others.
• Tighten the gas cap. Make sure the cap is on securely. Gas easily evaporates from the tank if it has any way to escape.
• Use your air conditioning wisely--turn it on when driving on the highway, turn it OFF in town. On the highway closed windows decrease air resistance, so run the air conditioner. In stop and go traffic, shutting off the air conditioning and opening the windows can lighten your fuel use. Air conditioning can lower your fuel economy by 10-20%.
• Remove snow tires in good weather. Deep tread and big tires use more fuel.

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We are happy to curb our spending on things that are easy.  We are all hesitant to reduce purchases when it affects our own immediate comfort.  We don't want to feel deprived.

It doesn't matter if we are living paycheck-to-paycheck or if our bank account is full.  We need to become aware of what we are spending. We need to take back control.

• Know where you are spending by keeping a list of everything you spend.
• Start small. Find one area to cut back. Start with something that will be easy, and then move up from there.
• Rethink the whole idea of saving money. Instead of feeling deprived because you had to make your own coffee or make dinner-again, give yourself credit for making progress on your spending habits.
• Identify what is a REAL need versus a want. If you don't trust yourself to figure this out, find someone you trust and talk through your budget/spending.
• Schedule a budget appointment. Call our office and schedule a budget appointment with one of our counselors. We can help you evaluate your spending and make sure you are on track.
• If you are tempted to make a new purchase... STOP. Ask yourself

Can I really afford this right now?

Is this a need or a want?

Do I have to have it now?

What will happened if I don't get it right now?

Do I have something like it or do I have something that would work just as well?

Can I find a less expensive substitute?

Can I find this cheaper somewhere else?

What am I willing to give up so I can buy this?

Ask yourself how many hours do I have to work to pay for this?

If after you answer all these questions and still feel good about the purchase, decide to wait until tomorrow to buy.  Tomorrow you will either feel great about the purchase or have decided the item isn't as important as it seemed yesterday.

Don't let a pushy salesperson talk you into an impulsive decision.  The salesperson isn't the one that will have to make sacrifices because of an impulse purchase.

Energy [return to the top]

• Invest in a programmable thermostat, this is a great energy-saving decision. Each degree above 68 can translate into as much as 3% increase ($3-$5). Increasing the temperature to 72 degrees can increase your utility bill about $20 a month. If your house is empty for long periods of time during the day, a programmable thermostat is a great way to use less heat (or air conditioning) while you are away.
• Put on a sweater or wrap up in a blanket.
• Use small appliances like a toaster oven, electric skillet, wok, slow cooker, and pressure cooker. On average they use half the electricity of a full size oven.
• Many utility companies offer rebates for home improvements that conserve energy or water. Check with your local utility company for rebate opportunities. (Colorado Springs Utilities: www.csu.org) As a bonus, you can save a lot of money on your utility bill by making some basic changes. Examples of things you may receive rebates for:
• • Insulation
  • Windows and doors
  • Programmable thermostats
  • Showerheads
  • Toilets
  • Energy efficient appliances (washers, dryers, dishwashers, etc.)
• Change your furnace filter.  If the furnace filter is dirty, the furnace has to work harder, the fan has to pull air through a dirty filter, which takes more energy and costs you more money.
• You may need to change the filter every one or two months during the cold months, depending on your furnace.
• Get an energy audit.  Call your utility company to see if they offer home energy audits. They can often offer great ideas of ways to cut your utility costs.
• Use products that have an Energy Star approval rating. If it is time for new appliances (large or small) or even a light bulb, purchase an Energy Star approved item. There are ratings on the package that will show you the amount of energy the device will save. There is an upfront investment in products that are more efficient and costs for repairs to make your home more energy efficient. These costs are often recovered in a short amount of time with the reduced utility bill.
• Use compact fluorescent instead of the traditional incandescent light bulb. Compact fluorescent lamps use 75% less energy than a standard light bulb and last up to 10 times longer.
• The new, more efficient refrigerators use 15% less energy. Side-by-side refrigerators use 10-15% more energy than models with the freezer on the top.
• The newer Energy Star model washers use 50% less energy than previous models and use significantly less water.
• Front load washers also use almost half the detergent and so you spend less at the store.
• Check your doors and windows for leaks.  Air leaks can cause warm and cool air to escape.  Add weather stripping and repair any holes or gaps. Wall insulation and insulated windows will save you money and make you more comfortable in both the winter and the summer.
• Know when to turn lights off or leave them on.   When leaving the room for less than half an hour, leave fluorescent lights ON. When leaving a room for more than 5 minutes turn incandescent light bulbs OFF.
• Turn off your computer.  Turning off your computer at night can save as much as $75/year.

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Great "Date Night" ideas

• Go for a walk around a city lake.
• Enjoy summer - take a trip to the park - pack a lunch and enjoy the simplicity of a summer bike ride
• Go on a walk at sunset.
• Pack an evening picnic with special treats-something you don't regularly eat. (Chocolate, cheese & crackers, etc.)
• Visit a local art gallery
• Share a dessert at your favorite restaurant
• Get a Chamber of Commerce guide for your city and start visiting local landmarks.
• Go out for coffee and dessert instead of dinner.
• Send the kids to someone's house for the night and enjoy the silence!
• Go to restaurants to eat.  Don't skip eating out all together. Spend your hard earned money on the food; beverages are proportionately high in cost. You will be amazed at what you can save by deciding ahead of time to drink water.
• Go to restaurants early. Many restaurants offer specials before 6:30.
• Host a dinner.  Trying to save money by avoiding the restaurants does not mean you have to miss out on good food or good company. Invite your friends over and have them bring their favorite dish - spice up the night by making it themed. Everyone bring your favorite salad, Italian dish or how about skipping dinner all together and everyone bring your favorite dessert!
• Host a movie night.  Instead of spending the money to go out to the theatre, invite a few friends over and ask them to bring their favorite movie and movie snack - it's cheaper than a matinee or a movie rental.

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Set financial goals.  A great way to save money and be very successful is to set Financial Goals.  Having goals will encourage you to WANT to save money.  Here are some ideas of possible goals.

• I will save $25 a month.
• I will payoff at least one credit card this year.
• I will read one financially related book.
• I will only go to the grocery store with a list (and will stick to that list)
• I will review my spending at the end of each month.
• I will go out to eat once a week.
• I will save all my change this year.

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• Make your own flavored tea.  Instead of purchasing expensive pre-flavored mint tea, add two drops or so of mint extract to tea made with generic brand tea bags. The taste is extraordinary and a bottle of mint extract seems to last forever.
• Shop your local farmers market to buy directly from the farmer. In addition to support your local economy, nothing had to be shipped to get to you.
• Locally produced food is less expensive. We all love an opportunity to save real $$$. Additionally, the average US grocery store food travels 1,500 to 2,500 miles before it reaches our family dinner table. Of the total energy used in the US per year, only 4% was used to actually produce the food and 10% to 15% is used to transport it to us.
• Don't crisis cook. Shopping right before you cook dinner can get expensive. Plan a weekly menu before shopping and see the amount you spend on groceries shrink.
• Look up and down.  The highest-markup items at the grocery store are on the shelves at chest level or at the end of each row. Reach up or kneel down to select the cheaper house or generic brands.
• Keep a preprinted grocery list on your refrigerator. Your family can mark the needed items. When you go to the store, you now have a plan on exactly what you need. There are preprinted listed available free on the internet or make your own list writing down items that you regularly purchase.
• Make lunch and dinner at the same time. Double a recipe and use it for another meal or put it in freezer containers for lunch. (By eating it a week later, it won't feel like last nights leftovers.)
• Plan a menu in advance.  There are many ways to have a delicious meal without breaking the bank. Plan your menu now; make a list of all the ingredients. Remember to mark it off your list; you won't save any money if you double buy items.
• Use cash to purchase your groceries, you will be forced to stay within your budget.
• Have a prepared list. You can significantly reduce your grocery bill by having a list prepared instead of just buying what you think you will need for the week when you get to the store.
• Do your shopping at the store that will meet or beat all other store sale prices. You can reduce your grocery bill by looking at the ads from local stores that you get in the mail or in the newspaper. Take the sale ads into the store and ask them to match the sales prices.
• Make your own coffe.  Unleaded gas: $2.50 a gallon. Average latte: $3.59 16 ounces, which is $28.72/gallon! It might make it easier to say no to the next cup when you know how much you are actually paying. When did it become so unacceptable to drink a cup of coffee that you made at home for FIVE CENTS?
• Stop smoking.  The average price for a pack of cigarettes is $4.50. If you smoke one pack a day, it is over $1,600 per year. Let's say you are a "light smoker" and only smoke a pack a week... that is over $230 per year.
• Stop buying bottled water.  Are you thirsty? An inexpensive bottle of water costs about $1. If you get a bottle of water everyday, that is $365 per year.
• Including tip, it is reasonable to expect to spend $7 to $9 per lunch. That means at least $2,300 a year... just on work week lunches.
• Start buying the groceries now. Stock up on ingredients that won't spoil. Take advantage of holiday food sales.
• Choose one meat and plan the meal around the one meat. You save in the cost of the additional meat and the electricity for cooking both meats.
• Plan your holiday menu now; make a list of all the ingredients. Start buying one holiday ingredient each time you go to the grocery store.
• Don't buy prepared foods. Make a double meal when you are cooking and freeze the second for a busy day.
• Don't shop when you are hungry.
• Don't shop when you are tired; we tend to buy more foods high in sugar and carbohydrates when tired.
• Read the sale ads and plan the weekly menu around the sale items.
• Use coupons whenever possible, however, only buy items you would normally purchase. Buying an item that no one in your family will eat is not a good deal-no matter how cheap it was.
• Look online for supermarkets National brands coupon offers.
• Always shop with a calculator. Figure out the unit price of an item. Know for yourself if something is a good deal.
• Check your receipts. Mistakes happen, and you don't want to pay for them.
• Involve the whole family. It is easier to get the children involved if they understand why you are trying to save.
• Also, take advantage of stores that offer double coupons and keep an eye out for store coupons that can be used along with a manufacturer's coupon for increased savings.
• Bring along the grocery bags you've saved from your last shopping trip and use them over and over again to bag your groceries. Some local grocery stores will reduce your final bill by .05 for every bag you reuse. Every little bit helps!
• Have a specific goal for the money you are not spending on food. Plan something that everyone will look forward to enjoying together.
• Keep a "price diary". If you have a list of items that you purchase regularly, you will know if a sale price is low enough to stock up on an item.
• Buy produce that is fresh, inexpensive and in season. You will get the best buy and your family gets the benefit of the freshest food.
• Shop early in the day. You get through the store faster with your list, so you spend less.
• If possible, leave the children at home. They're all too willing to help you fill up the cart.
• Make your own cappucino.  Cappuccino anyone?- At $2.50 or more per cup, a daily cappuccino habit could be costing you more than $750 per year. Check out this cheaper alternative:

Place two cups of milk in a glass measuring cup.  Microwave on high until hot, about two minutes.  Place hot milk and one tablespoon of sugar in a blender.  Cover with a vented lid and blend until frothy, about one minute.  To serve, divide coffee among four cups.  Top each with frothy milk.  Sprinkle with cinnamon or grated chocolate.  Makes four servings (sixty calories per serving with skim milk; ninety calories per serving with one percent milk).

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General [return to the top]

• Get reacquainted with the public library. Did you know in addition to great books you can get newspapers, magazines, CDs and movie videos? And it's FREE!
• Share your magazines.  Consider sharing the cost of your favorite magazine subscription with a friend or co-worker. This will reduce the cost by half for a magazine that probably gets thrown away when you are done reading it.
• Consider buying an item online. You can often save on the cost of the item. Many sites offer free or low shipping costs, you often are not subject to sales tax and you will reduce other impulse purchases.
• Look into getting a prpaid phone.  Cell phone companies don't advertise their prepaid phones because they want to sell you the more expensive plan. Check into a prepaid phone. After buying the phone, the monthly service cost is much less, and there are no hidden charges.

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• Buy a fall flower bulb and plant it. By Christmas the flower will be in bloom and it will be a perfect gift for a neighbor or co-worker. This $3 bulb will turn into a flower that would have cost as much as $30 in bloom!
• Choose your family's favorites. At the end of the meal are the candied yams always sitting alone barely touched? This year prepare the dishes that your guests enjoy.
• Trim down on the side dishes. Do we really need four different salads and desserts from which to choose?
• Think before you drink. Alcohol and sodas are expensive. Tea, coffee and water are great alternatives.
• Watch for those amazing turkey specials at the grocery store. Don't let the $4 turkey entice you into buying something you wouldn't otherwise have purchased.
• Share the joy. Have everyone bring a dish to share. Create your menu and then offer suggestions about what people can bring.
• Look at entertainment costs.  While planning the Christmas budget give the same careful attention to gift giving to entertaining as cost to entertain can add up.
• Consider second hand bookstores for great gift ideas. Everyone loves books and you can often find discounted or out of print titles that make the gift that much more special.
• An inexpensive idea for decorating involves wrapping paper and ribbon (which most of us already have on hand from last year). Take down all of the pictures in your house and wrap the front and sides of them, then return them to their original place on the wall. This provides a wonderful way to make the entire house festive.
• Go to Kinko's for pictures.  Instead of paying a studio to enlarge favorite family photos, consider the cost difference of having them printed at a commercial copy center like Kinko's. The cost is about $1-$2 and the quality is so good that it is hard to tell the difference.
• Christmas is not only about buying things.  For many people hearing that first Christmas song on the radio can make us feel like "Scrooge". Often these feelings are tied directly to a sense of obligation to spend money in order to have a meaningful Holiday season. If you are among those who feel holiday spending is out of control, remember: It doesn't have to be that way. Be the first to start a new family tradition that brings the emphasis that Jesus is the reason for the season. Create activities that revolve around things other than opening gifts. Work together as a family helping other, less fortunate people. Check your area for free Christmas concerts or programs. The ideas are endless... use your imagination.

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Home/Insurance [return to the top]

• Cancel private mortgage insurance. Once your mortgage reaches an 80 percent loan to value ratio you do not have to carry private mortgage insurance.
• Shop around.  Home Insurance is automatically renewed each year. Get a copy of your policy from the insurance agent. Shop around; it can save several hundred dollars.

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• Put household ammonia full strength on chigger, mosquito, or other bug bites to stop the irritating itch. Or, make a paste of baking soda and water; rub it on the insect bite to relieve itching.
• Uses for Vinegar

Kills bacteria and mold, so use it as a disinfectant, but without the risk

Removes soap scum

Wash windows and mirrors

Add to dishwater to make glasses sparkle

Stain remover

First Aid uses: bee stings, hives, sunburn, gargle for sore throats

Mix with Baking Soda and it can be used as household cleaner, great for everything from countertops to toilets.

• Change your toothbrush.  Often times when a cold is passed between members of the family, it is done from germs that are transferred from toothbrushes. Store toothbrushes so that they do not come in contact with each other. Also replace the toothbrush of the person who is sick after they recover. You may spend a couple dollars for a toothbrush, but you will save hundreds in medical expenses.

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• Paint storage: Store partially full cans of pain upside down. The paint will form an airtight seal, extending its useful life.
• Painting a window: Before you begin painting window frames, cut strips of newspaper, dip them in water, and press them onto the glass close to the frame. When the paint dries, moisten the newspaper with a damp sponge and peel it right off. No messy window panes to scrape clean and no sticky tape to remove.
• Fixing all your leaky faucets translates into immediate savings. One drip of hot water a second is 20 kilowatts a month. (That is money down the drain.)
• Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.  You can save 3 to 5 gallons of water a day if everyone in the family will turn off the bathroom faucet while brushing their teeth.

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• Extra spin dry.  When you have a heavy load of laundry in the washing machine, towels for instance, reset the machine for an extra spin dry. The drying time will then be reduced considerably.
• Use warm or cold water.  Almost 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water, according to the US Department of Energy. Switch to either warm, or better yet, COLD water. Turning the dial from hot to warm will cut your energy use by 50% per load and can save you up to $63 a year, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.
• Dampen an old washcloth with the liquid softener as a cheaper substitute for dryer sheets.  Throw it in the dryer with a load of clothes and you'll have static-free, good smelling soft laundry. Wash and dry the cloth every couple of loads so it will continue to absorb the solution.
• Speed up drying time by tossing a dry towel in the dryer with a very damp load. The towel will absorb a lot of the moisture. Dryers are one of the most expensive appliances we use, save where you can!

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• Ask for generic prescriptions, these can cost up to 50% less. Legally they must have the same chemical makeup and potency. Generic over the counter medication also must have the same makeup as the much more expensive name brands. The price for generic can be a huge savings... you will pay 4-6 times more just for a name. Drug companies take advantage of the naïve public and try to get them to believe that aspirin works so much better if it costs more and has a brand name. Consult the pharmacist when in doubt.

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• Consider buying your pet at the Humane Society or at one of the pet store's "adopt-a-pet" events. Usually, for the cost of shots you can get a great pet. Make sure to ask about the pet's history; sometimes an abused animal does not make the best pet.
• Avoid exotic pets; they cost more to buy, and they definitely cost more to maintain. They usually have a shorter life span too
• Smaller usually is cheaper. Smaller pets eat less; require cheaper accessories; are easier to contain; and can go on trips with you-no need to hire or arrange for a pet-sitter.
• Train your pet on dry food if possible. It is very easy to spoil pets with people food and with costly, moist food. Normal household pets don't need the expensive stuff, and if you don't let them know otherwise, will be content and healthy on dry food.

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• See what your current provider can do for you.  When competing long distance companies send you offers to switch over to them for a bonus (such as a check), call your current provider and see if they will match it to keep you as a customer. You will be surprised at how much they value your business.
• Keep a phone log by the phone for every long distance call you make. Record the time and duration of the call. Then multiply the amount of time spent on the phone by the per-minute rate for that time of the day and you will have the cost of the call. This way you will know when you have spent the total amount allotted for long distance phone for the month.
• Comparison shop.  What is telephone and internet costing? At least every six months do some comparison shopping to see if you are paying too much for your telecommunications services. Sometimes competing companies will offer better deals for new customers. Call your current provider and ask them to meet or beat the competing price.

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Stay"cation [return to the top]

• Consider a "stay at home" vacation.
• Stay home and sleep in your own bed.
• Enjoy your home town. Make a list of things you have always wanted to do in your area-then do them.
• Get brochures and call the Chamber of Commerce for ideas of things to do.
• Visited the local museums or wild game reserves?
• Tell everyone you are going on vacation-don't answer the phone or the door, and commit the time to family. It will take a lot of self-control not to do home projects, but the reward of a restful week is well worth it!
• Camp in the backyard.

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• Check airfares to different airports. Sometimes you can save a significant amount of money by flying into an airport 30-90 miles away. You can also get large savings by checking hotels in different areas. Hotels close to tourist attractions are much more expensive than those just a few miles away.

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• As a family, discuss everyone's idea of the "perfect" vacation. You may be surprised to find out it doesn't involve fighting on an airplane for three hours. After you have all evaluated what is really important to each family member, agree on a budget.
• The more you cut back in one area, the more you will have to spend in another. Set a realistic vacation budget, and stick to it. You can make this the best vacation ever.
• Go to the library before you leave for your trip. Research your destination to get ideas for reasonable places to eat and visit.
• Begin by calling the Chamber of Commerce in the areas you'll be visiting. Tell them that you'll be visiting their area and you'd like advice on places to go and stay. Most will provide a wealth of information. Ask them for free maps and brochures on local attractions. Many will also give you discount coupons. A few minutes on the phone could be the key to finding out about good local restaurants and other interesting sites that only the locals know about.
• Check ahead of time for your destination city's website. There may be special events that would be interesting to your family.
• Local grocery stores often have great deli and bakery departments. These are often much less expensive than eating out at a restaurant-and you don't have to tip the server. Enjoy your lunch in the local park.
• Plan to have a good time. Because you planned... you will be able to enjoy your family vacation.
• You can find state parks, zoos, specialized museums and halls of fame if you're willing to do a little research. And most are very inexpensive compared to the big attractions. Not only will you save money, but the lack of crowds and lines is nice, too.
• Plan and bring your meals for the road.  Once you're on the road you'll find that meals offer a good opportunity for fun and savings. While it's easiest to stop at a chain restaurant right near the interstate exit, you'll want to consider an alternative for some meals. Carry along a picnic and your snacks. Most towns have a park or place that would be appropriate for a picnic. That's more relaxing than the standard lunch and it could be a great chance to let the kids run off a little energy after being cooped up in a car.
• Think about stopping on the way to your destination.  Weigh the value of getting to your destination in break-neck speed and cranky kids or being willing to stop along the way and let everyone stretch. Remember vacation starts the moment you pull away from the driveway, not once you get to your destination-have fun along the way.
• Plan time to relax and so nothing.  One way to add pleasure to your trip without additional expenses is to plan in some 'down time'. Every waking minute of a vacation doesn't need to be filled with something. There's nothing wrong with staying in the same spot for two nights and just hanging around the motel pool all day and watching the sunset in the evening. You'll save money and reduce stress for the next day.
• Wherever you go, don't forget to ask about discounts. For instance, some auto clubs offer motel discounts. It costs nothing to ask. At worst, you've wasted a minute. With luck, you've paid for half of dinner!

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