How to Stretch that Dollar

Making Your Dollar Last Longer

We have all been in the situation where we need more money than what we have. We start thinking to ourselves, if only I could make this money stretch a little farther! The truth is, that dollar can stretch farther, but you have to be willing to make the necessary changes. Below are just a few suggestions to getting more bang for your buck.

• Make Meals at Home
  • Cooking at home provides more filling meals as well as a greater quantity of food than just going out every night. Plus, it can be quite a bit cheaper!

• Buy Generic Products
  • There's that dreaded word, generic. As hard as it may be to believe, many generic products are produced by the name brand companies and taste just the same. The difference is that generic brands offer the same products at a lower prices. Not all generic brands are the same and you may find that some name brands you cannot pull yourself away from. However, next time you are at the store try to pick up a few generic products and watch your grocery bill start to drop

• Consider Kicking A Habit
  
  • Smoking, drinking or getting coffee every day can add up quickly. If possible, consider limiting or cutting these habits our completely. There's a big difference, financially, between getting coffee once a week and getting it once a day. 

• Use Your Student Discount
  • One of the greatest perks of being a student is that a lot of places offer discounts for you. When you go out to eat with friends don't be afraid to ask if the restaurant offers discounts. The worst thing they can say is no.

• Use Inexpensive Transportation
  • Public transportation can cost a lot less than paying to fuel up your car every week. Consider biking or walking when you can. If you have friends who drive, see if they are willing to carpool to save a little money as well. 

• Comparison shop for items you want to buy
  • Thrift stores and clearance racks can offer you the same clothes that you might normally pay a fortune for, for a lot less. Textbooks that are gently used by other students can provide a cheaper way to get the school supplies that you need.