Page 52 - August 2016 Newsletter

BERGER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50
Buy and sell everything online
In addition to being a great way to de-clutter your home, selling old, unused and no-longer-needed furniture, art, appliances, clothing, jewelry, shoes, books, never-opened reams of paper and more is quickly becoming the easiest way to make money on the fly from the confines of your own home. After the sale, you can use earnings to buy re- placement items from the very same sites and still have money leftover to save, invest or spend! There are a pleth- ora of sites from which to choose; so do your research. Our favorite place to both buy and sell gently used items is Amazon (www.amazon.com).
Get your hair done for free – men, women and kids
Many salons offer unpaid internships for beauty school students to hone their trade, with their full array of cut, color and styling services offered to guests for free. Call around for deals or visit Salon Apprentice online (www. salonapprentice.com) for daily updates.
Get fit for free
Instead of paying health club dues, download reputable fitness programs created by experienced trainers for free. A popular choice is Sworkit/Sworkit Kids.
Be kind to the environment
In addition to caring for the environment, simple things can be kind to your budget: turn off lights when you leave a room; turn off water while brushing your teeth and wip- ing dishes; buy energy-saving appliances and light bulbs; and reduce phantom power – the flow of energy from cords plugged into outlets for appliances or items not currently being used or which are fully charged.
Entertainment on a dime
There are many ways to enjoy your favorite pastimes but still stay on budget. Movie matinees allow you to skip the crowds and save on early bird tickets. Ask your favor- ite restaurant if you can bring your own wine – if you are a regular it should acquiesce and you will save money on an upcharge. Like dining al fresco? Grab friends, task each with making a dish, get a blanket and enjoy dining in any number of our great parks. Love culture? Find out when museums offer free days or discounts.
“Cop the wallet”
Just like not wearing a watch is often the only way to ease stress, leaving your wallet at home or in the office when you go for a walk can save you money. How many times have you made subconscious purchasing decisions, such as a cup of coffee, just because the shop is on the way to work, or gum because 7-11 is next to the restau- rant? As reaching for the wallet is so easy and automatic, you may need to reprogram your mind to think walking is for walking, not for walking in and out of stores. To do so, try to “cop the wallet” on your next walking break.
There are endless money-saving strategies from which to choose. Try to think outside the box to find things that work for you to meet your financial goals. Speaking of goals, it is usually best to have visual aids of what you are working toward. That way, whenever you reach for the wallet to make what may be an unwise purchase choice, you can see, or visualize, why exactly you should stop, re- think your decision and save to get what you really want instead of some immediate gratification. d
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