How to Save Money in Unusual Ways

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By Terria Fleming
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Most of us know the common ways to save money by now but if you want to take things even further in your money saving program this article has some uncommon and unusual ways you could be saving money.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

a desire to save money
a plan to save money
time and energy

Step 1

save money everyday

Take a "no buy" day or week once in awhile. This means for the entire time of the "no buy" break, you aren't allowed to buy anything new, or to go shopping.

Exceptions to the "no buy" time might include paying for medicines, food, and emergencies that come up like a car breaking down.

Save the money you would have normally spent during the day or week you are on the "no buy" break.
Step 2

save money

Learn how to barter and how to glean. Barter involves trading something you own, or a service you do, for some service or goods that someone else has. Both people must be agreeable to whatever is being traded.

There are barter sections on craigslist, and local barter groups in nearly every city. Contact them concerning the rules for bartering through them. Or, if you prefer to go it alone, just offer to trade something to someone who has something you want. It won't always work out, but it will often enough that there will be a significant savings. Keep records for tax purposes of all your barter deals.

Gleaning means going to local farming fields and asking if you can glean, or pick, the food that is left in the fields or on the trees after the pickers have been through the fields. Many farmers would be more than happy to let you do this. Ask though, never pick anything without permission.

Gleaning can also mean picking fruit from a neighbors fruit tree, if they don't want the fruit (again, ask). Or even, as in the case of Freegans, finding usable food that grocery stores have put out in their dumpsters. Use common sense and never take anything like meat, but vegetables can be washed, and anything in cans should be safe enough.
Step 3

money you saved

Cut one junk food from your diet per month. Junk food is expensive and eliminating it can save a chunk of change. Start with things like potato chips, soda pop, or sugary cereals. None of these things are very healthy for you and you'll be saving money each month.

Don't substitute an equally costly junk food for the one you eliminated. Switch to water or fresh fruits as a snack for example.
Step 4

Get furniture and other household goods for free through freecycle, or through the craigslists free section. You won't get your choice of styles or brands true, but you can't beat the price.

You can also buy goods, at greatly reduced prices, through state auctions, federal auctions, and pawn shops.
Step 5

Raise chickens for your egg needs if you have the room, and it isn't banned in your neighborhood. Chickens aren't noisy if you don't have a rooster, and you don't need one for eggs.

Or try raising vegetables on your balcony if you're a city dweller. You can get a lot of vegetables from a few carefully planned pots and containers. read gardening books from the library if you don't know anything about gardening.