Skype for Long Distance Savings

Saving Money at Home

Saving Energy at Home

Getting the Most From Your Credit Card

Do a lot of overseas calling? Looking to Save on your phone bill? Check out Skype!

Skype is software you can download for FREE that allows you to call (using your computer) all over the world for FREE!! They also offer videocalls if you have a webcam.

They offer unlimited nationwide calls, less than $3 per month: 12 months of unlimited calls to any phone within the US and Canada. No connection fees charged for calls to US or Canadian phones. Only $29.95 for 12 months, or $8.85 for 3 months (calls made from within the US and Canada). International calls as low as 2.1¢ per minute: 2.1¢ per minute to over 30 global destinations (rates based on destination country). Connection fee of 3.9¢ charged for each call. Buy Skype Credit to pay perminute.

The credits are deducted as you make your SkypeOut calls. For more information, visit www.skype.com.

Saving $... At Home.. Groceries

For most families, groceries and eating out is a very large part of the monthly budget. First of all, eating at home instead of dining out will save you a bundle. Prepare for the week by buying things in volume. Pack lunches, snacks, water and other items so you are not tempted to stop someplace and pay a premium price because you are only purchasing one.

Tips for Market Purchases

1. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at the lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores usually charge the highest prices.
2. Shop with a list. You will spend less on food if you shop with a list because you are not buying so many spur of the moment items.
3. Compare prices. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing price-per-ounce or other unit prices on shelf labels. Stock up on those items with low per-unit costs.
4. Stock up on items you use on a regular basis when they go on sale.
5. Use coupon with caution. So often coupons are used to promote sales of products you don’t need or is a more expensive brand than what you usually purchase. Many times you can save more on the things you NEED by waiting until they go on sale.

Other Tips: No Need for Coupons!

Buy your produce local. Take advantage of farmers markets and roadside stands which eliminate the middle man. Your produce will be fresher as well. Coops are an excellent way to buy your groceries at wholesale, saving you 40%, even 50%!

Join an existing coop in your area or if you can’t find one, get some friends and family together and start one. Most coops have a catalog from which you can make your selections and order either online or through your organizer (usually monthly).

About a week later your orders (of the members in the coop) are delivered to a central location (usually someone’s house or a church) and everyone’s orders are divided from there. The selection of products is far greater than any grocery store could possibly carry.

Many products (not all) are ordered by the case (6 or 12) but you can split them with other members. It’s free to join, fun and simple to do!

Look here for a coop near you:
National: www.coopdirectory.org
In the Midwest: www.mwnaturalfoods.coop
Organics: www.organicconsumers.org/ foodcoops.htm
Farmers Markets: www.localharvest.org

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Saving Energy (and $) Around the House

Unplug devices you haven't used in the past week or so. Even if they aren't turned on, they probably use some juice.

Energy Efficient Appliances: Use a toaster oven when cooking small items. They use less energy than your regular oven and they don't require preheating. The approximate yearly cost to use ovens of various types is:
Electric Oven: $27
Toaster Oven: $14
Gas Oven: $13
Convection/Toaster Oven: $10

Washer/Dryer: You can save money by washing clothes with cold water, drying only full loads (without overloading), cleaning the lint filter, and stopping the dryer as soon as the clothes are dry. Removing clothes and folding or hanging them right away will also reduce the need for ironing which saves you time and money.

TOU: Find out if your local power company has a "Time of Use" program. This means you'll be charged more for electricity during prime times but less during off hours. When you switch to TOU, the power company will install a new meter. You may be able to save $500 (or more) a year with this idea. Businesses can participate too.

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GET THE MOST SPENDING POWER out of Cash Back Credit Cards Use them for every purchase you possibly can ... at the gas station, at the grocery store, etc. Also, find out how many of your monthly bills can be paid by credit card (such as utilities, etc.). Rack up as much as possible on this cash back credit card, then PAY OFF THE BALANCE EVERY MONTH so there's no interest charge. One bill at the end of the month covers all our expenditures, so there's much less check writing and better organization, too.

You can receive hundreds of dollars back annually this way. It's sort of a way to beat the system -- no interest, and the credit card company pays YOU to use their card which not only simplifies your paperwork but also puts money in your pocket!

EVEN BETTER! Sign up for a 5% cash back credit card with 0% introductory rates for up to 12 or 15 months and no annual fee. Use the same strategy as mentioned above. Except this time, you don't need to pay off your balance every month! Just make minimum payments! Because the interest rate is 0%, you're borrowing money for free! Use this to your advantage! Just make sure to know when the introductory period ends so you can pay off the entire balance by then, often one whole year!

Please go to www.insidercreditcards.com for our recommended credit cards with these features.

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