With the rising of prices around the United States, saving money wherever possible has become a necessity for many Americans. Whether it’s saving money at the grocery store, the mall, or on holiday gifts, I’m here to help you get more bang for your buck with these money-saving tips:

• COUPONS! Don’t have the mindset that 25 cents off is too insignificant to care about. A little goes a long way, and every quarter off here or dollar off there is going to add up! Many coupons can be redeemed at a grocery store. Since grocery shopping is usually a weekly activity, get your kids involved in the trip to turn it into a family activity. Let your kids help find coupons for items your family buys and then give them the responsibility of holding the coupons and finding the correct items in the grocery store. It will make them feel special to have a role in the shopping excursion and it will make your errand quicker and easier!

• Be sure to check out the Sunday ads every week! Not only do they point out great sales for the week, but they can also help you to plan your trip before you leave the house. If you find an item in the ads that you would like to purchase, call ahead to make sure it is in stock at the store location you’re headed to. If the item is not at that store, it will save you the gas you would have spent on the trip. Let your kids aged 10 and up call the store to get them comfortable with finding out information and asking questions on the phone. This will be a valuable resource for them later in life.

• Shop for Christmas gifts now! Yes, you heard me right, I said Christmas gifts! While it may be July, Christmas will be here before you know it. Although some gifts go on sale around the holidays, others go up in price because the time crunch leaves people desperate to purchase at any price. While shopping with your kids, take note of items they’re interested in and be on the lookout for sales of those items.

• Have a garage sale! These are a lot of fun to prepare for and the whole family can help out! Let your kids set up a stuffed animal table or put price stickers on items. Sell clothes, books, or furniture that your family does not use anymore. Be fair and reasonable in your pricing, and let your kids do some simple transactions to help sharpen their math skills. This is a great way to clear out some junk from your home and make some extra cash!

• Pass on the savings! Donate old clothes to the Salvation Army, donate canned goods at a food drive, or donate your time at a local hospital. Get your kids involved so they know how good it feels to share with someone else!

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Newsletter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.