Suzanne O’Connor’s Bargains LA

Learn to do it Yourself

If you’re like most Americans you’ve tightened your wallet. Even those of us whose jobs have not been threatened and whose bottom line is still strong have tightened up. Good for you.

But the objective should not be just to spend less and live more frugally. The objective is to live a better, richer life for less. Cutting back doesn’t mean you have to give up things, just learn how to do it yourself.

When life gets tough, it’s time to learn how to do it yourself. Make a sport of saving money and learning new skills. Brag about what you can now do and how much you saved to your friends. They’ll probably have great money saving ideas too.

Think about these ideas…

Eating Out…

If you have to cut back on eating out, learn how to cook like a gourmet. Sign up for a cooking class at a local Community College. Shop the small farmers markets and produce markets. Talk to a butcher. Learn about cuts of meat. Try shopping a Smart and Final or Costco store, clip coupons. Learn how to save and eat well for less. Instead of going out to dinner with friends, you can do pot luck dinners so you won’t have to give up social eating.

Try your local bar or restaurants Happy hours. Meet with friends order a soft drink and snack on everything from chicken wings to cheese and crackers. Bars and restaurants are bringing Happy Hours and early bird specials back. Join in the fun and save.

Beauty Services…

Learn how to give yourself or a friend a facial or a manicure. It’s not hard to give yourself a manicure/ pedicure. All you need is a pumice stone, nail cleaners/ clippers, emery boards, lotion and nail polish. It can save you thousands of dollars over the year.
Just go in for special occasions.

If you’ve been having you hair professionally tinted, learn how to do it yourself and only going in for highlights occasionally. If you can’t afford getting your hair cut at your regular pricey salon, look for a lower priced salon or try a beauty school. If you don’t want to give up your hairdresser consider going longer time spans between cuts.

Cleaning Services…

If you’ve been having someone regularly clean your home, learn efficient ways to keep it clean yourself. Learn to multi task. I regularly dust, sweep, do dishes, and cook dinner while I am on the phone handling other things. Have your kids chip in more often… Its good for them.

Other ideas…

Wash your car yourself instead of taking it to a car wash.
Do your own gardening, make your own coffee.
Got a yard or balcony… Save money and grow your own vegetables and herbs.

Learn how to limit your cell phone calls. You don’t need to gab unnecessarily Keep conversations concise. After you’ve trimmed your behavior, you can trim your cell phone minutes and save.

Cutting back on the little things and learning how to do things yourself, not only can save you thousands of dollars, it will enrich your life. It should be a positive experience not a depressing one.