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We're all looking for ways to save a buck these days. Well how about $100 a month? Think of what you could buy with $100 a month or better yet $1,200 a year. You could take a trip, put money in the kid's college savings, or purchase some organic duds. However you choose to spend or save the dough, it's certainly nice to have it.
Save $100 This Month
1. Buy a programmable thermostat.
Savings: $15
You can save easy money just by purchasing a programmable thermostat. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, you get the most bang for your buck by purchasing the thermostat. You can get them for as cheap as $50. It pays for itself in no time. That's a good deal for you and the planet.
2. Turn the thermostat down 4 degrees.
Savings: $7
In 2009, the average household spent almost $2,150 on home energy bills or about $180 per month. You can save 1 percent off your bill for every degree you turn down the thermostat. Turn it down four degrees and that's $7 per month or $84 per year. While four degrees may seem like a lot, you can easily turn the heat down while you're tucked away in the bed or off to work. Use that programmable thermostat to help you.
3. Make your own bread.
Savings: $20
According to the Consumer Price Index, the cost of a loaf of bread is $2.35. If your family goes through 8 per month, which in a large family is a conservative number, you could save almost $20 and that's for the cheap stuff. If you prefer artisanal breads, you could save double that. And making your own bread is in my opinion a great hobby to dive right into. Planet Green has tons of great bread recipes.
4. Cut your driving in half.
Savings: $32
According to AAA, on average it costs almost one dollar to drive the typical car one mile. That's after factoring in the cost of the car/depreciation, gas, insurance, maintenance, repairs, parking, tolls, traffic tickets, etc. Americans average about 63 miles of car travel per person per month. By cutting your driving in half you could save nearly $32 per month. Consider taking public transportation half the time, combining errands, or carpooling and in the end you can pocket the dough.
5. Go Vegetarian
Savings: $30
The cheapest cuts of beef, such as ground round, average $3 per pound in U.S. cities (lean and extra lean); boneless chicken breasts cost $3.40 a pound; and canned tuna is about $2 per pound. On the other hand, vegetarian proteins like dried beans and lentils are less than $1 a pound and rice is well below $1 per pound. The average America eats about 15 pounds of meat per month. You could save $30 per month eating all legumes instead of beef.
Total Savings: $104
More on Saving Money:
eco-nomics
Save Over $1,000 with These Six Green Tips
Save Money--and Your Health--by Going Green
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