Ten Ways To Save
Posted February 10, 2011 8:05 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s official: penny-pinching is back in style, and with good reason. Canadians have more debt today than at any point in our history, and we’re still dealing with the aftershocks of the deepest recession in decades.
But we also pride ourselves on our fiscal savvy, and it’s that savvy we’re celebrating here, with a gallery of a few of the best and often-overlooked tips, tricks and strategies for money-saving that many Canadians may not be aware of. Or at least, many of us may not be aware of just how effective they can be.
Make Your Lunch
Last May, we crunched a few numbers to figure out just how much a typical cubicle jockey could save in a year by packing a lunch every day, rather than grabbing take-out. We expected to see savings, but the final result — $1,600 a year — took even us by surprise. As we pointed out then, that’s enough to make an above-average mortgage payment, to buy a high-end TV, or, if you’re so inclined, three iPads. See for yourself how we came to our conclusions.
Free Software
On the Internet, everything is free, if you look hard enough. Unfortunately, most of it is also illegal. But not all of it, and in fact, the open-source and freeware movements have produced an enormous variety of great, free software — from powerful word processors to anti-virus programs to organizational apps. And many of them rival the brand-name likes of Microsoft and Apple in quality.
What’s the catch? That’s the best part — there isn’t one. See our look at some of the best free software here.
Online Coupons
Coupons may seem like some pre-internet relic for obsessive penny-pinchers, but as more of our shopping has moved online, coupons have as well, and they’re more effective than ever. There are scads of coupon websites offering both printable coupons that can be used in stores, as well as paperless coupons — basically discount codes usable with online purchases. And unlike traditional coupons, you don’t have to wield a pair of scissors over a sheaf of store flyers to save 50 cents on milk.
Click here for more details, as well as links to some of the best coupon sites in Canada.
Best Jolt For Your Buck
For this one, we weren’t so much looking at how to save money on your morning coffee purchase. It was more about bang-for-the-buck. Which national fast-food coffee joint delivers the most milligrams of caffeine per dollar?
Flavour doesn’t come into the equation. This is strictly about shaking off the morning doldrums and getting yourself into gear. Our caffeine vs. cost calculations can be found here.
Automobile Insurance
The biggest single factor that determines what you pay for vehicle insurance is your vehicle’s CLEAR (Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating) score. This is an indicator put together by the Insurance Bureau of Canada that ranks vehicles based on how often they’re stolen and how they fare in collisions. So if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, the best way to reduce your insurance rate is to strike a balance between one with a good CLEAR rank and one with a reasonable price tag.
If you’ve already got a car, there are still other effective strategies you can use to reduce your premiums. See our post for all of them, and a more in-depth look at the CLEAR system.
