About Me

Dickyvman

I'm a 31 year old father with a wonderful wife and a 3 1/2 year old son. I have a passion to help others get freed from debt, save money by living frugally, and creating the opportunity to retire early. I do this by managing my online blog at Frugal Retirement

Our ultimate goal is to retire by age 52 and:
1) Save a million dollars
2) Have all debts paid off by retirement
3) All kids college paid for
4) Install kitchen cabinet, paint bedroom, build a murphy bed, and redo the master bath
5) Have four quiet times per week (2008)
6) Plant a tree and help save the environment
7) Go on a camping trip in 2008.
8) Run a 3:10 marathon and qualify for Boston

Debts (06/07/08):
Home Loan: $145,478
Wife's Student Loan: $17,367.87
My Student Loan: $6168.00

5 Things You Can Do Today to Save

May 16th, 2008 at 07:07 am

Here's a short list of 5 things you can start doing today to help you put money away for the future:

Create a "loose change" jar for all your coins and at the end of each month, deposit the collection into a stock that you believe has hit "bottom" and has growth potential. Sit on it.
Decide today that you will eat out only once (twice at the most) a week. This may be hard for those coffee/latte folks out there.

Do all your bill payments online - as well as set up automatic payments direct from your checking/savings account. This will eliminate any late fees you may encounter, plus any postage fees.
Instead of going out for a movie - or renting a movie, borrow movies from your local library. You can't go wrong with a classic movie - especially a Hitchcock!
With gas prices shooting up, find out if any of your co-workers would be willing to ride-share. This is a great way to get to know people - and save money!

What are some of your tips?

Check out my blog for other money savings tips to get to retirement early at frugal retirement.

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Posted in , Frugal Tips, Retirement | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “5 Things You Can Do Today to Save”

reldon Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 07:24 am

Instead of purchasing books and subscribing magazines, use the library. You also get to use their Air Conditioner which can save utilities in your house.
sagegirl Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 07:39 am

We use the library, especially for the kids. They love getting "new" books and the 4 year old loves getting movies.(glad we kept that old VCR). We find lots of community activities we can do for free (movies in the park, picnics at the lake, etc). I do a lot of online bill pay and keep a meticulous check book register and bill pay calendar in an attempt to avoid fees. We have an automatic thermostat that adjusts during the day to keep the a/c bill in check. I conserve gas by planning out all my errands and combining them into one trip. We rarely eat out.
honeichild Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 07:41 am

Freecycle! It's a great way to save money on anything from household items to clothes.
Ima saver Says:
May 16th, 2008 at 07:55 am

I keep my hot water heater turned off all the time. It is only turned on 30 minutes before a shower or running the dishwasher! My dh puts a switch in all the houses he is building. It turns on and off the hot water without having to go the panel box.

Retire Early Finance Blog

Seeking to save money on a daily basis to retire early.

5 Things You Can Do Today to Save

4 Responses to “5 Things You Can Do Today to Save”

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