Reduce Household Expenses With Coupons And Discounts

If you know me at all, you know that I rarely advocate using coupons for food as a way to save money. The reason is that the vast majority of food coupons are for items that do nothing to improve your health – in fact, they are usually foods that encourage disease in some way. However, if you want to reduce overall household expenses, using coupons and discounts in areas other than food will be of great help in your goal of increased frugality.

One are to look at is entertainment. While the most frugal choice here is to create your own free entertainment by playing games with your family or with other families, or by borrowing old movies from the library, at some point you want to get out and do something different. How do you save money here? There are several online services, such as Groupon, that will send you daily discounts for such places as zoos, museums, amusement parks, theaters and more.

Another area that can add up quickly is household decorating. Some women are into creating crafts; others simply enjoy adding and changing accessories to their existing furniture layout. One of the most popular stores in the U.S. that sells all kind of DIY interior decorating goods, from thread and oil paints to baskets and picture frames, is Michaels. You can save lots when you use a coupon for Michaels.

What about household appliances? While we don’t purchase them often, when we do they can leave a big hole in our bank account. You can probably find an online coupon for whatever kind of appliance you want – dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc. – but if you can’t, the Big Box stores like Lowes and Home Depot often have sales and special deals.

When it comes to buying furniture, the best way to save money is to purchase it on consignment. I can tell you from experience that you can get some beautiful pieces in great condition for less than half the price that the original owner paid for it. Not to mention that it’s the “green” thing to do. You can even sometimes find great furniture at thrift stores, though I’ve found that it tends to be on the low end and more beat up.

If you’re like my family and find that your healthy food budget is always much higher than you wish, remember that the ways to save money mentioned above can literally save you thousands over a year’s time.