Money is tight for everyone.  Many people are in severe financial trouble.  Being single just makes it harder and since you are the only breadwinner, you need to be extra careful with your money.

One of your main expenses will be your car.  Try to buy a newer model, preferably a four-cylinder.  These smaller cars get much better gas mileage and cost less than larger cars or minivans.

Take advantage of depreciation by buying a car that is not quite new.  By buying a car that is two or three years old, you can save a lot of money on the price.   

When I needed a newer car, I saved my money.  I bought a car for $12,000 and it only had 20,000 miles on it.  If I would have bought this car brand-new, I would have spent another $10,000. 

Another way you can save money is to buy your groceries at Costco or Sam’s Club.  These warehouse stores buy such large quantities of food that they receive a discount.  Then they pass these savings to you.

The only problem with these places is that they sell in bulk.  Unless you have a lot of children, the groceries may sit on your shelf for quite awhile.  If you end up throwing the food out, then you haven’t saved any money.  What would be ideal would be to freeze some of the food, or find a way to split the groceries and the cost with someone else. 

If buying in bulk won’t work, then shop at supermarkets such as Wal-Mart, Food 4 Less, Winco, and even Stater Bros.  These stores have pretty good prices.  You can buy a lot of groceries for your money.  They also accept coupons which you can clip from various sources.

Now that you have the groceries, save a lot of money by just eating at home.  It’s so much more nutritious to cook something rather than going out to eat.  If you don’t feel like cooking, open something that you purchased at Costco that is already fully cooked, or just eat a salad or some fruit.  Every meal doesn’t have to have three courses.

It’s very pleasant to prepare a plate of food and sit down together to eat.  It’s probably quiet in your kitchen and you can enjoy each other’s company.  When was the last time it was quiet in a restaurant?

When you eat out and go to a fast food restaurant, you are ingesting a lot of empty calories.  Fast food is very unhealthy.  Even food that is prepared in a regular restaurant may not be good for you.  At least when you’re at home, you can control what you prepare.

If however you do decide to go out, save some money by ordering ala carte.  This means that you don’t need to order the Value Meal or whatever package they have on the menu.  These meals usually have three components: the sandwich, the fries, and the soda.  Just order the sandwich and you’ll save a lot of calories and a lot of money.  You can always drink water.  You’re still going out, but you’re not spending a fortune and receiving such little value for your money.  

Since controlling your money is so important, remember these tips: buy a used car, buy in bulk, and eat home as much as possible.  Remember, it’s your money.

For Part 1 of Money Saving Techniques  

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