Tuesday December 6: Tips on how to save money. If you really want to save money, there are many things you can do

Tuesday December 6: Tips on how to save money. If you really want to save money, there are many things you can do.

1. Share the newspaper: (I start off with a crazy one, just to show you how crazy you can be!) If your neighbor gets it, ask them if instead of throwing it away, they drop it at your front door when they are done with it. (This is easier if you live in apartment or condo.)

2. Buy potatoes: many times you can get 10 pounds for $2.79. I have even seen ten pounds for $0.99. Then get creative. Remember that French Fries are your favorite. But a baked potato is as easy as seven minutes in the microwave. And you don't even have to wrap it: it comes in its own "cooking pouch".

3. Buy what is on sale. if you follow this one simple rule, plus being careful to get what you want, you can save 50% on almost everything you buy, but not if you have to drive 50 miles to get to a sale. Don’t do that = false savings.

4. Almost everything is free if you are willing to be patient and wait for it. For example, furniture. I confess that I have never bought much furniture in my whole life. I just wait, and eventually you can get everything you need for free. (And it's fun.)

5. Change how you think: if your idea of fun and relaxation is shopping, change that to watching your money grow. I would rather save my money, than spend it. It just makes me happier. But that’s a habit that you must develop if you don’t do it naturally.

6. One important thing is social pressure: don’t be ashamed of being cheap. Be unabashedly cheap with yourself and unabashedly generous with others!