Simple steps to lower your cost of living

Taking control of your personal finances can be as easy as determining how to get more for less. Simple steps can get you down the road to more money in your bank account. I love “easy” and “simple”, don’t I? Go back to your ABCs, or in this case, Cs. Think of clubs; think of coupons; Think of clarity.

Wholesale clubs charge a fee, but the savings you earn can pay you back in a month. Consider splitting the fee with a friend or two and turning your shopping days into social events. (Don’t get carried away once you’re there. Too much of anything, even half the price, is not a bargain.)

Clubs aren’t just of the Sam’s or Costco variety. Other memberships have their privileges. Bookstores like Border’s offer free membership and that translates into weekly and monthly discounts. Other retailers are joining the act: World Market, for example, offers its members not only coupons for each purchase, but also special discounts that change from week to week.

Your favorite place to shop may have its own club; check their website or ask the next time you visit. Store managers encourage their employees to sign up shoppers to email lists. However, you shouldn’t be afraid of being spammed, as most companies, responding to customer concerns, are refusing to sell their lists today.

The Internet is also a source of coupons. Many companies have stopped buying newspaper space for these, so if you want that extra fifty cents from your next box of laundry detergent, try websites dedicated to brands, like Tide, or general retailers, like Target. Once you’ve signed up for a first-time discount offer, the coupon emails usually follow. And Target is a company that has its own link for printable coupons for store brands and overstock.

Retailers also send surveys to customers, either by email or by linking to a receipt. Definitely take the time to complete them! The retailer receives the feedback and you get a coupon of between ten and thirty percent off your next purchase.

Many companies now have software that tracks customer purchases. This can be based on membership cards or purchases at the same time. The end result is that your database can determine your favorite items, or at least the ones you buy most often, and then generate and send the appropriate coupons for the next time you shop.

When it comes to clarity, it saves money by being clear about what you intend to buy before you buy it. That means, make a list. Going to the supermarket with one of those makes you less likely to impulsively buy and less likely to forget just how specific you intended to buy. Doing the latter can mean a trip back to the store, which means using gasoline. Like the interest on your credit statement, that adds up, and it’s alarming.

And then: embrace your vitamin C! Join the retail clubs. Clip coupons.

Clear up your planned purchases with a list before you leave. Add sunshine to your bank account … (oh, you knew I was going to say that!) Improving your financial status doesn’t have to be complicated.