How to Save $$$ When You Don’t Have a Dollar to Spare To begin to understand where it is that our money goes, it is important to look at some of the ways that we spend our money. Looking at the cost of certain items over a week, month, or year will surprise you. In a year, money can be saved by cutting back or eliminating some of the little items bought every day. For example, if you save 15¢ every day for one year, you will have saved $54.75. Developed by Agents and Specialists of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M System, reviewed and revised 2009. Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.

Soda 65¢ x 365 days = $237 $1.30 x 365 days = $474 One soft drink per day costs $237 per year. (.65 × 365 = $237) Two soft drinks per day costs $474 per year. ($1.30 × 365 = $474) To lower this cost, we can: • buy when on sale • buy store or generic brands • drink water

Donut 50¢ each One donut per day costs $182.50 per year. (.50 × 365 days = $182.50) Donuts are high in sugar and fat and are not necessary in our lives. If you eat one donut a day, that is about 2,800 extra calories in a week. It only takes 2,500 extra calories in your diet to gain 1 pound of fat.

One cup of coffee and one donut = $1.30 $1.30 x 5 days = $6.50 each week $6.50 x 52 weeks = $338 a year Coffee – 80¢ a cup One cup of coffee at 80¢ and one donut at 50¢ during the work week costs $6.50 a week or $338 a year. (1.30 × 5 days = $6.50 per week or $6.50 × 52 weeks = $338 per year) We can save money by bringing coffee from home or ... (ask for ideas from the audience). Donut - 50¢ each

Cigarettes ($7.00 per pack × 365 days = $2,555) One pack of cigarettes per day costs $2,555 per year. ($7.00 per pack × 365 days = $2,555) What could you do with this extra money? ($7.00 per pack × 365 days = $2,555)

Beer One 12-pack @ $10 each x 52 weeks = $520 Another item that we can spend a lot of money on is beer. If you buy one 12 pack a week, in one year you will spend $520. Or if you buy two 12 packs a week, in one year you will spend $1,040. One 12-pack @ $10 each x 52 weeks = $520 Two 12-packs @ 10 each x 52 weeks = $1,040

Lunch $5 a day x 5 days x 52 weeks = $1,300 If you were to eat lunch out 5 days a week, in one year you will spend $1,300. ($5 × 5 days × 52 weeks = $1,300) If a family of 4 were to eat out once a week, in one year you will spend $1,300. ($25 × 52 weeks = $1,300)

Movie Ticket $6 per Ticket 2 tickets @ $6 each = 12 x 52 weeks = $624 Going to the movies can be very expensive. If a movie ticket costs $6, and 2 people go once a week, $624 will be spent in one year. If 4 people go to the movies once a week, they will spend $1,248 in a year. And that’s without buying popcorn and soda! What are some alternatives for family entertainment? 2 tickets @ $6 each = 12 x 52 weeks = $624 4 tickets @ $6 each = 24 x 52 weeks = 1,248

Taquito…$325 Coffee…$182 Soda…$237 Lunch…$1,400 TOTAL…$2,144 If we were to eat 1 taco, drink 1 cup of coffee and 1 soda, and eat lunch out every day during the work week, in one year, you will spend $2,144. This is amazing when you begin to calculate where you are spending your money.

Do You Want to Change?

Change is Hard. Ask Yourself… • Do I need this? • Is this even good for me? • What would happen if I could not have this? • Is there a better way to spend this money? • Do I still want it? Why?

• Look for alternatives that you can live with. • Set goals. • Keep goals visible.

We all have bad habits. Habits can be changed if we really have the desire to do so. It is okay to go to the movies or out to eat, but plan these activities only for special occasions. Paying attention to how we spend our money and making small changes can result in big savings of money for ourselves and our family.