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Tips from our readers
What things do you do to save money every day? We asked our readers to provide their tips. Read the best responses.
About the series
Spending Smart is a weekly series designed to help you stretch your dollars further in these uncertain times. Each Sunday we'll feature a new article.
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More tips
Cellphone expensive? Consider prepaid
Prepaid phones, with a set number of minutes, are becoming more appealing as careful budgeting becomes paramount in a tight economy.
Ticket resale market booms
Where you buy has a lot to do with how much you'll pay - and how confident you can be in your purchase.
Nov. 1
Look for waves to save
Buying new eyeglasses doesn't mean you have to blow through your paycheck. There are good bargains out there for thrifty shoppers who want to see in style.
Oct. 25
Sounding off on soundbars
So, you have your 50-inch plasma television, Blu-ray video player, and high-definition cable. But what about the sound? That's where soundbars come in.
Oct. 18
The ticket for frugal foodies
Hard-core cooks sometimes spend lots of money on kitchen toys. But those gadgets can blow a budget. These lower-cost substitutes can often fit the bill.
Oct. 11
The hunt for more funding
Financing is available in a recession, but securing it can be tricky. Here are tips for getting cash your small business needs after savings accounts are tapped out.
Oct. 4
Save money with a netbook
Netbooks are all the rage these days. For half the price of a regular laptop, you can buy an ultra portable, ultra small netbook that does the job nicely.
Sept. 27
A new look at groceries
Braintree-based firm NuVal calculates the nutritional value of foods and beverages into easy-to-understand scores by examining more than 30 nutrients.
Sept. 20
Capturing the hidden music
You know about radio and CDs, satellite and MP3s, but did you know the biggest music selection is streaming over the Internet? And you can hear it all for free.
Sept. 13
Don't go broke going back
How do you sort out the loans, grants, and tax incentives that could make midcareer schooling affordable?
Sept. 6
Keep cool about car repairs
Studying up before a visit to the auto repair or oil change center can cut consumers' costs and frustration.
Aug. 30
PC deals are easy to find
Bargain-hunters can find cheap, used computers up for grabs at Internet auction sites and flea markets.
Aug. 23
Printers that do it all
By the time you buy a printer, a scanner, and a fax, you'll start to see that an all-in-one device can be more efficient.
Aug. 16
Store data in a flash
The way we store our vital personal data and downloaded media has evolved faster than arguably the computer, itself.
Aug. 9
A guide to hybrid autos
During a time of recession and high gas prices, buyers have more options of fuel-efficient vehicles than ever.
Aug. 2
Edhance enhances deals
Cash-strapped college students looking for discounts without the hassle of coupons and mail-in rebates can tap into a website to score exclusive deals with merchants.
July 26
Keeping workers happy
For businesses that can't offer monetary perks, there are other cost-effective ways to improve worker productivity during the summer months.
July 19
Electronics upgrade
Consumers who want a new cellphone, flat-screen television, or iPod every six months to a year can get them from TechForward Inc.
July 12
Cellphone savings worth research
When we looked into switching cellphone companies recently, we were soon drowning in options.
July 5
Hunting for secondhand bargains
In this economy, one market that remains jam-packed with shoppers is the flea market. And there is no shortage of vendors and hagglers in Massachusetts.
June 28
Downsizing your life
Like many of you, we are scrambling to downsize our lifestyles. Peter J. Sander offered professional help at whittling away extra costs.
June 21
Make your iPod sing
Audio companies lining up to push their products as alternatives to the white earbuds that come with your iPod. But are they worth it?
June 14
Shoppers of the world, unite
Get on the computer and buy with friends - or even strangers - and receive deep discounts on local products and services.
June 7
Put garage sale on Web
Garage sale season is upon us. Time to surf the Web. Auction sites and online marketplaces give sellers a way to unload unused items.
May 31
Car care can pay off
Staying current on maintenance, paying attention to spending, and making small changes to your driving habits can help keep costs down.
May 24
Less bite out of your wallet
To entice price-conscious diners, fast-food joints to high-end establishments are now offering promotions that would have appeared almost extreme a year ago.
May 17
Stay in touch - on the cheap
When the tough economy forces families to find ways to save money, the telephone bill can be one of the most vexing places to look for cost savings.
May 10
Tips for lower grocery bills
Is your high grocery bill getting you down during this recession? Here are five ways you can cut back on food spending.
May 3
Give time instead of money
Don't have extra cash to give to charity during this recession? You can still donate your time.
Apr. 26
A big-day dress for less
When you're shopping for a wedding dress, don't forget to look for second-hand finds.
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- Gallery Wedding dresses had for under $100
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- Video
Apr. 19
Spreading an iPod's music
When shopping for an iPod docking station, look for strong midrange output and avoid the extremes.
Apr. 12
Cheap chic's not so shabby
You can dress chic, and still be cheap. To prove this point, the Globe went on a shopping spree at the local Goodwill Outlet Store... and scored.
Apr. 5
Now you're talking
Several computer programs allow you to learn a foreign language at home, but choose that program carefully.
Mar. 29
Easily capture memories
Affordable, hand-held digital camcorders are now common, but fancier videocams deliver a wealth of options.
Mar. 22
Scrimp on money, not fun
If your social life is taking a toll on your budget, these five ideas can help you entertain at home on the cheap.
Mar. 15
A better view for your PC
Four monitors offer something for everyone - but how many bells and whistles do you need?
Mar. 8
Yankee thrift, personified
Former economist economizes at home, earning the title of most frugal New Englander.
- Gallery 14 tips from the most frugal New Englander
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- Video Bargain huntress
Mar. 1
Do-it-yourself tax software
You have to do your taxes. The question is how are you going to get them done. These programs can take some of the pain out of preparing your tax return.
Feb. 28
25 tips on saving
For the last day of the series, we leave you with a clip-and-save list of 25 things you can do to save money, including some great tips from readers.
- Gallery Read more tips from our readers
Feb. 27
Big screen, small bucks
Want to find out whether "Slumdog Millionaire" deserved all those Oscars? Is Kate Winslet all that? Here's a guide to how to pay less for a visit to the cinema.
Feb. 26
Swap till you drop
Coupledom is often a day-and-night exercise in sharing, whether it's splitting bills or DVR space. But for some lovebirds, sharing a life also means sharing apparel.
Feb. 25
Snap up art at a discount
The art market is resetting itself after years of virtually unchecked growth. That means works once snatched up immediately are now available.
Feb. 24
Make a minor adjustment
You won't see Zdeno Chara taking a slap shot or Randy Moss leaping over a defensive back. But you won't feel guilty about buying a bag of peanuts.
Feb. 23
Cut the landline
Do I really need a landline since I'm always on my cellphone? That's a question on a lot of minds these budget-cutting days.
- Discuss Have you dropped your landline?
Feb. 22
Reining in drug costs
These days the price of prescription drugs can seem harder to swallow than the pills themselves. But generics and mail order can help you save.
Feb. 21
Run from gym contracts
As fitness centers struggle to hold on to customers in the down economy, members can - with a little work - negotiate better deals for themselves.
Feb. 20
For gadgets, patience pays
Who wants to go first? Not me. When the next new thing in consumer electronics comes along, I step aside for the teenage geek with the broken piggy bank.
Feb. 19
Dating on a $40 budget
True love is priceless, but in these tight economic times, romance is subject to a budget. Here are 8 great dates that cost around $40 total.
Feb. 18
Negotiate your medical bills
If you can't afford your medical bills, you can, and you should, negotiate directly with the billing department of a hospital or clinic to have your bill discounted.
Feb. 17
Travel on the cheap
If there is a sliver of sunshine peeking through the storm clouds of this recession, it may be: There might never be a better time to travel.
Feb. 16
Think long-term
Your 401(k) plan is bloodied, the Dow keeps diving, and you're wondering what to do next. Forget about wealth. Right now, we'd happily take survival management.
Feb. 15
Stay calm over rate hike
If you've gotten a letter informing you that your credit card company has jacked up your rate, think twice before you cancel the card.
Feb. 14
Don't be a broke Valentine
Even after Valentine's is over, plan a romantic day with some tips on saving money without losing the loving spirit.
Feb. 13
Feast on a tight budget
The challenge was simple: Cook a good meal for a family of five, and spend no more than $10.
Feb. 12
In praise of clunkers
It might not have a built-in iPod adapter, or even, in my case, a CD player. But an old car can offer something a new car can't - low costs all around.
Feb. 11
Worried? Take a second job
In this downturn, we're not just losing jobs. We're working longer hours, having our wages frozen, and taking pay cuts.
Feb. 10
How to cut down on baby-sitting costs
There is a way to have baby-sitting and a cheap night out. It just requires a little effort, ingenuity, and some community spirit.
Feb. 9
Fine wine on a budget
How can you scale back on your wine costs without sacrificing quality? Here are some tips, such as attending wine tastings to figure out what you like.
Feb. 8
Point. Click. Bank. And save.
Save money and avoid annoying fees with online banking, which also makes it easier to shop for better rates and incentives that earn you cash.
Feb. 7
Gardening is easy, thrifty
Home gardeners who plant lettuce and other vegetables can save more than $400 per season over grocery prices.
Feb. 6
Get cultured for free
Going to a performance by Buffalo Tom leader Bill Janovitz (above) is one of many things you can do for free in Feb.
Feb. 5
Call for cable discount
Knowing that cable companies are desperate to hold on to customers, it may pay off to hit the phones.
Feb. 4
Making cheap the new cool
Jeff Yeager, a former chief executive with various nonprofits in Washington, D.C., launched his career as "the ultimate cheapskate" five years ago.
- Chat transcript Jeff Yeager on his frugal ways
Feb. 3
Energy audits can cut bills
Each year, in January, our first serious winter heating bill arrives. It is not a happy day. So naturally, I was eager to sign up for an energy audit.
- gallery Seven ways to save on heating oil
- Video Inside a home energy audit
Feb. 2
Food shopping online curbs impulse buys
With online grocery-delivery services, you're less likely to buy items you don't need.
Feb. 1
Shopping auto insurers
A Massachusetts Insurance Federation survey found that 3 in every 4 drivers hadn't sought better deals.