inspired by the fact that im broke, here is a nice little list of ways to save your money...some may be pretty obvious, but maybe some will be awe-inspiring...lol

• NEVER throw away yarn. as long as you have at least a yard or even less, you can use it for lining, decoration, or a granny square. 200 pieces makes a blanket. FREE. think about it!
• yes, alpaca yarn feels great...but it costs 4 times as much as the acrylic stuff. if you wash acrylic yarn 2 or three times, it feels the same, especially I Love This Yarn (hobby lobby brand)
• DIY is not always the cheapest way to do things. check out the kind of materials, expertise, and time it takes to do whatever youre thinking of tackling.
• so it your own way. every guide i have read on bookbinding says to use expensive tools and materials. i have cut the costs of doing it in more than half. instead of leather, use used books and cut out the pages. instead of cord, use embroidery floss.
• if you need images for a journal or scrapbook page, dont pay for them. if you have those old use books, some have cool pictures in them. grab posts people leave around campus, posters, old magazines that are in the trash or are free at the grocery store.
• dont walk around with a credit card. they are useful to make larger purchases and online purchases, but trust me, when you actually see cash leave your hand, it seems alot more valuable. 30 dollars at hobby lobby seems like ALOT more when youre using cash.
• just because something is on sale or clearance, doesnt mean anything. if you need it, thats one thing, but if you just want it cuz of the price, give it a second take.
• wash ALL your laundry at one time. yes, it means you dont have "that outfit" for a while, but if you go to the laundromat, you save a few bucks going once a week or less. you also save on your detergent and softener, because you will be doing FULL loads, not half loads.
• dont always buy off-brand, check the prices per ounce/yard/gallon etc. ie: red heart pound actually costs you more even though its in bulk
• dont drink, smoke, or do drugs. theyre expensive and dont really help you in any way. alcohol is EXPENSIVE for what you are actually getting. 20 bucks for a bottle of hangover? i think not.
• dont throw away clothes or even donate them. there are free patterns for blankets, rugs, bags, towels, rags, and even sofa covers! save them up to make something unique, and save ALOT of money.
• visit charity stores often. i know i said that just because something is a bargain, dont get it..well, goodwill or wherever is the exception. i found yarn for 50 cents a skein there. they had 8 skeins. so for 4 dollars, i got a small blanket. you really have to knit-pick though. i also find most of my used books there. its worth your money to buy a book you "might" read, because its only a 1.50 as opposed to 15.99.
• pay off your card ASAP. you only accumulate charges on top of your balance, and thats more that you never got to actually use that you just have to pay off.
• dont get delivery. they can charge you a delivery fee of 4 or 5 dollars, PLUS tip. so 7 or 8 dollars means 10 or 12 dollars youre paying on top of your meal.
• dont buy specialty drinks like energy soda or coffee. there are cheaper alternatives. mountain dew actually only has a few mg's less of caffeine than its energy drink counterpart. local coffee shops charge about half the price that starbucks does.
• unless you are extremely passionate about a film, dont go see it in theaters. your patience and 3 months will pay off, saving you 10 bucks a piece. if you can wait another two months after that, the price of the dvd is usually cut in half as well.
• its not always better to buy a used car. used cars are much more prone to mechanical failures and worse gas mileage. a reliable car is fine, but if you are finding a car questionable, it probably is. toyota, smart, and ford all have models of brand new cars for under 12000.
• when a friend owes you money, no matter how easy it is, dont get paid back in any other form than cash. they may offer to buy you dinner or a movie ticket, but youre going to be alot more responsible for the cash in your hand as opposed to one free meal.
• dont always buy cheap. especially in electronics. when you buy a $15 mp3 player, i PROMISE you it wont last a year. buying a 100 or 150 dollar player will not only last you 2 or 3 years, but you will get the availability of space, battery life, and quality. the same with computers. dont buy a $400 laptop from walmart. its made of outdated equipment, and wont carry much of a warranty. this also doesnt mean you have to buy a ridiculously expensive item either.
• dont use rental services. you may think its cheaper, but in the long run, owning a movie is going to bring you more satisfaction. if you pay 3 dollars a rental, and you check out a particular movie more than 3 times, you will have paid for it if you bought it.
• compare how many hours of work it would take to get the item you want. if it seems ridiculous, it probably is.
• budget your paycheck. many people use one paycheck for rent, and one for everything else. dont get in that habit. you will have a much more balanced flow of cash if you save and budget. you wont worry as much about what youre going to eat, wear, or buy later either.
• try a weekly spending budget. if youre like me, you live in a dorm, so there isnt rent or food to pay for. i budget myself $20 a week. thats for eating out, craft supplies, books, clothes, or movies. i leave my credit card at home. by putting yourself on a weekly budget, you will buy alot fewer things, and have more momney in the long run saved up for yourself.