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By Selena Maranjian (TMF Selena)
July 9, 2002

Q. Do you have some good money-saving tips to offer?

A. Absolutely. Clipping and using coupons is perhaps the most obvious suggestion. If you do this, consider keeping your coupons organized in some kind of small file system -- perhaps a series of small envelopes. Here are some additional ideas:

1. Plan your shopping according to what's on sale.
2. Most things will be on sale at some point. Wait for your favorite brands, especially non-perishables such as toilet paper or canned goods, to go on sale -- then stock up.
3. Don't shop for food on an empty stomach.
4. Don't shop without a list of what you need to buy, and stick to the list.
5. Compare prices per unit on what you buy. Sometimes a bigger container is the better bargain, sometimes smaller is better.
6. Cereal is expensive. Buy it when it's on sale, or buy cereal in bags, which tends to be less expensive.
7. Buy some items online, when it's less expensive to do so. Try BlueFly, Overstock.com, and SmartBargains. Pet food can be found inexpensively online. (Here are some vendors I can't vouch for, being pet-less at the moment, but might be worth a look: PetFoodDirect.com, PetsMart.com, Petco.com.)
8. Shop at outlets.
9. Research purchases with Consumer Reports magazine (and website), Epinions.com, and other resources. They'll help you buy the better-quality products at reasonable prices.
10. Buy high-quality items. They tend to last longer and serve you better.
11. Ask yourself if you really need whatever you're about to buy. Maybe you do really want it, but you can put off the purchase for a while.
12. Examine restaurant and store receipts closely, as they often contain errors (sometimes intentionally!).
13. Examine the change you get from cashiers.
14. Shop at discount clubs such as Costco or BJ's. You'll find some amazing bargains at these stores. Just don't assume that everything there is a bargain. (Consumer Reports recently rated such stores.)
15. Buy store brands when possible, not name brands.
16. Look for rebate forms at stores and send in for rebates.
17. Buy used when you can -- for items such as books, CDs, and furniture. (Half.com and Amazon.com offer many used books and CDs, among other things.) Also, consider using a library instead of buying, when possible, and sell your used items when you're done with them.
18. If you like having fresh flowers in your home, grow them yourself.
19. Plant a raspberry bush. Each time you pick a cup of raspberries, you'll be saving yourself a few dollars.
20. When you're itching to get out of the house for a meal, consider going on a picnic rather than going to a restaurant. You'll save money, and you'll enjoy the great outdoors.

You'll find many more handy tips on our Living Below Your Means discussion board. The board's directory of tips is especially handy. Once you've saved some money, put it to work for you -- learn more in our Short-Term Savings Center (which features some attractive rates on CDs and money markets).

If you have any questions, thoughts or opinions on this topic, share them with others on our discussion board for Ask the Fool.

This question and answer is adapted from The Motley Fool Money Guide: Answers to Your Questions About Saving, Spending and Investing. For answers to this and 499 other common money questions, check it out -- it's a handy resource.