Be consistent in the small things.

I wanted to take a day in this devotional to offer practical advice that I’ve learned through the years on how to be frugal. Once you start integrating several of these money-saving tips into your everyday life, you will find that you can literally save thousands of dollars annually by just being mindful of how and where you spend! Just like Proverbs 21:20 says, "The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get."

1. Invest in a thermos and make your own coffee at home. It is estimated that coffee shops’ average cup of coffee with all the fixings is $7.00 and the average American buys 3 per week. This is almost $84 per month spent on luxury coffee. That’s $1,008 per year!
2. Unplug all appliances in your home when not in use. That’s right. Unplug that television, lamp, blender, and can opener. Even when appliances are not in use, they still use energy when staying plugged in.
3. Call your credit card company and ask for a lower rate. The rate may have been at 28% several years ago, but credit card companies will very often lower your rate in order to save your business. (I recommend having $0 credit card debt, but in the event, you already have debt, get the lowest rate possible to pay it off).
4. Shop cable, internet, and phone companies. Most of us sign up for these services when moving into a new place and rarely ever do anything different. Because the economic market is suppressed, competition among companies is very high. Call your companies and ask for their very best deals. Then, simply shop competitors. (I have even been paid $100 cash to stay with my phone company in the past!)
5. Refinance your home if you are a homeowner. If current rates are lower than the rate you currently have on your mortgage, consider refinancing! Or if you have a large amount of high-interest debt, refinancing can be a viable option, even when the rate of the new mortgage is slightly higher.
6. Take advantage of coupons and rebates. There are many apps dedicated to this purpose.
7. Learn about “Kids Eat Free” specials. There are websites in almost every community that broadcast the daily kids-eat-free restaurants.
8. Learn the art of the slow cooker meal. There are hundreds of recipes for almost any kind of meat. The neat thing is this — not only are you feeding your family a healthier meal at a significantly lower cost than eating out, but it is also an easy way to have a warm family meal together.
9. Drive slower. Simple but very true. Faster speeds burn more gas. With gas prices sky-rocketing, you can save hundreds annually by simply going 5 miles slower per hour.
10. Ask for discounts on everything. Cable, Internet, everything!
11. Take a financial education course. They can help you identify unnecessary spending and are often free through local churches or nonprofit centers.
12. Color your own hair. Most people can’t even tell the difference! I’ve colored my own hair for years and have almost perfected it, saving hundreds for my family.
13. Carpool when you can!
14. Go meatless a few times a week. Skipping the meat and opting for an alternative protein source, such as legumes or eggs, can often yield financial savings.
15. Sign up for email lists for stores & restaurants. Many send their followers special discounts.

Mommas, I know these tips for saving are not revolutionary, but they have helped me tremendously as I became intentional about where to cut expenses for my family. The more intentional I became, the more money-saving tips I learned, especially when money was super-tight. Remember every dollar counts when stewarding your money well!

Points to Ponder:

• Name 3 ways you will commit to saving money in the next 30 days. Write them down.