We all love money-saving tips, and ideas for saving money are of the greatest value to older citizens. One of the downsides to aging is a limited potential for additional income, and some seniors have zero opportunities to make more money.
Since there are many books written on this subject, I will list only 10 tips which are relevant and easy to implement.
Health
Look into special prescription insurance programs or explore the option of purchasing your medications from Canada. They is more affordable, and the medications are easily shipped to the U.S.
If you are on a long-term prescription medication check with your primary care provider to see if you still need it. Taking a medication when no longer needed is an unnecessary expense and could possibly create harmful side effects. One example is, if a patient is on high blood pressure medication for long periods of time, that patient’s blood pressure can stabilized. Continuing the medication can lower his or her blood pressure too much, causing the patient to fall and be unable to get back up.
Make your own denture cleaner using baking soda and water. If there are extra stains add vinegar. Warning: if you have well-water with iron in it, this recipe may not work. Also, brand x denture cleaners cost less and work just as well as the top brand names.
Food
Menu planning saves time as well as money and it eliminates the stress of making last minute meal decisions. If you enjoy eating out, incorporate times for those opportunities in your actual plan. Be sure and include healthy snacks in your menus.
Another tip for saving time, energy and electricity costs is to cook one day a week and freeze the meals.
Try making your own bread. Home-made bread costs 50-60% less to make than purchasing bread from a store, and it tastes better. If you are unable to knead the bread, there are many no-knead recipes available. My favorite recipe is a no-knead, no-rise bread which bakes in my slow-cooker.
Household
Instead of purchasing expensive, and toxic, bug sprays make your own. Any alcohol such as rubbing alcohol, gin or vodka will kill insects within 30 seconds. Cayenne pepper tincture will kill them within three seconds. One word of caution is, if you pour the alcohol into a spray bottle do not accidentally inhale the mist. It is most painful.
As a preventative measure, sprinkle powdered cayenne in the kitchen garbage container and just outside of any kitchen doors.
Rodents hate mint. Placing potted peppermint plants around your home will keep them away. Another technique is to place old stainless steel scouring pads around the foundation of your home. These pads can be sprinkled with oil of peppermint, making them more potent.
To save on your electric bill, turn off your hot water tank at night then turn it back on in the morning. That tank is one of the biggest electricity guzzlers in your home. Also unplug appliances and electronics when not in use. While plugged in these items draw a minimal, yet a consistent amount of electricity. After a friend started turning off her hot water tank in the evening, unplugging the internet, TV, and small appliances, her electrical bill went down by $10 a month.
These 10 tips can help all of us to save money and to live healthier. For more ideas go to the Sequim Library or check on-line. I invite you to email your special money-saving tips to share with our readers.
Crystal Linn is a multi-published author and an award winning poet. Since moving to northeast Olympic Peninsula in 2015 she has been actively involved in creating new opportunities for local authors. She looks forward to connecting with even more writers, and readers living in this area. When not writing, or teaching workshops, Crystal enjoys reading a good mystery, hiking, and sailing with friends and family.
