7 Ways to Spend Smarter

Swap Flowering Plants for Cut Flowers

If you spend $20 a week on fresh flowers, that adds up to $1,040 a year! We suggest you buy flowering plants instead.

Share a Babysitter With a Neighbor

If you spend hundreds a month on childcare, consider splitting the services with a friend or family member. Maureen Dempsey, a 34-year-old mother in Brooklyn, saves about $400 a month by splitting the cost of a nanny. 

Dust Off Your Library Card

If you can no longer justify paying $22 for the latest hardcover, request the book at your local library. Don’t have a card? You and one-third of Americans. Get one now (it’s free). There are more than 16,000 libraries nationwide, and some offer much more than books.

Skip the Cineplex and Download Movies Online

If you can no longer justify paying $10.50 for a movie ticket, hit up iTunes for special deals. Here you can find $3 movie rentals and the free Single of the Week, which is posted every Tuesday.

Negotiate Lower Fees With Your Health-Care Providers

If you seem to have a steady intravenous drip of medical bills, become your own advocate. According to a 2005 Harris poll, roughly two-thirds of people who asked for their fees to be lowered were successful.

1. Inquire about the fee and whether a discount is available before the procedure.

2. Ask, “Can you provide any financial assistance?” or “Do you have a sliding scale?” And explain why you need help. Were you recently laid off? Are you coping with multiple medical issues? The more details you can give, the better.

3. Offer to pay in cash, up front. Doing so may cut 10 to 30 -percent off your bill. (This is commonly referred to as a “prompt-pay discount.”)

4. Look into an extended payment plan. Most providers will let you stretch out payments over 12 months, sometimes more…

Freeze Your Gym Membership and Work Out at Home

Most large gyms will let you put a membership on hold for up to three months. Just think: no commute! No lines! No sweaty guy on the next tread-mill!

Host a Casual Tapas Party

If you’re tired of shelling out at restaurants but don’t want to give up your social life, invite friends over for a casual tapas party. These small Spanish dishes are easy to prepare and affordable. In keeping with the Spanish theme, serve sangria, which can be made from (cheap) red wine.