Auto insurance is a must have, but it can also be a huge drain on your monthly budget. Here are a few tips for keeping your auto insurance manageable:

Shop around ~ Get new quotes for auto insurance from competitors every 6-12 months.  Circumstances change (maybe an accident or ticket fell of your record or maybe you’re not driving as much) and it’s always good to see what other options are available.  You can usually get a quick fairly quickly online.  If you really like your current insurance carrier and a competitor offers you a lower rate, it doesn’t hurt to call your current company to see if they will match the competitor’s rate.

Take advantage of “bundled” options ~ You can usually save more money on auto insurance if you take advantage of multi-car discounts or if you have your auto and homeowner’s (or renter’s) insurance through teh same provider.

Membership has it’s privileges ~ Many insurance providers offer discounts to members of various professional organizations.  It never hurts to ask if a discount is available!  If you have a teen driver, also ask about discounts for good grades.

Take defensive driving ~ By taking a defensive driving course, you can usually get a discount on your auto insurance premium.  There are many classes available online and you can also check out DVDs to complete the course.

Raise your deductible ~ Raising your deductible (even from $500-$1000) can have a significant impact on your insurance premiums.  It’s worth it to at least investigate the difference!  If you do increase your deductible, make sure you have enough money in an emergency fund to cover it!

Pay in lump sums or by EFT ~ If you make payments monthly, you are probably paying $3-5 extra every month for a “service fee”  Make your payment in lump sums (6 months or annually) to save money.  If you can’t do this, look into payment by EFT because there are usually additional discounts if you choose this option.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.

The cost of eating out can add up quickly and is a big “budget buster” for a lot of people, but it doesn’t have to be! 

Here are some tips to save on eating out:

1.  Use coupons!  We frequently receive coupons for both fast food restaurants and casual dining restaurants in the mail.  I always go through and pull these out and put them in my coupon organizer so that I always have them with me.  Make sure you sign up for e-mails from your favorite restaurants to get valuable coupons.  For example, Chili’s will send you a coupon for free chips and queso when you sign up for their e-mail list here.

The Entertainment Book is an excellent resource if you’re looking for coupons for fine dining, casual dining, and fast food dining in your area.  Many restaurants have “Buy One meal, get one free” offers.  The book usually retails for $25, but there are often “deals” where you can get it for a lot less, and it quickly pays for itself. When you register your book online, you have access to additional printable coupons.

2.  Use gift cards!  Usually when we eat out, we use gift cards that I have earned from various survey sites (Epoll, MyPoints, and MySurvey all have opportunities for earning restaurant gift cards).

Restaurant.com is another great resource for getting restaurant gift certificates at heavily discounted rates.  They often offer codes for 70-80% off and you can get cash back from sites like Ebates or Shop at Home ,too! (these sites typically list any codes that are available)  Between the discount codes and the cash back, you can often get $25 gift certificates for as low as $1.50!!  If you do take advantage of these offers, be sure that you read the fine print as there may be some exclusions (minimum purchase requirements or limitations on when the coupons may be used).

If you use a debit or credit card with rewards, don’t forget to check to see if they offer restaurant gift cards!

3. Timing is everything!  The time of day that you choose to dine can help to greatly reduce expenses. For example, most restaurants offer a “lunch menu” and you can typically order from that menu until 4 p.m. If you go to eat just a little bit earlier, you can beat the crowds and still take advantage of less expensive dining options. On that same note, some restaurants offer “happy hour” specials (these are typically served between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.). Happy hour specials often include half price menu items.

Many restaurants also offer “kids eat free” nights. Typically, “kids eat free” nights are on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and choosing to take advantage of this offer can save you $4 to $6 per child. If you plan to dine out as a family, find out what restaurants in your area offer free meals for children and plan to dine out accordingly. 

4.  Skip the extras and watch what you eat! Consider ordering a larger meal portion and then splitting it with someone else. You can ask for an extra plate and you can typically add extra side items such as vegetables or a salad a la carte. If you order water instead of beverages you can also typically save an additional $2 per person. Skip dessert at the restaurant and grab ice cream on the way home instead. If you do opt to have dessert there, share it with someone else.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.