Mon, April 06, 2009 - 7:00:13

Big Differences with Small Changes

April is here and that means it is Financial Literacy Month.  If there was ever a year to become financially literate, we would say it’s this one.  In the midst of economic turmoil not seen since the Great Depression, it’s easy to become overwhelmed in the vastness of it all.  But, as the old cliché goes, “knowledge is power”, so we’re going to observe this month to the fullest.  That’s why this week, in celebration of Financial Literacy Month, we’re discussing the power of small and the ways it can help you in one of the places that matters most these days: your wallet. 

Today’s topic?  Small adjustments you can make to your normal routine that result in real savings.

Whether you’re trying to save for a new home or save the environment, a new website called Shift Your Habit can help you do both.  Each day, the site posts a “Daily Shift” which monetizes the amount you could save by making one small change to your day-to-day routine.  For example, by switching from paper to electronic billing, you could save up to $40 a month on postage fees.  Not only will this change result in fewer trips to the post office, you’ll reduce your household clutter and save a few trees.

While Shift Your Habit shows you how to cut your consumption to go green (not to mention save some green), a recent article on MSN Money points out a number of areas where you might currently be overdoing it and how to make a quick and easy fix.  For example, writer Donna Freedman advocates using half the amount of laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid that you might normally use.  Not only will your things get just as clean, you’ll spend 50 percent less on those often costly items each year.

With the tough economic times, we’re all cutting back, but the POWER OF SMALL shows us that not every sacrifice has to feel like one.  How are you implementing the POWER OF SMALL in your day to day spending plan?  Send us an email, leave us a comment, or tweet us @ThePowerOfSmall.

Posted by Linda and Robin