As I write this post on how to save money on a pool purchase, I can’t help but think of the automatic response of “Do you really even NEED a swimming pool?” While yes upon first glance it may seem like an outrageous expense that will require a lifetime of maintenance and may cause additional fees you don’t expect, there really are a few reasons that would justify it as a reasonable expense.

Buying a swimming pool may seem like a large expense, but for many people who thoroughly enjoy swimming as a form of entertainment and exercise over the years it could potentially cost less than what it would cost by paying community pool or swim club membership fees.

Most public swimming pools range in the price of about $6-$8 per person per day. Over the summer, assuming you like to go swimming 5 days a week, this could cost one person over $400. Swim clubs can be even more costly, many with memberships ranging over $600-$1200 a season for a family pass. For those who love swimming, it only makes sense to have your own pool in a financial perspective. On the other hand, if you only swim a few times per season then it may not be the best decision for you as it would not provide value as an entertainment expense and perhaps the funds could be used more wisely for something else.

To help you find the best bargain and save money on pool purchases, here’s my best tips to get the best price:

1. Buy Out of Season: Buying out of season is critical. Yes, you might think you really want one towards the end of spring so you can enjoy it all summer. But the fall or especially the dead of winter really is the best time because the vendors and contractors are “hungry” – and so will be more likely to negotiate a good deal with you.

2. Get the Right Pool For Your Property: You should only buy a pool if it is something you plan to use on a regular basis AND it adds value to your property and home. A swimming pool done well with the proper fencing, deck, and patio can add thousands of dollars of value to your home for when you decide to sell it. Be sure that you factor in the costs for a deck and any costs associated with installation.

3. Comparison Shop: This is where it gets really tricky, because there are likely several different options where you live on how to buy. The best thing you can do is to get written quotes from each person that includes all fees associated with installing a pool including materials and labor. This way you can compare the prices side by side and decide which one is the best value.

4. Choose a Reputable Contractor: During your comparison shopping you’ll want to make sure that those you are working with are reputable. Asking for a written estimate, checking for insurance, references and testimonials, researching their business, reading reviews, and relying on the word of mouth from family and friends are all methods you can use to find the write person to do the job for you. This is a critically important step because if a job goes uncompleted, is flawed in construction or design, or the contractor causes damage to your property it can end up costing you way more money that what you could have potentially saved.

5. Do Some Work Yourself If Possible: If you are able to do some of the labor you may be able to save additional funds. For example, if you are experienced with concrete or deck building you could take on these projects yourself. However, if you are unsure of your ability to undertake these things, it would likely be better for a licensed professional as some mistakes can be more costly in the long run if not done properly.

6. Remember Additional Costs: There are many expenses that are easy to overlook when purchasing a pool. You will need to decide on a variety of factors such as water, energy bills such as heating and electricity. You will also need to factor into your budget yearly operating expenses that include filters, chemicals, and maintenance.

7. Avoid Financing: It can be tempting to take advantage of different financing programs or even to take out a home equity loan. However, these additional interest charges can cause the price to be greater over time. Making an additional monthly payment on top of yearly operating costs that will incur can be a recipe for disaster if saving money is your goal. If you cannot afford the cost now, make a plan where you put the amount of the financing payments into a separate interest bearing savings account. It is likely you will have enough to pay cash sooner than expected and will help you avoid going greater into debt.

When you consider all of the things we listed above, you can hopefully get a good price that makes purchasing a swimming pool a reasonable expense.

Have any tips on how to save money for a pool purchase? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

When we go out to a restaurant to eat, there are a lot of costs other than just the price you pay for food. You have taxes, which in some states you may not normally have on food items. Then you have the cost of gas for driving there. You then also typically have to tip your server, which can be another 15-20% of the price of your bill. (I’m assuming you’re not a lousy tipper). When you think of all of this, it’s not surprising that naturally the average bill for just two people is somewhere between $30-$50.

I agree it is probably best to not eat out as often as you would like to. Sure, it is a lot easier to just order something and be done with it – especially if you are a pretty lousy cook like I used to be. (Now that I cook at home more though I’m starting to get pretty good at it!) Maybe there is some sort of special occasion like a birthday or anniversary that makes you want to go out to eat. Whatever the reason, if you want to save money on eating out, here are some helpful tips for you:

Tip #1: Choose a Restaurant Wisely:

There are a lot of considerations to make when choosing the place you go for your meal. Some of this will depend on whether you are going for lunch, dinner, or breakfast. Picking the place is going to dictate a lot in what you spend, simply because menu prices vary. Don’t assume just because a place has a high priced menu it means the food is good. Some of the best places are actually quite reasonably priced. You can also look for buy one get one coupons or search for places that have lunch or early bird specials.

Tip #2: Stay Away From Fast Food:

A lot of times we think fast food is the cheapest, especially since a lot of them have value meals and dollar menus. However, if you are not getting good food there, then it is not even worth it because eating unhealthy foods is going to make you feel tired, unmotivated, and could even potentially result in health problems later on in life. If you’re going to spend money on eating out, then I suggest that you pick a place that serves high quality and healthy food. It’s the least you can do for yourself.

Tip #3: Drink Water

If you want to save money, you’re going to need to practice a little restraint when ordering. Get water to drink – it’s better for you than soda pop is anyway. Drinks and beverages (especially alcoholic ones) are way overpriced and you may not even drink half the glass before you are done with your meal – so drink water with dinner. Not to mention they add calories to your diet that you don’t even actually need! If you make this a habit, it gets much easier and eventually you’ll find you don’t need anything except water anyway.

Tip #4: Split Appetizers & Entrees

A lot of restaurants may have policies regarding splitting meals, but for the most part you can safely share something with someone without any problem – just ask for an extra plate. Most portions are ridiculous in size, so there’s no harm in sharing it with someone if you both want the same thing. The other thing you can do is split two entrees between the two of you – that way you both get the variety but without having to order more food than you can eat.

Tip #5: Save the Leftovers:

If you save the leftovers, then you’ll have another snack or meal at another time. I’ve yet to go to a restaurant that doesn’t offer some sort of doggy bag or container to take food home in, so don’t be ashamed about asking.

Tip #6: Tip Your Waitress:

Just because you don’t have a lot of money does it mean you should skimp out on tipping your waiter or waitress, especially if they have provided good service and didn’t give you any dirty looks about you wanting to order water, share a meal, and need a bag to take the food home with you. Your bill is likely to be pretty low, so make sure that at a minimum you leave $3 or 15-20%, whichever one is more. I believe in karma – if you give your money to others for helping you, you will get it back. So don’t be cheap about this part, okay? Now if you got crappy service, that’s another story…and I’ll leave that one up to you to decide how much you should tip.

Do you have any additional ideas on ways to save when eating out? Share your ideas in the comments below.

If you want to learn how to squeeze out as much as you possibly can from your existing plan, here are some tips to help you save money on phone bills:

1. Determine How Much You Use Your Phone and What For: When you sign up for a phone plan, you have a multitude of options to choose from. If you know exactly what you need, it can help you choose the right plan that meets your needs exactly and help you save on future bills. This way you will not be overpaying for things you don’t need if you never go near your minutes and not getting smacked with hidden usage fees for going over minutes.

2. Watch Text Messaging: Do you really need text messaging? If you only send and receive 20 text messages a month, then you may be better off to pay 25 cents for them individually than you would for paying a higher plan. However, if you send and receive hundreds of them, then you may do better to get a flat rate plan that offers unlimited sms.

3. Combine With Family: Many cell phone providers offer a variety of family packages where you share minutes and simply pay for an added line. If you can do this with your family members, it can save you up to $40-$50 a month or more.

4. Consider the Cost of the Phone: Not all carriers offer a free phone or phone upgrade with your plan – with others an included phone is standard. Depending the phone you need, this may save you additionally if you are only paying an extra $10 a month but get a free phone each year instead of paying $300 or more for a new phone. (Though you can always also opt to purchase a used phone often for a fraction of the price.)

5. Do Away With the Landline: If you use your cell phone for everything, then chances are you do not really actually need a land line. This will automatically save you hundreds of dollars annually. Most landlines, even if not in use, will still allow an emergency call to be made to 911 – so check with your phone provider.

6. Use Skype: Skype is a free service that allows you to make phone calls from your computer to anyone else using the service. This is a great way to save on long distance calls and also help you reduce the amount of your minutes.

7. Use Your Phone Less: The less you use the phone, the less minutes you’ll need, and the less your plan will cost. While it may be tough, and you’ll want to make sure you can discipline yourself enough for at least one month or so without any added charges, this in the end is the most effective way to reduce your cost. Some have found that getting a prepaid phone and using it only for emergency circumstances can be one of the best ways to have the convenience and availability without the recurring monthly charges.

8. Comparison Shop: There are many different cell phone providers to consider and each will offer their own varieties of plans. Before you decide on one, make sure you check with all of the ones available to you to see who offers the best deals. While some may try to convince you to use them with temporary savings or promises of new phones, you’ll want to make sure you are perfectly clear about long term contracts, contract cancellation rates, and if the bill will ever go up for any reason during the time of your contract. Savings for three or six months might sound like a good deal at first, but if you’re tied into a 2 year contract then it may actually end up costing you more if the initial savings doesn’t cover for what you’ll be paying for the long term.

Do you have any other money saving tips or suggestions to save money on your phone bill? Share your thoughts in the comments below.