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All too often we return something for store credit, then forget all about it. Or we get a gift card and never get around to using it.

Treat your credits and gift certificates like money – because they are! Use them to pick up something on super-sale, or something a bit extravagant that you’ve wanted for a while.

If the store doesn’t have anything you like, you can regift a gift cards to someone else. Or use this “found money” to buy a gift someone will like, or to buy a ‘generic’ type of gift that you can have on hand to give to someone later.

Whatever you do – use your store credits, gift cards, and gift certificates! Don’t let them expire, lose them, or find out too late that the store has closed. You’ll kick yourself for throwing away money.

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Who doesnt want to prosper? However you define it, prosperity is a good thing, isnt? So why would someone looking for financial prosperity turn their back on free, or found, money?

At a meditation retreat I attended I focused my energies on increasing my abundance another way of saying that I wanted to have more money. Sure, spiritual growth would be great also, but abundance was very, very high on the list.

During a break I went into the ladies room. What did I see on the counter? A quarter somewhere had left behind. Obviously, this wasnt enough money to warrant posting a money found notice in the hotel where the retreat was being held. After all, it was only a quarter. Anyone who found it could take it - the original owner probably didn’t even know it was gone.

So what did I do with the quarter? After spending time and money to attend a meditation retreat to work on increasing the money in my life? I decided to leave the money behind. After all, it was only a quarter. And, I thought, someone else needed it more.

An ah ha moment if ever there was one.

I realized that I would never have or feel abundance if I rejected, literally, found money. I spun around, picked up the quarter, put it in my pocket, and chuckled at a lesson well learned.

So thats why I pick up pennies. And nickels, dimes, and quarters too. If you want more abundance and prosperity in your life, you have to gladly accept money as it comes into your life without judging whenever or not you deserve it, or whether or not its enough. Just be thankful and grateful.

Forget about buying individual serving sizes
Buy the larger size packages of snack foods. Then pack a snack serving size in a ziplock bag. This little bit of effort will save you lots.

Carry an empty water bottle
Why spend money on water, soda, or coffee, when you’re just a little thirsty? Take an empty water bottle with you to the airport, movie theatre, shopping, etc. Fill ‘er up from a water fountain after you’ve gone through the airport security checkpoint, before you sit down in the theatre, or while you’re shopping. While some places won’t let you bring in outside food or beverages, there’s nothing wrong with filling up your empty bottle at a water fountain. And you are helping the environment by reusing those plastic bottles.

Have one meatless day a week
As a society we seem to believe that each meal has to be based around meat, chicken, or fish. Designate one day a week to go meatless. It’s healthy, and cheaper.

Make your own dog food
Do an internet search on ‘homemade dog food’ and you’ll find a slew of recipes. You don’t have to cook every day - a family I lived with in college cooked a stew for their dog once a week. You’ll save money and know exactly what your dog is eating. And your cat? Well if you have left over turkey slices you use for the kids lunches I am sure your cat will be happy with a change of pace once in a while.

Smoothies
Do you end up with lots of fruit that is not quite perfect for eating but a shame to throw out? Putting them into the blender with some ice, sorbet, and fruit juice makes a delicious and healthy smoothie. It’s become a Sunday tradition.

What is interesting about these cost saving ideas is that they are also healthy and help the planet – so everyone benefits.

It’s easy to subscribe to more entertainment services than you really use, and to keep paying those monthly fees without getting your money’s worth. Here are some thoughts on making the most out of your entertainment dollars.

Premium Cable Channels
Do you watch the premium channels you pay for? Really? Great. Otherwise, cancel them. You can always resubscribe when your favorite series comes back on the air (my fellow Entourage fans – I’m talking to you). All it takes is one quick phone call to cancel or resubscribe.

Free movies through cable TV
It takes some hunting, but your cable TV provider probably has a few ‘free’ movie channels. Take the time to look through them every once in a while – you’re bound to find something you’ve always wanted to watch. You’re already paying for them, so use them.
 
Netflix
Netflix is a great deal for people who actually watch the movies they rent. But for the many people who let a Netflix DVD sit around for weeks before watching it, it’s not such a great deal. It’s easy to cancel, resubscribe, or change your service – just a few clicks on line can easily save you some cash.  

Consider subscribing to more movies-at-a-time in the winter when you spend more time at home, but fewer movies-at-a-time in the summer when you spend more time outdoors. Whatever you choose, just make sure to take advantage of it.

We all have buried treasure somewhere. Hiding in our kitchen cabinets and under our bathroom sinks are wonderful things we forgot we ever had. Let’s dig them up and put them to use!

Gourmet food
Most kitchens in America have special gourmet gifts they received, stuck on a high shelf or hidden behind the pancake mix. Or something they bought on a whim which still hasn’t been used. Maybe it’s a ‘cake mix in a box’ left over from a long forgotten gift basket, or special raspberry dessert topping you bought for last year’s Valentine’s Day.

Unearth your hidden goodies and enjoy them - don’t keep them cooped-up in your cupboards!  Make the cake, bake the cookies, or break out the fancy assorted crackers. Go ahead - find a way to use that special dessert topping this weekend (doesn’t everything taste good on top of pound cake?). 

If it’s something you’d rather not eat, take the goodies into work, or serve them at your church’s coffee hour. Just bring them out of the cupboard so they can be enjoyed.

Bath stuff
Lurking underneath every bathroom sink are spa products which either haven’t been opened, or are half used. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and use them up. Or re-gift them to someone else. You’ll free up space in your cabinet and make the world a sweeter smelling place.