Friends do a lot together and for each other and one thing friends should be doing more often is helping each other save money. In a rough economy where jobs are hard to come by and prices are skyrocketing, we can't always go it alone in our quest to save money. Get a group of your friends together who are all willing to commit to helping each other. So how exactly can you and your friends save some cash?
Share coupons
If you come across coupons in the paper, online or anywhere else, grab a few extras for your friends. You can even draw up a list of who needs what type of items. For example, who needs pet supplies, kid's toys, certain brands of makeup or various other items and allocate those specific coupons to those who can use them.
Babysit each other's kids
Babysitters can be quite expensive, especially if you have to hire one a few times per week. Alternate babysitting duties and even trade weekend nights so everyone can get out for some fun and relaxation without toting the children around. Other than babysitting your friends kids in return for them watching yours, consider also doing a nice gesture, such as baking cookies or cooking a dinner.
Have potluck dinners
Gather your friends together every other week or even once a week and hold a potluck dinner. Each of you can make as much food as possible, then sit down to eat and enjoy each other's company. After the dinner is over, everyone can fill up their containers and take home leftovers so it's enough for at least a few more meals.
Have clothing swaps
Every year I end up with a pile of clothes I no longer want. Before I donate everything, I go through the clothing and pick out pieces I think my friends would like and pass them on and they do the same with me. An even easier way to do this is to host a clothing swap. Get your friends together, sort the clothes by type, then everyone can go through and pick out what they want and trade them off. It's a great way to pump up your wardrobe for zero money.
Trade entertainment items
I have a ton of books while many of my friends have loads of DVDs. Rather than purchase new items, we trade off with each other or just loan the items out. If you're not sure who has a particular book, video game or DVD, take it to Facebook. Create a post and ask who has what you're looking for. There's a good chance someone will have what you want.
Carpool or trade rides
The most obvious way to do this would be to carpool to work, but if you don't have the option of working with your nearest and dearest there's still other options you may not have considered. Go grocery shopping together, pick up dinner together if you're getting take out (which also saves on paying a tip), drop one another off at the airport or even just run every day errands with each other whether it's picking up dry cleaning or going to the post office. Not only can it save on gas, but you'll also have company for those boring errands.
You might not think it's something your friends would be willing to do, but you never know until you ask them. You'd be surprised how many people would jump at the chance to get a little help when it comes to saving money and who would love to return the favor.
More from Lauren R:
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