subject: Take the 1 Year of Cheap Living Challenge [print this page] Some of the ways you can save money may be more than most of us can manage-and may be more suited to the single life than if you're in a relationship or raising a family. Still, crazy cheap living is possible, if you're up for it. And a one-year stint of crazy cheap living could see you debt free at the end of it, and with a new respect for how to live well on next to nothing. If you've been a student, some of the suggestions may be ones you've had to use trying to make ends meet-or at least come closer together.Cut your own hair.This one is for the adventurous at heart. Cutting hair is pretty skilled work, and who knows what your attempt may turn out. But you might trust a friend who's skilled with scissors. Less radical choice? Cut your hair less often. Even cutting your hair half as often, for a woman paying $75/cut every six weeks who changes to 12-week intervals, this brings a savings of about $300/year. And definitely color your own hair-save another $50/month.Sell your car and bicycle to work.Some people find this to be a pretty radical choice, but when you think about how much money you could save without a car, it seems like a great idea. And your heart will thank you. You could bank about $5000 this year by giving up your car. Can't do it? Then ride share, and save one-half the cost of gas each week.Buy nothing for an entire weekend.That includes groceries, eating out or ordering in, DVDs, CDs, and driving your car. Make a weekend at your house a "don't-spend-a-cent-event." Instead, hold a dance in your living room, and invite the neighbors. Get a video cam, and You-tube it. Even turn your weekend into a fund-raiser for your favorite cause, and twitter all weekend about what your family is doing instead of spending money. You may even have people donating.Save your pocket change.This seems like a small choice, but change-especially with our Canadian loonies and toonies-can add up to big bucks in a year. How many times have you paid for coffee, lunch, or other small purchases with change? Not spending your change can help you get control over your unconscious spending, too. Then put the change towards paying a big bill.Don't toss anything.No matter what it is, someone will pay for it. And you can advertise free or cheap these days on kijiji, ebay or craigslist. Keep that in mind when you want to buy something-buying on ebay or kijiji can save you big time.Living super cheap isn't for everyone, but if you can do it, you can put mega bucks into the bank, towards debt, or even save to buy something really great in a very short period of time.
