Table of Contents
Additional Praise for SAVE BIG
Elisabeth Leamy hits the bulls-eye for this new era of thinking before you spend. It is easy to say spend less than you make. It is much harder to know how to do that regardless of income. If you follow Elisabeths easy steps for how to save on lifes big expenses, you will change your life.
Clark Howard, host of the Clark Howard Show;
New York Times best-selling author of Get Clark
Smart and Clarks Big Book of Bargains
Elisabeth Leamy puts her finger on why so many Americans struggle with moneytheyre not thinking big enough! Its the big expenses, not the lattes, that will swamp your financial plans. In her lively, engaging style, Leamy shows you exactly where and how to cut costs so that your money finally works for you, rather than against you. Using the suggestions in this book will save you thousands of dollars. Its a great return on your investment.
Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN Money columnist;
best-selling author of Your Credit Score: Your
Money and Whats at Stake
Im a lifelong pump-my-chest penny-pincher. Im a believer in sweating the small stuff to save your way to prosperity. But Elisabeth Leamys premise in SAVE BIG won me over. She reminds us all in an engaging way that its not just the pennies that count. Its just as important to find big ways to save.
Michelle Singletary, The Washington Post; nationally
syndicated Color of Money columnist
SAVE BIG takes a fresh and innovative approach to savings. Elisabeth Leamy focuses on big savings that have a lasting effect on our pocketbooks and our lives. Elisabeth takes on everything from healthcare to home purchasing, with clarity and precision. This book is a must read for people of all ages, no matter your financial knowledge.
Mellody Hobson, President, Ariel Investments
Elisabeth Leamy takes saving to a whole other level. Combining her savvy and seasoned knowledge of the consumer with common sense and a healthy dose of humor, she finds not only big dollar savings but a smarter path to better health. SAVE BIG is good medicine for all of us.
Marie Savard, MD, ABC News medical
contributor; author of Ask Dr. Marie:
Straight Talk and Reassuring Answers to
Your Most Private Questions
Behavioral economists have found that people tend to take mental shortcuts when they make financial decisionsso they end up spending as much time choosing a mortgage as they do a big-screen TV. Elisabeth Leamys wise book reminds us that we can save big by investing more time on major purchasesand shows readers step-by-step how to get the best value for their money. This book offers a much-needed road map through the world of gotcha capitalism, junk fees, and dynamic pricing.
Laura Rowley, Yahoo! Finance columnist;
author of Money & Happiness: A Guide to Living
the Good Life
For Kelsea.
Mommy can come out of the office now...
Foreword
All of us at Good Morning America know that Elisabeth Leamy is the real thing. She is a tireless expert on personal finance and consumer reporting. She identifies what works and what does not. And she wakes up each morning a passionate champion of all consumers.
And now shes written a book to help all of us tackle and tame the daunting financial problems in daily life: how to cut the cost of favorite groceries in half; why she would never buy a new car; and the best advice on health insurance she ever got (it came from her dad).
Like Eli, the advice is practical. It takes the fear and anxiety out of saving money. We know she practices it in her own life. She even makes it fun to be smart and in control.
All of us at GMA can turn to Eli any day of the week to guide us through our financial and consumer questions.
We are so glad that now our smart and compassionate friend, through her book SAVE BIG, will be your guide, too.
ROBIN ROBERTS AND DIANE SAWYER
ABC NEWS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Acknowledgments
Several people saved me as I was trying to help you SAVE BIG.
First and foremost: Big, warm, mushy thanks to my husband Kris and daughter Kelsea, for their love, support, and patience during the writing process. My parents, Patrick and Jeanne, and mother-in-law, Joan, also played an important part in enabling me to write this book in a short three months.
I am still overwhelmed that my wonderful colleagues Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer wrote a foreword for SAVE BIG. They are simply the best.
None of this would have happened without agents Henry Reisch, who pushed me to write another book, and Mel Berger, who sealed the deal with the fine folks at Wiley.
Neighbors Roxanne, Kris, and Kyle Haltmeyer fed me, educated me, and even contributed a SAVE BIG story to the book. Neighbor Sam Serebin actually responded to 2:00 A.M. e-mails asking for graphic design advice.
Thanks to Kathy Sullivan, the most frugal mom in America, for saying the words that cemented my BIG philosophy.
Jim Murphy of Good Morning America gave me his blessing. David Peterkin was so efficient and encouraging. Ida Astute, Donna Svennevik, Brett Oronzio, and Michelle Cutler made me look glam.
Candy Butcher, Michelle Katz, Todd Mark, Stephanie Nelson, Chrissy Pate, Marie Savard, and Carolyn Warren lent me their expert knowledge.
I was lucky to have Lauren Appelbaum as my thorough, thoughtful researcher just long enough to fill in all the blanks.
And finally, thanks to all the friends and family whose names I borrowed. You know who you are. Or you will, when you read the book!
ELISABETH LEAMY
Introduction
My savings sagethe one who crystallized everything I had ever thought about saving moneywas a bleached-blonde mom ever thought about saving moneywas a bleached-blonde mom wearing orange mood lipstick and towering, clear plastic high heels. She had this skittish way of laughing after she made an important point. You would think some imposing, paunchy, appropriately graying guy would have been my guru. But no...
Good Morning America had dispatched me to the Chicago area for a story about The Most Frugal Moms in America. I admit I went with a resigned, well-at- least Ive-got-this-down-to-a-science kind of dread, expecting an interview about creative ways to reuse cottage cheese containers and old pantyhose.
But then I met this savvy single mom who had paid off her mortgage in five years. Twice. On two different homes. She had even gotten laid off and managed to stay home with her kids for two yearswithout a jobbecause she kept her expenses so low.
How do you do it? I asked, with awe.
I try to focus on the big stuff, she replied.
Then she let out that cute, kooky laugh. But I didnt really hear it this time because I was having my own little epiphany. Of course! I had never put my philosophy into words before, but there it was. Ive always preferred to save a lot of money on a few things rather than a little bit of money on a bunch of things. I like to SAVE BIG. Not small.
Ive never read a book that sees it my way. They all list a litany of what I call Small Stuff Savings on the premise that every bit counts. Switch to low flow showerheads, save $5. Inflate your tires properly, save $9. Use your own banks ATM, save $3. Pack your lunch, save $7. And the all-time favorite target: Skip your morning latte, save $4.