It’s easy to spend your tax refund on extra things you don’t really need. My tip is to resist that temptation and instead start a savings account. I really like ING Direct an online savings site. If your savings is a little out of your normal routine and you set it up so it comes out of your checking account automatically it discourages you from spending the money unless you absolutely must spend it.

If you already have a savings account, your tax refund may be extra money that you can invest. A Utah Financial Planner can help you with that. You don’t have to start big – but just starting is key.

She works for the Provo Daily Herald and her name is Amy. Here are some tips she gave:

• Coupons are the same as cash and combined with sales can be one of the best investments there are
• Look for coupons in the aisles of your store (black boxes that hold coupons with a blinking red light)
• Look for coupons that print off at checkout
• Look for coupons attached to products you want to buy
• Buy items in multiples in one shopping trip
• Call manufacturers and they often offer to send you coupons

She has a series of videos about Utah coupon shopping tips that are so helpful. Did you know you can get up to 5 copies of the Daily Herald at a big discount to get coupons.

Invest the money you save with a qualified Utah Financial Planner.

1. Wine.
   The bad financial news: You’re paying 300-400% mark up per glass over what you’d pay for a bottle in most retail stores!
   Workaround: some states and restaurants will let you bring in your own bottle of wine. Pay the restaurant to open and cork it for about $10. Or, you may be able to order a bottle and take the rest of the bottle home to drink after you’ve had what you want to drink at the restaurant.
2. Pre-cut fruits and vegetables.
   The bad financial news: You pay at least double the cost for pre-cut produce versus buying their whole counterparts. You also don’t get the full amount of vitamins.
   Workaround: Buy produce whole, and when you get home, cut it up and put it in ziplock bags ready to eat or cook. My husband likes to soak veggies in water if you’re eating them raw. You can do that up to a day ahead of time.
3. Popcorn at movie theaters.
   The bad financial news: You could be paying a 1,300% markup on a tub of popcorn at the movie theater. Plus, it’s really bad for you. For example, a Small with butter has 580 calories 47 grams fat. Think you’ll just skip the butter? Still, bad news. A Medium (no butter) has 650 calories, and 43 grams fat.
   Workaround: Eat before you go.
4. Bottled Water
   The bad financial news: “Did you know that the two biggest brands of bottled water in America –Dasani and Aquafina — are nothing more than purified tap water? In fact, estimates are that 40% of all bottled water is tap water. ” Plus, bottled water can cost 10,000 times more than tap water. You’re paying for packaging and branding.
   Workaround: Refill water bottles with your own purified water.
5. Coffee at restaurants
   The bad financial news: The mark up is huge on coffee at restaurants. At $2 or more a cup, for something you could make at home for about 50 cents.
   Workaround: Drink coffee at home and drink water at restaurants or limit the number of times you drink coffee out.

If you limit drinking wine, coffee and bottled water, you can eliminate what can be a big chunk of money each year. Besides that the calories and caffiene aren’t the best for your health. If you’re healthier, life will cost less for you because you’ll have less trips to the doctor and lower risk for major health problems. Your pocketbook will also be fatter, even if you’re not!

Most of us have some bad financial habits that are tough to break. Focus on cutting back or eliminating one thing at a time. Find a replacement that you can enjoy that doesn’t cost as much.

What tips do you have?