10 simple tricks to save in 2019

Make saving more money a top priority this year.

The simplest way to do that is to shop around and compare prices to save. That advice may seem like a cliche, but it works. Apply that principle to every purchase and expense you encounter and you could net thousands in savings each year.

It's all too easy to automatically mail checks for insurance coverage or monthly cell phone and power bills, assuming you can't save big bucks by shopping around for better rates or looking for ways to trim energy use.

Here are my 10 tips to help you save more in 2019.

1. Pay yourself first. Increase retirement contributions and lower your tax rate. The Internal Revenue Service upped the contribution limit in 2019 to $19,000. If your company offers a match, contribute at least that much. Don't leave that free money on the table. Payroll deductions make this a cinch. The annual limit on Individual Retirement Account contributions also has increased to $6,000 per year, according to the IRS. See what you'll need in your Golden Years with a free calculator at the American Institute of

CPAs website at 360 financial literacy. org. You can’t accumulate wealth if you don’t save.

2. Track monthly spending and savings. Starting in January, take this low-tech approach to keeping tabs on expenses: Put EVERY receipt for purchases in an envelope labeled by month and keep them together. (This comes in handy at tax time, too.) At the end of each month, tally receipts and review to see where your hard-earned money goes. Decide what was necessary and what was frivolous. As you track monthly spending, jot down what you spent and saved (usually listed on receipts) on the outside of the envelope. Earmark what you saved to fund increased retirement contributions.

3. Take a sales tax deduction. Broward County sales tax increases to 7 cents on Jan. 1. Now that you're saving receipts, easily keep track of how much you spend on sales tax and claim it as an itemized deduction on your federal income tax. You can do that in Florida, which doesn't collect a state income tax. Use the calculator tool at IRS.gov/ Individuals/ Sales-Tax- Deduction- Calculator.

4. Save on cell phone bills: Check in with your carrier every few months to make sure you are getting the best available deal on wireless service. Ask customer service reps to guide you. There is intense competition between carriers and they are always offering new, cheaper plans with more features, but you must opt-in to take advantage of them. Also, for those over

55, Verizon and T-Mobile senior plans offer up to 50 percent off service.

5. Save on energy bills. We

run the air conditioner nearly 12 months a year, which generates thousands of dollars in bills. Save up to $137 per year with On Call, in which Florida Power and Light temporarily turns off appliances (you choose which ones) when energy demand is high. Or, take the power company's Online Home Energy Survey to get a personalized savings plan. The tool lets you see how much it costs to cool or heat your house and run appliances, and it offers tips to lower power bills. Go to FPL.com.

6. Shop for better insurance rates. Homeowners and automobile insurance premiums take massive bites out of budgets. If you haven't checked lately, shop around for better rates. Also, consider raising deductibles to lower your rate. Ask a family member or friend to recommend their insurance agent and call to get a quote. We did this not long ago and saved a whopping $3,000 a year on car insurance.

7. Use coupons. I never pay retail for anything and neither should you. Save more at stores by clipping coupons found in the weekend Sun Sentinel. Another idea: Buy books with thousands in savings good at local establishments at Entertainment.com and SaveAround.com. When shopping online, search for coupon codes and free shipping at RetailMeNot.com. Join like-minded savers and trade ideas in my Coupon Crazy Facebook group.

8. Take the 52 Week Money Challenge. Painlessly save almost $1,400 with a fun savings plan that got its start on Facebook. Starting the first week of the year, deposit into a savings account $1 on Week 1, $2 on Week 2…$26 on Week 26, etc. By the end of the year, you'll have $1,378. Or, reverse the chart and start with a $52 contribution. Fore even more savings, double the amount each week and you'll have nearly $3,000. Go to SunSentinel.com/MoneyChallenge to see the chart.

9. Sign up for a rewards credit card. If you travel, sign up for a major credit card that pays you back in airline or hotel miles that will get you free stays and airline tickets. (ThePointsGuy.com is a good place to start.) Or, get paid back for buying everyday goods. Target's REDcard gets you 5 percent off all purchases and free shipping on Target.com. Costco's Visa has no annual fee and gives you between 1 percent and 4 percent cash back on purchases.

10. Just say no to banking fees. Fees add up over time. Instead, join a credit union and leave fees in the past. Credit unions, which are nonprofit financial cooperatives, aren't in it for the money, so to speak. The member-only institutions don't pay dividends to stockholders, so you save with lower loan rates, higher savings rates and lower fees. See how to join at the Credit Union National Association website at CUNA.org.

Try just a few of these savings tips and you'll toast the close of 2019 with champagne instead of beer.

What's your deal? Email it to dchristensen@ sunsentinel.com or Face book.com/DoreensDeals.

Doreen Christensen