[Stacey Daprile – Ambassador]

Sometimes it makes sense to spend money to save money. Here are three things that I have invested in that have been well worth their cost. It is capital spent upfront, but in the long run these three actions have saved me money.

1, Museum memberships. I love visiting museums! Living in an area filled with wonderful museums within driving distance means that I am able to take advantage of some really awesome opportunities. It doesn’t take many visits to reap my money’s worth. My strategy is to hold one membership at a time and visit that organization many times throughout the year. With exhibits constantly changing, each visit is a different experience. This is one way to make a stay vacation memorable.

2. Food Sealer. I have a large family, and I routinely buy meat and other groceries in large quantities when they are on sale. I divide the product into family size servings and freeze. My food sealer makes this easier, and it really helps keep the food from getting freezer burnt. For me investing in a food sealer has been a very smart investment as it has saved me lots of money over the years!

3. LED Light Bulbs. My husband gets the credit for this one. He is the one who is always trying to save energy in our home. He has two reasons for this; one, to help lower the bills, and two, because it is better for the environment. Not only have we converted all possible home lights to LEDs, our Christmas house lights are now exclusively LED as well. Yes, they cost more, but this is an investment that my husband feels strongly about. In the long run – they really do save us money.

What “investments” have you made that help you save money in the long run?

[Suzanne Oldham – Ambassador]

I have found that meal delivery services like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh are an economical option for meals. We pay $60 for three nights of meals. We are a household of three and the meals can usually stretch to feed all of us. We figure we pay about $6-7/person for each meal. And for an added bonus, you can try most of the services for a deep discount.

[Sum180 Lead Coach]

I love this, Suzanne. The other day I was in a meeting with a guy who was talking about what was in his “box” this week. He uses the NYTimes’ service – who knew they had a service? – and he had a date with his wife to go home and cook their box together. I was jealous! I wanted a box. Now I know you can save $$ with a box as well. Thanks!

[Stacey Daprile – Ambassador]

I have yet to try a meal service. I really thought that it would cost me more than I typically spend. I am rethinking that strategy. As someone who loves to cook, I have been intrigued by some of the recipes. I think it would be a good way to try out new cuisines. Thanks!