5. Make one meat-less meal per week. Replace meat with lower- costing vegetables, a pasta dish, or maybe an omelette. This can be a healthful change, also.

6. Pump your own gas, instead of paying a higher price at a full-service station.

7. And speaking of cars, be sure to maintain correct tire pressure, to get maximum mileage. And change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. Proper maintenance can mean fewer repair bills and longer lasting cars.

8. Consider changing to fluorescent lighting in your house. They use less energy last 10 times as long and produce less heat.

9. At grocery store, consider buying store brands or generic products. The savings can be pretty big on items like shampoo, conditioner, cake mxes, even milk. I have found quality to be comparable. If you don't like a particular store brand you don't have to buy it again. But at least try it, you might like it!

10. Don't let your faucets drip. A leaky hot-water faucet can waste up to a whopping 800 gallons of hot water in a year!

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ There's only one corner of universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self. --Aldous Huxley

A typical deal would look like this:

I get a phone call telling me about a property, motivated seller and available for at least 25% below market in order to get deal done quickly

After listening to details and determining I can not do this one deal for whatever reason, I make some notes and go to my list.

I explain to one of other buyer/.investors on my list all of details of property and agree to share address, etc in exchange for either a finders fee (usually enough to pay my bird dog plus about 10%), or to pay original finder for me and a promise of future consideration It really is that simple. Share and receive.

I would, of course, make an effort to not share my bird dog information with other buyer (they are a hard commodity to find). Also, do not share with finder that you are passing on deal. Thank them for efforts and if it results in a purchase, pay them money.

Good will goes a long way in real estate investing.