I’ve known about Live Solid for quite a while now, and I’m sorry I haven’t mentioned the Live Solid initiative on this site before now. While this site is certainly all about shopping, I hope that in a small way it is also about being budget-conscious, which is where Live Solid fits into the equation.
The Live Solid movement was started by Sun Trust Bank last year. Believe me when I say that you’d never know the website and Facebook page have any affiliation with a bank. The site is not preachy and they never ask you to join Sun Trust, nor really make any mention of the bank.
What Live Solid does do is ask that we all get our “priorities straight and our finances in order.” Why? Because at that point “life is freer and more gratifying.” LiveSolid.com and the Live Solid Facebook Page are full of tips toward accomplishing each of those goals.
At LiveSolid.com you’ll find sections devoted to eco-friendly weddings, planning a vacation, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and many other important topics. The information that’s presented is interesting, relevant, and not even remotely preachy. It is good advice, plain and simple. Also, the topics are presented in varying formats; for example, you’ll find articles, videos, and audio files.
The Live Solid Facebook Page is very interactive, with frequent tips, questions, and polls. I’m a fan of the page and get excited when I see something new has been posted as the little tidbits of wisdom often make me think. Here are a couple of my favorites that have been posted recently, and which demonstrate the various topics that are presented for thought and discussion:
Live Solid Tip of the Day: Make a list of 25 things you like about yourself, and tape it inside your planner or on your bathroom mirror or fridge. Read it whenever you need a boost.
Live Solid Tip of the Day: Set aside 10 minutes every hour to answer e-mail, so you aren’t a slave to the ding on your computer when you get a new message. You’ll get more done and be more efficient.
Live Solid Tip of the Day: Go out with friends who have kids and split the cost of a sitter. If you pay the sitter $15 an hour instead of $10 – he or she will earn more, but you’ll still pay less.
Live Solid Tip of the Day: Did you know that AAA will compare local gasoline pricesfor you? Find the cheapest gas station and save 10 cents per gallon!Visit www.AAA.com and type in your ZIP code.
The Facebook Page also features contests, and various useful applications. One of my favorite applications is the Daily Dollar. The way Daily Dollar works is that you input a specific amount of money that you’d like to start saving per day. I told the system that I’d like to start saving $1 per day. A bunch of suggestions popped up and I chose the one that I thought I could possibly accomplish – Make Coffee. {As in, stop going to Starbucks every morning.} The program then told me that if I started making my own coffee every morning I wouldn’t save just $1 per day – I would save $3! There are lots of other helpful hints for ways to save money, such as replacing the soles on a pair of shoes instead of buying a new pair, and planning meals from the pantry.
I love Live Solid because even though I could possibly be described as a shop-a-holic, I think Live Solid helps give a little bit of perspective. I like that all of the tips are small things that can be easily completed. And hey – saving money on little things like gas means more money for bargain shopping. 
