25 tips how to save in the San Francisco Bay Area

It's no secret that life in the San Francisco Bay area is not cheap. For the privilege of living in this area have to lay out large sums. Project authors SFGATEMany of whom have lived for decades near the Gulf have collected useful tips on how to save here - sometimes small and sometimes rather big money.

For example, on the site Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) special pricing plans can be found that are time-of-use or season-specific and can save thousands of dollars a year. They even have a dedicated tariff plan for electric car users.

1. Most San Francisco cinemas offer steep discounts on their first day session, so if you're ready to wake up early to go to the movies, you can buy a ticket for $ 6,5, like in the good old days.

2. Does your insurance not cover the dentist? In dental colleges in Uop и Ucsf You can get the services of a dentist for almost a penny. One of the SFGATE employees took advantage of this life hacking - his subsequent dentists said that the work was done qualitatively.

3. Do not go to the farmers markets of the city - there are high margins, especially in the market near the San Francisco Ferry Building. The prices at San Rafael Farmers Market are much nicer, and you will save even more if you arrive at the end of the day - in the last working hours, sellers reduce prices to take home as few products as possible.

4. Instead BART use Casual Carpool. They have a faster landing, sometimes you can get straight to the office, and this service costs only $ 1. If you pay $ 4,50 for BART 5 days a week, you will save about $ 875 per year.

5. You can visit some museums for free with your bank debit or credit card. Bank of America. For example, the Chabot Space and Science Center, the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Legion of Honor are free for owners of such cards on the first weekend of each month.

6. Sports clubs and paid sites here are very expensive. But, for example, you can play football for free on the field at Chalet Beach, in addition, there are many open areas in the city for playing other sports.

7. Want cool furniture? Look for commission stores, flea markets and garage sales. Sometimes the best copies are right on the streets of San Francisco. Do not be ashamed - drag your find home and put it in order.

8. Switching to the alternative tariff plan of the company PG&E can save large amounts, especially if you have instruments with timers that can be turned on in the middle of the night. Alternative tariff plans can bring savings in the amount of several thousand dollars a year.

9. Ticket companies Do the bay и The bay bridged they constantly hold draws of invitations to concerts and other events, which gives many residents of the city a chance to receive free entertainment.

10. Every Wednesday from April to October, the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library sells books and other media on $ 1. They can also get a library card and take it all home for free. In addition to books, your local library offers tickets to museums, magazines (print and digital), audio books, music, and more.

11. Issue yourself a credit card for airlines that use SFO or OAK as the main hub, and use it for all purchases. Many programs (for example, Virgin America, Southwest, Alaska Airlines) charge you one mile for every dollar spent. There are additional promotions when for certain purchases a number of miles doubles or triples. Among other things, it has a good effect on your credit history.

12. City tours should not be expensive. SF City Guides offers free tours of San Francisco, including Gold Rush themed tours of Historic Chinatown and the Turbulent Port District.

13. When using Uber и Lyft, ask their general offers for several passengers - in some areas of the city they are quite attractive, although they take a little longer.

14. Instead of paying huge bills for cable TV, choose your 1 or 2 streaming service, which are your favorite TV shows, movies or sports programs.

15. For sports, use free stadiums (SOTA stadium is open on weekends, like most school stadiums), running tracks (there are many options at Marina Green / Crissy Field, GGP, McLaren Park, Embarcadero) and just the road.

16. If you really want to go to restaurants, it is better to do it at lunch, and not during dinner - lunch or brunch, as a rule, is much cheaper. You also do not have to feel obliged to order wine or drinks, nor do you have to fight to reserve a place. Another way to save money is to use the social network. Yelp for check-ins in restaurants and bars - for this sometimes give discounts or offer promotions.

17. When going to concerts or nightclubs, either book your tickets in advance, or come early. The later you come, the higher the prices for entrance tickets.

18. Do you need a pair of forceps, scouring powder or Halloween decorations? Go to the stores "All for 1 dollar." It is interesting to walk on them and they have a fairly wide range of products for the home. For example, the Japanese shop "Everything for 1 dollar" called Daiso sells great cookware.

19. Sell ​​clothes you never wore to Crossroads and always keep paperwork showing your donation to Goodwill - it will help you save on taxes at the end of the year.

20. Find your balance point in one of the many free yoga classes. For example, in Golden Gate Park (conducts the San Francisco Recreation and Parks) on Saturday mornings. In addition to the usual yoga, you can go to "laughter yoga" in Ucsf.

21. The city also has a lot of free entertainment - if you know where to look. For example, one of the days per month, museums and the San Francisco Zoo are open to the public. Entrance to Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park is free until 10 in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And museums SF Cable Car Museum и SF Railway Museum do not take money for entry. Never.

22. In the historical institution Ghirardelli on Ghirardelli Square free chocolate tastings are held. Another entertainment option with money saving.

23. Even dancing is free in San Francisco - Lindy in the park in the eastern part of Golden Gate Park offers free swing lessons.

24. You can also attend several workshops, for example, bowling on the lawn in Golden Gate Park.

25. In the end, take a trip, go for a ride on a bike to Twin Peaks - there is a great (and free) view of the city.

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