Google’s new ‘Tip Jar’ offers small change

The notion is to harness that ballyhooed wisdom of the Internet crowds in order to help us all save money in our everyday lives.

From The Official Google Blog: “Tip Jar gathers tips in one place and invites people to rank them in order of usefulness and even add their own tips to the list. Over time, the best and most useful tips will rise to the top.”

“Over time” might be the key phrase there.

It’s a cool concept, so I thought it would be worth my while to breeze through the top tips offered in each of the site’s eight categories. In one sense, I knew this was unfair, given that Tip Jar had just launched, but Google did ask me to take a look … and this is what I found as the top one or two in each of the eight.

Category: At home.

“Get your books from the library. It’s hard to beat free.”

“Turn off the lights in the rooms of your house that you are not occupying. Make it a habit to flip the switch each time you leave a room. Save electricity and save on your bill.”

Thanks, Tip Jar. I hadn’t heard of this “library” thing and I’m sure my kids will love to make a game out of turning off lights.

Category: At work.

“Bring your lunch to work once or twice a week instead of buying it.”

“Live relatively near your workplace. While this isn’t always possible, driving 5,000 miles less a year can lower transportation costs by more than $1,000.”

Thanks, Tip Jar. Are lunchboxes still cool?

Category: Finance.

“Utilize online bill pay with your bank. It keeps you in much closer contact with your money, as you can keep a very close eye on your balance and be in much less danger of overdrafting. It saves you money on stamps and paper checks.”

Thanks, Tip Jar. Who would have thought you could use the Internet to pay bills.

Category: Kids and family.

“Don’t spend big money entertaining your children. Buy them an end roll of newspaper from your local paper and let their creativity run wild.”

Thanks, Tip Jar. That one has the added benefit of saving a dying industry. Win-win.

Category: Shopping.

“Buy a water filter and take your own water to the gym/sports etc. Bottled water is expensive, unnecessary and bad for the environment”

“Go to the grocery store with your belly full. You won’t buy too many things because you just ain’t hungry.”

Thanks, Tip Jar, but I have a better idea: Drink a gallon of tap water before going for groceries.

Category: Food.

“Drink water. Often we drink lots of calories through sodas, coffee, alcohol, juices, tea, etc. And that costs a lot too. Drink water, save money, save calories.”

Thanks, Tip Jar. Is there any challenge that can’t be met with a glass of tap water?

Category: Cars and transit.

“Carpool. Is there anyone that lives near you who works at the same place (or near the same place) that you do?”

“Keep your car engine tuned and its tires inflated to their proper pressure. Doing both can save you up to $100 a year in gas.”

Thanks, Tip Jar. This is the way I’ll go if I can’t find a job nearer to my house.

Category: Travel.

“Make sure the kids know that the mini bar is not an option. Buy snacks and beverages from a local market and keep them in the room for snack attacks.”

Thanks, Tip Jar. No more giving the mini-bar key to the kids.

Definitely unfair, you say? Fine, I’ll give Tip Jar more time.

Tips and comments to buzz@nww.com.