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by: JudyTurner
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Are you feeling overwhelmed with the high cost of living these days? If you think it is impossible to cut back any more than you already have think again. Here are 30 different tips to cut expenses. Even if you followed a few of them you could find that it is possible to make your money go further.

1 Save on energy costs - use power-saving CFL lights, monitor and change your thermostat's temperature as required during daytime and night and don't leave lights/appliances on when you don't require them.

2. Skip the movies and rent or borrow dvds. You will also save money by making your own popcorn.

3. Instead of meeting friends for coffee or drinks invite them over for potluck. Take turns each week at each others house.

4. Take your lunch to work more often. Your savings will really add up!

5. Share rides to work with co-workers or use public transportation.

6. Go generic on prescription and over the counter drugs whenever possible.

7. Use coupons while shopping at grocery stores, and always shop according to a list. Preferably shop on double-coupon days. Maybe, you can buy supplies from bulk food warehouses.

8. If you make a lot of long distance calls then it may pay to go with a plan that offers free long distance. Otherwise, limit calls to nights and weekends when rates are normally cheaper.

9. At the end of the day get into the habit of putting all your spare change in a jar. Once it is full roll it and put it in a savings account. Some banks will even count it for you for free.

10. Buy clothes off season when you can get the best prices. I stock up on kids clothes a year in advance and just buy a size or two larger depending on the age of the child.

11. If you smoke quit! Not only will you save a ton of money but your health will greatly improve.

12. Save water - keep your showers short.

13. Save money by working out at home. Rent or borrow an exercise dvd before buying to make sure you like it.

14. Maintain your car yourself - i.e., do basic stuff like changing the oil, washing it, etc.

15. Shop discount stores. But be careful, sometimes you can still find the items cheaper on sale somewhere else.

16. Get out from underneath credit card debt by making more than the minimum payment each month.

17. Keep ingredients on hand for meals that you can have on the table in under 30 minutes. This just might keep you from ordering take out if you had a busy day.

18. Always bargain at shops and look at a few options before making a purchase. If you're buying fancy stuff like jewelry, buy it from a pawn shop.

19. If you're paying a high rent, move to a cheaper place.

20. Check out Freecycle.org for getting free stuff or getting rid of things that you don't use. Many communities have their own chapter.

21. Subscribe only to the TV channels that you watch and cut out the rest.

22. We all like to splurge once in a while on things like manicures but if are trying to save money consider doing this yourself.

23. Start a savings account just for emergencies. Start small like $5.00 per week.

24. Save on dry cleaning costs by purchasing items that can be washed at home.

25. Do some comparison shopping on insurance for anything from car, life insurance, homeowners, etc.

26. Drink more water. Sugary soft drinks should be an occasional treat instead of an everyday staple.

27. Have a rummage sale or check out local consignment shops. They will either give you a set price for all your stuff or, sell your items and share the commission with you.

28. Pay bills on time to avoid late fees and higher interest rates.

29. Consider planting a garden. Produce such as zucchini can be shredded and frozen for future recipes. Find information at your local library online on how to get started.

30. Know when to splurge. Cut back on the trivial things that eat up your paycheck and you can splurge occasionally on something fun.

Whether you implement some or all of these tips or even come up with a few of your own, finding creative ways to stretch your budget will really pay off financially.

About the Author

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