Cutting Your Cost of Living

In hard times, every penny counts. But if you're stretched thin, sometimes it's hard to think of ways to cut costs. Here are some tips that may help you come up with the money you need to make ends meet.

• Making coffee at home can save you $56 or more each month.
• If you find yourself in need of a snack during the day, don't buy from the vending machines; buy them ahead of time at the grocery store, and keep them at work.
• If you have a cell phone and a land line, dump one of them. If you decide to keep the landline, you can always keep your cell phone for emergency use only; 9-1-1 will work on a cell phone even without a current plan. If you keep the cell phone instead of the land line, think about switching to a less expensive plan. After all, text messages are really non-essential.
• Use coupons at the grocery store on the items you purchase most often. Comparison shop to make sure that you're getting the most value for your money.
• Take your lunch to work and eat dinner at home. Eating out can be used as an occasional treat rather than a nightly necessity. Watch for coupons or specials before you go out to eat to keep your costs down.
• Get rid of cable or satellite television. You can watch most shows on the Internet (with fewer commercials, too). If that's just too much to ask, at least cut out most of the movie and other premium channels.
• Cancel your health club membership. Most people never go, despite their best intentions. Besides, you can get all the exercise you need for less than what you're paying now, simply by using a jump rope and a set of barbells.
• Think about carpooling or using public transportation. See if you can change your hours to a four-day work week or work from home once or twice a week.
• Check your car insurance rate - you might find a less expensive rate elsewhere.
• Get rid of your landscaper and take care of the yard yourself.
• Get the kids to help with housework, and save the money you've been paying the maid.

Put a little thought into it, and you can probably come up with more ways to save money and cut your cost of living. You don't have to give up all the little extras, but think about where your money is going before you spend it.