14 ways to save money this year

Photo by slice and dice, smash and grab
Saving money doesn't have to be hard. By making small incremental changes to your daily habits you can have a powerful impact on your life. If you were to take every single dollar of unneeded purchases throughout the course of your life how much money would you have in the bank come retirement time? A sobering thought in light of today's rampant consumerism.

Stop eating out – Average Savings $5000 annually – Lose weight, get healthier.

Drop the DVR and HD TV – spend quality time with the family.

Walk/bike to school or the job – Save $$ Auto and fuel expenses and get in shape.

Brown bag it – Average savings $10 to $15 per day – Get healthier.

Drop multiple sporting events for the children - Save $$ and spend more quality time together.

Give up your land line for long distance calls – Make the switch to “Magicjack” and save $100.00 annually.

Pay of the cars or buy used for cash – Tough but definitely worth it.

Turn down the thermostat – We turn ours down to 79 degrees in the summer and 79 degrees and 77 in the winter. You'll save 5 to 8 percent on cooling costs with each degree below a mark.

Stop the electrical vampires around your home – unplug appliances that you don’t use regularly, (VCR, chargers, stereos) and save big. A recent consumer report test showed that many appliances sap just as much energy when they’re off as when they’re turned on.

Give up soda – Save $$ and get healthier as well. Soda is bad for you.

Bring your own coffee to work, or on the road – Savings: Starbucks $1 per cup – $0.25 per cup for brewed, and $0.06 per cup for instant coffee. Side benefits – saving time.

Give up the blackberry - This works if you work from home.

Take half vacations (split) rather than one long trip – Benefits are more focused time with your family and $$$.

Driving on vacation – Saves $$$ and makes for some wonderful memories.

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