Save Hundreds of Dollars Every Month: Smart Ways to Save Money NOW

It seems like everyone is digging deep into their pockets these days. But, did you know that by cutting corners and making little sacrifices along the way, you can find as much as an extra $1000 a month?

Try going on a "restaurant diet" and limit the number of times per week you eat out. Depending on the size of your family, this can save you anywhere from $300 to $500 a month. Entertain at home vs. "in town" and save another $200 to $300.

I've reduced the number of times a week I stop at my local gourmet coffee shop, and instead of paying $2 to $4 a day for flavored coffees and lattes, simply purchased a bottle of flavored creamer that will last me a couple weeks for the same price. It takes about the same amount of time to make a half-pot and pour it into a take-long thermos as it does to park and stand in line to have a barrista create a designer brew.

You can always "do it yourself," too! Cut your own lawn, clean your own gutters/windows and your own home and you'll have $200 to $400 more to spend on the necessities. If you're handy at all, consider buying at do-it-yourself guide for small home improvements. AskPatty Editor Brandy Schaffels says "I've become the "go to gal" for fixing drippy faucets and runny toilets, and have saved myself and my neighbors hundreds of dollars in plumbing bills with just a tiny bit of effort!"

If your car does not specifically require premium fuel, there's no reason to pay the extra 20 cents per gallon for this luxury. Even though prices have dropped in recent weeks, using regular instead of premium can still save you as much as $5 a tank, and depending on your commute, that can add up to quite a bit each month.

Do you really need to drink name-brand bottled water? If you happen to buy a bottle of water at the convenience mart where you get your gas, you'll probably pay $2 -- or more -- a bottle. Make a habit of this, and you're paying as much as $8 a gallon for water! Consider refilling your with bottles with purified tap, or use the large 2.5-gallon jugs which usually cost less than $3 and you can save quite a bit! And don't forget that in many states you pay a per-bottle recycling fee! Do you recycle your bottles? If not, that's money you're throwing away! Recycling bottles and cans instead of tossing them can earn you several dollars a month.

Be sure to keep your car properly tuned for optimum performance.   A well-tuned engine delivers the best balance of power and fuel economy and produces the lowest level of emissions. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve gas mileage by as much as 40 percent. Brandy says she knows this for a fact "because my own fuel economy improved by three miles per gallon after I replaced my oxygen sensor this summer."

Keep your tires at the proper inflation: Properly inflated tires improve vehicle safety while reducing emissions and gas usage, says the Auto Club. The Auto Club and its partners estimate that a motorist who drives an average of 12,000 miles annually on tires that are under-inflated by 5-8 PSI is wasting up to 50 gallons of gasoline -- or $150 at $3 a gallon - each year. If there are two vehicles in the family, that total comes to $300, well over a week's worth of food for a family of four ($226) according to the US Dept. of Agriculture.

In addition to proper vehicle maintenance, vehicles can be more fuel-efficient if drivers observe the speed limit, avoid aggressive driving and excessive idling, and adhere to an errand list to eliminate extra trips to the store for forgotten items.

If you don't put a lot of miles on your car, check with your insurance provider about a discount - some companies will decrease their premiums if you drive fewer miles. In an effort to help families save money wherever they can, OnStar has implemented a "Low-Mileage Discount program." This program helps those Americans who drive less, pay less on their automotive insurance. As explained in the accompanying video, owners of General Motors vehicles who subscribe to OnStar and drive fewer than 15,000 miles per year might find they can save quite a bit through GMAC's automotive insurance plan. Using built-in technology, opt-in customers can save up to 54% just by driving less than 15,000 miles annually. With the subscriber's permission, the odometer reading from his or her monthly diagnostics email is forwarded to the insurance company. Based on those readings, the company will decrease premiums accordingly.

Times are tough, and we're all pinching pennies wherever we can. When you make a great effort, those pennies can add up to some serious dollars!

Jody DeVere
President and CEO
http://www.askpatty.com
http://www.carblabber.com