10 simple ways to save money

Here are just a few simple hints to save a little extra money each month.

1. Check the Cell Phone Bill- A lot of people that go over on their cell phone bill don't realize that it may be cheaper to pay an extra $10 per month to get the extra minutes. Also, if you've got a family, look at the family plans, they have potential to save you a lot of money.

2. Check on Cable Companies- Cable TV and Internet companies are constantly running 6 and 12 month deals for discounted rates. Sign up for the deals, and once the 6 or 12 months expires, look for the next deal and switch companies, they almost always advertise free installation anyway!

3. Set Up Direct Deposits- If you set up direct deposits to savings accounts, you won't even miss the money, because you'll never see it in the checking account in the first place.

4. Set Up Accounts at Seperate Banks- If you have your checking account at one bank, and savings at another, this will make it more difficult to transfer money to your checking account for impulse buying.

5. Have a Garage Sale- Everyone has stuff they don't need anymore, have a garage sale, and for a better showing, organize the neighborhood or apartment building to have a block sale on the same day. Make sure to spend the couple of dollars for advertising in the local papers.

6. Be a Coupon Clipper- Don't be embarrased to cut coupons out of the sunday paper or the penny saver you get in the mail. That $1 here and there could be enough for a nice dinner for you and a loved one at the end of the month.

7. Recycle Your Old Things- If you're replacing a TV or couch, clothes or appliances, don't throw the old ones away. Instead give it to the goodwill or another charity. Then you're not only doing some good, but you're getting a tax write off at the end of the year.

8. Speak of Taxes- Instead of paying someone to do your taxes every year, do your research and do them yourself. If you take a little time each month to do research on the internet, you can find out all the information you need to save as much money as possible.

9. Make Plans!- When you go out, decide what you need before hand. Everything else is just window shopping. If you don't commit to that before you go out, you just never know how much you might end up spending.

10. Obvious but Rare- Make a budget so you know what you have to work with before and after all the bills are paid. Make sure to save your reciepts for groceries and gas, as those are nessesities. You should update this budget every 6 months to a year to see where you can improve.