I have been frugal all my life. So living for less comes naturally for me. I decided if I could make small efforts to save in as many ways as I could it would add up to big savings over all. It has worked for me and maybe some of the things I have learned will help some of you as well.

No one will be interested in every idea listed below. But if only a few of them will work for you, it will be worth reading the list

Secret Savings: I put all my changes in a Pringles Can. I just remove the label and cut a slot in the top and every time I get or find coins I drop them in the can. I never cheat by taking out the quarters either. I used to but it made such a huge difference that I stopped doing it. Anyway, I get coin tubes at the bank and when the can if full I roll it up and deposit it. My bank doesn't charge for depositing coin rolls. Some will charge if you have more than 5 or 10 rolls. Check to see what the policy is for your bank. But to my delight I find I can easily end up with $50 to $100 in my Pringles Can once it's full to the top. The tough part is deciding what you will use it for. Mine stays in the bank. So no exciting tips here on how to use it. If you need a goal, try putting a label on the can saying what the savings will go for. Change is often ignored, but one school I heard about managed to collect $10,000 in pennies. If you get your whole family in on the savings imagine what you could save together.

Turn off the TV: This is hard for some people. But my husband and I decided to cancel our Cable membership a few years ago. We have not missed it at all and we save about $75 per month as a result.

Get a Voice Over IP Phone. We have several numbers and at $15 per month for the 1st number and $5 for each additional number you can save a huge monthly phone bill with unlimited calls too. Skype (an eBay company), Vonage, Broadvoice, and other companies offer these phone options. Worth checking into it for many people.

Consider going Cell Only! Many people have already made the change to a cell phone only. Unfortunately for the phone companies, many of them are not offering services these days that are worth the cost of having a house line. Most people can get Internet without one. There are ways to fax without one. And if you feel you must have a cell phone, there is no reason to keep the house line for many people. It is worth considering if it is an option you are free to take.

Shopping is not a sport: For some people shopping only when you need something would be very difficult. But just that one change could end up saving $100s or $1000s for many people. The stores would be in big trouble if they depended on me to stay open. I shop for clothes about once every 2 years. I mean one day. And that day is usually the day after Christmas when I can get huge savings on the things I really need. That idea would not work for everyone. But for those who really need to find ways to make the money stretch, that is certainly worth considering.

Consider shopping at your local Dollar Store.  The Dollar Tree, 99c Only Stores, and other stores that offer their entire stock for a dollar or less have experienced a 40% increase in customer sales since the first of the year. Some of these stores carry an amazing inventory. I have even gotten King-sized  Ralph Lauren Designer Sheets for 99c. I had to grab them the day I saw them because they were gone by noon. But that is only one example of wonderful finds available from time to time at the local $1 Store. Many of these stores carry produce, frozen foods, canned goods, bread and eggs, and snack foods. If you are paying $2 to $3 a dozen for eggs, check for a Dollar Store near you. Mine has started selling little 8-egg cartons, but that's still a big savings over the prices in my neighborhood Supermarket.

Change out your lights and save while being cooler! We changed out all of our light bulbs for curly bulbs. They cost a fraction the energy and are much cooler too. We can get them in multi-packs on eBay and at our local Big Box and Home Depot Stores.

Combine your trips: Instead of jumping in the car to run a quick errand, try waiting until you have several places to go and them doing it all in one trip. This could save you time, gas and personal energy as well as money since some times delaying a trip will eliminate the need for the item that may have been a whim in the first place.  

Menu Shopping: Years ago, it was considered wise to make a shopping list to follow your menu for the week. Many people rarely cook these days. Or at least they don't cook from scratch, or plan complete menus, but rather go the quick, easy prepackaged route with little or no thought about a balanced menu. As we are forced to rethink ways to manage with high gas prices, the old menu shopping method may be a good thing to consider. Give it a try and see how it works for you. Families might actually enjoy a chance to sit down and eat a well planned, complete meal together once or twice a week. The idea is to make up menus for several meals, and then make a shopping list based on what you will be eating.

A healthy change of habit: Stop one thing and begin another. This suggestion involves making small habit changes. Simply stopping one habit won't work very well. If you are used to doing something and just stop, there is a void that will need to be filled with a better activity. For example, if you usually come home, drop down in your favorite chair and turn on the evening news, try changing into some comfortable clothes and a pair of walking shoes and go for a walk. A nice stroll with a friend or family member can be delightful and refreshing. It could be a welcome change after a busy day. If walking isn't possible, then curl up with a good book. Do some light exercise, stretching, or walk in place to your favorite album. Or, ________fill in the blank with some other idea of something you haven't done for a while that you have always enjoyed doing.

These are only a few of the 100s of ideas and suggestions you may want to consider to save money, simplify your life, change some costly habits and relax. Even if you do something completely different from the ideas suggested here, if you come up with just one money saving plan, the time you spent reading and thinking about the ideas in this guide was well spent.

Check out my other guides. Best wishes to you in your journey.

JJG