by Joshua Horn

Created on: January 21, 2009   Last Updated: January 22, 2009

With unemployment rates rapidly increasing and talk of economic recession, saving money is becoming a top priority for many people. But for many, saving money seems like an insurmountable task, when in actuality, it just takes a conscious mind that is willing to make some minor lifestyle changes. From selling your extra junk in a garage sale to ridding yourself of unnecessary bills, there are lots of simple ways you can save a few dollars a month. By making many of these small changes, you could see hundreds or even thousands of extra dollars accumulating in your bank account!

1) Hold a garage sale. This will, if successful, bring some much needed instant cash and help you clear any clutter from your life. Anything you haven't used in the last year will probably never be used. To make this extremely effective, gather other families or groups to get involved with the sale as well. In apartment living, convince the other tenants to get involved and sell their junk as well. By making the sale as large as possible, you can bring in far more customers than just having one table on your front lawn.

2) Cook at home. Eating out costs a fortune over time. A large amount of money can be saved by choosing to eat at home. One of the biggest reasons for eating out is the convenience. Precooking a few meals on Sunday afternoon and packaging them in the fridge can make cooking and eating a simpler task during the week.

3) Drive less. A simple money saver is the use of a carpool or public transportation. As prices of gasoline rise in the summer months, driving less will result in greater savings. Riding a bike to work is a very healthy alternative. Driving less also minimizes the need for repairs on your vehicle by reducing the wear.

4) Disconnect the land-line phone. Unless you have need for an emergency phone, such as with kids or the elderly, you can probably get rid of your land-line phone and use only your cell phone.

5) Make your own coffee. Making coffee at home is far cheaper than buying it. With practice, you can make a wonderful cup of coffee that is better than anything you can get at a coffee shop.

6) Make shopping lists. Before making a trip to the grocery store, make a list of everything you want to purchase. By sticking to your list, you prevent impulse shopping that often occurs, especially on items you don't need.

7) Watch less television. Not only will you save on utility costs, you can also save money by not renting movies and going to the theaters less. Many local

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