by Kimberly Roos

Created on: May 27, 2009   Last Updated: May 30, 2009

There are lots of ways to save money, and in this tough economic time, everyone can use a little help. Here are five easy ways I have found to save money without having to change my lifestyle.

The first thing everyone should do is, call all of your credit card companies and ask for a lower rate. It is a simple phone call that takes just a couple of minutes and depending on your debt it could save hundreds or even thousands a year. Many people make this call once and never make it again, which is a huge mistake. You should call all of your credit card companies at least every six months to make sure they are giving you the best deal possible, and always make sure you call back when your "special rate" is about to run out. Also take advantage of 0% balance transfer offers when one of your credit card companies won't work with you to lower your rate, but make sure you read the fine print on all offers. If it is 0% for six months make sure you have the ability to pay it off by then, or that the rate after your six months is up is acceptable. Be careful not to transfer your balances over and over as this can affect your credit rating.

I have found that although it takes time, using coupons can save you tons of money! In your mail I am sure you receive coupons all the time, and most of us just throw them away, but if you are going to Bed Bath and Beyond anyway, why not take the 20% off coupon they are sending. If you are an on line shopper, search for coupons from your favorite stores. There are many websites that offer on line only coupon codes, one of my favorites for retail stores is http://www.retailmenot.com/. It takes an extra minute to search for them but if it saves you money, it is worth it. One very helpful tool I have found for grocery shopping is http://www.grocerygame.com/. It is not available in all areas but my own personal experience has been wonderful. I have saved at least 45% on every grocery trip since I joined. You have to cut coupons out of your Sunday paper for it to work, but the savings are tremendous.

In Texas, due to electric deregulation, electricity costs are outrageous! There are several companies that offer low rates and the same service. For example in Houston, Texas, all electricity is provided by and repaired by Centerpoint, but you can buy your electricity from Reliant, TXU, Green Mountain, StarTex, or a slew of other providers. At this moment TXU offers 15.2 cents, while Startex offers 10.6 per KWH. That is almost 5 cents per

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