by Kate Manning

Created on: June 30, 2010   Last Updated: July 01, 2010

‘Look after the pennies and the dollars will look after themselves’. This simply means, that if you take the time to save even small change it will soon mount up and before you know it, you may have a nice bundle saved up. Especially during tough economic times, it is not uncommon to find that people are eager to save money any way they can. There are many different ways to knock a few pennies or dollars off of bills or grocery expenses, and keep them in your pocket instead! Here are a few simple ways save money in your everyday lives.

Utility Bills.

* One of the biggest users of electricity around the home is an electric water heater. If there are not many people living in your household, then your utility expenses can benefit greatly from turning a water heater off at the breaker. Since they are constantly on, they are forever using electric, but when turned off, you are saving power and money. Just remember to turn it on half an hour before you bathe or shower and turn it off again afterward.

* Make sure your cell phone plans are catered exactly to your needs, so you are not paying for anything extra that you neither need nor use. Some networks offer unlimited data or text plans, but if you use much less and they offer cheaper, limited plans, opt for those.

* If you really wish to cut back on cell phone bills, some stores such as Wal-Mart offer cell phones and plans at around $50 a month for unlimited talk, text and data. The only sacrifice you may have to make is having a limited choice of phone models, but you will find these plans are well worth the savings in the long run.

* When it comes to heating and cooling costs, make sure all doors and windows are closed at all times. Warm air will escape through the smallest of gaps during the colder months and cool air will during hotter months. Once a year, do a thorough check of all windows and exit points in your house, sealing any cracks with caulking.

* During winter, keep your thermostat at no more than 68 degrees Fahrenheit. In Summer, no cooler than 78 degrees. Those few degrees of energy you are saving, will also save dollars on your bill. Remember to keep filters in window units and central systems clean as well!

* Cable or Satellite bills can be fairly reasonable, but take into consideration any extra movie channels or specialty channels you are paying for and decide whether you actually need them. Reducing the number of channels can bring your TV bill down as well.

Shopping.

* It

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