by Mary Mcindoe

Created on: May 25, 2007   Last Updated: January 07, 2008

Cutting your daily expenses can be fairly easy to do, but the first step is to learn just what those expenses are. For at least a week, jot down every single thing you pay for and total it up at the end of the week. You may be surprised at how much you actually spend, especially on things that you could do for yourself rather than paying others to do it for you.

Do you stop and get a morning coffee on your way to work? - brewing your own hot beverage at home and carrying it with you will save you several dollars a week. Buy bottled water? Put a filter on your kitchen tap and carry your own - not only is it a lot cheaper, it's better for you than most of the bottled waters since bottled water companies are not regulated as strictly as your local water supply. How many times a week do you pay for lunch out? That's a huge expense that can be cut way back by packing your own lunch from home.

If car pooling is an option for you, take advantage of it and share your ride to work - not only will it save you money but it helps the environment. Anything you can do to conserve energy or resources will save you money as well, so turn off lights when you leave rooms, replace your incandescent lights with the compact fluorescents, reset your thermostat a degree or two, turn off the water while brushing your teeth or lathering up in the shower - the list is endless if you pay attention to how you use energy and those savings really add up after awhile.

Two of the most expensive categories that run up the tab at the grocery store are paper products and cleaning supplies, both of which can be replaced with simpler solutions. Baking soda and vinegar can be both be used in various ways to replace those expensive cleansers at a fraction of the cost, both in terms of money and the environment. Fabric towels and napkins can be re-used over and over again instead of wasting money on paper towels and napkins that just end up in the landfills. You can chop a lot off your grocery bill by buying in bulk whenever possible and dividing the food into single meal portions.

Entertainment costs can really add up too, so consider watching movies at home instead of in the theatre when they first come out. If you limit your entertainment expenses by not going out as frequently, you'll quickly see a difference in your expenses.

By cutting back a bit in a number of areas, rather than trying to slash expenses drastically, saving money will be easier to do and you won't mind it nearly as much. And the end result is certainly worth it!

Learn more about this author, Mary Mcindoe.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.