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advantage of some of their buy-one-get-one-free coupons in the newspaper or community mailers. You'll often see offers for 20 percent off your meal. Two frequent advertisers are Olive Garden and Red Lobster (both owned by the same company). Save even $2.50 a week for $10 a month. You have $330 left.

Coffee to go: We could probably put Starbucks in its own category. Forego one latte a week and save $5. In a month, you'll erase $20. Your balance: $310.

Car wash: Giving up a car wash for a month won't escalate the depreciation of your vehicle. Save $8 on the wash, and you have a balance of $302.

Clothing: This category is a huge variable among families. Your kids might wear uniforms to school. You'll spend a lot more if you and your better half must wear suits to work instead of khakis and shirts. Avoid buying any clothes for your family for just one month. Using an average cost of $125, you still have $177 to delete.

Laundry: Exchanging washing your clothes every day for just twice each week will save you both time and money. A conservative estimate for a month is $12.00. Balance: $165.

Hair styling: Assuming $50 for a woman's haircut and tip, you'll save $150 annually if you get your hair styled once every 6 weeks instead of every 4. This saves you $13.50 a month. You have $151.50 remaining.

DVDs: Many families shell out $20 apiece for 4 DVDs each month. Rent them for $9.95 a month from Netflix and avoid buying any. Your savings: $70. Balance: $81.50.

Dry cleaning: Make a quick check of your closets to identify clothing you can wash instead of tote to the dry cleaners. For anything you can't launder yourself, head for the nearest $1.99 cleaners. You'll be trading a typical $50 bill for one around $12, a savings of $38. You have $43.50 to go.

Driving: You'll need to get your family behind you on this one. Ban driving for just one day next month. Everyone in the family either walks, bikes, or stays home. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy the peace and quiet. A conservative savings: $20. You still have $23.50 left.

Books and magazines: The typical paperback novel now goes for $7.99 plus tax. Skip buying just two this month and borrow them from your local library. You'll save more than $16.00. Balance: just $7.50.

Daily newspaper: Do you really have time to read the Monday through Saturday papers anyway? Reduce your subscription to Sunday only, and you'll save at least $14. Balance to goal: $0. You actually chopped off an addition $6.50.

Way to go!

Learn more about this author, Vonda Sines.
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