10 Tips to Cut Costs Without Sacrifice

With higher fuel and food costs, most of us are trying to cut back our expenses in other areas to keep our budget intact. You can make some drastic changes and save a lot of money, but some of us want to continue living without cutting coupons, eating all our meals at home and going to the library every week. Of course, those are very sensible ways to reduce costs and many of us should take that sort of advice. However, I want to keep my current lifestyle. I want the occasional Starbucks cappuccino, Netflix movies in my mailbox and soaps from Bath and Body Works. I don't want to do without the fun stuff nor do much extra work to save money.

It is possible. These tips won't get you out of massive credit card debt, save for your retirement or put your child through college but you can save a few dollars here and there and the only thing you will notice is the extra cash in your wallet.

1. Check your tires. Many of us are driving around with under-inflated tires. You will save money at the fuel pump if your tires are properly inflated. You lose 1% of fuel efficiency for every 2 PSI of air under the maximum level. The average driver will save well over $400/year in fuel costs by insuring tires are properly inflated,(Gerson, Bruce. "Carnegie Melon Today" September 21, 2005). This is fairly easy, but is the most difficult tip to perform on my list.

2. You can cut your electricity bill without inconvenience. Unplug devices that consume electricity. You could go through your house and unplug your microwave, TV, computer, etc. You'd save significantly. To realize a bit of savings with little sacrifice, choose one or two pieces of equipment that won't inconvenience you. I now unplug our cell phone chargers, which previously stayed connected when not in use. We aren't saving a lot, but the purpose is to save some without giving up much. Save further by lowering your AC thermostat. Turned down just one degree is barely noticeable until you get your bill. You can save as much as 3% of your cooling costs for every degree set above 72 (California Energy Commission, 2006). Run heat generating appliances (clothes dryer and dishwasher) at night if possible.

3.Cut the cost of dryer sheets in half by actually cutting the sheets in half. I was very skeptical when I heard half a sheet works every bit as well as a whole one, but it's true. Give it a try. It won't give you a lot of extra spending money, but you can rattle some change in your pockets. In my household, the select a size paper towels also save money. I usually only need the smallest segment. So while the roll with extra perforations is more expensive than the roll of regular sheets, it lasts much longer.

4.Order water as a beverage in a restaurant. This may not be a tip that all can handle as I know many who need their soda with a meal. It has been an easy one for me. I don't mind water. I can have a soda at home. When I look at the check and see the cost of sodas, I am furious. Many places are now charging $2.50 for a cola. Are you kidding me? $10 for drinks for a family of four, especially if you eat out on a fairly regular basis, it motivates me to order water. Not having soda with dinner is not a deprivation.

5.On the topic of water -- add water to fruit juice. The amount varies by individual taste and type of juice. It's healthier to dilute the juice and the taste is not much different. Your kids probably won't be any wiser. It isn't a huge savings, but it can add up. A litle added water can also stretch your liquid hand soap a bit further without a trace of difference. The key is not to be too greedy, dilute only a bit. The product should seem the same.

6.Do you throw out coffee at the end of each day? I monitored for a few days and noticed I dumped two to three cups down the drain every day. You can be very frugal and store it in the fridge for re-warming, but this article is about maintaining your normal lifestyle and saving a few dollars along the way. I'm not going to drink day old coffee. But, I have started to make to make two cups less. It doesn't seem like a big deal. But saving the extra scoops of Starbucks beans gives me a "free" pot of coffee every third day.

7.It is possible to maintain a great appearance and save at the hair salon. If you schedule a cut every 5 weeks, you likely will be just fine waiting 6. You will nearly save the cost of two hair cuts over a year's time. If you have your hair colored professionally every month, consider a half-color every other month. It will keep your roots from showing growth and you could realize up to a 25% overall savings.

8.Bundle your cable, phone and/or Internet service and ask for a deal. Likely there is one and all you have to do is ask. If you already have the offer, ask to have it extended. If bundling isn't an option, ask what offers are. Plenty of articles will tell you to drop your land line and go to basic cable. Both are great ideas if you are really trying to cut corners. I'm just trying to help you save a few dollars. I am not suggesting you miss the next season of "Entourage". When I extended our bundled contract, our bill dropped nearly $25 per month.

9.Be a smart shopper, but don't waste a lot of time. I love the idea of using coupons, but I'm not going to do it. It's a lot of work. There are sites to help, but still it involves too much time. Some people love doing this; I do not. I plan my meals ahead for grocery shopping and use the store sales advertisement. This isn't difficult for me. For non-grocery items, I often shop online, primarily through www.amazon.com . Take full advantage of their post-purchase price guarantee. If you buy an item and the price drops within 30 days after your purchase you can get a refund for the difference, IF you ask. Very often the price does drop. I made some large ticket purchases last year and with Amazon's frequent price fluctuations, I was returned hundreds of dollars. I usually check the items myself periodically by using the save for later cart method, but have read good reviews for www.nukeprice.com 's tracking and email alerts. A simple email or phone call to customer service gets you a refund for the difference in only a few days. When shopping online through other sites, I use www.ebates.com (and there are many other similar sites) that pay a percentage of the purchase price back to the buyer. It is extremely simple and I earned well over a hundred dollars last year through purchases and referrals.

10.Ask for discounts. It only takes a couple of seconds and the worst you can hear is no. If you have military ties, are a senior or have a AAA membership, you may be surprised by what is out there just for the asking. Many merchants give AAA discounts. I often see signs advertising discounts for seniors on certain days of the week. Military discounts are abundant, but not often advertised. I recently purchased season passes to a local amusement park. I asked if by chance a military discount is offered and saved $40 for our family. You may find discounts for everything from tree trimming to a gym membership.

There may come a time when I need to really tighten my belt and make major cutbacks, but for now I am just going to cinch it a bit and continue to live the life I enjoy. A few painless changes in my daily living habits isn't going to drastically change our family's finances. That's the point. We will hardly notice we are saving a little money and will still be able to enjoy life's little pleasures.