5 Simple Changes for Huge Savings

If you're determined to save more money, you don't have to keep track of every penny you spend. With a few quick tweaks to your usual lifestyle, you could end up saving hundreds - even thousands - of dollars every year. Even better? You don't even have to feel deprived or follow a complicated budget. Just make 5 easy changes to put some breathing room into your bank account.

1. Keep your pantry stocked with low-cost basics for quick meals. Whether you work outside the home or not, it can be tempting to eat out or order takeout at the end of a busy and exhausting day. But if you plan ahead and keep your pantry stocked, you can have meals ready in a pinch, saving time and money. Chicken or beef broth, canned vegetables, and rice or pasta can be added to fish or meat for simple homemade meals.

Check out books like Pantry Cooking: Quick and Easy Food Storage Recipes or any of the wealth of similar books available in bookstores and libraries. By following easy tips for pantry cooking, you can whip up a quick bean or vegetable soup or a simple casserole with minimum effort. Within the first month of "test driving" pantry cooking, I was shocked to see that the savings were well over a hundred dollars over our usual grocery bill!

2. Go on a clothing "diet". If your closet is bulging with items you haven't worn in months or even years, get rid of the excess. Be brutally honest and toss the high school or college dress that you hope will come back into style...someday.

Then rethink the way you wear your usual outfits. If you have a favorite suit, could you change the basic look with a new necklace, scarf or earrings? Accessories can be an inexpensive way to get a new or updated look. Try selecting a few skirts, pants, tops, and shoes that you can alternate to get varied looks.

Sell or donate the clothes you'll never wear again and sort the rest by related or matching colors in your closet, making it easy to get out of the house in a flash. Be sure to save receipts for items donated to eligible charities and you'll reap more savings at tax time.

3. Stop by your nearest dollar store for major discounts. When the economy gets tight, dollar stores thrive -and for good reason.When I walked into our local store, I was amazed by the variety - and quality - of the goods I found there. From dish soap to picture frames, wrapping paper and breakfast cereal, I was able to find a wealth of bargains. I'm now a dollar store regular, making weekly trips to check out the latest finds.

4. Know when to save and when to splurge. When we updated our kitchen, we had to make some tough choices. We bought the highest quality appliances we could afford but used inexpensive lighting options as well as a basic stainless steel sink. We also made sure to take advantage of special sales, cutting our final cost to half of full retail prices. The result? An upscale look without breaking our budget.

5. Learn how to use credit cards wisely to maximize savings and avoid interest charges. Credit cards don't have to result in automatic debt and huge interest payments. By taking advantage of a limited time, zero interest offer, my husband and I have purchased large ticket items and saved more than if we'd paid in cash.

Because we used a store credit card we were able to get an immediate discount on a refrigerator as well as free delivery (normally a fifty dollar charge). If you decide to take advantage of a credit card promotion, set up automatic payments, ensuring that you'll avoid late fees and high interest charges.