5 Tips to Cut Costs Year Round

Use Less Detergent - You do not need to fill the cap with laundry detergent. Cut the amount you fill the cap with by half, and your detergent will easily last twice as long. Your clothes will be just as clean. You can actually use as little as a quarter of that cap and still get the same results. Especially with the new concentrated forms. This also works on the less concentrated forms if you can still get them.

Use Vinegar To Clean - Vinegar will clean anything, from windows to your toilet. It also disinfects, so you do not need those additional household cleansers. With the price of your average everyday cleaning supplies, you can save realistically about 4.00 per cleaning product per month. This is also a great option for people with allergies or chemical sensitivities. It also works as a fabric softener, which will save you even more money, and prevent issues with your septic system if you have one.

Make Your Own Coffee - Coffee shop prices are on the rise for the same quality of coffee. Take a travel mug and fill it before you leave the house. This way, you will save the 2-5 dollars it would have cost you for that cup. Take this one step further and get an airpot to hold excess coffee in, or purchase a one cup coffee maker if you are not a heavy coffee drinker. The airpot will keep your coffee hot all day, and you won't waste the electricity you would by having the coffeepot on all day. Your coffee will also taste better, as you will retain the fresh brewed quality, and not get that mud flavor. If you are partial to a certain chain's coffee, then buy it! It will still save you money per cup. And you can have it just the way you like it, no more getting sugar in your coffee if you dislike it, or not getting it if you do. You now have complete control over your morning cup.

Powdered Automatic Dishwashing Detergent - Use this as a cheap stain remover. All you have to do is use about a quarter of a cup in warm water, then allow your clothes to soak until the stain is gone. And I do mean gone! It can take a bit of time, but you can usually watch the stain disappear before your very eyes. It also works on set stains, which saves you money in clothing. Ring around the neck, blood, wine, chocolate sauce, nothing works better. You can dump it directly into the washer and use it as an Oxyclean type product if you so desire. Not too bad for about 2 dollars...for about a year's worth of stain remover and oxy clean. Works better then most name brand stain removers, which will also save you time.

Invest In A Vacuum Sealer - This alone will save you a nice chunk of change on your food bill. It works on produce, dairy, meats, sauces, soups...the possibilities are endless. You can use them both in the freezer and in the fridge. I recommend the HandyVac, I use mine for everything. It extends the shelf life of my produce, I put my sliced cheese in it, and whenever I open a package it goes in the bag. I also use it to freeze my meat, and I haven't seen a wisp of freezer burn yet. The bag prices are comparable to the freezer bags you are probably already buying, and 10 dollars is more then a worthwhile investment for the savings.