Every Penny Counts: How to Save $4000 This Year

Every penny you save really does add up over time. If you aren't already doing the money saving tips listed below, and you start today, you will save over $4000 this year.

Turn off the lights. Perhaps you can hear your father now belting, "Turn off that light!" Turning off the lights when they aren't being used not only saves you some money on your electric bill, it also conserves our precious resource of energy. Savings: $18/month

Combine your errands. Instead of making many different trips around town to run errands, try to combine them into one trip. This will save the money you spend on gas, and will also help keep the miles on your car down. Savings: $8/month

Use your freezer. When products are on sale, such as chicken breast for $1.99 a pound, stock up. You can freeze what you don't use that week for another time. That way you won't even end up paying $3.99 a pound just because you really need chicken for a particular recipe. Savings: $25/month

Drink water when eating out. Going out to eat sucks up a large portion of many American families' monthly budgets. An easy way to reduce what you spend when eating out is to drink water, rather than soda. Most sit-down restaurants charge at least $1.49 for a drink. A family of four can save around $6.00 each time you eat out just by drinking water. Savings: $25/month

Use coupons. Coupons are available in just about ever Sunday newspaper and also online from such sources as Smart Source. Often you will find coupons for items that were going to buy anyway. Savings: $35/month

Buy in bulk. Some items that you will always have to buy can be bought in bulk. Even if you don't belong to a warehouse club store, you can still save with bulk purchases. Instead of buying a 4 pack of toilet paper, get the 12 pack. Don't buy one paper towel roll, but go ahead and get an 8 pack. These are products that you will always end up using, and you can generally save at least a few cents each time you get a larger package. Savings: $25/month

Buy clothes at the end of the season. While it's always fun to get a least a few new items you can wear right away at the beginning of the season, don't miss out on the great deals you can get at the end of the season. Buy long sleeved shirts and winter pants in the spring for super cheap prices. You can hang them in your closet and enjoy a nice surprise of new clothes once it cools off again. Savings: $12/month

Recycle your ink cartridges. Most office supply stores will pay you cash or give you in-store credit for bringing in your old ink cartridges. This is environmentally responsible, and will save you about $3.00 or more per ink cartridge. Savings: $2/month

Take advantage of rebates. Many stores offer rebate programs. Stores such as Walgreens have items every single month that you can get for free just by waiting for the rebate. Many office supply stores also offer weekly or monthly rebate offers. Savings: $10/month

Use an old fashioned draft dodger. Placing a draft dodger at the bottom of all of the doors leading into your house can keep out cold air in the winter and hot air in the summer. Using a draft dodger can help with your energy bill. Savings: $3/month

Refill water bottles. A lot of families buy bottled water for the convenience of it, rather than the taste. If you don't mind the taste of your own tap water, try refilling water bottles over and over. Just make sure you wash the bottles thoroughly before reusing them. Savings: $6/month

Try 2 liters instead of cans. If your family drinks soft drinks, try buying 2 liters instead of canned drinks. Often you can save quite bit of money here, and people generally drink less than the amount in a can of soda when drinking from a glass. Savings: $10/month

Following these simple tips really can save your family $4000 each year or even more. Saving money for your family just takes a little bit of planning.