How to Save Thousands of Dollars on Every Day Expenses

You're a lot wealthier than you think you are. Don't believe me? Recount your typical day. Do you drive to work alone? Do you stop for coffee, doughnuts or a bagel? Do you buy smoothees? Do you buy lunch and/or snacks during the day? Do you have meals delivered? Do you smoke? Do you drink?

If you're like most Americans, you waste a lot more money than you're ever even aware that you've had. Do yourself a favor and create some real financial security by reining in excessive spending, living frugally and practicing financial self discipline.

Here are a few tips to help you save thousands of dollars this year:

1. Walk, bike, take public transportation or carpool whenever possible. With current gasoline prices well above $3.00 per gallon; this could save you $100 or more per week on gasoline alone. When you include the money you will save on parking, maintenance and wear and tear on your car, it's easy to see how not commuting alone in your car can be personally rewarding as well as environmentally responsible.
2. Invest in a small, inexpensive individual coffeemaker to make your own coffee at home or at the office. Better yet, buy instant coffee in a bag that brews just like tea. It's easy, convenient, delicious and cost effective. Even if you only spend $3.50 per day on a cup of coffee, that adds up to $105 a month-that's $1,260 a year.
3. Strive to cut back on bread, doughnuts and other carbs. But if you've just gotta have them, buy your favorite varieties at a bakery outlet or discount grocer and freeze them. You can save over $1 a day or $365 a year by doing this.
4. Make your own healthy nutritious smoothees in your blender or smoothee maker at home. If you want to indulge at work, pour some into your thermos and take it along.
5. Take a brown bag lunch, and pack a brown bag lunch for your husband and kids-you can make this a fun activity by setting up a lunch assembly line. A family of four can easily save $20 a day by doing this-that's $400 a month...$4,800 a year.
6. Avoid having meals delivered. Bring your own or, if you must, go get it yourself. You will save $3-$5 in delivery fees and tips.
7. Give up smoking! It's bad for your health. It's bad for the environment. At about $6 a pack, a pack a day smoker can save almost $200 a month by putting this bad habit behind them.
8. If you must drink, become a special occasion drinker. Have a glass of champagne ring in the New Year or have a glass of wine to celebrate an anniversary. Better yet, try Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider-this stuff is so good that if would go for $10,000 a bottle if it were actual champagne. If you like to have an occasional cocktail or entertain, set up a world class nonalcoholic bar for you and your guests.

If you follow these tips, you could easily and painlessly save several thousand dollars a year, and even improve your health in the process.