SAVE $130
Skip the Dry-Cleaner
If your dry cleaner knows you by name and sends you a holiday card, it's definitely time to rethink the relationship. Most people can easily save real money with some simple do-it-yourself alternatives. Plus, it's better for the environment.
If your clothes are truly dirty, use Dryel to dry-clean your clothes at home. If they're not dirty but wrinkled, use a steam iron to freshen them up. Check out this video on how to steam your clothes. And for all those men's shirts, you just need a washing machine and an iron—piece of cake!
$40 4 dresses
$20 5 sweaters
$20 5 blouses
$20 4 pants
$30 16 shirts (assumes 4 shirts per week)
SAVE $100
Cheap Chic
Looking good doesn't have to cost a lot these days. Before you buy a new pair of boots or shoes, try having last year's resoled and professionally polished for a clean look. And check out your local consignment store for great deals on clothes and accessories. If you really need something new, then explore one of the many discount fashion sites such as The Outnet, Bluefly, or Shop Style.
SAVE $60
Clip Coupons
Coupons have been around forever, and that's 'cause they work. Websites like RedPlum and Coupon Mom offer savings on tons of everyday items.
If you need new electronics, clothes, or home supplies, then check out Bing Cashback, where you get money back from major retailers with every purchase. And before any big purchase, compare different retailers with PriceGrabber or BizRate.
SAVE $35
Reduce Your Cable Bill
How much are you shelling out each month for all those channels? And how many do you really watch? Some of those subscriptions are really pricey, so it's worth reviewing your bill and canceling channels that you don't watch frequently.
And it's not like you'll miss out. With Hulu.com and YouTube.com, you can watch most of your faves online for free. Or if you watch a lot of movies, consider switching to a service like Netflix or even investing in the Roku, which offers hundreds of movies and TV shows as well as live games from Major League Baseball.
SAVE $25
Lower Your Cell Phone Bill
Put down that cell phone. Are you really using your phone during the cheapest hours? Are you using all the minutes you're paying for? How about texting—it adds up fast, and most providers offer special plans. Revisit your plan and figure out how to maximize your minutes. Also, find out what your friends use to see if you can take advantage of unlimited in-network minutes.
SAVE $20
Tailor Your Own Pants
Need to hem your pants? Whether you've got jeans or dress pants, it's supereasy with this how-to video.
Be Book Smart
You may love the bookstore, but you can get most of the titles you want for free at your local library. Or consider joining a book-swap club to exchange your old books for new. After all, do you have shelf space for another novel?
Subscribe or Go Online
Do you fall prey to the checkout line, where you inevitably pick up the latest issue of your favorite magazine for about $5? If you subscribe, you'll get your favorite magazines all year long for a fraction of the price.
Buck the Starbucks
Depending on how fancy you like to go, takeout coffees can add up quickly. Why not alternate between a simple homemade brew and that pricey iced vanilla decaf macchiato.
Why Pay for Water?
How, exactly, did we all come to believe that water in a plastic bottle is somehow better than tap water? Bottled water is bad for the environment and a total waste of money. Invest in a groovy water bottle and drink up those savings.
