Let us get started by few ideas on how to save money without feeling the pain!

1. Buy Bulk, But Beware: You must buy daily use/ consumable from warehouse stores like Costco or Smart and final, Sams club etc. Buy in quantities which will last not more than 1 month so that you do not have to discard things which you could not use. Beware of buying your personal items like shampoos, toothpaste etc in bulk, Two reason for this, first of all you will get bored by the same fragrance or flavor. Secondly you may even forget that you have another pack under your bathroom sink and may end up buying another bulk pack! Savings: $75/month
2. Eat at Home, Everyday, Every time: This is not as difficult as it may seem. With so many ready to cook options available, you can easily come up with a delicious meal. The best thing is that you will know about what you are adding in your meal and this can help in maintaining your calories intake and your health. Saving $100/month (yes it does add up very quickly!)
3. Skip Latte: You must have heard this many items by now. But it makes sense. Instead of buying a tall latte at Starbuck for $3.90, you can either brew at home or buy at McDonalds for less than $1. savings : $50/month
4. Pay off credit cards: Many people do not think about this. Always, yes always pay-of your credit card balance. Credit card companies are notorious in charging over 22% interest rate ( compare with 0.5% you receive in your Bank). At this rate you are giving away $22 for every $100 you owe!! Savings $50-$200/month




5. Walk, Don’t drive.. wherever possible. If you need to do grocery shopping at the nearby grocery store, walk instead of driving. You consume lot more gas when driving short distances as compared to loner commute. Also, you get your required exercise, save on medical bills and be healthy! Savings: $25/month
6. Buy health insurance: In times of desperation, people tend to ignore the medical insurance. Don’t do that. With medical costs rising everyday, having insurance is a must.
7. Be Green – Save power :Are you the one who loves to run an air conditioner at the first sign of rising mercury without even trying to open the windows or using a ceiling fan? Ceiling fans can save over 80% of the energy cost. Especially in coastal areas, ceiling fans are more effective than air-conditioning!
8. Dollar movies: Why do you want to spend $7-$10 on a movie ticket and then pay $10 for the popcorn, when you can go to a dollar movie theater and watch the same movies at 1/10 of the cost. What if you do not watch the movie in the first week? Does it make a difference? Just assume that the movie came out late by two months. Alternatively, rent a video at a local shop. Do not waste $3-4 by renting through big stores…try local mom-pop shops for the video (usually rent for $1.50-$2.00)  Savings: $15-$30/month
9. Love coupons: Buy Sunday newspaper and clip the coupons. It may be take approximately 30 minutes but you will save over $20/week! Remember not to buy stuff if do not need them simply because you saw a coupon. Companies usually send coupons in a fixed frequency based on their estimation of the usage. Therefore, if you run out of your toothpaste in 4 weeks, there is a very probability that you will see a coupon in the third week!
10. Avoid impulses: Last but the most important aspect of saving. Try not to buy on impulses as you will always end up paying more or buying something which you did not want.

All of the above suggestions do not require too much effort and without compromising your life style. It does require some efforts from your end. But think.. with a saving of approx $400/month, you can easily enjoy a short vacation!