Simple Ways To Save Thousands

Inspired to save? I hope so.

In tough times, consumers are looking to stash their cash further. Here are simple ways to save thousands.

Limit your trips to the supermarket. shoppers can save an average of $50 to $100 a week on their groceries if they spend about 30 minutes once a week planning out their supermarket trip. Try to make one big trip a week.

Coupons aren't just for groceries anymore. You can find coupons for movies, restaurants, and even clothing.

To save a few thousand dollars a year and cut down on waste simply by eliminating that morning coffee and a muffin. That's what he calls the "latte factor," and you'd be surprised how quickly that $5 breakfast-on-the-go every morning adds up.

The same goes for lunch. The average American worker who buys lunch during the workweek spends $6.60 a day, according to a recent "Brown Bag" survey by ConAgra. And they are eating up a substantial savings opportunity. Buying enough ingredients to pack a lunch from home just three days a week can save about $600 a year.

Audit your bills. Call your wireless provider once a year to make sure you're on the best plan. Do the same with your cable, internet, and long-distance provider. Bonding all three usually nets a discount.

Use public transportation or carpool. You'll save on petrol, maintenance and even parking.

Consolidate your plugs. Between five and 15 percent of the power used by electronics is consumed when they're turned off. Plug your TV, DVD player, cable box, and home entertainment system into a power strip or surge protector, then unplug it at night and when you're not home.

Everyone knows that carrying a credit card balance can be costly. But if paying off that balance isn't in the cards, even the smallest change can pay huge dividends. Instead of buying a soda from the vending machine, Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com, recommends putting that dollar toward your credit card balance.