We all like to save money whenever we can right? If you look closely, there are probably everyday ways to cut costs and save money on a weekly or monthly basis. A little bit of savings can add up to a lot over the long haul!

Here are 10 easy ways to save money on everyday living expenses.

1.  Cut your daily shower to 10 minutes from 15 minutes, or more if you can. This will conserve on water cost. Even if you live somewhere where the water is included in your monthly rent, then you will still need to factor in the cost of heating the water on your energy bill. You could be saving $208 per year or more with shorter showers!
2.  Reduce your home’s water heater setting to 120 degrees from 140 degrees. These savings are especially great if you’re using a gas water heater, but even if you use an electric water heater, you’ll still benefit from the lowered thermostat.
3. Brew your own cup of coffee instead of picking up a latte at Starbucks. A tall latte at the local Starbucks will run you about $3-$5  or more, which quickly adds up if you go there several times a week. If you brew your own at home for 50 cents or less per cup, you’ll only pay about $183.
4. Prepare your own lunch rather than buying out. It may not be as much fun as eating out, but there is no question that packing a lunch will save a bundle of money. Even if you cut back by one lunch a week, the savings will add up.
5.  Hit the water cooler at work instead of buying bottled water. If you can avoid paying for the bottled stuff (at $1 to $1.50 a bottle), you can save at least $5 to $7.50 for each five-day work week. This could save you $12-$15 a month or $240+ each year.
6. Carpool or work from home one day a week instead of driving into the office each day. An employee who logs on from home or catches a ride with a co-worker a minimum of once a week can avoid spending more at the pump each week.
7. .Cut your lawn yourself instead of hiring a lawn service. You can trim costs substantially by cutting your lawn yourself. Lawn services generally charge $20 to $40 for a weekly cutting for an average lawn, and as much as $90 if you throw in leaf blowing and trimming.
8.  Polish your nails at home instead of getting a manicure. Even though some people enjoy pampering treatments from salons, cutting down on this expense will help. Skip the salon and buff your nails yourself, and you’ll pocket $10 to $20+ each time
9. Order a film from a movie-rental service instead of going to the nearest multiplex. Movie tickets are running $10+  in many theaters now – and that’s just for one person! DVD services like Netflix.com or Redbox offer super low-cost plans for viewing and renting movies and TV shows. In fact, a one-month subscription to unlimited (one movie out at a time) Netflix rentals is equal to or less than the price of a single movie ticket!
10. Use compact fluorescent bulbs in your lamps and light fixtures instead of the old incandescent type. If you replace just one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent one, you’ll save $6 in electricity costs over a year, according to the EnergyStar program. They are a little more expensive, but they pay for themselves over time since they last much longer. Plus, it’s getting harder and harder to find the older style bulbs anyway, so why not get used to them?

What do you do to save money on everyday living expenses? Share your comments with us so we can learn your tips!

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