General:

1. Make a goal chart to become debt-free and as you pay off debts, mark them off and reward yourself.  Splurge on a dinner out (using a coupon or special or course)
2. I do the “envelope” budgeting system. All spending money I take out at the beginning of each month.  I then pay for everything with that cash, when it is gone there is no more till the next month. This budgeting method works for best for me.  Try this one, or another method that works best for you!
3. Wait at least 24 hours before purchasing any pricey item.  Use that time to research and shop around.  Don't let peer pressure or your emotions get the best of you! Remember the main goal!
4. If something breaks try to fix it or even going without it for a bit before going out and purchasing a replacement. Try not to hire someone to fix things, rather swap services (like craig’s list or even Facebook & Twitter).
5. To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And make it a rule that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. Just keep in mind that the more you spend, the less you will have to save or pay off debt!
6. Surround yourself with “frugal-minded” people. If you don’t have any friends who are willing to make a frugal journey with you try looking online, There are some really great sites and blogs online.  A great source of information and support!

Grocery:

7. Use a price sheet so that you can know if a “sale” is really a bargain or if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
8. Buy meat that is on Manager Special (expiring that day or shortly after). Call the meat department at your local stores and ask when they mark down meat! Look online for freezer recipes to make use of that meat.  It's soooo handy to already have supper in the freezer and all you have to do is stick it in the microwave!
9. Mix ground beef with an egg and several handfuls of quick oats (makes the meat go farther). Use in meatballs, meat loaf, etc.
10. Bake your own bread – let the yeast sit in sugar water till it smells fermented and use half the yeast (the most expensive ingredient in bread). *I have not tried this as of yet
11. If you are big milk drinkers, buy whole milk and a box of dry milk and make your own mock-2% milk by mixing half whole, half non-fat dry reconstituted milk. You have two gallons for a fraction of the cost. You can also use the dry milk in your cooking and save the "regular" milk for drinking.
12. Go meatless 1-2 nights a week. You can substitute dry beans. They are VERY cheap and filling.
13. Meal plan and coordinate so that leftovers can be utilized fully, yet keeping variety. (Ex: Tacos day one, use left over taco meat day 2 for stuffed peppers)
14. Try to stretch as much time between shopping trips. The fewer times you go shopping, the fewer chances you have to “impulse buy”.
15. ONLY shop from a list. If it is not on the list DO NOT BUY IT. It is best to make a check off inventory list of all things you could need and highlight what you’re out or low on.
16. Eat something small before you go. It is harder to resist the temptation to over buy when you have an empty tummy.
17. Keep your change (dollar bills and coins) use this as your “fun fund”
18. Buy generic – many times this is considerably less than the alternative even if you have coupons. I used to work at a grocery store & the store brand was actually "overflow" from most of the name brands! (I'm pretty sure the Mac&Cheese wasn't included in that!)
19. Use coupons if you prefer something name brand and only if you buy that item regularly. Also, ask if your grocery shop has “double days”.
20. Get your coupons online!  There are several sites that offer printable coupons.  You can also sign up for money saving text messages and even smart phone applications that delivers coupons that can be scanned via the phone at the checkout.

Household:

21. Wash your dishes by hand… I have a hard time with this one, I know it saves water/energy, but I love the convenience of my dishwasher! If you must use the dishwasher, don't use the heated dry option and use the normal wash without the hot star option.
22. Wash clothes in cold water and only if you have a full load to do. Dry your clothes on the line and if you don’t like the “crunchy” feel, stick them in the dryer for 5 min with a wet rag after they’ve hung out. Not only does this save money, it also keeps your darks from fading as quickly!
23. Wash your clothes inside out so they will look nicer longer… and only wash if something is truly dirty.
24. If you like fabric softener, put some on a towel and throw it in with the dryer. A quarter size “spill” on the towel can do about 3 loads – a great way to save softener! You can also make your own softener & detergent using one of the recipes from my last post!
25. In the winter, use your dryer and stove during the early evening to help heat your home. In the summer, use them in the very early morning (or not at all) to help keep your home cool.
26. Cook all your meals for a 2-week period (esp. in the summer) so that your oven only has to do the work one time for multiple meals. Keep meals in the freezer and re-heat with the microwave – uses less energy, and you save time. Also, having home-cooked freezer meals cut down on the tendency to order take-out when you’re having an exceptionally busy day.  
27. In the summer take a cold bath/wash rag to help you feel cool before bed, and keep the thermostat as high as possible or the A/C off if possible (we live in TX – its not possible). Each degree change can save up to 3% on your energy costs!
28. In a room that has a tendency to be dark, put a mirror near the light to refract the light around the room. One light bulb has the power of two with this trick! We have tons of mirrors in our master bath and I only need to turn on the lights after the sun has set.
29. Unplug items (toaster, shaver, cell phone charger, TV) when not in use. Small amounts of electricity are still being used even if they are off, but plugged in. (I don't usually practice this, but I should.)
30. Use Craig’s List to purchase used items (furniture, etc.) or freecycle or go to garage sales.  Facebook also can be another source.  Our town has several groups on Facebook to buy, sale, or trade items.
31. Buy paint from the “oops” counter at the hardware store. Also, if the color of your walls allows, add a faux finish over the existing color. This uses a lot less paint and allows you to spruce up more rooms at a fraction of the cost. I used a glaze on three of the walls in my dining room and used a fraction the amount that I used on other walls with normal paint.
32. Cut your cell-phone or house phone, you don’t need both. If possible, become a single-phone family. For long distance, calling cards are great! You can usually find cards with under 2 cents a min! Pay-as-you-go cell phone plans are great if you are not a big phone user. Check out Straight Talk at Walmart for cheap unlimited talk, text, & web. You can now get smart phones from them for about the same price as the big companies.
33. Make your own household cleaners.       Vinegar, baking soda, Hydrogen peroxide, borax & bleach are all really cheap and you can make any and every household cleaner from laundry detergent to the equivalents of Windex and Comet from mixtures of those ingredients. Refer to my last post for some of these recipes.
34. Check your insurance.  You can generally save if you combine auto & home.  You can also get discounts when you haven't had any claims, alarm systems, etc.
35. Get a programmable thermostat for your household heat and water heater. You can turn the temps down an hour or two after you go to bed, or during the warmer times of the day, or the times when you typically don’t use your hot water. No reason to heat what is not being used!

Personal:

36. Cut your family's hair… if possible, have a friend cut your’s… Also, longer hairstyles do not need to be maintained as frequently as shorter ones. (I also do not do this. Just too nervous...lol)
37. Buy clothes for your kids used – they grow out of them so fast new is not worth it! And used usually look just as good! Ebay, and consignment stores are a goldmine when it comes to used clothing!
38. Limit the number of toys your children are able to have in the house. This will lower the clutter, increase the value of the toys you currently own, increase your children’s creativity as they learn to play with less, and also will decrease spending on toys.
39. Try home remedies before Doctor visits. Those co-pays can add up and its amazing how a humidifier, Vitamin C & some good ole’ rest will make the bugs go away!
40. Make gifts for holidays and birthdays, often these mean more than ones purchased at the store as they show you put time and effort into the recipient.
41. Make your own personal hygiene products (or do without). The girls and I just did DIY facials and spa treatments a couple weekends ago.  Went online and found some great recipes.  Our skin never felt so soft or looked so good!
42. Cloth diaper your kiddos. If you use this cloth diapering method your whole stash can cost less than a hundred dollars and can potentially be handed down to future kiddos. Cloth diapering also encourages early potty-training!
43. Make your own baby food by pureeing what the rest of the family is eating, or you can use dehydrated and powdered veggies – if you like the convenience of those pricey jars.

Entertainment:

44. Eat out rarely if ever! If you do eat out, only drink water. Also, check your newspapers for discounts and grand openings; you can usually get more for your buck then.
45. Invite people over to your home & have them bring a dish rather than meeting them at a restaurant. You’ll have more time to chat and get to try some new recipes as well!
46. Get movies for your Friday night from the library rather than Blockbuster or netflix. They are usually free! Also check out Hulu. They have a number of TV shows online for free!
47. Either eliminate or see if you can combine any of the following: Internet, Television, Long-Distance, Cell Phones.
48. Set-up a baby-sitting swap with a friend who has children. You’ll save money and know that someone “experienced” is watching your kids.
49. Find dates that are more events than just “going out to eat”. These can sometimes save your budget and are usually more memorable.
50. See what interesting sites are near where you live & take a day trip for some "get-away" time.  Go online or check with the local travel bureau for local attractions!  You might be surprised what is in your own backyard!

I hope at least some of these tips & tricks may be useful to you. When you are consistent, you will start seeing a change in how thick your wallet is!