anyone here who doesnt have a lot of money

[ms_jinga_lala 0]

I didn't see this posted, but here are some things I've always done to save money.

Keep a change jar and put your change in it. You will have less money in your pocket and you will be less likely to spend. You can put in dollars if you like, whatever works for you. And as the old saying goes - find a penny, pick it up. If you see change in the parking lot, it will look great in your change jar. I manage to save up a few hundred dollars a year this way with change only.

www.mypoints.com - you get points for reading email and clicking a link. This is a little time consuming but I earn about $150 a year this way.

If you live in a 2 story or more building, follow the principle of "heat rises." When it's cold outside, only heat the bottom floor. The heat will rise heating the other floors and you won't be paying for heat to be sent there unnecessarily. You could also close off doors and vents to rooms you rarely use and don't pay to heat those either. In the summer only cool the upstairs because that is where the heat is. Keep a fan downstairs or use your a/c fan to circulate the air. You can stay cool but not cool the parts of the house that aren't as hot while the a/c tries to accommodate for the floors that are.

Another idea is to adjust your thermostat up one degree in the summer (ie keeping it 77 instead of 76) and down one degree in the winter. That can add up to about $15+ in savings a month.

Check what new services your bank has to offer. First Citizens just came out with a bonus checking where they deposit $1 in my savings for every transaction over $25 after the first 10 transactions of each month. With the cost of gas and groceries, I am getting paid $15 a month right now with that program. Check to see what your bank is offering to try to get new business during the economic downturn.

There are also several online jobs you can do if you have the time and the talent that pay you. Secret shopping, writing, and more. Check websites like www.makingmoneymommy.com (which is not just for women lol). They post legitimate job offers for all kinds of people. Secret shopping can take as little as 15 minutes of your time, and if you were going out to lunch anyway you haven't lost anything, you've gotten paid for something you were already doing. It's worth looking into.

Cut back without cutting out - instead of renting 3 movies a week rent 2, etc. Instead of paying for the full satellite package to watch tv at night, figure out what you actually watch and cut out what you can actually live without. As for movies, maybe you can try netflix. Not only does that save gas but it can save you a lot of money. If you like to go out, find cheaper or free alternatives. A walk in the park can be quite fulfilling instead of going to a performance. A picnic could be more fun than a restaurant, etc.