1.) Save on gas by taking the bus or train to work or seek another form of transportation. How about using a car pool or taking a road bike? Get creative. It may be necessary to drive part of the way, but could you then park and bike the remainder of the distance?

2.) Cut down on the number of errands you run. Think about your route. Recently big delivery companies trained their drivers to eliminate costly left hand turns that waste both time and fuel. Accomplish your errands in the most orderly route possible. Minimize stops and turns and combine tasks so that you go out in your car once instead of several times.

3.) If you have to be spending your money on fuel, make it count in as many ways as possible. Buy car chargers and power up your cell phone or MP3 player while you’re on the go. (But don’t forget to put your gadgets in your bag or pocket when you leave the car. Don’t tempt thieves.)

4.) Keep your credit in order and make sure that you check your credit reports once a year to ensure that your reports are clean.

5.) Most consumers shop by habit, not by price. Store brands always cost less than name brands and often there’s little if any difference in the product. Try the store brand and if it is acceptable, start using it.

6.) Pay attention to buyer reward deals offering two of one item for a special price. If it’s something you use routinely, it’s a good deal.

7.) Use coupons. Many grocery stores have one day a week when they pay double the face value of the coupon. The savings can add up quickly.

8.) Consider augmenting your diet with home grown vegetables. Many plants, like tomatoes, do well in large containers on a patio or balcony. A single well-tended tomato plant can produce 100 lbs. of fruit in a single growing season; about $200 worth. Share the tomatoes with family and friends or trade them at a local farmer’s market for other types of produce.

9.) And of course, it goes without saying, eat at home as much as possible. Eating out is super expensive and not as healthy.

10.) Utility bills are a major drain on the budget, especially during the hot summer months. Set your thermostat at 72 degrees or higher and use fans. Moving air cools the skin and the fans use far less electricity than your air conditioner.

11.) The two appliances that consume the most wattage in any home are the stove and the AC unit. Use the microwave, slow cookers, steamers, and electric grills rather than powering up the stove just to bake a potato.

12.) Change out old-fashioned incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents. They use less electricity, generate less heat, and put out fewer emissions that are harmful to the environment.

13.) Get on top of “phantom” energy drains. Many electrical devices, like audio/visual equipment, continue to consume electricity even when they are turned off. Look for tell-tale lights that remain lit even after you power off the device. Plug several devices into one power strip and get in the habit of cutting the power by turning off the strip when the devices are not in use.

14.) Get to know your regional library. Good public libraries acquire new books almost as quickly as stores. You may have to wait a little longer to read that hot best seller, but in the meantime you’ll discover authors and books you might not have otherwise noticed. Libraries also have DVDs (containing audio books, movies, and music) and computer games.

15.) Get out in your community and attend free concerts in the park, local festivals, art shows at area universities, and similar events. (All good museums will have parts of their collection open to the public free at all times.) If nothing else, pack a picnic and take the family to the park on a Saturday afternoon. Getting outdoors and spending time together is inexpensive and builds family ties.

16.) Cut down on the number of credit cards that you have. Keep one credit card at the max and use it only when there is no other alternative available. Your best option at all times should be to pay by cash.

17.) Keep a record of your expenses by constantly noting down details of money spent in a personal diary or accounts book. Review these details at the end of the month and figure out expenses that can be cut down the next month.

18.) Cut down on your mobile bills. Use your mobile strictly as a tool to send across important messages and not for gossiping endlessly. Gossiping endlessly over the phone can also be injurious to your health. Make an active attempt to cut down on the number of hours spend over the phone on a progressive basis.

19.) If you have an option to refinance your mortgage, go for it when the time is ripe.

20.) Are you benefiting from your current savings account? If not, go ahead and open an interest-bearing savings account with another bank.