10 Money-Saving Tips

1. If you have your haircut every 3 weeks, trygoing 4 or 5 weeks in between haircuts. If youpay $10 for a haircut, you could save $70 a yearby having a cut every 5 weeks instead of 3.

2. Buy only generic basic types of cold cereal,if your family must have it. With fall and coolerweather coming, it's a good idea to introduce hotcereal. It's usually the best buy and by usingthe microwave oven to prepare, it is almost asquick to fix as cold cereal.

3. If you have a cell phone, don't buy the accessories at the "cell phone store". Check outprices at local discount stores first.

4. Quit smoking. Need we say more?

5. In some states, children's immunizations areoffered free at local health clinics. Call thelocal health department to inquire.

6. Wash, wax and detail your own vehicle insteadof paying someone else to do it.

7. Put a little money aside every month in orderto pay your car and homeowners insurance annually.Most insurers charge a fee (sometimes hefty!) forpaying monthly. You'll also avoid those mid-yearincreases.

8. When making instant pudding from a box, add an extra cup of milk. The pudding "sets up" thesame and tastes the same, but you have one morecup. You might want to experiment with adding alittle more. And of course, another money-saveris to use reconstituted dry milk.

9. Meat prices are soaring, so plan to have a meat-less meal at least twice a week. Substitutean egg or pasta dish. Or maybe canned tuna orsalmon.

10. If you love magazines, try sharing with afriend. Each of you subscribe to a different magazine, when you're finished reading, swap.

"Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink agreat ship." --Benjamin Franklin

Helping you live the good life...on a budget! Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another"bi-weekly e-newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the e-newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".