91 ways to save on almost anything

Take fewer trips to a grocery store: Making bigger shopping trips less often will cut down on your impulse buys. In fact, almost half of all shoppers go to a store three or four times per week. Shoppers making a "quick trip" to a store usually purchase 54% more than they planned, according to a study published by the Marketing Science Institute.

If you go to a grocery store three times a week and spend $10 on impulse buys each trip, that adds up to $120 extra per month. But if you go only once a week, you'll spend $40 per month on impulse buys. That saves you $80 per month, or $960 per year.

(For more, read "How to fight rising food costs.")

Break your restaurant routine: This may seem obvious, but we are creatures of habit and convenience. Make an effort to cut back a little, such as dining out once a week instead of three nights a week. With $20 meals, this simple act will trim your expenses by more than $100 a month.

Or, try something different -- and cheaper. Pick up a restaurant guide or a tour book of your city for budget-friendly suggestions. If you eat out three times a week, cutting just $5 from each meal ticket will save you $60 a month.

(For another view, read "A frugal guide to eating out.")

Bring your lunch to work: Spending just $2 a day on a homemade lunch versus $6 a day on the sandwich shop next to the office will save you about $80 a month, or $960 each year.

Grocery shop with focus: Another way to cut down on impulse buys is to shop with a list. Sketch out the week's meals and jot down the ingredients you'll need. Remember to factor in treats, snacks and lunches. Then stick to the list.

You might find it helpful to leave the kids at home so you're not tempted to give into pressure from crying children for an extra treat or toy that isn't on your list.

(For more ideas, check "Click your way to lower food bills.")

Buy generic: You can almost always save money by choosing a no-name brand instead of a brand name. And you usually won't sacrifice much in quality on many items, from cereal to canned goods and frozen vegetables. Also, the savings on generic baby formula and prescription drugs can be huge.

You could save a few cents to a couple of dollars per item. And that adds up quickly each month.

Make your own latte: That daily $4 cup of coffee is costing you $120 per month -- or more than $1,400 per year. Invest in a good-quality machine and make your own brew for much less.

(Read "10 little expenses that add up fast.")

Use coupons: You know about coupons for groceries. But don't overlook bargains for dining out.

For instance, at Restaurant.com you can get a $25 gift certificate to local restaurants for only $10. Use the coupon once a week and you'll save $60 per month.

Or, before you dine out, hit the Web. At RetailMeNot.com, you can quickly find printable coupons and codes for dozens of eateries.

Time your meal: No, eating quickly won't make the bill smaller. Rather, consider eating out for lunch instead of dinner. That way, you can get lunch-menu prices for dinner-quality entrees.

Mind the unit price: Many grocery store price displays will tell you how much an item costs per ounce, per pound or by some other unit of measure. Comparison-shop by unit price and save.

For example, a pack of 40 diapers at our local drugstore may cost $13, or 33 cents per diaper. A box of 144 diapers may cost $35, or 24 cents per diaper. A difference of 9 cents may not seem like much, but when you change a diaper six to eight times each day, that amounts to a savings of $16 to $22 per month.

One caveat: Don't buy in bulk if you won't use it all -- otherwise, you wasted your money, no matter how good a deal it was.

Save money on transportation

Buy a used car: Because cars lose most of their value in the first few years, buying used allows you to drive a vehicle you probably couldn't afford brand new.

Recent used models -- those that are less than 5 years old -- can be a real value because you get a nearly new car still in fine working order for a fraction of the new-car price. And you'll pay less for collision insurance and taxes, too.

(Learn more about how to shop smart, then see MSN Autos' reliability ratings.)

Buy a sipper, not a guzzler: You don't need a hybrid vehicle to save money on gas -- higher purchase prices can cancel out savings. But a regular car with good gas mileage could save you hundreds of dollars a year on fuel.

Drive 1,200 miles per month in a car that averages 18 mpg and you'll spend $267 per month (at $4 per gallon). Drive a car that averages 25 mpg and you'll spend $192 per month -- a savings of $75 per month, or $900 per year.

(See MSN Autos' "Top 10 Fuel Misers.")

Re-shop for car insurance: Using a comparison site such as InsWeb.com can help you determine whether you've got the best deal. Rates vary widely from insurer to insurer. Your savings could equal hundreds of dollars.

Shopping around is especially important for young adults because their rates could drop as they approach age 25, build a credit rating, start a career or get married. Insurers reward customers who are responsible.

(For more on auto insurance, click here.)

Drop collision and comprehensive coverage: If you drive a beater -- say, a car worth less than $2,000 -- you'll probably pay more to insure it than you would ever collect on a claim. Dropping that part of your coverage can reduce your premium by one-third.

(Read "Drop the insurance on your clunker.")

Raise your deductible: Upping your out-of-pocket outlay from $250 to $1,000 on any car can save you 15% or more on your car insurance.

But make sure you have enough cash in an emergency savings account to cover your deductible so you won't have to rely on costly credit cards to bail you out.

Join policies: When shopping around for auto insurance, check first with the company that provides your renters or homeowners insurance. You could snag up to 15% off for a multiple-line policy.

Continued: Gas

(Save on investing; food; transportation; travel; utilities; phone service, Internet and TV; credit, debt and banking; entertainment.)

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