This time of year, you can buy excellent clothing at Good Will and Thrift shops.  Most people have just gone through an after Christmas purging of their closets, or are beginning their spring cleaning.  I have found top name brand clothing with little or no wear at Good Will.  Be sure to examine each piece for stains or tears.  A quick wash and press, and you have a new outfit for almost nothing.  This REALLY makes sense for kids clothes.  They outgrow them most times before they wear them out.  You can save hundreds of dollars a year.

You can also purchase good used name brand clothing on eBay.  Here is a seller that specializes in name brand gently used clothing.  http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZour3sonz  Even after shipping charges, you’ll pay far less than new.

When booking a hotel room for business or pleasure, always ask for a lower rate.  The hotel reservations agent will usually quote the regular rate, but if you ask for a discount, you’ll almost always save money.  You can save between $20 to $75 per night.

Medication can cost a fortune.  Talk to your Dr. and see if you can get a double strength of any of your pills.  Then break the pills in half and take only half at a time.  In most cases the pills cost about the same regardless of strength, so if you can take a half of a pill and still get all your medication, you’ll cut your prescription costs in half. 

If you need to increase your exercise for health or weight control, don’t spend a fortune on club memberships or expensive exercise equipment.  You’ll have excellent results with resistance bands (an old bicycle inner tube works great) soup and juice cans for weights, (or refill ½ gallon milk jugs with water if you need more weight), and walking.  Talk to your Dr. and then develop a routine combining walking, resistance training, and weight training.  Your weight and health will improve, and you’ll save a

Talk to the other moms in your children’s play groups, and get a consensus to make birthday parties long on fun and short on expenses.  Set a budget for goody bags and gifts.  If these expenses cause you to spend more than you feel you should, chances are the other moms are having the same problem.  Resist the urge to keep up with the Joneses.