In tough economic times, we all look for more ways to save money. It can often seem overwhelming to try and cut back on expenses, especially when combined with the mental burden of dealing with an economic recession. Fortunately, the hardest part is getting started. Once you get moving on a program to save money, the momentum will build, and habits will form, making it progressively easier.

This guide to saving money is a great starting point. There are many different things you can do from this list. Some may not apply to your situation, while others will. One important key is not to try to make any changes that are too drastic, too quickly. Try picking 10 of these 100 tips to start yourself back on a path to living within your means and having a little left over to save.

1. Try out generic brands of products you use regularly. In many cases you won't even notice the difference in quality between the brand name that you are used to buying and the store brand version. What you will notice is the savings.
 
2. Cut the prepackaged foods. Instead of eating microwave meals, and fast food, make fresh and simple meals. You can even prepare these in advance, so all you have to do is stick it in the microwave when it's dinner time. Homemade meals can cost 50% less to 75% less than prepackaged meals or fast food.
 
3. Drink plenty of water. By drinking more water, you will eat less. You will also receive health benefits from drinking more water as you will be less likely to be dehydrated. 
 
4. Plan grocery shopping on your store's flier. Instead of going shopping with a preconceived idea of what you need, fit what you need to buy around the specials that your grocery store is having. Buy stockable items in bulk. This can easily save 20% per shopping trip.
 
5. Find a less expensive grocery store. Often, we shop at one grocery store over another more as a result of habit than of value. Take a look at other stores in your area and see if you couldn't be saving more money by shopping elsewhere. The best way to do this is take the twenty most common items you buy, and compare the cost of buying those items at each store. Shop at the store that wins this side by side comparison.
 
6. Make meals supersized. If you make enough for two or three meals, you can store it in the freezer for those times you need a quick and easy meal. There is very little extra effort needed to make twice the portion of what you are already making. This also allows you to buy the ingredients in bulk, reducing costs even further.
 
7. Make home made meals. If you are not an experienced cook, you can find a cookbook with easy to make recipes, or you can just look up some easy recipes online. By making meals yourself, you will find that it's not as difficult as you had imagined. You will also be eating healthier. The savings will be quite significant compared to prepackaged meals or fast food. You can also make extra large portions and store them in the freezer for when you need a quick meal with no hassle.
 
8. Eat your leftovers. This may seem obvious to some, but it is amazing just how many people do not even bother with saving leftovers at all. Get creative and you can inject some new life into your leftovers by using them as the basis for a totally new dish.
 
9. Try cooking with a crock pot. Crock pots are great for making easy and inexpensive meals. All you have to do is put ll the ingredients in the pot and let it simmer and it's ready to eat when you get home. Look for some recipes of things you will like prepared this way and save a ton compared to the cost of eating out.
 
10. Buy non-perishables in bulk. Things like paper towels, trash bags, diapers, laundry detergent, and dish soap aren't going to ever go bad. Your better off buying these items in the the largest available sizes and stocking them away for when you need them.
 
11. Pack a lunch. If you routinely go out to eat your lunch, try taking your own lunch to work. Pack lunch doesn't have to be a drag. If you put in a little extra preparation time, you can bring fantastic meals to work for lunch, and at far less cost than eating out.
 
12. Cut back on eating meat. Meat is very expensive when compared to fruits and vegetables. By changing your meals to include a little more fruits and vegetables and a little less meat you will be able to save money on your grocery bill. Cutting back on meat is also a healthier diet as well, which can save you on health related costs.
 
13. Get a deep freezer. A deep freezer is for storing up bulk foods. It's an expense initially, but by having one it allows you to buy in bulk, and that means you pay less per pound for everything you buy. You can also use it to store things you make yourself to be quick and easy homemade microwave meals.
 
14. Clip coupons. Go through the paper and cut out coupons for anything and everything that you are likely to buy. Match up coupons with sale items from your grocery store flyer and save huge amounts on your grocery bill.
 
15. Start gardening. Gardening is fun and inexpensive if you own any land. All you need to do is till out a small area, plant some vegetables and pull out the weeds every so often. As your vegetables grow, you wind up with delicious,  nutritious food for almost no money down. Gardening is also a healthy activity. It keeps you body active, and allows you to do some thinking without distraction. Some of my best ideas come to me while I am working in the yard.

16. Sign up for rewards programs at the places you shop. Use an email address that is solely for being sent coupons and offers so your regular email is unencumbered by these notices. By doing this, you will get emailed coupons and be notified of sales, so you can more easily buy the things you need on a discount.
 
17. Take your credit card numbers off of accounts online. When your credit card numbers are stored in your account with online vendors, it makes it too easy to buy impulsively. If your information is not saved as part of your account, you will need to pull out and look at your card in order to make a purchase. This give an additional inconvenience to making impulse buys, and gives you a few more seconds to reconsider your purchase.
 
18. Shop with a list, and stick to the list. If you go shopping with an idea in your head of what you want or need, it is far more likely that you will buy items you didn't intend to on impulse. When you go shopping, don't buy anything that is not on the list, no matter how much you feel tempted to. You'll probably save 10-20% on groceries each and every time.
 
19. Use the 30 day rule. This states that when you think you just have to have something, you write it down, and wait 30 days before actually buying it. If after 30 days have passed you still just have to have it, go ahead and buy it. This cuts down greatly on the impulse spending. Some people don't even write them down. This is good too, because if it was nothing more than an impulse anyway, you may just forget that you ever wanted it in the first place, and there won't be any list to remind you.
 
20. Bargain at yard sales. Many items at yard sales are useless junk. However, if you are shrewd, you will be able to come away with a big time bargain. If the person doesn't agree to your price, just walk away knowing they have lost a sale, and you have lost nothing.
 
21. Shop for used items when you are looking for things like sporting equipment, clothing, and games. You ca usually find just what you want by looking in stores that sell used items and consignment shops. If you make going to these types of stores a part of your regular shopping routine, you will find it is easy to get the things you want on a big discount.
 
22. Use the 10 second rule. This means that when ever you are about to purchase something, pause 10 seconds and ask yourself whether making that purchase will be wise. Will it make you feel happy and fulfilled, or will it only be more clutter and less money in the grand scheme of things? If you master this technique, you will find yourself making far fewer impulse purchases.
 
23. Make things instead of buying them. One example is that you can make your own laundry detergent and other cleaning products. Look online for "recipes" for making your simple household cleaning products. You will be shocked at just how many things you can easily make yourself, and even more shocked by how much money you will save.
 
24. Play hide and go seek with your credit card. If they are in a safe place in your home, instead of in you wallet, the added inconvenience may spare you from making extra impulse purchases. Don't hide them where you can't find them. Just make them less accessible when you don't really need them.
 
25. Find a service to exchange used books, CDs and DVDs. There are many services online that allow you to sign up and exchange the books, CDs and DVDs you don't need anymore for ones someone else has finished their use with. The best part is that it is an even exchange, so it costs nothing. You get your new books, CDs, and DVDs mailed right to you.
 
26. Stop medicating yourself with shopping. Many people go shopping to decompress from the stress of work. Try doing some meditation or yoga instead. The act of shopping may seem fun, but wasting money needlessly will only leave you feeling empty. Meditation and yoga are also good at helping improve your focus and discipline. Spending money impulsively does quite the opposite.

27. Make gifts yourself. even if you feel like you are not very skilled at making things, there are plenty of things that are easy to make, such as cakes, cookies, and other baked goods. These are relatively easy to make, and inexpensive. This will not only save money directly, but will also cut down on the cost of driving to the shopping mall to buy things at a much higher price.
 
28. Do your holiday shopping after the holidays. It's common for people to implement this with respect to Christmas, but it applies to all holidays. If you wait until two days after the holiday, you will be able to get things with the theme of that holiday, such as gift wrap, cards, and other paraphernalia. You can get next year's Easter basket a few days after Easter. The stores want to be rid of these items, so you can find them on deep discounts. Just store it all away for next year. You also won't be in any sort of rush to finish your holiday shopping, and that makes the holiday more enjoyable. You can't put a price on that.
 
29. Invent toys for children. Children have an amazing ability to find the most mundane things to be wildly fun. Kids will play for hours in a large cardboard box, or swordfight with the cardboard tubes from a roll of wrapping paper. Don't buy expensive toys that will be set aside just as fast. Leave the little ones to their imaginations.
 
30. Give services as gifts instead of items. You could offer a "coupon" for your babysitting services to a friend with a new baby. Offer to help take care of a pet when they go out of town. Assist a family member with yard work. These are far more meaningful to the recipient than some mass produced junk will ever be.

31. Take inventory of your clothing. Sort through all the clothes you own and take stock of all of it. By doing this, you may find some outfits that you forgot you had, and that can help suppress the urge to constantly buy new outfits. It can also be a great way to realize just how much stuff you really do have. This is also a good time to figure out what you really don't need anymore and take them to a consignment shop or charity donation.

32. Repair your damaged clothing instead of throwing it away. It's easy to replace missing buttons or patch a hole. You may not want to use these clothes as your "good" clothes anymore, but they are still worth having for jobs around the house.
 
33. Develop a wardrobe of classic basics. If you have a few great basics that are of good quality, and not likely to go out of fashion, you will have the ability to mix and match those basics in so many different ways that just a few items can make dozens of outfits for a variety of occasions. Mix a jacket with jeans for more casual occasions and a nice shirt with slacks for more professional needs.

34. Use your bank's online bill paying. By doing this, you will be more aware of how much money you have, thus reducing the likelihood of incurring overdraft fees. You will also save money on mailing out bills because you won't be buying so many stamps and checks. If you're not taking advantage of this type of service, you are throwing away money with every bill you pay.
 
35. Switch to a bank that doesn't charge fees for usage. Many banks are moving towards offering free checking and ATM usage without fees, but if that's not your bank, then move to one that does fit the description. Some banks will even give you interest on your checking account.
 
36. Ask your credit card company to lower your interest rate. It's likely that you will need to talk to management or a supervisor of some sort. However, once you get a few percentage points knocked off your rate, you will save a bundle.
 
37. Switch your life insurance policy to term life insurance. The purpose of life insurance is to insure against unexpected catastrophes. In other words, if some time in the short term, something bad were to happen, you have a way to cover expenses. Whole or universal life insurance is based on the idea that you are socking away your money for when you die. This makes no sense. You are much better off paying lower premiums for term insurance, and keeping the difference for better things, or smarter investments than whole life insurance.
 
38. Find out about benefits your employer offers that you may not have been aware of. Most people have no idea what all their benefits are. Take some time out to speak with someone in the HR department to find out what you are missing. Some companies will even offer employees free tickets to events, or pay your way to advance your education. You could save a lot just by finding out what benefits you are not taking advantage of.
 
39. Sift through your cell phone bill and remove services you don't need. Look at every single item on your bill and decide whether it is really necessary or not. You may find that you are paying for services you don't even use.
 
40. Cut your cable service to a more basic package. If you aren't really watching all those premium channels, stop paying for them. In a few months, any shows they feature will be out on dvd anyway. You can watch them when they come out on video for a fraction of the cost of a monthly subscription.
 
41. Request to have fees waived. Many services charge you fees when you sign up. On example is the activation fee you pay when you sign up for cell phone service. If you request to have the fees waived, sometimes the service will agree and you will save money. It won't work every time, but if you don't ask, you won't get the fee waived.
 
42. Switch any student loans to automatic payments. Most student loans will offer a reduced rate if you pay automatically. Not only do you get to save a few bucks on each payment, but you don't have to fiddle around each month making the payment.
 
43. Consolidate student loans. One of the upsides to the poor economy right now is that interest rates are low. Take advantage of this by consolidating your loans into a new loan with lower interest. Even a reduction of one percent to your interest rate can save you hundreds per year.

44. Be a stickler for turning off lights when you are not in the room. You are throwing money out the window every time you leave lights on unnecessarily. You can significantly cut your electric bill by being a little more vigilant.
 
45. Turn off the TV. There are benefits to this beyond the electricity savings you will rack up from stepping away from the idiot box. For example, the repeated exposure to advertising increases your impulse to buy things you don't need. You didn't think that advertisers spend millions to show you their ad for the fun of it, did you? They do it because it works. You will also have more time available to do other things that are either more productive, or more worth doing.
 
46. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) or LED lights where you can. Although these lights have a bigger up front cost, they use far less energy and have a longer lifespan. You're making an investment in the future. CFLs usually use about 25% the amount of energy of their incandescent counterparts, while LEDs generally use about 2% the energy of incandescent bulbs. LED lights don't have quite as good lighting quality as CFLs so they are best to use in places like closets, where you are not going to be as concerned about lighting quality.
 
47. Keep all your electrical devices on a surge protector. Items like your television, and computer equipment should run through a surge protector and not directly into the outlet. In case of a power surge, you may find yourself replacing a surge protector rather than replacing a computer and that is a savings of hundreds of dollars.
 
48. Unplug items you are not using. Many of the items in your home continue to use power in a standby mode even when they are not in use. This can easily save $60 on the electric bill.

49. Make your home more energy efficient with weatherstripping and caulk. Find gaps in windows and doors where you are leaking air and seal it off. Your heater or air conditioner will not have to work to replace lost heat or cooling by sealing off the leaks. A couple of buck on caulk and weatherstripping will help you cut way back on energy bills.
 
50. Install a digital programmable thermostat. If you are still using an old style thermostat that you have to change manually, install one that can be programmed to different temperatures at different times of day. Think of the energy you are wasting if you leave the house all day long, but forgot to turn the heat down. A programmable thermostat will turn it down for you because it has been programmed to do so.
 
51. Make simple repairs. The Internet, or some do it yourself manuals at the public library may offer all the technical support you really need to fix simple problems. By getting to know a little more, you may find that many things are actually easy and inexpensive jobs, especially compared to the rates the repairman charges.

52. Declutter your house. Go through your closets and get rid of things you don't need. Set them aside and have a yard sale, or sell them at a consignment shop. Alternately, you could simply donate them and take the tax deduction. Not only will your old stuff turn into money you can use, but you will also have an emotional benefit of having a less cluttered home.
 
53. Look at the things you own an reassess them. Go through each room and look at absolutely every item in it. As yourself whether you really need that item. Does it make you happy to have it there? Would you be okay with getting rid of it? Turn your clutter into the value it holds for others. As an added bonus, you will probably feel better to have a living space that is clutter free.
 
54. Rent unused rooms in your home. This can be as simple as renting out one extra bedroom, or a basement. You can cover a significant portion of your mortgage or rent payment by renting the extra space in your home.
 
55. Move somewhere that has a lower cost of living. Many areas tend to be far less expensive to live in than trendy urban areas. If you are living somewhere upscale and trendy, make a move to another area. You can move just a bit further away from the city, or to another area entirely that is less expensive. Charleston, SC is far cheaper to live than Manhattan.
 
56. Try to do it yourself. While some things may seem like they would be too difficult to do on your own, you may find that doing it yourself is not as difficult as you had imagined. You will also have a sense of accomplishment that you won't have paying someone else to do the work.
 
57. Give your own haircuts. This tip is probably more for men. I know I can give myself a pretty good trim with a pair of clippers. The back is the only part that takes a little skill, and if you can't manage that, call in your partner or friend to finish the job. After two haircuts, the clippers are paid for, and all the rest of your haircuts are basically free.
 
58. Move to a smaller house. If you own a big home, consider how much you really need the extra space. All that space needs to be heated, cooled, and electrified. If you need all the space you have, then that is fine. However, if you find that you really only seem to use two thirds of your home, your rent or mortgage will be much lower, and your utility bills will be far less per month with a smaller home.
 
59. Use a regular razor, rather than an electric one. A basic razor is very inexpensive, and will last for a good two weeks. You can even save on shaving cream by using soap for the lather and shaving with a wet face, or even in the shower.
 
60. Trade babysitting duties with your neighbors or friends. Instead of hiring someone to babysit, offer to babysit for a friend in return for them babysitting for you. This works even better if you have children that get on well with their children. The kids will love the playdate, and you will love the romantic date.
 
61. Don't overpay for your daily hygiene products. Many people think that they need to buy the expensive brand names, but when it comes to things like toothpaste, or soap, there's no real benefit to buying an expensive brand. Buy whatever costs the least and you will be fine provided that you make hygiene a regular routine. No one will know you're using cheap toothpaste if you brush regularly.
 
62. Do some simple maintenance on your appliances. Make certain that there isn't a heavy layer of dust inside. Vacuum away any dust, especially on fans and vents. If air can pass through more easily, your appliance will work more efficiently and last longer.
 
63. Buy reliable appliances. While it may look like a bargain, you are better off doing a little more research and finding a reputable brand and model when it is on a good discount than simply buying something that is on the cheap. Sometimes you really do just get what you pay for. Consider what sort of cost per use you will receive. A bigger investment up front may be worth five or ten years extra use.

64. Get more exercise. By taking a walk every day and doing a little stretching you will be in better physical condition. These exercises don't cost anything, but the health benefits will pay off big.
 
65. Cancel memberships you don't use. Whether it's a physical club, like a gym, or a service, if you are not using it stop paying for it. Don't worry about whether you would want to use it someday in the future again. You're not using it now. You can tackle rejoining when or if you ever get there.
 
66. Quit the bad habits. Smoking, consuming alcohol suck your life and your money away. There is no benefit that they provide in return. You will be in better financial and physical health if you kick the habit.
 
67. Wash your hands often. Conduct a thorough hand washing each time you handle any sort of raw foods, and every time you use the bathroom. By doing this you will reduce your risk of contracting bacteria and viruses that will make you ill. Being ill cuts into your productivity, and makes you miss work. Ultimately, this means being ill costs you money. Don't live your life in fear of things, but take easy precautions against common illnesses.

68. Ask for generic prescriptions. Generic medicines are exactly the same as the brand name medicine, except without the brand name. This goes for over the counter medicines as well. If you are not buying the generic brand, you are throwing your money away.

69. Buy a reliable, fuel efficient car. This will save money on fuel and maintenance. In the long term, a 10 mpg increase in efficiency will save about $800 per year if you drive about 10,000 miles per year. That amount will be even more if gas prices go up again.
 
70. Do your own basic maintenance on your automobile and home. If you have a monthly schedule of routine maintenance, you will be able to significantly reduce the cost associated with professional repair of your appliances and vehicles. Things like changing the air filter in your car, and doing some basic cleaning of your appliances can keep them running longer and more efficiently.
 
71. Replace the air filter in your automobile. Did you know that you can improve gas mileage by as much as 7% by simply replacing your air filter. That could be a savings of a hundred bucks a month. It only takes a few minutes to replace an air filter. Even if auto repair is not your forte, it is easy enough that any car owner can do it.
 
72. Instead of buying a new car, buy one that is used, just off a lease. The cost of a returned lease automobile is significantly less than the cost of a new car. Since they were kept under terms of a lease, they are in great condition, and still practically new. You'll be out of debt much faster owning a used car.

73. Keep a small notepad in your purse or pocket. Making all those extra trips out because you forgot something is costing you time and money. No matter how good your memory is, you are bound to forget things from time to time. A few seconds making a quick note in your notepad may save you from having to drive an extra 10 miles to go back and run an errand.
 
74. Obey the speed limit. The cost of getting pulled over is a big expense, and a completely unnecessary one as well. You will also save on your gas mileage. You may need to make it a habit of leaving a few minutes earlier to get somewhere on a schedule, but it is well worth it, and far less stressful as well.
 
75. Keep your tires inflated to the correct air pressure. Many people simply do not realize how poor their gas mileage is compared to what they would be getting if their tires were properly inflated. Many cars have tires that are inflated between five and ten PSI below the recommended pressure. This can mean losing up to 5% of your gas mileage. All you need is a tire pressure gauge. Check the recommended PSI for your tires, head to a gas station and fill up your tires to the correct level. You don't even need to make a special trip to do it. The air pump is available right there where you fill up for gas.
 
76. Carpool whenever you can. Find out who you can team up with to ride to and from work, or even for errands like grocery shopping. Shopping can be a drag, but it's much more fun when you bring a friend along. Take turns being the driver. You'll both save on gas, and on wear and tear of your vehicles.
 
77. Use public transportation if available. This may not always be applicable to folks in the suburbarbs, but there are still likely to be instances where you want to go to the city for some reason. Driving your car the whole way costs you fuel, and parking. Most public transportation will be less stressful and less expensive. If you live where public transit is easily available, you could easily save $200 bucks a month or more by using an annual transit pass for your commute.

78. Go to the public library and use it well. The library is a great place to do things for free. You can check out books, movies, and periodicals, of course, but you can also do many other things, like learn a new language or find out what is going on in your community. You can even surf the Internet and look for more great ways to save money. :)
 
79. Spend more time reading. Reading is inexpensive, especially if you go to the library. Books at the librrary are free to check out. By doing more reading you will be spending more time reading and learning, and less time in front of media that is targeted towards marketing products at you. By doing more reading, you will also gain material for conversation, and possibly learn a new skill, without even spending any money. 
 
80. Volunteer with a charity. This is an awesome way to meet new friends, and get involved in something meaningful. It doesn't cost anything and can help fill your day with plenty of fun. 
 
81. Take a look at your collectibles. If there is something that you collect, but the collection has perhaps gotten a bit out of hand, you can sell off parts of it. You'll also want to cut back on the spending part of this expensive hobby. Don't get rid of anything that has a strong sentimental value, or you will focus more on the loss of it than on the small amount of money you gained from getting rid of it.
 
82. Unsubscribe from magazines and services that are going unused. If you subscribe to a service that you barely use, dump the subscription and keep the cash. If you get magazines delivered to you, and you're not really reading them, you are wasting your money, and adding to needless clutter. Chances are, you won't miss the magazines a bit, but you'll have more money and less clutter.
 
83. Buy used video games. You also want to look for games that have a great deal of replay value. The price of video games can drop drastically after they have been out for a while, and most places that sell used games will guarantee them against scratches or damage. Is it really so hard to wait a month or two to get a video game? You can also sell games you are no longer playing for some quick money.
 
84. Don't use shopping as a form of entertainment. By shopping for fun, it encourages you to spend money on things you really don't need with money you really don't have. Instead, go somewhere inexpensive that will be fun. You could go to the park, visit a friend, or invite friends to your place. You could go to the zoo or a museum. None of these things will put you out as much as impulsive shopping will.
 
85. Look at what local recreation is available to the public. Most communities will have public parks and activities. By checking in with the local recreation board, you can find plenty of fun and family friendly things to do for free. No doubt, any of these activities will be better for your health and your family than anything you would need to pay to do.
 
86. Have your friends over instead of going out. You can ask each person to bring something to eat, drink, or do. The home is a more comfortable and fun setting than any restaurant or club anyway, and it will save a fortune over the extravigant fees you pay going out.
 
87. Try home brewing beer and wine. It may sound a little kooky, but you can brew up a great recipe right in your own home. It's actually fairly simple and fun. All you need are the basic ingredients and some equipment. Just like preparing your own meals, making your own wine or beer will save you money. Best of all, you get to have custom made drinks and it doesn't cost a lot.
 
88. Look for community events. If you stop in at the local library or municipal building and ask for a calendar of upcoming events, you can find out about events in your own town that you didn't even know were happening. Surely, a few will look interesting to you. It's free entertainment, and sometimes even free food or prizes. As an added bonus, you get to be more of a part of your community and may make friends you wouldn't otherwise.
 
89. Take less expensive vacations. You don't have to go to exotic locales to have a great vacation. You can have a great vacation by heading to the mountains, a nearby national park, or beach. It may not have the excitement of being a new and unfamiliar place, but it is still a break from the everyday routine. Many people also forget that their local area is a tourist attraction to other out of towners. Take some time getting to know your local attractions.
 
90. Brown bag your road trips. It can be so easy to head out for a day trip without providing yourself any meals in advance. Then you need to buy your lunch out where it costs far more than if you brought your own food. By taking a few minutes to prepare your lunch in advance you can save quite a bit of money on food for your day trip.

91. Talk to your family about your goals. While it may seem like this won't save you any money, by getting everyone you love in sync with each other about what is really important, you will be able to work together to achieve goals, rather than independently attempting to pull in different directions. If you can all agree, for example, on wanting to travel someplace exotic, then you will be unified and focused on encouraging each other. Planning works best when it is a team effort.
 
92. Eat breakfast every day. This may seem like the opposite of saving money, but by eating breakfast, you will be in better health, and have more energy to take on the day. You will be more productive and happier, and that is money in the bank. For quick and inexpensive breakfasts try a bowl of oatmeal, or a bowl of whole grain cereal, and some fruit. 
 
93. Find a daily source of inspiration. Look to those you love for the inspiration and motivation to stay on track. By looking to your children, you can stay motivated to keep your resolve, so that they can afford to go to college. Perhaps there is something special that your spouse would really appreciate that you will only be able to get if you stick to your budget and save up. Use this as a daily reminder of why it is important to save money.
 
94. Make a visual representation of your debt. If you make a chart that shows your current debt and your goal of zero debt, you will be able to actually see the progress you are making. Each time you pay down some of you outstanding debt, you will fill in the progress bar. This is like the bar that charities use to show how close to a fundraising goal they have reached, but it reverse, because the goal is zero. Make sure to put the chart in a prominent location so you can see the progress you are making and be encouraged to continue towards freedom from debt.
 
95. Ask for help saving money. If you get your closest friends and your relatives involved in helping you save, they will be able to offer suggestions, and keep you in line. Having a loved one keep tabs on your spending will go a long way towards helping curb your spontaneous spending sprees.
 
96. Make a plan to get out of debt. Put your debts down on paper and devise a plan for how you are going to get them paid off. By having an ordered plan of action, you are much more likely to get take action and reduce your debt load.
 
97. Take a different route to work. The main point of this tip is to break the habit of making that routine stop everyday. The daily stop at the convenience store can put a big dent in your savings for unnecessary purchases. Even if the new route is a little longer, it will relieve the temptation to stop and spend money. By making the drive non-stop you will still ultimately save time too.
 
98. Ask your friends to be less indulgent. It's not an easy thing to do by any stretch of the imagination, but by offering suggestions for things you can do together, you can make it much easier to have outings together that are less expensive. For example, perhaps you could suggest going hiking in the park rather than going to the golf course. 
 
99. Learn from your mistakes. If you messed up on your finances, don't focus on the fact that you messed up. Use it as a learning experience and continue to move forward. Focusing on the negative will not get you anywhere. Stay positive and focused on your goal.
 
100. Keep your goals in mind. Just because you're in a tight spot now doesn't mean that it will always be that way. Things will change, especially if you stay dedicated to making a change. The worst thing you can do is allow yourself to feel defeated.

This guide to saving money has been a giant project. At first, it seemed as if it would be an impossible task that would never be finished, but by taking it bit by bit, and doing what I could when I could, I chipped away at it, and it has reached it's end. I think that the best thing about doing such a comprehensive list of the ways to save money is that it is a little bit of a metaphor for how it can seem overwhelming to get your expenses and debt under control. By taking small steps and simply continuing to move forward, however, you will ultimately succeed and reach the goal.
 
101. (Whoops, how did a bonus tip get in there?) Persevere. It can be very difficult to change your habits and lifestyle. If you spend too much time looking at the debt balance, you may start to feel as if you are taking on an impossible task. Just keep moving forward one step at a time, and you will reach your destination. Never give up, no matter what.
 
Please feel free to share any additional money saving tips you have, or your experiences in implementing tips. Good luck.