Thirteen More Ways to Save $100 a Month

By Denise Trowbridge

To save $100 a month, you need to spend $3.25 a day less than you do now. Does that sound so terrible?

With a little bit of ingenuity, you can pull it off without having to live like a recluse hermit. And, once you are in the groove, you can use that $100 a month — $1200 a year — to fund your exotic vacation habit, pay off those student loans, start a business or sock away for your early retirement. Here are a few more tips to get you on track for your savings goals.

1. Go vegetarian. If you can cut meat out of just three meals a week, you can shave between $15 and $25 off your grocery bill. If you do that for an entire month, you’ve already saved yourself $60 to $100.

2. Never buy new. eBay, Half.com, and the Amazon marketplace are your friends. If you just have to have it and can’t resist, take the time to look around for the best deal, or have the willpower to wait for the sale. Check out your local freecycling Web community or Craigslist and see if you can get what you need for free.