Seven Painless ways

to save $100 or more

every month

by Denise T.

3 lunches out during the workweek @ $7 each =$21

2 dinners out during the week @ $11 each = $22

Grand total for the week =$43

If you do it every week for a month = $172/month

Every month for a year = $ 2064

That's a lot of lettuce. Wouldn't you rather use that money to go on vacation or pay off your Visa bill? Eating at home is better for you and a whole bunch cheaper.

Not knowing how to cook is no excuse. Invest in a good cookbook and use it. (Or borrow one from the library!) I bought a copy of 1001 Low-Fat Recipes and haven't looked back since.

3. Thrift baby, thrift!

Don't go to the mall and spend $20 or even $60 on brand-new clothes. Go thrifting instead and spend five. This year, I bought two like-new sweaters -- one Banana Republic and one Express -- for a grand total of $7. Now isn't that better than $35 each?

You never know what is waiting for you at the thrift store, but that's half the fun. And, your money is going to a helpful nonprofit rather than a big corporate monster.

4. Check that bank statement, girl!

God only know what magic fees the bank is charging to your account.

• How much is the bank charging to maintain your checking account?

• Can you get a free account or a better rate?

• Are they crediting your account correctly?

• Is a company still deducting automatic payments even though you cancelled your service?

Keep your eyes peeled. Most of all, watch those ATM charges. Using the ATM can cost you a bundle in fees. If you use another bank's machine watch out. You're getting charged twice -- once by your bank and once by the other-- just to grab that quick $20 you needed for lunch.

5. Make Your Own Damn Vanilla Soy Latte.

Starbucks is everywhere, and their creamy fancy coffee drinks are good. Too many will lead you straight to the poorhouse. Don't go cold turkey, by any means. Cut back or make your own steamy beverages.

My hubby was drinking us out of house and home, buying three cups of $2 coffee a day. So we bought an industrial-size thermos and some coffee beans, and we send it to work with him everyday.

My thing is hot chocolate. The other day I paid $4 for a grande hot chocolate at a local cafe. That one glass cost me more than one gallon of milk, so I decided to turn cheap. Hot chocolate packs at the grocery store are better, and you can take them to work. Mix in hot water from the office coffee machine and voila!

6. Drink That Six Pack at Home This Weekend.

Do you really need to spend $50 every Friday night boozing it up with your friends? When I was single, I spent all that and more every weekend just to go out and get myself a nasty hangover. I'm not asking you to be a recluse. Just give up one of those nights every month and use the cash for something else. Pay extra on a student loan or tuck the money away in your savings account to help buy freedom from your slave-driving boss.

If you're feeling really ambitious, give up two nights a month and invite your friends over for movies and beer instead. Drinking at home is much cheaper, and you still get to hang out with your friends.

7. Get on the Phone or on the Internet and Haggle.

Call your credit card companies and haggle for a lower interest rate. If they won't give it to you, switch to a low or no interest card. Last year, I switched from a high interest card to one with no interest for six months. I saved a few bucks while I paid off the balance. It's worth it. Why give 20 percent or more to the people who send you nasty bills and revel in your financial ruin?

Log onto www.lowermybills.com and see if you can lower your utility and phone bills or car insurance by switching carriers. Be sure to read any fine print on deals that seem to good to be true.

Oh, and don't forget the phone company. Do you really need call waiting, privacy manager and wire maintenance service? I didn't think so.