C.O.
ETA:
If you have a yard - consider growing your own vegetables.
any items that you have not touched in six months - need to go. Sell them - craigslist, ebay or yard sale if you are looking for an influx of cash. If not - then donate them.
If you received a tax refund last year over $5K - adjust your earnings this year so that you are close to ZERO. This way you'll have more money in the paycheck and not owe any on A. 15th.
If you own your home - check to see if the escrow is accumulating correctly. Check to see if you can raise your deductible to save money as well.
Shop for clothes at Goodwill, Salvation Army or other charity store. You will be surprised at what you get there!!! The only thing I recommend to buy new are shoes.
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A.:
What's your goal in saving the money? Are you planning to buy a home or a new car or what? Is your husband on board with this? You had posted about a huge financial fight you guys got in a few weeks ago. If he isn't on board - then it will be difficult to do.
Food:
* take your lunch to work - DO NOT purchase a lunch - savings $50 per week (on average)
* make menus for the week. Designate one night a week leftover night so no food goes to waste
* use your coupons and purchase sale items to save even more money
(for example - my husband's shaving cream was on sale for $1.99 a can. I had a coupon for 75cents off - i had 3 of them - my grocery store doubles up to 99 cents - so I had 50 cents EACH for them)
Date night:
Does NOT have to be outside the home. it can be done on the living room floor after the kids go to bed and play a game of Scrabble or some other game.
Try having friends over for cards - hire a babysitter - have a pot luck dinner and have fun that way too!!
ERRANDS:
* make a list of where you need to go and do them in order so that you aren't criss-crossing across town and back-tracking
* have your coupons with you all the time.
* gas for car - if you have a Giant where you live - you get cents off for gas on your purchases. We save about 30 cents a gallon, on average.
CELL PHONE:
* If you are with Verizon - call them. I just lowered our cell phone bill by $50 a month by doing their "all share" program. Now I have unlimited minutes and texting as well as 4 Gig download.
* if you are not with Verizon - call around to find out rates with other providers and if you are near the end of your contract - GREAT!!
LANDLINE/INTERNET:
* Can you bundle them together to save money?
* Check to see if there are other providers in your area and if they can save you money.
HOUSE PAYMENT/MORTGAGE/RENT:
* if you own your home and your interest rate is about 5% - consider refinancing. I've heard GREAT things about Quicken Loans - my friend just refinanced one of his homes and bought a new one with them. His first mortgage is now 10 years and the same payment although the interest rate is 2.25% less - and he's not starting over on it!!
* if you are renting - check around to see if you can move to a less expensive home. Factor in moving costs, etc.
UTILITIES:
* call your utility companies (gas, water, electric) and find out if they have a flat rate program - many companies are doing this now to help their clients out.
* turn off lights behind you.
* turn the AC to 78 and keep it there for the summer and turn it to 65 in the winter. Learn to layer up in the winter instead of turning the heater up.
If you are looking for a full time job or ANY job - factor in cost of daycare (I don't know how old your kids are) or a nanny.
I know I will think of more - but this is a starting place.
GOOD LUCK!!!