• Grocery shopping - Try cutting out meat for one month, the vegetarians rave about a meat-free diet and they have good reason, it can be healthier, cheaper and tasty too!  If you plan to do this longer term, as always do your homework and consult your GP or nutritionist to ensure you eat a healthy balanced diet, including protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, good fats, and of course food in the correct form and combination so the nutrients can be absorbed.

      Save $10+/week

• Memberships - It was January, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but if it's September and you've still not seen the inside of the gym (or certainly not for a few months!), perhaps it's time to cancel the direct debit to their coffers!  So many of us are guilty of wasting a gym membership through good intentions and then life getting in the way!  If you are a gym fanatic, but you would like to make some savings here, consider taking up running (we are blessed in Australia with lots of parks and green spaces for getting outdoors) as a cheaper alternative!

      Save $75/month

6. Transport

• Public transport/Car - If you tend to travel by taxi to get from A to B whether it be for convenience, time-saving, or both, consider taking public transport as a cheaper alternative and make the most of the time by reading your favourite book, catching up on your emails (we all have a smart phone these days!), etc.  Or if the trip is not too far, leave the car behind, avoid the public transport and walk instead - you'll reap the rewards of exercise and a healthier heart

• Parking - Always look for free or cheaper parking when out and about, car parking costs vary and they soon stack up.  A short walk is not always a bad thing!

7. Spending habits

Review your spending habits and become a bargain hunter to help you stay on budget.

• Stop spending on credit cards if you have a tendency to live beyond your means, cut them up and live by good old-fashioned cash instead.  Draw out the money you have budgeted for at the beginning of each week and then live by it! 

• If you do continue to spend on a credit card ensure you pay the balance off each month to avoid having to pay any interest on this debt, or even better, get a debit card and transfer your budget each week to this.

• One more than likely for the ladies, make a list of what you need before going shopping to stop you buying on impulse!

Whether you are shopping for groceries, clothes or for more 'big ticket' items, always expect to pay less. 

• When it comes to your groceries, try shopping at a cheaper supermarket and look out for the daily specials and deals. 

• For all other items, check out the local offers, compare prices, shop online and take your time to find yourself a bargain.

• Sign up for loyalty cards for stores you shop at regularly, rewards cards offer great savings and you've got to be in it to win it!

8. Increase your income

Ask for a pay rise and even consider taking on a second job babysitting, waitressing/bar work, retail, manual labour etc.

9. Set yourself a goal

You've read the list of suggestions and perhaps come up with a few of your own.  To make the task easier on yourself, you should decide where you are happy (and able) to make your money smart savings and calculate what this will be each month.  Once you have your figure, aim for it ... you should find it easier if you have a goal to motivate you!

For example, only taking into account the savings example listed in the food/entertainment section, you could potentially save up to $130 per week ... $6,760 per year. 

10. Savings

You've done the hard yards, you've saved the cash, now don't blow it!  And finally, ensure it earns as much interest as possible.

Happy saving...