Tracking all of my expenses in order to keep a handle on my spending was difficult, time consuming, and did not fit in with my hectic lifestyle. I always used the excuse that I was in a rush and therefore didn’t track everything. I have found it much easier to get receipts for all of my expenses and then, at the end of a week, pull them out of my receipt holder and add them up. This approach fits my lifestyle and gives me a much clearer financial picture from which to make decisions.

BOB LAURA
SOUTHFIELD, MI

When toothpaste, lotion, and gel get low, I cut off the bottom of the tube, slip the tube into a baggie, and get many, many more applications out of the tube. Same with lipstick. When the tube is low, use a q-tip to apply the color to your lips and get months of extra mileage.

MARY JUNE LATHERS
PLANO, TX

Want to read all your favorite magazines but never subscribe? Want to see new and old VCR tapes and DVDs at no cost? Do aging eyes welcome large-print books at no cost? Answer: your local or suburban library provides them all.

JANE M. HANEY
CLEVELAND, OH

Buy clothes at a faith-based thrift store. Many clothing retailers donate stock overruns to these stores as a tax write-off. The clothes are usually in good shape, and you help out a worthy cause by being economical.

CHRISTOPHER BERRY
HAYDEN, AL

Instead of buying trash bags, use the supermarket shopping bags as garbage bags.

SHELLY SERVICE
BROOKLYN, NY

When driving, avoid fast start-ups and stops. They will greatly harm the brake system when done repeatedly over the life of your vehicle.

STEVEN STRUMMER
EL PASO, TX