Here are 10 small ways to save big from Kiplinger magazine.

 

  1. Give yourself a raise and bank it. Adjust your tax with-holding so you take home more cash, then have it transferred to a savings account.

  2. Enroll in a 401(k.)

  3. Raise your car insurance deductible. Raising your out-of-pocket expenses can save you 15 percent off your premium.

  4. Pay off your credit card.

  5. Go green. A programmable thermostat will save you 10-20 percent on your heating and cooling bill for about $50-bucks.

  6. Bundle up. Still paying separate bills for phone, internet and cable? Put them all together to save a cool $50-dollars every month.

  7. Use your employer's FSA. Flexible spending accounts let you pay healthcare costs with pre-tax dollars, so take advantage of this benefit and save 33 percent or more.

  8. Get a credit card with rewards. Throwing your weekly $80-dollar tab for gas and groceries on a credit card with five-percent cash rebates will earn you $200 per-year.

  9. Quit smoking. It's hell on your lungs and brutal on your wallet --a pack-a-day smoker will spend over $2,200 on cigarettes every year.

  10. Brown bag it. Takeout lunches can be delicious, but so can high-quality ones from home. Packing a five-dollar meal instead of forking over eight will save you $720-bucks per-year.