Oh My, How it Adds Up!

by Tawra Kellam

My husband and I paid off $20,000 of credit card debt and medical bills in 5 years on an average income of $22,000 a year. I can show you how you can save over $7,000 in just one year cutting out a few things on your grocery bill.

They are painless and simple and really add up over time. If you don't think that cutting out one bag of potato chips or one soda will add up, look at the numbers at the end of a year . It really does add up.

It's a misconception that you have to earn a lot of money to be able to save. So if you're trying to save so you can be a stay at home mom or dad or for a down payment on a house, pay off some credit card debt or just have some emergency money, here are 14 ways to do it without depriving yourself.

Cut out these things once per week and save.

1 bag potato chips, $2.00 per bag, $104.00 per year
6-pack soda, $2.00 per 6-pack, $104.00 per year
1 box granola cereal, $4.00 per box save $208.00 per year
Dinner out at $30.00 saves $1560.00 per year
Pizza-delivered plus tip, $20.00 saves $1040.00 per year
Boxed fruit rolls, 1 box $2.50, saves $130.00 per year

Cut out 1 of these things per day and save:

1 gourmet coffee from the coffee shop, $2.50 save $913.00 per year
1 liter soda purchased at convenience store, $1.00 save $365.00 per year
1-2 pk. snack cake purchased at convenience store, $1.25 saves $456.25 per year
Bottled water 1 liter $1.25, saves $456.25 per year
1 cup juice/person family of 4 $1.50, saves $547.50 per year
Reduce meat 1.5 lbs. @$2.50/ lb 2 nights per week saves, $390.00 per year
Lunch $4.00 per person, 20 days per month saves $960.00 year

By themselves, these efforts may seem inconsequential--but they add up in a big way. These ideas make it easy."