10 Ways to Save Money on Everyday Expenses

It's easy to spend money. Especially if you're not counting every penny, it can be hard to keep up with.

It seems like the hardest part is just finding that balance between spending and saving, but that's only half the battle.

The easiest way to save money is just understanding what your everyday expenses are and how much they cost, so you're able to make smarter choices about where and when you spend your hard-earned cash.

Read on for 10 tips to help get started in your quest for financial freedom.

1. Track Your Spending

The number one way to save money is to track your spending.

Set up a spreadsheet or use an app that helps you keep all of your receipts in one place, and then categorize and prioritize them based on what you spend the most money on (or where you tend to spend the most anyway!).

Then simply adjust your spending accordingly until the categories balance out.

For example, if gas and groceries are two of your biggest expenses, consider cutting back on both of these so that you can focus more on entertainment, hobbies and travel. Do whatever it takes to get this process down!

2. Eat In

Eating out is generally the biggest budget sucker for most Americans. According to a "Time Magazine" study, 25 percent of money spent on food in America is spent at restaurants.

It's hard to argue with that. Food at home is just a much more cost-effective way of eating than going out, especially if you're a big meat eater (restaurant-cooked meat tends to be pricier than your own cooked meat).

You also don't have to worry about tip or drinks. The same goes for parties or occasions where you might not have control over the menu go ahead and eat there if it's worth it, but make sure you know what you're spending before you commit.

3. Eat Better

This one is a little more expensive, but eating smart is still a good way to save money on groceries and eat healthier as well.

It's also good for your health and the environment (less packaging and more cooking from scratch!).

When you eat at home, try to buy in bulk when it comes to produce, grains and other staples.

It's also a good idea to have a smaller portion at each meal instead of stuffing your face to the point where you don't feel full.

Be adventurous when it comes to cooking if you love it, chances are everyone else will too!

4. Drink Less

"Time Magazine" puts the average American's yearly beverage budget at $1,500, and almost everyone could use a little help in terms of their drinking habits.

Instead of going out to parties and bars every weekend, you can host your own social gatherings at home where you can drink in moderation and still be part of the party.

If you're worried about meeting new people, try using apps like Foursquare or Swarm for events when you know who will be there (for example, a nearby brewery or restaurant).

5. Use Your Parking Permit

Who doesn't love to save money on parking?

In New York City alone there are estimated to be 1 million parking spaces available within the city limits.

Whenever you have the opportunity to use one of these spaces, make sure you use your parking permit and look around for street parking.

It's not exactly legal, but it can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.

If you're worried about getting a ticket, then just try "feeding" the meter or pay at the kiosk and move on.

6. Pay Your Bills Early

This is another money saving tip that really works. Every bill except for your rent (or mortgage) can be paid early.

If you have a credit card, you can pay off the entire balance when it's due instead of just the minimum payment.

Insurance companies and utility providers all offer the option to pay online or over the phone if your bill is due, so take advantage of that, or better yet try to set up automatic payments that happen before your bills are due.

Doing so will automatically give you a discount from companies who use late fees as a profit tool, and also keep things on a more even keel in terms of money management.

7. Make More Potatoes

The average American consumes about 275 pounds of potatoes a year.

Imagine how many potatoes you could grow in your yard, if you were to start planting potatoes at the same time you plant other crops.

Make sure you get a jump-start with your potato loving by planting at the beginning of summer when the soil is warm and all that green starts to show through.

If you're not familiar with gardening, then check out some great gardening tips and tricks in our resource section.

8. Buy Bulk Items

Buying bulk items on a regular basis is an easy way to save money on groceries and other consumables too, especially if they're in bulk quantities.

You get to buy one item instead of a whole bunch, which is great for smaller families who can't eat a whole lot in one sitting anyway.

If you're not sure what to buy check out the home section of our resource page for some great tips about what to do with all that extra stuff and how it's good for your budget.

9. Be Smart About Your Utility Bills

Do you pay your utility bills from the same address?

It's so easy at this point to keep getting the same solicitations in the mail, but it's actually cheaper and more effective to pay them from a different address.

This is especially true if your home has multiple utility bills and you need to be sure all of the bills are being sent to the same address.

Utility companies are always trying to find ways to save money, so make sure you're aware of this potential for free money if you contact them.

10. Sell Your Stuff

Trying to figure out how to make money?

Look around your own home and see what you've got that's either broken or could be sold for a decent amount of money.

Garage sales are a lot of work, but can be very profitable in the end if you're willing to put in the time and effort.

Make sure you price things right or else people will walk right past them.

If you've got something unique that could sell, try putting it up on eBay or Craigslist (if it's not too weird).

Conclusion

There are a lot of easy ways to save money at home that anyone can do, and once you try them out for a few weeks or months then you'll be able to develop your own plan for stretching your cash as far as possible.

When it comes down to it, you should always be looking for ways to save money on your utilities and food.

These types of plans might not work for everyone but if you're really trying to stretch those dollars and make sure you have the bare necessities to eat, then these tips will be perfect for you.

Remember that even if these money saving tips don't work out perfectly from the beginning, keep trying them until they work.