For most people, saving money is critical. Payroll checks may come a couple of times a month but inevitably the money hits your account and it’s almost instantly spent on the usual bills. You have to pay rent to your landlord or the mortgage to the bank when that’s due. Ever-rising utility costs take a big chunk of your monthly budget, as do deductions for health insurance and government taxes. Filling up the gas tank a couple of times a month takes more money and you’ve got to pay the insurance bills too. Then expenses like food, fast food or restaurant meals, clothes and prescriptions kick in.  Before you know it, the month is not even over and your hard-earned dollars have almost run out. It seems you are caught in an endless loop of never having enough to get by even though you are working so many hours each and every week. You need to come up with strategies to reduce your expenditures and lower your on-going stress.

Cut Down on Utility Costs

Every year, utility costs continue to skyrocket. Rates for everything, from sewer and trash, to gas and electricity, have been going up far in excess of inflation, and certainly more than your small annual raise can support. Even your water bill is a concern now, as costs rise with the need to replace an aging infrastructure. Fortunately, there are some things you can do that will really help. To save money on water, you should install low-flow shower heads and consider new toilets that use little water per flush. Electric bills can be reduced if you switch from incandescent bulbs to LED lighting. It’s estimated they can provide the same level of lighting for about one-sixth of the cost. Air conditioning use is rising as heat waves accelerate, so consider installing a whole house fan to use the natural cooling at night to dramatically lower your summer electric bills.

Refinance Your Car

One of the best ways to reduce your monthly payments or to free up cash to pay down other bills is to look into refinancing your vehicle or vehicles. If you have an existing auto loan that has a higher interest rate than the attractive rates that are available today, you can check out your options quickly from WithClutch, as it takes less than 20 seconds to fill out an easy application. There is no obligation and it won’t have any impact on your credit score. Refinancing your car can also work when your vehicle is already paid off and owned free and clear. By taking advantage of today’s great rates you can borrow money against the value of your car and take out a new loan with a low monthly payment. You can then use the lump sum you receive from the refinancing to pay bills, add to your savings, or pay down your high interest credit cards.

Take Time to Cook from Scratch

It’s amazing how much money you can save each month if you take a little time to cook from scratch. When you prepare your own meals using fresh produce, fresh fruit, whole grains, and fresh protein you will not only be much healthier but you will significantly reduce your monthly food expenses. By steering clear of processed food in the grocery store aisles and skipping the $8 frozen meal bags, you’ll find that your grocery expenses are just a fraction of what they were before. Best of all, you’ll start eating a healthy and varied diet. Too often we reach for the convenient item at the supermarket and slip into a routine of warming up the same items every week. If you look through recipe sites or cooking videos on the internet, you’ll find a wealth of amazing recipes, many of which don’t take a lot of preparation time. By cooking at home, you’ll also really reduce your monthly budget for expensive meals at restaurants and you’ll soon learn to be a skilled amateur chef.