1.    Coupon your way to a lighter shopping cart
You could save $s on all kinds of essential monthly outgoings by using coupons. There are entire websites dedicated to the best money-off coupons, which could save you money on everything from eating out to getting your next eye test or buying that new coat at the mall.

Many newspapers and magazines also offer coupons and other kinds of discounts and offers – so keep an eye out, and have some scissors at the ready!

2.    Buy in bulk
From kitchen towels to juice, shampoo to soap, buying your household essentials in bulk could save you a fair bit – and make it less likely you’ll unexpectedly run out of the things you need.

Filling your freezer a month in advance (or more) could also be a great bulk-buying idea, and could help you resist the temptation of impulse-buying.

3.    Repay your debts
If it’s financially realistic for you, paying down your debts sooner rather than later could save you a lot in interest overall. So if you have a high-interest credit card you’re repaying, it could make real sense to pay it off at the earliest possible opportunity.

If you’re struggling with your debts, you should look into getting some debt help ASAP.

4.    Recycle!
It’s easy to get into the habit of buying things brand new, but why not make use of the items you already have? Kids’ clothes and toys can be passed down to your younger kids, and rather than buying a new coffee table or chair, why not use some old paint to give one you’ve already got a new lease of life?

This is an idea that extends well beyond the walls of your household – if you know other parents with older and younger kids, you might be amazed when you realize how much you (and they) could save by swapping clothes and toys.

5.    Cut back on fuel costs
If you travel to work by car, see if a few colleagues would be willing to car share. At weekends, rather than driving everywhere, why not walk or take the subway? You may be surprised at just how much of a difference it could make to your pocket.

You can find more information about saving money on fuel costs here.

At CafeMom moms connect on a range of shared interests, passions, challenges and local geography. They have created thousands and thousands of groups on every topic including pregnancy, raising boys, recipe swaps, photos, marriage and relationships.

Enjoy playing social games? They’re here at CafeMom whether you want to play for enjoyment or an exciting challenge.

Oh, did I tell you? Cafe Mom is a free-to-join site, so if you find it’s not for you, it won’t cost you one red cent. In the meantime, it may be just what the doctor ordered.

Related articles

• 6 Valuable Social Networks for Parents (mashable.com)
• What Resolution Has Made the Biggest Difference in Your Happiness? (happiness-project.com)
• Online Communities Trump Facebook to Connect with Women (corporate-eye.com)

Cellfire wants to make great offers from participating merchants available to you wherever you are. Valuable savings on groceries, restaurants, shopping and entertainment are as close as your cell phone, your notepad or your laptop. You can also download savings to your club cards.

Although Cellfire has been around for awhile, it and sites like it are still in a growth stage as cell phone capabilities  lend themselves to today’s more sophisticated marketing venues.

Hey, the service is free. So what can it hurt. Try it. If you don’t like it, it hasn’t cost you anything and may have saved you a few sheckels in the meantime.

Want someone to sing Happy Birthday to your best friend — in Chinese?  Cost: $5.00

Want Mr. Peanut to march around holding up a sign with your message on it?  Cost: $5.00

Want a slide show of your favorite photos with your favorite songs?  Cost: $5.00

These are only a fraction of what you can have done for $5.00. At Fiverr.com there are mundane things people will do like translating a one-page document into Spanish or design a website or blog for you, but there are also some rather inane things that you probably never even thought of.

What would or could you do for $5.00? Could be a good way for you to earn a few extra dollars. Fiverr.com isn’t just for those looking for something. It’s also for those that have something to offer.  It’s free to join whether you’re buying or selling. Have at it and have some fun.

Make It Yourself: Illustrated step-by-step instructions for making wind chimes, chocolate truffles, book clocks and hundreds of other intriguing projects — www.instructables.com

Sudoku Brainteasers: A never-ending supply of easy, medium and hard puzzles to print out or solve online — www.number-logic.com

Nighttime Sky: McDonald Observatory’s weekly guide to prominent stars, planets and other celestial objects. Try to find them. — www.stardate.org/nightsky/weekly.php

Interpret Your Dreams : Find out about the symbols in your dreams such as animals, floods, losing something, etc. — www.thecuriousdreamer.com