If you could share one tip to save $100 a month, what would it be?

Get to know your neighbors and plan fun at home or close to home activities with them. There are so many untapped resources around our communities if we just opened up and got to know each other.

Yes, what classyvixen said. One big way to save is to cut down on meals out. Several years ago (it must have been when I became a mom and started working less), I realized that one restaurant bill could pay for a lot of groceries.

I keep hearing the word "staycation," which I think is funny. Staycations are people opting to take vacations at home or close to home as a way of saving money on gas, etc. We're planning to have a staycation this summer (heck, we do that a lot anyway). We'll camp in the backyard, make s'mores and do fun stuff. I told a friend and she can't wait to join our "campout."

Wow, I don't think I've ever heard the term staycation but I really like the idea!

Find a good thrift store. I buy 99% of my family's clothes at our favorite one. I get name brand clothes for a few bucks. You have to do a little hunting sometimes, but the pay off is HUGE! I save hundreds of dollars a year!

Nicole, How do you go about finding a great thrift store. Most of the ones that I've been to are depressing. Do you have any tips?

Another way I save money is to look for the free community activities in the paper and online. The free day's out that only cost gas, are usually the most memorable ones over the ones I actually spend money on.

Also, instead of buying my magazines, I go to the online version's which are usually free and it also helps the invironment too. Another is the News papers, you can find a website called the Sunday Saver, which you enter your zip code and it shows you all the local store ad's for that week. It comes in handy and I don't have to worry about the clutter that it will make. lol!

I hope this helps some of you!!

I will see what other ideas and post them as I remember them.

This tip will not only save money but also your waistline. Take lunch to work. We have a fridge in our office so I keep condiments here and yogurt, etc. Most places I've ever worked have a fridge somewhere in the office. You can also make enough food the night before to have leftovers for lunch at work. Also make your own coffee at home, don't buy it anywhere. If you bring your own lunch everyday you'll save even more than $100 a month.

If you save money here, you can splurge going out to eat somewhere worth while a couple times a month and/or take a vacation with your savings.

Drink more water. Using (and refilling) a water bottle instead of buying sodas, juices, coffee, etc. at work will save money and improve your health...

Stay away from packaged foods at the market. I was able to reduce my monthly grocery bill from $1000 to $650. No frozen dinners, no prepared foods, no preseasoned meats. If I do buy packaged foods they are inexpensive items like pasta, rice, oatmeal, and canned tomato sauce. I'll throw in the frozen pizza, lunch meats, and cereal, bread, but typically only buy things if they are the basics rather than the meal itself. It's been healthier eating and cheaper.

Another good resource that I have found is Angel food Ministries, it's not only for food stamp recipients. A lot of the time you can Google it and find out where the closest one is to your location. You do have to go and pick it up but, you get a ton of food for a very little price, and in addition to there main $25 box you can add a few other specials that they offer each month, on time I even bought everything on the whole list and only paid $78. Go check it out.

Also, don't knock Farmers markets. they are awesome places to find direct from the farm produce, and you can sometimes make a day of it with the kids too. I know my daughter and I have a blast at ours. I try to go every 2 weeks during the seasons that it is open.

Ok so the best way I save money is shopping at Aldi's. I save alot of money by not buying namebrand items. Great time-saver as well since you don't have to choose between different brands.

Another way to save money is thrift store shopping. Have to search around and find one in your area to find the best one. The one I prefer to shop at must be supplied by an upscale neighborhood because you can find some great high end clothes there.
You have to dig sometimes but it is worth the work! Try to find the thrift store closest to the upscale neighborhoods.

I started a grocery price tracker in Excel. Pretty eye-opening when I started scrutinizing sale papers and clipping coupons. My grocery bill keeps declining...I'm hoping to get it down to $200/month (from $400). That, and my mom gave me a couple cookbooks from the 70s titled Make Your Own Groceries. I can make my own cereal, freeze-ahead dinners, pudding mixes, etc. It's great, when I have the time.

Oh, and we're trying not to use the air conditioning this summer. We'll see how long that lasts.