Most of our posts discuss the ways that people spend money and things that they’ve spent their money on: discount shopping, paying bills, banking, full-body lattes, and so on. Ways to save money lead to much less interesting headlines, but are a key way to slim down your budget. Or to save up for a fun new gadget. We don’t judge.

But what can you do, right now, to keep more of your money in your pockets? Trent over at The Simple Dollar has four, well, simple ideas that you can start doing this very afternoon. Keep up these habits and they might change your financial situation for the rest of your life.

1. Cut the cord. Have cable or satellite? Cancel it. Keep the internet access and use your antenna and streaming to catch your favorite shows. Does that sound too painful? Maybe you’d rather…

2. Go through your pantry. All of it. Pull out all of the food. Look it over. What meals can you make out of the stuff that’s hiding in the back? Using the items that you already have will save on your grocery bill this week. Keep that money in the bank. Done.

3. Drink water. Filtered tap water, not the bottled stuff. Get a filter. Stop buying juice, make your own coffee at home if you must have caffeine, and save money and calories. If you get bored, add a little bit of bottled lemon juice or powdered drink mix.

4. Kill the climate control. If it’s between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, notes Trent, you probably don’t need the heat or air conditioner on. There are always exceptions, and your household may be one, but for a good chunk of the year you don’t necessarily need to cool or warm your whole house. Put on a sweater, sip some ice water (see #3), and picture the savings adding up.

Four Big Things To Do Today That Will Change Your Financial Situation [The Simple Dollar]

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