20 small ways to save big money in 2014

New Delhi: Saving a sizeable amount of money on a daily or monthly basis is probably one of the biggest concerns that many of us are struggling to live with. The idea of saving more money assumes greater importance due to factors such as: retirement, rising cost of education, emergency fund, and uncertain economic environment. Here are some steps that you can take today to start better managing your money and improve your finances.1. Bring lunch to workEating out everday can take away a huge amount of money from your annual income. Annual lunch savings of Rs 5,000 will also keep you healthy at the same time. It's an easy everyday saving trick, and it's a great option for those trying to cut costs on their daily expenses.2. Take public transportationCommuting can put a huge dent in your wallet but those who take public transport can save a lot of money and cut down on air pollution as well. For instance, a Delhi Metro commuter does not need to worry about uncertain traffic conditions in the city and, in fact, taking this mode of transport has made them punctual. 3. Drop your landline phone and rely on your mobile phoneCommitting to using only a mobile phone for your communication needs would mean having only one number and one bill. Going mobile only simplifies your contact information, since you just have one number to give out to friends and business contacts. A mobile phone gives you the flexibility while traveling and worrying less about unexpected delays and emergencies.4. Use compact fluorescent light bulbsInstead of replacing your burned-out 60-watt incandescent bulb with a new one, replace it with a 13 watt Compact Florescent Lamp (CFL). A standard 60-watt bulb puts out about 800 lumens; so does a 13-watt CFL. So instead of paying for 60 watts of electricity, you only pay for 13 watts to get the same amount of light, a savings of 78 per cent.5. Cook more and eat out less oftenA lot of people eat in food joints and restaurants in famous malls which can result in huge bills. Even just reducing your meals out by 1 or 2 times per week can save you about Rs 500 -Rs 1000 per week. But if in case you still want the experience of a dinner out then consider these tips:Eat Lunch, Not Dinner: If you've ever compared lunch and dinner menus, you'll often find that they include the same items, but at much lower prices at lunch. Skip the Drinks: The same soft drink you can buy from a store for Rs 35 that costs Rs 75 at some fast-food establishments.Don't Judge a Restaurant By Its Storefront: When you eat in elegant surroundings in high-rent districts, you can count on paying the price.6. Make a list before grocery shoppingThe more prepared you are when you get to the store the less impulse purchases you will make. So write out a grocery list and stick to it!7. Cut the junk Eating items such as soda (regular or diet), cookies, crackers, prepackaged meals, processed foods, is heavy on your body and you wallet too. 8. Keep water bottle with youSwearing off the bottle also saves you a bundle. 9. Entertain indoorsAmusement can come at a price… a big price. The entertainment cost is high so you can consider buying movie CDs for watching a movie at home. 10. Wait on purchases before buying themWaiting for a certain period will give you necessary time to rethink about your purchasing decision. Ask yourself: Do you really need the item or it is a luxury purchase. If it is a luxury purchase you should be sure that you can afford it and that you can pay cash for it. If it is a true need, then you need to determine why you need it and when.11. Get a home energy auditA home energy audit, also known as a home energy assessment, is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An assessment will tell you that problems, when corrected, can save you significant amounts of money over time. A professional technician can give your home a checkup.12. Use comparison sitesIt is a good way to check out lower prices available for a particular product or service.13. Cancel your yearly gym membershipInstead opt for monthly pay-as-you-go if in case it is likely that you will stop going. 14. Pay less for your holiday in 2014 Planning in advance will help you save a considerable amount of money. It's wise not to rush in. Always check whether a special offer is being run through different websites.15. Rent a new dress rather than buying one Spending a large amount on a dress that you'd wear only once is not a good idea. Instead you can look for renting a dress which comes at a fraction of the cost of buying a brand new one. 16. Skype instead of making long distance callsThe growing popularity of Skype is steal minutes away from the phone companies. And for consumers that is good news.17. Turn data roaming offThis is the single most important step you can take to save yourself from big international data bills.18. Know the right things to buy in bulkWhen buying in bulk, know the right things to buy as it can lead to waste and spoilage. But if you pick up the right items, bulk buying can save you a small fortune.19. Turn off lights and other electronics stuff when not in useFlipping a switch off when you leave a room is the easiest way to start saving energy and in turn money.20. Cancel cable and watch your favorite shows onlineA good option provided you have an internet connection.