Saving money is like building a dam that blocks the flow of cash out of your account and out of your life. Maybe you are diligent about your spending but there might be little cracks in the form of unnecessary expenditures you are not even aware of that are siphoning your bucks away. Time to break out the Spackle and keep that money where it belongs.

No Phone Home:

Do you have broadband Internet? Do you have cell phones? Then why are you still paying for a landline? It might be comforting to see that reminder of the good old days plugged into the wall, but are you willing to pay $50 a month for that kind of nostalgia? If not, cut the cord.

Double Time:

Many homes have cable television, and many of those homes pay the extra for movie channels. Here’s the thing, these same families are also heading to the video store at least once a week. So they are paying out for new movies twice. See the overlap? Pare it down to one source and you can save that extra cash for popcorn.

Cut Through the Smoke:

They say quitting smoking is one of the fastest ways to prevent health trouble. It’s also the fastest way to prevent financial trouble. The average smoker spends about $2,000 a year on smokes. Your health is the most important thing, but also think of all the spa treatments you could buy with that cash.

The Latte Factor:

Some quick math for you: a latte on the way to work is three dollars a day. That’s five times a week, fifty-two weeks a year for a grand total of $780. Small price to pay for a morning jolt, you say? Perhaps, but remember you can always buy Starbucks—to make at home.

Figure Out What You’re Saving For:

Conjuring the discipline to save money is a whole lot easier when you give yourself a reason to save, something you can picture in your mind. Kids going to college? A new home? European vacation? Find something worth sacrificing for.