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" Who doesn&amp;#039;t want to save money? Then again, who wants to completely alter their lifestyle to do so? Most people are looking for ways to save money that are easy and fit into their present lifestyle. Thankfully, there are several steps people can take to cut costs without giving up the things they love.   1. Try generic brands  Generic products are often just as good as name brand ones. For example, generic over the counter medications often have the exact same ingredients as the name brand versions. There are even generic food products that taste better than the real thing. Each week, try a few new generic products. You may be surprised at the quality and the savings.   2. Go green in the kitchen Not only can you help the environment by making simple changes in the kitchen, but also you can reduce costs. For example, paper plates may be handy, but they can also be costly. Instead, why not save time by using the dishwasher, which happens to be more Earth-friendly than washing dishes by hand.   3. Round off debit and check transactions After making a purchase or paying bills, round the transaction up to the nearest dollar before recording the transaction in your checkbook. This simple tip not only makes it easier to balance your checkbook, but also in a couple years, you&amp;#039;ll have quite a nice savings.   4. Sign up for money saving programs Grocery stores, pharmacies, movie theaters and many other businesses offer money saving programs. These usually only take a couple minutes to sign up for, but offer several ways to save money. You may earn free movie tickets, cut the cost of prescriptions, or receive coupons.   5. Rethink transportation methods Have you ever considered the cost of owning a car? Not only do you have to pay for gas, but also there are oil changes, new tires and regularly scheduled maintenance. On the other hand, some cities offer bus transportation for as little as 50\u00A2. If public transportation isn&amp;#039;t available, you can always ride a bike or carpool.   6. Join online rental services  If you love movies and video games, companies such as Blockbuster and GameFly offer incredible savings over video stores. For around $20 a month, you&amp;#039;ll be able to rent three movies at a time and $25 will get you two games at a time.   7. Trade books, movies, video games and CDs  If you&amp;#039;re an entertainment junkie, there are several ways to trade in your media. There are stores such as GameStop that accept old games toward the cost of other titles. If you want to save even more, PaperbackSwap and its family of Web sites, allow you to trade media with other users; all you have to pay is shipping.   8. Get a new checking account Does your checking account pay you? If not, say goodbye to your old account and find an account that allows you to earn interest on your balance. If you&amp;#039;re not using your money, wouldn&amp;#039;t you like for it to be working for you?   9. Share the cost of expensive items  There are often items that can be expensive and you won&amp;#039;t even use completely. Instead of letting items go to waste, share the items (and the cost) with family or friends so that you save money.   10. Look for free and low cost community programs  There are several ways to save money in your community. For example, movie theaters often offer free movies to children in the summer. Recreational centers may also offer low cost exercise programs. Check the local paper and community bulletin boards for programs in your area. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/work-money/tips/a3752/10-painless-ways-to-save-more-money-76984/>