Are you spending more on bills than you should be?

I loved the Cosby Show
episode where Bill demonstrated a monthly budget to Theo with Monopoly money.
What seemed like a lot to begin with quickly disappeared as the younger Cosby
got a lesson in budgeting. However, you and I aren't playing with Monopoly
money--it's the real thing for the real world. Sadly, there is no
get-out-of-jail free card and you can't sell a little red house to earn extra
money for unexpected debts. One thing budgeters can do is cut back those every
day dollar crunches-- you know, the bills! Start with these seven and enjoy
counting that extra cash at the end of the month.

1. Shrink the water
bill. The Lending Tree has a number of suggestions consumers can use for
saving moolah on the water bill. First step, examine all your faucets, the ones
inside and outside. Check for leaks. Wet spots on the ground under the faucet or
damp connector rings are both evidence of leaks. Replace torn washers or missing
parts quickly. You might even need to opt for a newer faucet. Also, don't water
your lawn on days when rain is expected. Skip those long, hot showers and take
shorter, mild ones instead. Consider installing low-flow toilets and only wash
full loads of dishes and laundry.

2. Blast the phone bill. Should
you have a landline phone? I say no, since smartphones are such a part of our
lives now. Why have a landline phone if you don't need to? Cut back on the phone
bill by ditching the landline. Also, keep those texting fanatics in check with a
data limit every month. Too much texting is expensive.

3. Zap the
power bill. Smart Money says that fine-tuning the equipment and detecting
leaks are two big ways to save on power. They suggest hiring a certified
technician to check the air and heat systems and the ventilation ducts. Money
could be flying out around the crack around your front door. You can replace
weather sealing around doors and windows and upgrade the thermostat to save on
cash.

4. Get control of the grocery bill. Ultimately, you'll have
to do two things to save on groceries: Teach your family to love eating more
staples and embrace a lifestyle of power shopping. Reintroduce the basics like
beans and rice to the family by including them in the weekly menu. Shop using
coupons and limit your grocery trips to once or twice a month. Learning to make
due with what's in the pantry is a good way to save money.

5. Cut
credit card debt. Now's the time to negotiate your credit card debt with
your creditors. Ask for lower monthly payments or a lower interest rate.
Depending on the company, you may receive an unexpected reprieve. I
did!

6. Stop the gas bleed. I made the ultimate car sacrifice. I
sold my clunky (but new) SUV for a smaller, older car. It's a Honda Accord and
boy does it save me a ton on gas. Previously, I was spending $70 a week on gas.
I'm back to $25 a week. That's savings I can live with.

7. Stop
miscellaneous spending. I hit the roof when I discovered $50 worth of
charges on my iTunes account for app add-ons. That got me curious about what
other miscellaneous spending we were doing. I guiltily acknowledge my digital
addiction to e-magazines and a weekly horoscope. I cleaned up my digital act and
save quite a bit each month.