New Year’s resolutions are often broken by mid-January. Saving money is generally on everyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions, right up there with losing weight and exercising more. The best resolutions – and most likely to be kept – would combine all three goals:

1. Walk more:

If your work or errands are located too far away for walking to be feasible, at least consider getting off the bus or train two stops earlier than normal – with any luck you can save on fares while upping your exercise.

2. Bypass the coffee shop:

A latte or cappuccino plus a baked good adds a whopping 700 calories or more to your daily intake and likely costs $6 or $7. Avoid the coffee shop and watch the pounds fall off and your savings account grow.

3. Find alternatives to the gym:

Consider if you really need that expensive gym membership. Walk or jog outside instead of on a treadmill or participate in calorie-burning winter sports.

4. Trim down your cable bill:

All that exercise will leave you with less time to be a couch potato. Think about trimming down your cable bill in 2013.

5. Brown bag your lunch:

Make your own lunch instead of calling in at your favorite deli. You control the ingredients so your lunch can be healthier and you’ll save your cash.

To save money throughout 2013, from a wide selection of online stores, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com. A Happy New Year to all!

Christmas is a time when it’s only too easy to get carried away. Here are some suggestions to help you keep within your budget:

1. Consider starting a ‘Secret Santa’ tradition:

Get your family and friends on board with this and you will save a small fortune and simplify your shopping. Put everyone’s names into a hat and have each person draw one. (This can be done online for far-flung friends.) You simply buy one gift – with a previously arranged price limit – for one person.

2. Give home-made gifts:

This is an oldie but goodie. If you enjoy making jellies, salsa, antipasto, cookies, etc., then just make some extra, wrap them festively and give them as hostess gifts or stocking stuffers.

3. Buy a real tree:

Real trees are cheaper than fake and far better for the environment, especially if you buy from a local tree farm – and recycle your tree for mulch in January!

4. Avoid temptation at the grocery store:

It’s easy to go overboard at this time of year- how often have you left the store with an overloaded shopping cart, only to find yourself with far more food than you need? Make a list – check it twice – and stick to it!

5. Shop online:

Avoid the crowds and save on shipping. Buy gifts online; many companies will giftwrap and ship for you.

To save money this holiday season, from a wide selection of online stores, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com.

Hosting a Thanksgiving feast doesn’t have to break the bank – here are a few ways to cut costs.

1. Make it a ‘potluck’:

Often guests bring a dish anyway; if you’ve already catered for everything, then you’ll have leftovers galore. Consider making it a ‘potluck’ in the first place and make every guest responsible for a side dish or dessert. Less work and more fun!

2. Buy a smaller turkey:

If you don’t want to be having leftovers for a whole week, plan carefully just how much meat you will need to feed your guests. Buy a turkey that is just the right size – if you have a small family, consider a turkey breast rather than a whole bird.

3. Buy non-perishables ahead of time:

Stock up on some items well ahead of the big day and use coupons to save money at the grocery store.

4. Cook everything at once:

As far as possible, time your preparation so that pies, bird, casseroles, etc. are all in the oven at the same time, minimizing power usage.

5. Avoid Black Friday madness:

No need to fight crowds in the mall – savvy shoppers wait till Cyber Monday and shop online for huge discounts, often with free shipping!

To save money this Cyber Monday, from a wide selection of online stores, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com.

October is not just about pumpkins! Now is the time to get your house and garden ready for winter and – hopefully – save money and energy as you go.

1. Service heating appliances:

Invest a little time and money checking and servicing your boiler or heating appliances before winter sets in. Install programmable thermostats if you don’t already have them – you will keep your heating system running efficiently and economically all winter.

2. Check your windows:

Ensure windows are well fitted and close snugly; you don’t want all that precious heat to go straight out of the window! Heavy drapes also help as insulation.

3. Check doors for drafts:

Check around your doors for unwanted drafts. Install weather strips or draft excluders if needed.

4. Use CFL light bulbs:

Replace any burned out bulbs with these. They cost a little more to buy but last for years and give significant savings on your power bills.

5. Save money on next year’s garden care:

Take advantage of end-of-season sales on garden tools and outdoor furniture. Fall is also a good time to transplant shrubs and put in bulbs for spring flowering.

To save money this fall, from a wide selection of online stores, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com.

For many families, fall means ‘back to school’ and a huge dent in the budget to cover school supplies, clothes etc. If ‘back to school’ means starting college, then the costs may be even higher!

1. Encourage college students to buy used textbooks:

College textbooks are extremely expensive. Most university bookstores carry used ones for a reduced price; if not, then ads on student noticeboards or Craigslist will often produce results.

2. Shop end-of-season sales:

Many so-called ‘summer’ clothes will segue nicely into fall with a little layering, so stock up on those sale items.

3. Wait before buying trendy items:

Hold off on buying clothing/school supplies that are subject to fashion trends. Nothing is worse than spending a small fortune on new gear, just to have Junior come home the first day of school and refuse to wear/use any of it – wait till the kids have been back a few days and know what is considered ‘cool’ – then shop. Also, prices may drop sharply after Labor Day.

4. Buy in bulk:

Get together with friends and buy school supplies in bulk.

5. Shop for discounts:

Many stores offer discounts or giveaways only to students. For example, reduced prices and freebies are available on many purchases of electronics.

To save money this fall, from a wide selection of online stores, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com.

It’s August and the ‘dog days’ of summer! With many areas of the country sweltering in heat waves, energy costs can really add up. Take advantage of these tips to save both money and energy.

1. Turn air conditioning off:

Turn your air conditioning off or down whenever possible. If there is a breeze, a thunderstorm or a cooler evening is forecast, dial down the cooling and open windows instead.

2. Dry laundry out of doors:

Hang laundry outside in the summer time – this will help you save on dryer costs and get lovely, fresh-smelling clothes at the same time!

3. Cook outside:

Barbecue, barbecue, barbecue! Everyone loves barbecued food and cooking outdoors keeps your house cool so you save energy in two ways.

4. Walk or bike:

Summer weather makes walking or biking to work possible. If your commuting distance is too great, at least try walking to the grocery store, park or playground. Not only are you saving on gas, you’re getting fit as well!

5. Shop early for back-to-school supplies:

School may be the last thing on your mind but getting organized early gives you a chance to shop around for bargains. Get all your back-to-school shopping done in one trip to save gas also.

To save money this summer, from a wide selection of online stores, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com.

School’s out for summer! With children home all day, requiring apparently constant supplies of food and drink – not to mention entertainment – summer can hit families hard financially.

1. Use reward points wisely:

Watch out for ‘double points’ days at local stores. If you have a rewards card, make sure to do your biggest shop on those days. The points really do add up to tangible savings.

2. Make your own snacks:

A yard full of active children, all demanding snacks, can get pretty costly. Save money and prepare healthy snacks at home; make in bulk and dole them out as needed.

3. Let them drink water:

Sodas and other sweetened drinks are both unhealthy and expensive; water is by far the cheapest and best choice for children – adults too!

4. Make homemade ice pops for hot summer days:

Freeze your own ice pops using pureed fruit (in season and cheap!) or fruit juice.

5. Plan cheap – or free – activities to keep young people busy:

Take your children to the nearest park for an improvised baseball or Frisbee game. Go on bike rides or explore local forests, lakes, rivers or beaches; turn it into a fun outing by giving the children a project, a nature-based treasure hunt for example.

To save money this summer, from a wide selection of online stores, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com.

This is the time of year when everyone’s mind turns to summer vacations, but trips to exotic locales, especially in high season, can be very expensive. Here are a few tips on how to save money on your next vacation.

1. Avoid peak periods:

If you don’t actually have school-age kids then why pay a premium for a vacation in June through August? Wait until September and enjoy fewer crowds and lower prices.

2. Enjoy a ‘staycation’:

These are becoming increasingly popular. Hang out in your hometown as a tourist and explore what your neighborhood has to offer, visit museums, theme parks or go for hikes in nearby countryside.

3. Plan a house swap:

Find the ideal match online and you can have a wonderful vacation with free accommodation while someone else cares for your home, waters your plants and feeds your pets – a win-win situation.

4. Pay cash:

Plan a budget for your vacation expenses and take sufficient spending money – in cash. You will be less likely to overspend and will be rewarded when you return home and have no hefty credit card bills to face.

5. Vacation with friends:

Consider pooling resources with friends and sharing a vacation rental home. Larger houses can work out relatively economically on a per-person basis if you split the costs with another family or a group of friends. You will get all the advantages of a generously sized vacation home at an affordable cost.

To save both at home and away, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com.

This time of year brings long, light evenings and perfect weather for summer entertaining. To entertain your friends and family without breaking your budget, consider the following.

1. Eat outdoors:

Of course, cooking outside is always enjoyable but it helps save money also. By cooking outside you avoid creating heat indoors, helping reduce air-conditioning costs. Also, outdoor feasts tend to be more casual; your guests may even bring side dishes.

2. Throw an economical Cinco de Mayo party:

To stay with the theme, serve tacos and margaritas. Decorate cheaply and cheerfully with balloons or flags in bright Mexican colors.

3. Plan a picnic in the park or at the beach:

On a summer weekend, make plans with friends/family to meet up for a picnic lunch. Take turns to provide picnic food or let everyone contribute.

4. Go out for dessert:

Take advantage of those extra daylight hours to meet up with friends later in the evening – find an affordable restaurant with a pleasant patio and meet for dessert and coffee – much cheaper than a full meal with drinks!

5. Keep the sun out of your house and off your patio:

Save on air-conditioning costs by keeping blinds and drapes closed during the hottest time of the day, making your house cool in the evening if you need to be indoors. If entertaining outside, use awnings and umbrellas to keep decks and patios cool and comfortable for your guests.

To save money on outdoor furniture, party décor and food at a wide selection of online stores, go to www.JustAddCoupons.com.