Between grad school loans, car payments and bachelor parties you hardly have enough money to make rent let alone entertain all the lady folk lining up to date you. Before initiating a Ponzi scheme or selling your kidney on the black market, check out our 20 tips for conserving cash. With a few small sacrifices and a little planning you'll be financially fit in no time.
  1. Cut Out Cabs - While cabs are convenient, unless you're especially hammered, late or lost, use public transportation. Regularly riding the bus or subway can save you serious Benjamins-like thousands. Even better, bike, walk or unicycle your way around town and your pockets will get deeper while your ass gets smaller.
  2. Go Generic - The only difference between General Mills Lucky Charms and Safeway's Charms of Luck is the price tag. Despite their cheap packaging and ghetto mascots, generic brands are usually just as "magically delicious." According to Consumer Reports, buying generic saves an average of 30% per week.
  3. Become a Member - Even if you only use a store once or twice a year, signing up for a free membership card will reap rewards. If you're the type to get tempted by coupons and offers, make an email filter or even a separate account where store deals go that you can check when you actually need something, as opposed to want something (e.g. sheets vs. a Siamese Slanket).
  4. Leave the Cards at Home - When you head to the bar with the boys, bring cash instead of credit. Keeping a tab open and ordering drinks at will-like that round of car bombs you drunkenly bought your buds to celebrate National Eye Care Month-will only leave you with a $200 bar tab and tears (that you'll obviously wait until you get home to shed). Counting out the physical cash will make you far more aware of your spending.
  5. Eat Leftovers - Instead of letting the Styrofoam containers filled with half-eaten food grow forests of mold, actually commit to eating leftovers. If you're willing to cook simple meals then freeze in bulk, casseroles and slow cookers are your new best friend (tell your right hand you're sorry).
  6. Reassess Your Cell - When picking a cell phone plan most dudes either aim too high and waste money on unused minutes or aim too low and get murdered by overage fees. Pay attention to your habits and review your bills to find a plan that fits for you. Better yet, call your carrier and ask them to do the work for you. Threatening to change companies never hurts either...
  7. Get Something Back - Find a credit card that offers some type of incentive you'll actually use, be it cash back, gas rewards or discount lap dances. Also wrangle for a low APR if you think you'll carry a balance. If you see a lower APR at a competitor, call your company to complain and they'll likely match the rate.
  8. Cancel Unused Memberships - If every Sunday you swear that the coming week will be your "get back to the gym week" and every Monday you hit snooze instead of getting up and at 'em, drop the membership. Likewise, if you've had the same Netflix movie sitting on your DVR player for the last 9 months, use On Demand or RedBox instead.
  9. Rotate Your Tires - A new set of rubbers will run you anywhere from $200-$600 depending on your vehicle and preferences. Rotating those suckers about every 6,000 miles not only prolongs tire life, but also prevents front-end misalignment and gets you better gas mileage.
  10. Make a List - Before you head to the grocery store, make a list of what you need and stick to only those items you've written down. Going in without a plan-especially when drunk or high-will lead to a cart piled high with spray-able cheese and Double-Stuffed Oreos but missing practical items, like milk and soap.
  11. Plan Gas Stops - If you wait until your car's running on fumes to fill up your tank, you'll end up frantically searching for the closest, and not necessarily the cheapest, gas station. Use GasBuddy to find the best places to stop on your routine routes and AAA's TripTik for longer journeys. With a single gallon of gas costing almost as much as a beer these days, saving cents makes sense.
  12. Be a Student - Still have your college or grad school ID card? If it doesn't have an expiration date and you've aged relatively well (unlike Bridget Bardot), use that sucker to get discounts at movie theaters, museums, clothing stores and more. Sure, this isn't the most honest technique but when the going gets tough, the tough stick it to the man.
  13. Hit the Biblioteca - Remember those big buildings filled with bound stacks of paper? Libraries still exist! And they'll let you check out books, magazines and DVDs for free.
  14. Install CFLs - Energy efficient light bulbs aren't just for hippies and yuppies. In addition to being green they also help save some green. Although they cost a tad more than incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer. LEDs require a bigger initial investment but are even bigger bill busters.
  15. Find it For Free - Sites like Freecycle connect you with homies in your hood giving up gratis furniture, appliances, bikes and more. If you're looking to get goods quickly, smaller alternatives, like Freesharing, FreeUse and Sharing is Giving are worth a look-see. To swap something you'd like to get rid of (the Coach briefcase your ex convinced you to buy) for something you really want (Harry Potter memorabilia), use Swap.com.
  16. Opt Out of Car Rental Insurance - Be sure to read up before you pay up-your personal car insurance plan may cover you for rental cars. If not, the credit card you use to pay for the temp wheels probably offers rental insurance at a lower rate.
  17. Stop Smoking - If permanent whiskey dick isn't reason enough to quit, how about saving more than $2,000 a year as motivation? You'll also have fewer health costs down the road and will qualify for lower rates on life insurance (like $50/mo. vs. $250/mo.).
  18. Reduce Airport Purchases - A crappy sandwich at the airport will cost double the price of a delicious sub from your local deli so why not buy ahead and bring on board? The same goes for magazines, books and toiletries-you can buy a bottle of Advil for the cost of one packet with two pills at a terminal kiosk.
  19. Comparison Shop - Before buying something in store, do some online research and try to find the item elsewhere for less. Between Amazon and eBay, you can check thousands of spots in a few minutes. Opt for last year's model-you'll jump just as high (or should we say low?) in the 2011 Jordan's-and pay about half price.
  20. Avoid Withdrawal Fees - If you regularly hit up the corner bodega for cash, you're losing major loot. In addition to the fee the ATM owner charges, your bank probably slaps on a cost as well. Every time you take out money, you lose about $5. Do that twice a week and you're flushing more than $500 down the toilet a year.