1. Get to work earlier
I asked my boss if I could go into work an hour earlier. She agreed, and now I save almost £50 a week in day care because I am home just about the same time as my children. My husband goes in later, so he gets the kids out of the door in the morning. It is amazing how much money an hour can make.
Emmy

2. Recycle enthusiasm
When my four children were growing up, there was a lot of toy clutter; every few months I would package up toys and put them in the garage, attic or basement; and take out some I'd stashed away before. It was like Christmas every few months; the kids had usually forgotten about some of the things by then, and so they treated them like new toys. This keeps the toy room from being cluttered, and you don't have to buy as many NEW toys
eefrum

3. Don't rent a carpet cleaner - use salt
If red fruit juice or wine is spilled on the carpet, immediately cover the area with salt. Let the salt sit on the stain overnight. The salt will soak up the juice like a sponge, and pull it off the carpet. (Scrubbing the carpet with water just pushes the stain further in.) In the morning, vacuum up the salt. If there is a hint of stain left, it should come out with spray foam carpet cleaner. Make sure you check your carpet first to make sure the salt won't harm its colour. For existing stains you can try rewetting the stains with water and then adding the salt. It has to be wet enough for the salt to soak in.
tbsmommy

4. Watch your impulses
When shopping, always take a list. Then everything you pick up that isn't on the list goes in the top section of the shopping trolley. You can easily see how much impulse buying you are doing and, hopefully, learn to control it.
laire

5. Make your cashpoint visits work for you
I am a university student in a hall of residence that only has one cashpoint. Needless to say, I use that cashpoint a LOT. I found myself taking out £10 here and £20 there on a regular basis, and I had no money for anything when I actually needed it, so I started putting £5 into my savings account every time I made a withdrawal from the cashpoint. In the first month alone I saved £50. Plus it earns interest in the savings account. Now when I graduate I will have a small nest egg to help with relocation costs, and the knowledge that I CAN save.
Charlotte

6. Envelope it
I have a special way of saving money. I keep a nest egg in the bank, of course, but when I want cash for special things, I get an envelope and write on it what I am saving for, when it needs to be done by, and how much it costs. I have managed to save for a deposit on a new car (£1,200), a holiday (£1,800), as well as birthday presents for several hundred pounds. I keep these envelopes in my budgeting books and deposit the money into the bank, but know what it is earmarked for. It is pretty easy.
Karen

7. Quit smoking
I recently stopped smoking. So every time I have the urge to buy a pack (and I don't buy one), I put a fiver in the bottle, the approximate price of cigarettes now. By doing this, I'm not only saving money, I am also investing in a long, HEALTHY life with my fiance.
Michelle

For more savings ideas why not have a chat with fellow iVillagers on the money matters message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions taking place right now on the board: