Cut your spending by $500 a month

Brown-bag it. twice a week Ditch the sandwich at the downstairs deli and pack a couple of lunches with leftovers.

Do lunch, not dinner. Make reservations at a pricey hot spot for a midday meal; the food is the same, but the prices are cheaper.

Think small. Forgo the white-table-cloth service at a ritzy restaurant; order smaller portions from the bar menu instead.

Indulge a little. Eat your main course at home, then go out for dessert. Order something extravagant -- you can afford it.

NEXT: Garden smarter