7 ways to save on everyday expenses

Michelle's husband Barry building a retaining wall in the yard with paver stones purchased online.

• Create a budget (and stick to it)

Michelle Waldman
Age: 34

Many people hire outsiders to do yard work, landscaping and cleaning, but we save money by doing chores on the weekends and getting tools and materials from Craigslist. My husband built a retaining wall in the yard with paver stones from Craigslist. It turned out really well -- the neighbors even thought we had a professional do it. And those paver stones can be expensive. If you add it all up, we saved about a thousand dollars -- just on yard work.

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