Sometimes we don't realize just how much money we spend throughout year on one seemingly insignificant item. Take, for example, cigarettes. They can run five dollars or more per pack; that's $50 or more per carton. Assuming you smoke a pack a day, at the end of twelve months you will have shelled out (and burned up!) well over $1800. And a cup of gourmet coffee can cost two dollars or more. If you buy a cup every morning on your way to work, think of how much that adds up to. Now think of what you could have done with all that wasted money. Here are a few other tips, tidbits and ideas:

• Parking meters can eat up quarters as fast as a Vegas slot machine. Instead of parking next to a meter, choose a side street or, if your neighborhood has areas to park near shopping centers, park there instead. Besides, the walk will do you good.
• Bring snacks with you if you plan to go out for the day. Why pay exorbitant prices for them from vending machines when you can make delicious and healthy snacks home?
• Some full service car washes charge $25 or more. If you own a home, get the kids to help you wash the car. If you live in an apartment, look for a gas station that has a car-wash apparatus and vacuum pumps. You'll only have to pay a few dollars to use them.
• What's the going rate for newspaper delivery service in your area? Do you really need to have your papers delivered? Instead, get up a little earlier and talk a brisk morning walk to your local convenience store and pick up the newspaper.
• Today, just about everyone has a cell phone with text messaging. But those little conveniences cost money. Why not choose a plain cell phone for your kids without the all bells and whistles? Over time, the savings could be substantial.
• Now that gas is back down to a reasonable price (for the time being, anyway), it doesn't mean that you can't still save a little more money. If you have several places to go in order to carry out all of your necessary errands, set aside one day and time to do them all. Also, keep your family car well maintained throughout the year.
• Do you find yourself ordering take-out food more than you should? Well, it takes considerably less time and money to make English muffin pizzas at home than it does to have a pizza delivered from the well-known chain nearby. There are lots of fast, easy, economical and healthful recipes that you can prepare in about a half an hour or so.
• When you take your kids with you to the supermarket, how many items do you end up buying things that aren't on your shopping list? Do you automatically pick up a magazine at the check-out counter, begin reading it while on line, and then add it to the groceries? If so, you're not alone. You just have to be aware of it and use a little restraint.
• By the way, while we're on the subject of groceries, it might be helpful to call to remembrance an old adage: Never go grocery-shopping on an empty stomach! It happens to be true. If you've ever done it, you've probably noticed that every single food item, from the deli section to the produce department, is enticing, isn't it? And, if you happen to pass by the bakery section, chances are that you're sunk!
• Hopefully, you've already winterized your home in order to prepare for this season's colder months. But there's more you can do to save money. This will require engaging the entire family to help to keep expenses down. You can start by purchasing fluorescent light bulbs; they can last up to 10 years or more.
• Check to ensure that your air conditioning/heater thermostat is low during the day and set at a reasonable temperature level at night, and keep the filters of those units clean. To help, keep the blinds open during the day to allow the sun to warm certain rooms, and close off rooms that are not in use. And, keep your refrigerator thermostat set at the manufacturer's recommended level, too.
• Turn off the lights off when leaving a room. Unplug appliances that you're not using. Shut down your computer instead of keeping it on in its 'sleep' mode. And, if you have a cable connection, ensure that your TV itself is also off after shutting down the cable box.
• Make sure that your water heater is thoroughly insulated. Use your washer's 'cold' setting, and run it only for a full load of clothing. Instead of using the automatic dishwasher, clean dishes, pots, and utensils by hand.

We've all been guilty at one time or another of spending money on things that, we don't immediately realize will add up to substantial waste. It's a habit that sometimes can be hard to break. Take just one day and carry around a small calculator with you to add up everything you spend. At the end of the day, once you've gotten over the initial shock, you'll realize all too quickly that those seemingly 'little' things can mount up to major coinage.

Saving money as a family is about making conscious choices. It requires that you and your entire household set limits on spending from start to finish. Begin early teaching your children the value of a dollar. Utilize every discount, coupon, and rebate that you can find. Become more energy efficient and, by all means, pay down your debt.

As a nation virtually consumed in debt, we all must come to grips with our spending practices. Sacrifices will have to be made; changes in the way we think about money will have to be confronted; and living beyond our means must cease. It all begins with the family unit. If, amid all the chaos that surrounds us, we can decide, here and now, to change our attitudes, reassess our goals, and begin saving today, then there is hope. It's a legacy that we indeed owe to our children and to their children after them.