I just found this contest/link-a-thon posted by No Credit Needed at www.ncnblog.com/
Although my best tips are really in getting organized financially, which I spell out in "Taking Control Over Finances/Organizing Your Finances," those tips don't seem in the spirit of the contest (because they take too long).
So my best money-saving tip (at least today) saved my family a lot of money (perhaps over $1000.00): if you play the lottery, buy a subscription if your state has one rather than buying individual tickets.
A subscription is a set amount of money that you pay for your lottery tickets for the year. This way, you will not be tempted to spend more than you can afford to feed your lotto habit. You won't need to go to the store to buy your ticket, where you might just throw in extra money for extra tickets or, more importantly, become seduced by scratch-offs or other lotto-related products. Believe me, that throw-away money really adds up.
Also, with a subscription, you don't have to worry about cashing in your ticket if you win -- they automatically send you a check if you win. This saves you another trip to the store where temptation sits right behind the counter.
Remember: this tip is only a good tip for those of you who already play the lottery and don't want to give it up altogether -- those who don't should probably take your lotto money and invest it -- in the end, it'll probably be worth more than most of us who do like to play will ever win.