This post is part of a series on 13 money resolutions for 2013. You can find the first post for an updated list of the following ones.

Yesterday, I discussed starting your new year with a small, easy financial goal. This helps you get on track and builds momentum and motivation. Whether your goal is to pay off debt, clear your mortgage, or save for something big like a trip or a replacement car, you’ll need more money than you currently have. A great way to get more money is by identifying areas in your budget where you might be wasting it.

It’s not always obvious. For example, throwing away leftovers is like throwing away money. Paying your electric bill might seem essential, but you could potentially find a better deal on your utilities or broadband package. Overpaying is just as wasteful.

Let’s look for areas where you can trim your budget:

Car Expenses:
– Do you really need a car?
– Can you work from home one day a week or use public transport?
– Can you walk or cycle more?
– Are you paying the minimum insurance for the coverage you need?
– Do you need two cars?

Housing Expenses:
– Are your utility bills as low as possible, or are you wasting energy?
– Do you need cable?
– Do you always turn off lights when you leave a room?
– Can you get a better deal for broadband, Netflix, or utilities?
– Is your house properly insulated?
– Could you dry your clothes outside?
– Do you need a cleaning service?

Grocery Expenses:
– Are you eating everything you buy?
– Could you switch to store-brand products?
– Do you eat meat with every meal?
– Could you temporarily reduce your meat, dairy, and alcohol consumption?
– Have you checked your stockpile for products about to expire?
– Do you use coupons?

Personal Expenses:
– Can you go without new clothes for a while?
– Can a friend cut your hair, or can you do your own manicure?
– Can you find free courses instead of paid ones?
– Can you borrow books from the library instead of buying them?

By ensuring you get the best deal on everything you buy or every monthly expense, and by buying only what you need, you can significantly reduce your monthly expenses. This frees up a lot of extra money to put toward your 2013 financial goals.

Launch of the Debt Movement:

Today also marks the launch of the Debt Movement, started by Jeff at Good Financial Cents. The goal is to help the community pay off $10 million of debt in 90 days. Yes, you read that right—$10 million! This ambitious and awesome initiative includes giving away $10,000 to the community as debt scholarships. You can find more information on their website. It’s time to tackle that debt!

The debt payoff period starts on February 1st. In the meantime, you can explore the personal finance blogosphere and continue reading this 13 money resolutions series. Tune in tomorrow for more financial resolution tips and ideas.

Have you decided to cut an unnecessary expense this year?