Thanks to Precious over at Frugal Makes Cents I've been participating in her money saving challenge. It's really inspired me to move forward in my savings plans and we are well on our way to being able to get the things we need. I'm going to do a weekly recap of what we have done to help trim some money at the end of the week for the month to share what I've done and maybe you'll share your ideas and we can all save more.

1. We've been keeping the lights off for as long as possible and then trying to use the energy efficient ones when we have lights on. This does require some nagging on Dave to shut off the lights and following Shawn around though.

2. I've been trying to keep the TV off as much as possible as well. I enjoy listening to it when I'm doing housework or on the computer so I've been keeping the TV off and the stereo and cable box on.

3. Every night the TV and it's friends get turned off on the power strip as well as the power strip in the kitchen that has everything but the microwave on it. At least every other night we've turned off the computer as well.

4. I've been staying home, LOL. It saves lots of money if you don't go anywhere to spend it.

5. I've been making my own Mocha Latte's at home. I get to have my favorite coffee more often and I'm not paying $4 a cup.

6. We rented 2 Redbox movies on Monday (2 cards) for free.

7. I've been tending to my little container garden to try and get the best bang for my few bucks out of there.

8. I filed all my coupons this week so I can save the most money. I'll be pulling all coupons for any possible sales tonight. I am taking Shawn to the Kid's Clinic tomorrow at Home Depot and will stop at all my shopping trips while we are out.

9. I will be dumpster diving (kind of) tonight as well. I received a $10 off any purchase coupon to JCPenneys and I figure that my neighbors probably did too, so I'll be headed out to see if they threw them into the mail trash can a little later. I can get socks, underwear, shirts, and kitchen stuff for little to no money with these. It'll help get Shawn stocked for preschool and restock my gift boxes.

So what have you been doing to help shave a little off your budget? I can use any suggestions you have.