Face it, we all wish that money grew on trees, but to our dismay, we know that’s not the case. You work hard for the money you make, so why waste it when you don’t even realize how much you’re spending? Here are 10 money-saving tips to help your personal finance situation in the new year!

1.) Walk or ride the bus.

How much money are you currently spending travelling to and from work, the grocery store, the bank, etc.? How much of that could you cut out just by walking or taking the bus? If you’re lucky enough to live in the heart of a major city, this solution is simple: WALK! It’s good to get outside and get in some exercise, so your mind, body and wallet will all thank you for making this simple change. If you’re not in a city, most areas now offer some seriously discounted public transportation. Don’t get the wrong impression from this – many places now offer luxury buses that feature more comfortable seating and other amenities.

2.) Clip coupons.

Wow, the amount of money that goes into weekly grocery shopping can get up there in digits, so why not save yourself a little dough at the supermarket? You can clip coupons the old-fashioned way by rounding up the Sunday paper and tearing them out, or check out the more tech-friendly way to find coupons, and use an online coupon site. Coupons.com is a great resource. Just click and print, and you’re on your way to savings!

3.) Pack your own food to bring to work.

Now that you’ve saved so much money at the grocery store, don’t let all that food go to waste! Ditch the mid-afternoon trips to the sandwich shop down the street for a $9 sandwich and chips and start packing what you’ve already brought. Don’t have time in the morning to make a lunch to bring to work? That’s OK. Just prepare everything the night before. Pack it all into a lunch pack (bring out the child in you with a fun lunchbox – you’ll feel like an elementary school student again!) and you’ll be on your way without missing a beat. You also may find that you end up eating healthier when you bring your own food (again, helping the wallet and the body!)

4.) Get rid of your credit card.

I know, the horror. You can’t imagine life without your credit card. Trust me, it can happen. Work on paying it down until you have a $0 balance, and then cut it up, or keep it hidden away in the back of your wallet for emergency situations only (i.e., you’re lost in a foreign country with no money and can’t get home – when I say emergencies, I mean emergencies). Credit card fees and interest rates can increase rapidly over time, so the longer you wait, the more you’ll end up paying on these small plastic pieces of evil.

5.) Make saving a game or contest.

Live with a roommate, spouse, or significant other? Help them get into the saving mood, too, by making it a game or competition. Even get family members involved. See who can save the most money on a monthly basis, and even come up with a rewards program for the winner each month. Maybe the person who saves the least has to clean the person who saves the most’s house or apartment once a week for the entire month. That will motivate you to get saving!

6.) Find fun things to do that don’t cost money.

We all know that some of the best “hobbies” can cost the most money. Even going to the bar for happy hour after work, going to dinner with a friend, going to the movies and going shopping can all add up to pretty significant amounts. The answer: find things to do that don’t cost money! Go for a walk or pack a picnic and take it to the park. Go for a hike. If you have to go to happy hour with a friend, just sip on a glass of water or the drink special of the night and milk it for the entire night. There are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself and the company of your friends and family without dropping any big moolah.

7.) Turn off all electronics before you leave your house.

This one sounds like a tiny detail, but you’d be surprised at how much money you waste on your electric bill to keep unnecessary appliances running in your home while you’re away. Every day when you walk out your door, make sure all of the lights are turned off, turn down the thermostat if you have one, power your computer down completely, and make sure ceiling fans are off. It’s no big deal to turn all of these things back on when you get home. Do yourself a favor and take the 5 minutes to check over your house and make sure everything is off before you leave, and you’ll start to be able to watch your electric bill steadily decrease. Plus, it’s better for the environment!

8.) Skip the spa.

OK ladies, this one’s for you. That $100 you spend on a 60-minute massage twice a month? A little over the top. If you insist on relaxing in this way (and let’s admit, going to the spa is a great way to destress), turn your home into a spa. Invest the $20 into buying some candles and aromatherapy products for yourself, draw yourself a nice hot bath with some relaxing bath salts, and let yourself melt into the relaxation. Turn on some soothing music. Ask your significant other to give you a massage. You can even find recipes online for do-it-yourself facials and skin treatments that are easy to make at home. Make a day of it – you’ll forget that you’re at home and not the spa!

9.) Work out at home.

Cancel your gym membership. Yup, you heard me. No offense to you big-name conglomerate gyms out there, but people, you’re wasting your money there. Don’t you have some floor space at home? That’s all you really need to get in a great workout. Do some research on home workout programs that are out there, find one you like, and spend your money investing in one of those programs instead of a gym membership. If you buy a program, you can do the workouts over and over again for the entire year if you want, all in the comfort of your own home. Or, just find a free program online. Workout videos, advice and exercises are easy to find on the great and vast Web. Get to work looking for some!

10.) Hit the library.

Believe it or not, the library in your town probably has a great selection of books, CDs, DVDs and even magazines. Instead of going to the movie store to rent your next DVD, simply check it out at your library. It’s as easy as that.

It’s easy to save some money this year, as long as set a goal for yourself, remain focused, and try to follow some of these simple tips. You have to admit, it doesn’t sound as hard as you thought it might be! So give a few of these a try and watch your bank account flourish!

Megan is a freelance writer who has experience in dealing with debt and working out new budgets for debt-laiden spenders. She does most of her own budgeting online or on her mobile device, and protects her information with NetQin on Google Finance for added security, and recommends you do the same.