This week can be different. You can decide to save without sacrificing much. These are little, everyday decisions that we may not think twice about, but add up to a lot over the course of a year. The following are 10 ways you can save more money:

1. Go to the public library.

That new book costs $20 on Amazon. Your local library probably will have it available in a couple weeks for free. It’s the worth the wait. There’s plenty more worthwhile reading material besides that new, got-to-have-it bestseller.

2. Brew coffee at home.

Buying coffee on the go or as a regular part of your day adds up. If I bought a tall, black coffee at Starbucks everyday for a year, I’d see $692 less in my bank account. More importantly, that money saved could be gaining interest or used to pay off debt. Brew your own coffee and save a huge chunk of change.

3. Pack a lunch for work.

Lunch doesn’t have to be expensive. By packing a lunch, you’ll be saving a boatload of cash at the end of the year.

4. Drink water when you go out to eat.

Soda, alcohol, and juices all cost an arm and a leg at restaurants. Drinking water will usually save you about $2 a meal. That little savings can add up quick.

5. Look on Craigslist for free or low-priced furniture.

Craigslist is a wonderfully simple way to get furniture, devices, and appliances at dirt-cheap costs or for free. It’s worth a look before you buy new.

6. Walk, bus to work.

Cars are a money-sucking parasite. I should know. Take the bus – better yet, walk – to school or work. This could save you thousands of dollars a year.

7. Shop for groceries once a week.

Supermarkets are prime places to spend discretionary funds on things you don’t absolutely need. Reduce the amount of times you visit, and you’ll see a nice savings in gas used and extra items.

8. Use a rewards credit card for non-discretionary purchases (i.e., supermarket and gas station).

If you’re going to be making the purchase either way, make sure you’re making the most cash back possible. The best deals are usually with cash back and/or rewards credit cards.

9. Create a list of things you “want” and decide after 30 days if they’re still worth the cost.

In the moment, it can be hard to figure out what are must-haves. Given some time and reflection, you may realize that brand new gadget or appliance isn’t really work X amount of dollars. Make a list of wants and see if you still feel that need after a month.

10. Cancel magazine, TV, and digital subscriptions.

This is easy. Just call up every discretionary company you pay money to a monthly basis and say, “I’m done.” If you’re a hefty magazine and TV subscriber, this will net you at least a couple hundred this month.

What If I Know Your Social Security Number

To anyone that’s suffered the indiscriminate, determined destruction of having your identity stolen, you probably understand the pain and violated feeling that can result. A simple 9-digit span – your social security number (SSN) – is often the sole protection from those who look to do harm.

With those powerful digits, I could empty your bank accounts, hijack your online shopping accounts, buy private currencies (i.e., Bitcoin) to launder funds, and completely steal your identity. Potentially, I could use a deceased individual’s SSN to “recover” a passport and driver’s license. Needless to say, life gets pretty bumpy after your identity is stolen.

Privacy, Security Is Underrated

I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with people that don’t worry that Google knows everything about you. Maybe Google will only use your information to profit off of targeted advertising and better their internal algorithms, but when any organization knows too much, it can be a liability. Moreover, Google likely isn’t the only company you entrust. How about Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Amazon, etc.?

People seem to undermine and discount the need for some level of privacy in the digital world. I’m not sure psychologically why the digital world is different – maybe the physical distance from the corporate bodies enables a desensitization to divulge information. Regardless, the fact that we implicitly trust digital entities is the reason why identity thieves have an easy job. We have put so much information onto the Internet that we are prime targets. If I can link enough public information together, I can likely get every bank account password you have – or just create new ones.

When you browse the web, you leave traces everywhere. This website uses some tracking technology to better understand popular articles and track the success of certain campaigns. Everything can be read here. But even with Frugaling.org’s strict privacy policy, I know a lot about you by default. You can prevent a lot of tracking and protect yourself, but do you? Why do you implicitly trust me and everyone else on the Internet to respect your data?

It’s Simple: TNO

There’s a concise motto that prevents identity thieves from getting your information: TNO. The acronym stands for Trust No One. It’s extreme, but for the digital world, it might just help you from losing all your money in the near future.

Identity hacking and theft is on the rise. By approaching the online world from a TNO perspective, you don’t assume that Google search histories are safe. You likely need to minimize your digital footprint (i.e., deactivate that Facebook). And you may want to consider privatizing your profiles on other social sharing networks. Don’t indiscriminately fill out forms with you full address, personal information, and/or account information. It’s easier than you think to steal it all.

TNO is a harsh philosophy. In my opinion, there’s one caveat to it all: Trust no one until they give reason to trust them (online). Otherwise, your bank accounts could be prime for a serious, abrupt slim down.

The Matrix tests philosophical assumptions and the idea of external actors on our life. The film paints a dystopian society full of technological advances and constraints. This world needs the nutritional value in food, but doesn’t have the production capability. A gray, porridge-like substance is developed to handle these concerns; meeting the daily value needs. The implications for our society can be disturbing and inspiring. What would it be like to have a single food, meal replacement?

In a world of extremes – one side dying of starvation and the other obese – the importance of nutrition and meal planning is increasing. This begs alarming questions about farming, dietary needs, education, and world poverty (to name a few). There are tremendous income gaps and inequalities in the world – many are rooted in (physically and financially) accessible food and water.

Now, a company and crowdfunding project wants to introduce a better alternative; they’re calling it, Soylent. The organization is comprised of a group of tech savvy entrepreneurs that are likely looking for a nice payday, but also to fulfill some incredible nutritional needs. They have both local and international goals for their product, too.

50% of the food produced globally is wasted, and food makes for the largest component of municipal garbage. If not for this waste there would be plenty of food to adequately nourish everyone alive. 2 million people are killed annually by smoke inhalation from indoor cooking stoves alone. 70% of americans are overweight or obese. 1 in 7 people globally are malnourished, and 1 in 3 in the developing world suffer from deficiency. Countless others are living hand-to-mouth, subsistence farming, hindering economic development. Even in the developed world, agriculture is the most dangerous industry to work in by occupational injuries and illnesses, and obesity is on the rise. (Soylent.me)

What started as a kooky pipe dream turned into a full-scale manufacturing marvel. Soylent and people behind it are already prepping mass deliveries for December 2013.

This masterpiece of nutritional hacking will cost approximately $2.83 a meal (when buying a month-long supply). Moreover, the meals will provide a wealth of diverse nutrients, aimed at giving the body everything it needs. The proposed ingredients can be found here.

With potential to become more affordable, Soylent has a terrific business opportunity. The company raised over $1 million in a brilliant round of crowdfunding. But just in case you’re wondering whether the founders believe in their product:

Rhinehart lived solely off Soylent for a month at the beginning of the year, and now he’s probably relying on it for about 80 percent of his intake. (TechCrunch)

Soylent is sure to save people money – if it’s healthy and stays affordable. If you’re on the go a lot, this drink may be your solution for staying healthy, keeping a normal weight, and saving your budget. Food costs are generally my most expensive category – beyond rent. If I could supplement this meal replacement product into my diet, my bank account would be very happy.

The great news is that you needn’t wait to try it. A site attached to Soylent offers a variety of different recipes and options for the prospective user. Just go to http://diy.soylent.me/recipes and you’ll find a wealth of user-submitted and top-rated recipes to make this Matrix-like drink.

Would you ever switch to a food substitute to save money?

Interested in reading more about Soylent?
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2013/08/20/soylent/
https://campaign.soylent.me/soylent-free-your-body
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_(food_substitute)
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/27/4776560/the-world-of-diy-soylent-production