10 Ways to Save Money in 2010

Making a commitment to save money in 2010 is the rare New Year’s resolution that is easy to keep.

After a turbulent economic year, it’s a popular one, too. A December survey from financial service firm Edward Jones found saving more money next year is the top resolution for that a third of consumers.

Try these 10 strategies for significant savings:

1) Pick a friendlier credit card
“Being on the wrong card can cost people thousands more a year in interest rates and fees,” says Schwark Satyavolu, a co-founder of comparison tool BillShrink.com. “Even if you pay off the balance in full each month, you could be leaving hundreds of dollars on the table in rewards.” Terms and conditions are changing rapidly as banks add fees and jack up interest rates in preparation for the new federal regulations that go into effect on Feb. 22. After that date, compare your options using a site like BillShrink.com or CardRatings.com to make sure you have the best card for your financial situation and spending habits.

2) Track your cash
Shoppers can’t account for an average $21 spent each week, according to a September survey by Visa (V). Tallied up, that’s $1,092 per year in mystery purchases. Sign up for a free financial management site like Mint.com or Wesabe.com, which sync with your bank accounts to automatically sort and track purchases. You can also set budgets for individual categories, and receive email or text alerts when your spending nears that pre-set limit. There are plenty of sites out there, so use our guide to find the right one for you.

3) Join loyalty clubs
Retailers offer benefits in loyalty programs, knowing that most customers are apt to forget their cards or otherwise miss out on perks, says Larry Chiagouris, a marketing professor at Pace University in New York City. Don’t make that mistake: Keep cards in your wallet or on a key-ring, or add the account numbers to your smartphone. Loyalty programs can cover varied purchases, including books, movie theater excursions, restaurant meals and even flu shots.

4) Hunt for coupon codes
The marketing strategy of offering coupon codes to cement customer loyalty is increasingly popular with retailers. Take advantage. Step 1: Type a retailer’s name and “code” into Google. Step 2: Use the results to save significantly on your in-store and online purchases. (Headphone maker Skullcandy, for example, recently offered code FROSTY50 for shoppers to save 50% on its products at checkout.) Bookmark our list of all-around favorite coupon sites here. We also have lists for parents, and for saving on groceries, clothing and electronics.

5) Shop the grocery sales circular
Though many products on circulars only come up on sale once every 10 to 12 weeks, by shopping smart, you can still cut your bill by more than 50% with a combination of coupons, weekly grocery store sales and store rebates. “They’ll practically pay you to take that bag of potato chips out of the store,” says Cindy Chapman, a spokeswoman for social networking site MomsLikeMe.com. (For more grocery savings tips, click here.)