Whether you are already working from home or just dreaming of it, you probably need to save some money. In the beginning stages of your business, it`s not easy to finance your new enterprise as well as continue to contribute to the family finances. Which means you`ll need to be frugal as well as have at least 3-6 months of backup funds in your savings account.

To help you out, here are 45 ways to save money, plus a few other resources at the end of the article.

Finances

1. Pay bills on time. You`d be surprised how much you can save by simply avoiding late fees.

2. Pay with cash. It`s easy to overspend when you have a credit or debit card and can`t actually see the money going out.

3. Write everything down. Listing every single expense, right down to the quarter spent on gum will help you become a more concious spender and you will start to cut back automatically.

4. Implement a 30 day large purchase wait period. Rather than buying a large item (sofa, table, etc.) immediately, wait 30 days. Use the time to think about whether or not you truly need the item or if you can make do with the older one just a bit longer.

5. Make a budget. Many people find that saving money is difficult, but if you set up a budget, you`ll likely find that you could easily cut back on some things and start saving. The trick is to find a budget system that works for you.

6. Reevaluate your monthly fees. Chances are you pay monthly for quite a few things, automatically. Gym memberships and the like are fine if you are actually using them, but if you are just paying that monthly fee without taking advantage of the opportunity, you should consider canceling.

7.Pay yourself first. Taking money out and putting it into your savings right when you get paid is the best method of ensuring you actually save. Set it up automatically and that money will come out of your account with each paycheck before you have time to think about spending it.

Energy

8. Use energy saving light bulbs. These really do cut your power consumption and can save a lot in energy bills.

9. Unplug anything you aren`t using. This goes for phone chargers, appliances, etc. Some items use several watts even when they are supposedly turned off which all adds up over the month.

10. Invest in Energy Star appliances. If you do need a new appliance, look for one that is Energy Star approved, since these are designed to use the minimum amount of energy necessary.

11. Use a nightlight. If your kids need light, rather than turn on the hall light, use a nightlight which will use less energy.

12. Check out your actual energy usage. You can do that with this calculator. It can be a real eye opener and will also let you know where you need to cut back.

13. Use draft stoppers. These can be as simple as tubes of cloth stuffed with beans or rice, or a rolled up towel to stop any drafts from cooling the house in winter. Under doors and windows are the most common drafts.

Food and Groceries

14. Buy bulk. Whether you stock up at a sale or invest in a membership at your local wholesale grocers, like Costco, there is a trick to not overspending. Take a list and stick to it. Otherwise, you`ll be tempted by the great “deals” that really cost you more money.

15. Grow your own herbs. A single flower pot or window box can hold several varieties of herbs that will always be fresh and ready to add to your cooking. It beats using dried ones and is cheaper than buying fresh.

16. Price compare. You don`t have to shop all over town, but do take the time to check prices on your most commonly priced items when you are in a different store. You might even find that the 7-11 down the street has cheaper milk!

17. Use coupons. It really might not seem worth it, but those $1 coupons do add up, especially if you use them in conjunction with a double coupon day or a sale. Sites like Coupon Mom even let you print your own coupons.

18. Measure everything. When using mouthwash or laundry detergent, don`t guess at the amount, measure carefully. We waste a lot of products by overestimating the amount to use and most products can last a lot longer this way.

19. Dilute juices. If your family loves fruit juice, consider diluting with water or mineral water to make the juice go further. It`s also better for your kids to drink less sweet beverages.

20. Buy big and repackage. It might be more convenient to buy a packet of chicken breasts already fileted, but the truth is you will save a LOT simply buy choosing a whole chicken and then cutting it up yourself. Seal parts in Ziploc bags with the air pressed out and freeze until needed. This works for many products.

21. Shop less. Every trip to the store for milk usually ends up in a trip to get milk, chocolate, a pair of socks, breakfast cereal . . . by shopping just once a week (or even once a month for extremists), you`ll be able to stick to your grocery budget easier.

22. Organize your cupboards. Do you frequently find that you`ve bought more beans when you had a couple of cans still, they were just hidden? By organizing your cupboards, you won`t buy extras of anything.

23. Make it from scratch. Some things are easier in a mix, but most pancake, cake and brownie mixes are just the dry ingredients. It literally takes the same amount of time and costs far less to whip it up yourself! You can find recipes for easy food and mixes here.

Fun

24. Trade movies. Got friends who enjoy movies, too? Rather than own or rent every new movie, just arrange for a friendly swap. You can even set it up to alternate buying movies, if you like.

25. Drop the cable. You can watch most shows online now and since you`re going to be using internet anyway, why not ditch the cable and watch your favorite shows on the internet? The bonus: No stupid shows coming on afterwards to distract you!

26. Free activities. Many community centers offer free activities for kids, during the summer or even after school. You might find a class or two that your kids are interested in that won`t cost anything.

27. Toy swaps. To keep kids from getting bored with their toys, it can be fun to set up a toy co-op with a bunch of other moms. Once a month, everyone gets together and switches toys.

28. Take a walk. There`s really no need to pay for entertainment. Take your kids to the park to feed ducks, go for a ride on your bikes or have a picnic in the backyard.

29. Hit garage sales. Rather than spend top dollar on board games, check out the garage sales in your area. You`ll find a wealth of games, puzzles and other fun things . . . just make sure all the important pieces are included before you buy.

30. Look for discount codes. Anything you plan to spend money on online, from games sites to web hosting, probably has a discount code. Just do a quick search on Google for the website and “discount code”.

31. Make stuff. You can find plenty of fun craft ideas on the web to keep the entire family busy.

Transportation

32. Buy a pass. If you take the subway or bus, consider investing in a monthly or even annual pass. You`ll save a lot of money if you are using the transport system on a regular basis.

33. Fill up the tank. When you find a better gas price, fill up your tank so you can last for a while until you find the next great price.

34. Eat before shopping for food. It`s a well-studied fact that hungry shoppers buy a lot more, so just plan to shop after your meal.

35. Order groceries online. Amazon is just one place that offers this service that saves time and money. Just order what is on your list and there`s no checkout line full of gum and candy to tempt you.

36. Buy tickets in advance. If you are going to be flying anywhere, be sure to start shopping 4-5 months in advance for tickets. It`s more than likely you`ll find a seat sale around the time you are thinking of going, which wouldn`t be available last minute.

School

37. Stock up on sales. It`s almost time for back to school sales to begin. This is a great time to pick up what your kids will need for the rest of the school year. Don`t think ahead just three or four months, buy for the entire year and you won`t have to think about it again until next September.

38. Spread it out. Rather than buying clothes, school supplies, and everything else all at once, right before school starts, spread it out over several months. Clothes can even be bought after the school year begins.

39. Buy and repackage. Skip the expensive and non-environmentally friendly juice boxes and buy some small pop-top bottles for your kids instead. Buy juice in large containers and pour it into the bottles for school.

40. Teach kids the power of saving. Rather than buying those super cool brand name sneakers your son wants, have him save up for them. You`ll buy less since kids will realize they don`t need every cool thing when they have to spend their own money on it.

Work

41. Eat before you leave. Even having a granola bar or a bowl of cereal before running out the door is better than stopping at the bakery for something considerably more expensive and full of calories.

42. Pack a lunch. Not only will you save money, you`ll be eating more healthy food than if you stop at the nearest fast food place.

43. Skip a coffee. Just one coffee and you could end up with an extra $100 at the end of the month. Don`t drink coffee? Drop a soda or other treat out of your day and save the money.

44. Bring your own water. Use a refillable water bottle and bring your own water to work with you.

45. Do a job on the side. There are plenty of small things like hemming pants, babysitting, housesitting, etc. that can be done on weekends or evenings to help you add a little to the bank account.

For more information on saving money, I recommend the following links:

The Grocery Game

The Cheapskate Guide: 50 Tips for Frugal Living

Save Money Blog

50 Ways to Save Money

28 Unique Bits of Financial Brilliance

The Golden Money List: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

8 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Summer Vacation

What are your tips for saving money? How did you make your dream of being a work at home mom come true financially? Share in the comments, please!