Saving a little bit here and there can add up

Jonathan Pond, host of PBS program “Best Money Tips” and author of “1,001 Ways to Cut Your Expenses,” offers these suggestions on where to find the money so you can start saving. He’s also a partner in the American Savings Education Council in Washington, D.C., which sponsors the Choose to Save campaign at www.choosetosave.org.

“People don’t realize how much money they fritter away on day-to-day expenses,” Pond said. He figures the average person can find $75 a week in unnecessary expenses to put toward savings.

Some places to start:

* Instead of stopping off for “designer” coffee and a doughnut, make your own breakfast.

* Bring your lunch to work.

* Take mass transit to work or figure out a way to car pool.

* Find great, inexpensive restaurants in your community so rather than eating out less, you can eat out more cheaply.

* Reduce dry cleaning bills by wearing permanent press or non-wrinkle clothing.

* Ask “Is this necessary?” before buying anything.