Tightwad could be saving over $650 per year if she was “allowed” to cut cable. But, she’s not, so she has to consider other options. That doesn’t stop you from considering the big unplug though! Emancipate yourself... read, visit friends, take up a hobby, start running, bake bread - do anything but watch TV - which, have you noticed? - has absolutely zero impact on our long term happiness.

The last frugal New Year's resolution from Tightwad: save your money! You may need it for a rainy day, your retirement, a special trip for you and your honey, or that pair of shoes you've been oggling - but saving your money and taking control of your finances is a surefire way to take care of yourself, your family and your future. Tightwad hopes that all of the little ways to live frugally and save everyday translate into fiscal security for you and your family, even in a small way. Welcome 2011!

We've all got them. Bad habits are sucking our bank accounts dry - whether it be a weakness for shoe shopping, $5 lattes, overeating, lovely bottles of pinot noir or little side trips to Vegas, all of us have a dirty little habit that is keeping us from realizing our financial goals.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle

Using willpower to force yourself to do something will only last for so long. Motivation, willpower, and self-discipline are tools to help you take the desired action, but they require constant effort. Try to develop habits that make your actions automatic. The goal is to do something long enough until it becomes a habit. Once it becomes a habit, it won't require as much effort.

Habits are relatively simple to develop. Did you have to work hard at developing the habit of overeating or reading too many blogs? (sidenote: ha ha) Of course not. You just did it long enough, through repitition, until it became a habit. But why do you keep doing it?
Upon examination, undesirable habits all have something in common: they all give you some type of feeling that is rewarding, such as relaxation, stress reduction or even excitement.
We are not addicted to the actual activity, but the feeling that the activity gives us and the "reward" that it provides, and that's why we continue to do it. We don’t do things habitually that makes us feel bad, at least not at the moment that we’re engaged in doing it.

One of the cheapest forms of exercise, skipping rope is totally underrated in terms of health benefits. Dust off your rope and you'll remember what a great workout it provides.

Eat less meat. Come on, it's easy! Try for three meatless meals a week. The options are endless: delicious salads augmented with yummy beans, cheese, tofu, nuts and seeds - these will leave you feeling full and satisfied. Eating less meat is good for the environment, your health and your purse. This is a hard resolution if you live with a meat and potatoes type person - perhaps make something fabulously vegetarian and a) be sneaky and don't tell them there is no meat in it b) try not to push an agenda, and maybe you'll have a convert on your hands!

More frugal resos from Tightwad. Ditch the daily latte! Tightwad knows - you are thinking "but they are so good! " It's not about total denial - just make them a once a week thing, and see how that goes. You will save upwards of $15-20 A WEEK (based on one per day consumption of course). Perhaps you could turn your attention to shoe shopping as a just reward for this austerity?

More suggestions for Tightwad resolutions. Everyone knows this one: eat more fruits and veggies. The key to doing this is being prepared - having the stuff in your house and sliced and diced for when you have the munchies. This will save you money, save your waistline and keep you healthy. Bring on the celery sticks!