It used to be that being referred to as a cheapskate was far from a compliment. But today, it’s considered cool if know how to save money and are good at it. This social change is likely due to the economic crisis most of us have been affected by in recent years.

More social groups than ever before have popped up specifically for those focused on saving money. There are social groups who’s main focus is on saving money by using coupons and others who grow their own produce and share them with each other.  Even cell phone Apps have been developed to give people information about gas stations in their area with the lowest price per gallon on a given day.

Today, its cool to be thrifty. You can basically live the kind of life you want if you play it smart with your money. Here are some suggestions for how to do just that.

Many of us tend to throw out bananas once they develop those dark spots on them. Think twice before you do this the next time since this only means the bananas are very ripe. The overly ripe bananas can be used when making banana bread. To do this, simply mash the very ripe bananas as soon as you notice the spotting. Then, add a teaspoonful of fresh lemon juice for every mashed banana. Place the banana mixture into an airtight baggie or container to keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can then use the frozen banana mixture in milkshakes, muffins, cakes and breads.

Instead of wasting a whole lemon or orange when needing just a couple drops of fresh juice, poke a hole in the fruit to get the amount you need. Then, place a toothpick in the hole and put in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Buy two or three cartons of milk when you see its on sale. Milk can be frozen in the freezer and will keep safely for up to 3 months. Then, when you need a carton of milk, simply allow two days for it to thaw.

Don’t throw out your stale bread, instead make croutons to add to salads. To do this, slice bread into even sized cubes. Then, saute the cubes in a couple teaspoons of olive oil on medium heat. The croutons will stay in the refrigerator for up to a week if they are put in a plastic baggy with a zip-lock top. You can also make French toast with stale slices of bread. Simply soak a piece of bread in a mixture of milk and egg with a dash of nutmeg. Then, toast the slices of bread in a skillet with a tablespoon of butter.

Pour some vegetable or olive oil into a spray bottle and use this in place of a can of cooking spray.

Make sure you look at the grocery store shelves that are below and above eye level since this is where the cheaper products are usually stocked at.

Buy your produce from local farmers markets since the prices are much more affordable than they are in the grocery stores.

Keep your eye on the scanner and the cash register numbers at the grocery check-out line since more times than not products are priced incorrectly.

Check your grocery receipt before leaving the store to make sure you don’t spot any pricing errors.

Did you know that pantyhose will last longer if you put them in the freezer before wearing them for the first time? Well, it’s true. To do this, first wet the pair of pantyhose and squeeze out as much of the excess water as possible. Then, put them in a zip-lock baggie and place in the freezer. A day or so before you want to wear the pantyhose, let them thaw and dry out.

Spray new pantyhose with a light starch before wearing them for the first time as this will prevent them from getting snags and runs.

Check with your water and electric company to find out if they charge less when using these services in the early morning hours. If so, be sure to run the dishwasher and do laundry during the specified times. Some electric companies will put a special meter on your home that will allow you to receive a cheaper rate when doing the majority of your laundry and other tasks that require a lot of electrical energy.

To decrease the amount of drying time for your laundry make sure you clean the lint trap often since a clogged screen will make the dryer run longer.

Before you return a rental vehicle fill up the gas tank yourself instead of having the rental company fill it for you since they charge a fee for every gallon.

Be sure to wash your hands often to decrease your chance of becoming sick since visiting a doctor is not cheap.

There are so many ways to save money today. Especially with all the ideas that can be found on the Internet, there is no reason why we can’t find ways to add to our savings account. Gather as many ideas that you were not aware of and then go through them to determine which ones will suit you and your life style.