Every day, we face purchase decisions for our family. At the end of the month, we'll have to face those same decisions in the form of a bank statement reminding us of how little money is left. Here are some ideas to help you spend less:

Cell smart

Buy cell phone service from a prepay vendor rather than one of the big cell phone providers who charge twice as much for the privilege of paying 30 days later.

Don't pay - practice

Buy a $5 bucket of balls at the driving range rather than $300 on a new driver. It may have the same effect on your game.

Bag the brand name

Buy the store brand rather than the national brand (after you double check the price to be sure you actually save money).

Air pop

Buy a bag of "old school" popcorn you pop on the stove or in a popcorn popper instead of microwave popcorn.

Early bird special

Go see the last matinee of the day and have dinner afterward rather than having dinner before the movie, and paying full price for the evening showing.

Rent it

Better still, rent the DVD and fix a nice dinner at home rather than seeing the movie in the theater and eating out.

Don't pay for a name

Buy a $199 Google Nexus instead of a $499 iPad.

Read free

Read ebooks rather than print books. Many ebooks are available for free! Or, check out your local library.

Take advantage of your taxes at work

Golf municipal courses rather than private courses. They cost less.

Take a jog

Run instead of riding a bike for fun and exercise - it's much cheaper.

Buy used

Buy a car that is a year or two old rather than a new one (be sure to keep it as long as you would have kept the new one to get the full benefit).

Stay away from the mall

Buy your designer clothes in consignment shops not department stores.

Shop thrifty

Buy what you need but don't want (a purple tie for your brother's wedding) at a thrift store, if possible.

Do the dollar menu

Buy the McDouble off the dollar menu rather than a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. You get almost the same taste, fat, calories and cholesterol for less than half the price!

Order water

Drink water in restaurants where the profit margin on soft drinks is high and drink soda at home from two-liter bottles you bought on sale at the grocery store.

Buy quality

Buy a few nice articles of clothing for work rather than piles of new cheap clothes. Your boss and colleagues won't care how you look familiar in your favorite outfit as long as you look polished.