No one likes to talk about money with their friends. Like discussing politics with your grandparents or weight with your rotund neighbor, it's just too touchy. So let me break it down to you. If you're doing any of the following, and are living paycheck to paycheck, just stop now.

1. Eating out. Since we're too far gone from our living-off-the-farm roots, it's unrealistic to think you can go week after week without some takeout here or there, but the number one thing you can do to save money (and save your waistline) is to stop eating out. Take your lunch to work every day. If you're short on time, grab frozen meals or make a pot of something Sunday night and eat the leftovers for a few days. At night you can make something elaborate if you have time but if you're bone tired and starving, even having some frozen pizzas on hand is a great way to get a meal in without breaking the bank. A frozen pizza and some frozen green beans or broccoli is going to set you back around $5-7 and take less time than ordering pizza. Ordering pizza is also going to cost you at least $20-$30. Eat at home (or potluck with friends) for one month and you'll be floored with how much money you'll save. 

 2.  Buying coffee and drinks. Like the numero uno sin of money management, buying drinks outside the home is a quick ticket to asking yourself where all your cash went. Those $3 coffee drinks and $5 beers add up insanely fast. For added savings, buy your beer, wine, and coffee (they even have fair trade organic) at Costco or look for sales at your local grocery store.

3. Having more than one car (or a nice car). There are some people who really, truly need two cars. But there really aren't that many of them. If you live in a major city with public transportation it's time to sit down and do the math.  What do you spend each year on your extra car (or that nice, new car?) Are there other options to you? Even if you decide you absolutely have to have both cars, start looking for ways to drive them less. If you live within a mile of stores, start walking to them. Start incorporating walking into your day and you'll be surprised how much less stressed you feel doing activities you used to hate--like grocery shopping or buying birthday presents. Shop local and on foot. So what if your local store costs 50 cents more for a loaf of bread than the store you have to drive to? What would you spend in gas? 

4. Having a gym membership. It's expensive. You don't need it. And statistically, you don't use it. If you start walking everywhere you'll be shocked how easy it is to stay in shape with minimal effort. Walk the stairs at work during your lunch break. Take a family stroll after dinner. You'll drop pounds and save hundreds each year.

5. Having cable, a data plan for your phone, a fancy phone, and other fancy gadgets. Unless you're getting a screaming deal on cable where it's the same price as just a phoneline, cancel it now. You probably watch too much tv anyway. Join Netflix or better yet, borrow movies from the library. Likewise, you probably don't need a data plan for your phone or a fancypants phone. Yes, they're fun but if you're struggling to pay your rent, you need to rethink this. Why do you need to check your email every 15 seconds? Stick to a regular cell phone with a regular plan. 

6. Having more house or apartment than you need. If you can't afford a house, don't buy one. Just because you feel like you should own a home doesn't mean you should. And if you can afford a house, don't buy the absolutely most expensive house you can qualify for. Why do you need a giant house? It's just more space to clean and more rooms to buy furniture for. You don't need a craft room and an exercise room and a guest room and a room for your cats. Spaces can be used for multiple activities.  Having less expensive housing frees you up to take different jobs, travel more, and have more flexibility. Buy or rent the least space you can get away with. You'll be happier and less stressed about money.

7. Buying nice clothes and having to have the right labels. If you're buying your clothes at stores nicer than Old Navy, Target, H&M, and thrift stores, you're paying too much. If you have all the money in the world, wear whatever you want, but for most of us, that $300 dress is going to mean going without other things you actually need. Believe it or not, you can find attractive, presentable, work appropriate clothing at stores like Target and second hand shops. You can even score labels you lust after at consignment stores. Throw clothes swaps with your friends and go home with a free new wardrobe.

If you're flush with cash, good for you. Buy yourself diamond-encrusted lobster for dinner or whatever else you have to have (just don't tell us about it, please). But if you're having a hard time making ends meet, take a good, hard look at how you're spending your money and see what you can cut out. You will probably be shocked at how little you miss so many of these things you now view as necessities.