Many of us feel overwhelmed by debt and don’t know how to start climbing out of it. For others it's a misconception that the more money you earn the easier it is to save. My husband and I paid off $20,000 of credit card debt and medical bills in 5 years on an average income of $22,000 a year. Here is how you can save over $8,000 in just one year cutting a few things from your grocery bill. They are painless, simple and add up over time. If you don't think that cutting out one bag of potato chips or one soda will make a difference, look at the numbers at the end of a year. If you’re trying to save so you can stay home with your kids, put a down payment on a house, pay off some credit card debt or just have some emergency money, here are 10 ways to do it without depriving yourself . The total annual savings (in parentheses) will amaze you!

When it comes to saving money in your household budget, the little things really add up. Look how much you would save in a year if you cut out just ONE thing.

ITEM	PRICE	HOW OFTEN	COST PER YEAR
1 bag potato chips	$2.00/bag	1 week	$104.00
1-6 pack soda	$2.00	1/week	$104.00
1 liter soda purchased at convenience store	$1.00	1/day	$365.00
Reduce meat 1.5 lbs.	$2.50/lb.	2 nights/week	$390.00/year
1 gourmet coffee	$4.00	1/day	$1460.00
Eating out for a family of 4: Dinner	$40.00	1/week	$2080.00
Lunch	$7.00/person	20 days/month	$1680.00
Pizza delivered plus tip	$20.00	1/ week	$1040.00
1 cup juice/person (daily) family of 4	$10.00/week	1/week	$520.00
Fruit leather (Fruit Roll ups)	$2.50	1/week	$130.00
1 box granola cereal	$4.00	1/week	$208.00
Total if you cut all these out			$8081.00