WOMEN LIFE

Sneaky Money Suckers
Covert cash leaks are draining your bottom line this very minute. Stop them and you could save more than three grand this year—painlessly!

We've all heard it a thousand times: If you're trying to tighten your financial belt, cut back on Starbucks runs. But what if you just loooove Starbucks? What if it's a caffeinated oasis in your crazy, full-throttle life? Instead of dropping something that's meaningful to you, how about ferreting out the real money suckers—those small purchases that contribute little to your quality of life but subtract a whole lotta cash from your bank account?

Do some smart trimming and you can save yourself thousands of bucks a year without missing a thing.

Dry Cleaning

Cut $25 a month x 12 months = $300The cost of wearing nice clothes doesn't end at the cash register. It's the upkeep of those gorgeous things that takes you to the cleaners—literally and figuratively. So here's how to look freshly pressed without spending a ton of dough.

Shop around.

The cost of dry-cleaning a blouse, for example, can range anywhere from $1.50 to $7, depending on where you go—so comparison shop to make sure you're getting the best deal possible. While you're at it, ask each cleaner for a full price list to make sure you're being treated fairly. For instance, some places charge more to clean women's shirts than they do to clean men's shirts. "A reputable cleaner should have a gender-neutral pricing policy," says Lara Hollenczer, a spokesperson with the Laundry and Drycleaning Institute. If they don't, demand the lower price, and take your shirts elsewhere if they don't concede.