8:00 a.m. MORNING FACEBOOK FIX
What we spend on internet use: $510.12 a year
Bach suggested we start our search for hidden cash by taking a good, hard look at our fixed monthly expenses, such as internet service. It’s simple: Evaluate your bill and your current needs, then cut back, renegotiate or give it up. “Almost all monthly bills can be renegotiated,” says Bach. “The best way to do it is to call up and ask to cancel.” Since our at-home internet use is pretty minimal, we were A-okay with scaling back to a slightly slower service package.
What we’ll save: $155.04 a year

8:30 a.m. CASH GRABS AT THE CORNER STORE
What we spend on ATM withdrawals: $470 a year
Financial foe numero uno: the ATM service fee. Ed and I were handing over almost $40 a month in bank machine fees, thanks to our mindless acceptance of the $1.50 to $4 charge on each withdrawal. Solution: Walk that extra block to our banking institution’s machine when we need cash. Take the time to review your monthly bank statements—count how many Interac transactions you’re making a month and compare that to the amount your bank plan allows. Then choose an account plan that suits your banking style.
What we’ll save: $470 a year

8:45 a.m. COMMUTE TO THE OFFICE
What we spend on transportation: $2,100 a year
With summer finally here, biking has become our commuting method of choice. It’s a great way to start the day, it’s good exercise and it’s free! Although Ed is pickier than I about which days he rides (suit + 33 humidex + 20-minute bike ride = not really his cup of tea), he’s still game for biking to work when the weather is on his side. Office too far to bike? Carpool every day with your spouse and/or co-workers, preferably in your gas-efficient hybrid!
What we’ll save: $1,312.50 a year

9:10 a.m. BREAKFAST AT TIMMY’S
What Ed spends on brekkie: $259.50 a year
Ed’s propensity for oversleeping often leaves him scrambling to get out the door on time, which inevitably leads to a pit stop at Tim Hortons. Although his snooze button addiction has proved a tough one to break, by keeping a stash of bagels and cream cheese at the office, he’s at least saving a few bucks a week.
What we’ll save: $127.97 a year

10:15 a.m. STARBUCKS
What we spend on special drinks: $862.50 a year
My daily Berryblossom White tea and Ed’s Komodo Dragon Blend were indulgences we weren’t ready to do without, but we were happy to ditch the long lineups and start brewing our faves at home for a fraction of the cost.
What we’ll save: $753.15 a year

1:00 p.m. FOOD COURT GRAZING
What we spend on lunches: $3,000 a year
Brown bagging it saves money, and leftovers have been our saving grace (though we still treat ourselves once a week). If you must eat out daily, scout out the lunchtime bargains in your office’s ’hood. Mom-and-pop shops are usually rife with deals, but don’t rule out the big guns either: A small chili and baked potato with sour cream and chives at Wendy’s is great in a pinch, ringing in at a mere $2.95 after tax.
What we’ll save: $2,400 a year

3:00 p.m. IS-IT-FRIDAY-YET SMOKE BREAK
What I spend on cigs: $1,560 a year
(Not to be confused with the helps-me-digest-my-lunch smoke break or the I-only-smoke-when-I-drink-coffee smoke break.) I can’t argue here: Smoking is probably slowly killing me and is definitely costing me a crapload. Time to butt out the butts.
What we’ll save: My life...and $1,560 a year to boot.

5:29 p.m. CONSIDER GOING TO GYM
What I spend at health club: $486 a year
Time to face facts: Despite best intentions and shelling out 40 bucks a month on fees, my gym membership really ain’t gettin’ all that much use. So I might as well stick to biking, jogging and a $23 Pilates DVD.
What we’ll save: $463 a year

5:30 p.m. TEXT MESSAGE TO ED: “NICE DAY OUT. DRINKS. PATIO :)”
What we spend at happy hour: $1,250 a year
Ed and I always manage to find an excuse to treat ourselves to a post-work drink or two (or, let’s be honest, three) at least once a week. We rationalize that it’s our time to sit back, relax and check in with each other before dinner, dishes and must-see TV get in the way back at the apartment. But considering our reliably beer-stocked fridge and the liquor cabinet teeming with leftover wedding booze, there is really no reason why we can’t enjoy happy hour at home instead.
What we’ll save: $1,250 a year

6:00 p.m. TEXT MESSAGE FROM ED: “C U AT BAR SOON :)”
What we spend on messaging: $240 a year
We thought our couples’ cellphone plan, which allowed for free calls between our two phones, was great, but then we found out there were more savings to be had. “Don’t just look at the monthly fee, but also the taxes and surcharges—what you’re really paying per month,” says Bach. Our texting was costing us each $10 a month in extra charges—more than twice the price of simply adding texting to our plan.
What we’ll save: $144 a year

8:00 p.m. TELEMARKETER RUINS DINNER (AGAIN)
What we spend on our land line: $576 a year
Since Ed and I had gotten cellphones, the only action our land line has seen is from obnoxious telemarketers. Once we realized that with the YakCallback feature, we can access Yak’s amazing long-distance rates (3.5 cents a minute in North America) on our cellphones, disconnecting our land line was a no-brainer. Cha-ching!
What we’ll save: $576 a year

11:00 p.m. LAW & ORDER NIGHTCAP
What we spend on premium cable service: $806.76 a year
Our fancy-pants TV service was an indulgence we thought would be hard to part with, but once we considered its value against our financial priorities (home of our own vs. The Movie Network), giving it the heave-ho was a cinch...sort of: To avoid cable withdrawal symptoms, Bach prescribed an easy-to-swallow downgrade to a semi-premium package before moving to basic.
What we’ll save: $328.32 a year

TOTAL AMOUNT WE’LL SAVE: $9,539.98 A YEAR!!
Sure, you may not be able to make all the same changes that we can, but the amazing thing about what Ed and I discovered is that even the smallest savings, say, $10 a day, can still have a serious impact in the long run. As Bach points out: Assuming a 10 percent annual return, in 40 years, that ten-bucks-a-day investment will become $1,897,224. In other words, you’d be a millionaire! So whether it’s a house you’re pining for, a romantic getaway for two or just some extra cash, it pays to take a good, hard look at your day-to-day spending habits.