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Put Away Your Coins - Just like Kara on Being Mary Jane, we know you hustle to make money and get ahead. That daily struggle can make the idea of actually saving anything seem laughable. But there are small changes that you can make today to put some cash aside for later. Read on for our 10 easy, money-saving tips. By Kellee Terrell (Photo: BET)

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Is Your Bank Cheating You? - Many of us don’t pay attention to our monthly banking fees, but we really, really should. On average, these fees can cost us up to $100 or more a year depending on where you bank. If this is the case, opt for a new bank with low fees and high-earning interest on your accounts. (Photo: Keith Brofsky/Getty Images)

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Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rate - Lowering your interest rate on your credit cards can be as easy as a nice demeanor and a phone call. If you have a $5,000 balance, even a 3 percent rate reduction saves you $150 a year. (Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

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Try Saving Challenges - One of my personal favorite challenges is Kassondra’s 52 Week Challenge, which has you slowly putting away money each week from $1 to $52. Watch your savings account grow before your eyes! (Photo: Kassondras52WeekMoneyChallenge via Facebook)

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Monitor Your Utilities - Leaving your lights on when you are not around or leaving your thermostat up too high is costing you a lot of money each month.  (Photo: Chicago Tribune/MCT/Landov)

Photo By Photo: Chicago Tribune/MCT/Landov

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Do You Really Need Cable? - Many of us subscribe to magazines, extra cable channels and other things that we don’t really use that much. Opt for the library, where you can check out books and movies for free. Or get Netflix or Hulu Plus, which is a fraction of the cost of cable.  (Photo: Neustockimages/Getty Images)

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Cook More - It may seem that eating out is cheaper (if you only shop at Whole Foods) but for many of us, cooking our own meals and bringing our lunch to work saves some serious money each month. Not to mention, it’s healthier.  (Photo: Troels Graugaard/Getty Images)

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Cut Down on Drinking - Drinking is an expensive vice that can burn a hole in your pocket. Opt for not drinking out when you go to dinner and saving a cocktail for when you are at home. Think: One glass of wine at $9 is two bottles of good wine at Trader Joe’s. You do the math.  (Photo: Dean Mitchell/Getty Images)

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Shop Discount and Check Sales - No, you are not too good to shop at dollar chain stores. You would be surprised how many name brand deodorant, soap and detergent items you can be saving money on. Also, check those weekly flyers to catch sales on your favorite brands. It may sound tedious, but it really makes a difference. (Photo: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

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Try Not to Impulse Buy - Saving is about making better choices about what you buy, especially when they are large purchases made out of the blue. Before you buy those amazing $100 red pumps, give yourself a week to really decide whether you need them right now, or at all.  (Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret)

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Get a Side Hustle - What are you good at? Try using that skill to put some extra money in your pocket every month. Whether it’s babysitting, mending clothes, dog walking or doing hair, try turning that into a side hustle. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Pocket the Extra Cash - It’s hard to resist, but the next time you get a bonus, raise or a tax refund, try pocketing that money instead of buying that new flat screen or vacation. This money can jump-start your saving routine.  (Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)