Digested from Kiplinger
Without being an "extreme couponer", you can keep costs under control without coupons. Just follow these ten tips.

1) Choose the Right Store - shop at stores that have the lowest prices on the things you buy.

2) Stock Up When Items You Regularly Buy Go On Sale - If the item has a long shelf life (or if you have room to freeze it), buy several and score big savings.

3) Find Alternatives to Expensive Items - consider lower-cost alternatives for those items to rack up real savings on future shopping trips.

4) Skip Prepared and Convenience Foods - Don’t pay extra for the grocery store to do your kitchen chores for you.

5) Check Unit Prices - This price typically shows how much you're paying per ounce and can point you to the better deal.

6) Look Up … or Down - Name-brand items, which tend to be more expensive, usually are placed at eye level.

7) Take Advantage of Holiday Sales - Some items are at their lowest prices of the year around certain holidays.

8) Haggle - Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount on food items that are near their “sell by” date.

7) Buy Certain Items in Bulk - You can pay a lot less for laundry detergent, batteries, rice and pasta in bulk if you have room to store it.

10) Don't Buy Personal-Care Products at the Grocery - you're better off buying shampoo, toothpaste, cotton balls and other personal-care products at a dollar store.

The 2014 National Study of Employers reports 67% of Americans spend time each week telecommuting. A February 2014 survey by PGi, a leading global provider of collaboration software and services, confirmed that telecommuting provides important emotional benefits for employees; it also delivers meaningful operational improvements for businesses. In fact, the State of Telecommuting 2014 found that employees who telecommute reported improvements in their stress levels (82 percent), morale (80 percent), productivity (70 percent) and absenteeism (69 percent). Telecommuting is more productive than working in an office.

Anne McGurty is the president and founder of the Arizona-based consulting and coaching firm Strategize and Organize. She suggests five tips that can help you get ahead and stay ahead.

1) Get a room. Having a designated workspace in your home is essential. Anne states, “You need an organized space in your apartment or home that allows you to keep your work space and your home separate.”.

2) Keep it professional. Another important tip for staying productive? Treat your home office like a business. “Ban barking dogs and playing children from your work space, and keep your desk and work area organized.

3) Get ready, get set, go. “Working from home takes self-discipline, and that means getting things done in the right time. The structure of a routine will help you avoid procrastination and boost your productivity,” says McGurty.

4) Get tactical. If you’re a morning person, use that time to tackle your most important goals, and leave emails and other tasks for later in the day. If you have more energy in the afternoon, flip the order. Get a change of scenery---leaving your apartment for an hour or two can do wonders for your focus.

5) Don’t forget “me” time. It can be difficult to disengage when working from home, but don’t let that stop you from maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Set clear boundaries around family and work time is key.

The flexibility and quality of life working from home provides is far greater than the challenge of managing any occasional lapse in focus or motivation you may encounter along the way.

*  Set a gift-giving budget and stick to it.
*  List people you plan to buy gifts for and then allocate money for each person.
*  Before heading out the door take your list with you. Lists make it less likely to impulse buy.
*  Broaden your definition of giving. Volunteerism, handmade gifts, sharing time and/or talents.
*  Consider giving loved ones gifts of experiences, not things.
*  Once you’re in the habit of buying expensive gifts, it can be difficult to change course. 
   This can lead to unintended consequences including a sense of entitlement and lack of gratitude.
*  Track spending. Stick to your budget.

Downsize your holiday spending, not your holiday joy. By spending less time stressing over gifts, you’ll free yourself to enjoy the family, friends and traditions that make this time of year so special—and you’ll do your budget a favor in the process.