These days, many of us are finding ourselves having to stretch the ends until they meet.

Here are some tips for stretching every dollar.

1. Save a penny, keep a penny.

Dump your pocket change into a jar each night. Invest it in a high-interest bearing account at the end of each month. Woman's Day magazine recently suggested this money-saver, adding that if a couple puts just one dollar each into the jar every day, the sum will top $700 at the end of the year. Invested at 10 percent interest over 10 years, that pocket change will grow into $12,000.

2. Use your computer.

You can save big money by shopping online, if you know where to look. Do a Google search for coupon codes before you start shopping from online merchants. You can also purchase a local coupon book for offline purchases (The Entertainment Book, for example.) I use mine all the time for groceries, oil changes, and dining out.

3. Write letters.

Whether you love the product or hate it, write the manufacturer a letter. A company that receives a complaint is bound to make amends. On the same token, many companies will acknowledge--and encourage--your satisfaction with coupons and discounts.

4. Shop smart.

Look at the grocery store ads before heading off to the store. Maybe you can reserve a few items for purchase at a nearby store that is offering unusual bargains.

5. Ban impulse buying.

Make it a family policy: if you see something you like, write it on a wish list and wait at least three days before buying.

6. Watch out for "nickel and dime" expenses.

Those little snacks and coffee stops can easily add up to more than $500 per year.

7. Shop around.

Research purchases on the internet. Before making a big online purchase, visit http://www.dealtime.com and http://www.mysimon.com.

8. Refinance your home.

Signing a few papers can save you big money on your mortgage payment. It's really not as big a hassle as you might think. Ask your friends and family for the name of a good mortgage broker.

9. Examine credit card use.

If you're paying credit card debt, you're paying not just 17 percent more for your purchases than you need to, you're also missing out on the money that the sum could earn for you if you had invested it. Comparison shop cards online with http://creditcardmenu.com. Or simply call your credit card company and ask if theres a way to lower your rate. One two-minute phone call recently reduced our rate by 4 percentage points. That was one call I wish I'd made a long time ago.

The most important thing is to recognize that you control your finances. Empower yourself with smart spending.