Savings boot camp to whip your finances in shape

Are your finances out of shape? Don't fret. We've enrolled you into savings boot camp and have assembled a few cost-saving tips to battle that post-recession bulge. No weights or cardio work necessary. We promise.

Time to whip out the military fatigues and coupons.

Day 1
Are you late on a credit card payment? No worries. Call up your credit card company and see what they can do. They will work with you, because even if it's a smaller payment, it's better than not paying at all. You will feel better about your financial health at night. Sweet dreams!

Day 2
Have a little extra money in your checking account this morning? Hide it before you spend it! Sign on to your online banking or make a few calls before work. Send that extra cash over to your 401(k), your 403(b), or your 457. This can be sent automatically from each paycheck. The benefit? You get to it before the IRS. And your employer may even match your contributions.

Day 3
Today is the day you should consider cutting up your ATM card. I know it's hard but once you're used to it you will feel so much better financially. Here's what we want you to do instead. Make a list of how much you spend each week. Go to your bank and withdraw that amount in cash. That's it! Spend that amount over the week and no more. Stop withdrawing money from the ATM for instant gratification items. Those ATM withdrawals add up. If the items purchased were that important, you probably wouldn't be reading this right now.

Day 4
Today you need to hit the market for some fresh groceries. Take 20 minutes to search online for coupons before you shop. You will be surprised with how many coupons you will find. Check out coupon clipping tips here. The secret to coupon clipping? When you get the coupon, don't use it right away. Wait until there is another special going on at the market. This way, you will get two savings in one. "Most people think that when they first get coupons that they rush out and use them right away. But one of the best tips that you can do is to wait and hold onto that coupon. Because inevitably there's going to be a sale that you can match with the coupon for extra savings," says Anna Bannister of BeCentsAble .

Day 5
Today a bit of money will fall into your lap... and once in a while, a bit of money will fall into your lap. When it does, save it away. Maybe it's from your grandmother, or from yard sale proceeds. Maybe it's from a mortgage refinance. Whatever the source of this money may be, do your best to put the money away.

Every day
Stop buying coffee. Enough is enough! The $6 a day habit turns into a $30 a week habit, and that results in a $120 a month habit. A better choice? Buy a french press for $40 and a pound of quality java for $10. $50 will let you drink coffee in style. Bring it to your office's kitchen. Savings? $70.

Once a week
It's time to splurge, and make it count! Buy that novel you've been dying to read, download your fave iTunes record, score tickets to the football game or check out that exotic Copoeira class that meets once a week.