We’re all looking for ways to cut spending, increase our savings and generally adjust to life in a time when credit is tight and jobs are scarce.

Here’s a look at some of the changes major corporations are making and what we little guys can learn from them.

1. Bring Home the (Irregular) Bacon: According to CNNMoney.com, Marriott hotels found they could save two million dollars a year by switching their bacon from regular, rectangular strips to irregular slice – without sacrificing taste.Make it work for you: Now is the time to experiment with less expensive alternatives to your usual purchases – cuts of meat, brands of soap, Netflix packages. Don’t let a habit - also known as a rut! - keep you from looking for cheaper alternatives.
2. Reevaluate the Extras: When airlines began charging extra to check bags, board first, have snacks, etc., many Americans were less than amused. But we also learned to pack lighter and bring our own food along.Make it work for you: Most of us pay for stuff we don’t really need or use. Take the time to reevaluate your spending to find and cut unnecessary items. Whether you opt for a cheaper cell phone plan, fewer cable channels, slower Internet or a different thermostat temperature, you could end up saving noticeable money.
3. Share Whatever You Can: As this article describes, two Chicago-area wedding planners discovered they could save serious money by moving their complementary businesses into one storefront. Make it work for you: Sharing can mean a lot of things – trading nights of babysitting with friends, pooling funds with neighbors for a big purchase like yard equipment, renting a room of your house to a boarder, etc. Even carpooling or joining a vehicle-sharing company like ZipCar can save you money by spreading the costs over a large group of people.
4. Don’t Rule Out Filing Bankruptcy: As GM and Chrysler have shown us, even major U.S. corporations sometimes need the protection of the bankruptcy court.Make it work for you: If your finances are beyond rescuing on your own, consider filing bankruptcy. This type of protection is a last resort, but it exists for a reason – to give struggling consumers and businesses a chance to start over financially. Check out these articles on celebrities and bankruptcy.

Tags: bankruptcy, recession, saving money