Think it’s impossible to trim thousands of dollars from your budget? Think again. A recent video on WalletPop.com offers a variety of cost-cutting measures designed to help you save a whopping $4,000 in 2011.

The video’s suggestions are intriguing because they present specific behaviors to change and what making that change can save you – in dollars and cents.

Here’s a look at how you might be able to put aside a serious chunk of change this year.

• Give up bottled water. It’s expensive and it’s terrible for the planet – all that plastic! Instead, invest in a reusable water bottle and a pitcher to filter your tap water. These two may cost more initially than a single bottle of water, but the savings in the long-term is substantial. The video suggests that regular bottled water drinkers could cut more than $500 from their budgets by switching over.
• Cut the cord – to your cable subscription. This one surprised me with its high savings potential: The video suggests that, by eliminating your cable TV channels, you can save more than $800 per year – even if you start subscribing to NetFlix or a similar service to make up the entertainment gap.
• Find free (or cheaper) parking. On a recent trip to Chicago, I found that parking in the hotel’s lot would run about $100 per 24-hour stay – and if I stayed an extra hour or two, that price jumped significantly. Luckily, with a little online research, I found a much cheaper parking lot in easy walking distance and saved myself a pretty penny. You can do the same any time you hit a restaurant or other venue with valet parking – do some homework ahead of time and save yourself some serious cash, usually by adding only a small walk to your night.
• Cut your own vegetables! I know that those bags of ready-to-steam broccoli are much sexier than the large broccoli crowns a few feet away, but have you ever compared the prices? Pre-chopped or otherwise prepared food can cost twice or three times the amount of untouched stuff. And once you do a few practice chops, the process of slicing and dicing can go very quickly.
• Take care of your car – but not at the dealer. If your car needs work, be sure to get an estimate from at least two places before making an investment. While the sense of trust you can get from going to the dealer is hard to beat, the prices dealers charge are not. Take the time to look at reviews of local mechanics online and you can save yourself hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.

While some of these tips may not apply to you, their underlying message still can: to save yourself money, avoid convenience whenever possible. The easiest option is usually more expensive than one that requires an extra step or two. But guess what? Doing a little work to save that money makes the savings that much sweeter!

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