I've always been a good saver. I've got the whole delayed gratification thing down to a science. I'm no hardcore cheapskate, though. You know the type -- somehow these people walk out of the grocery store with $150 worth of goodies for $1.32. Yeah, I don't know how they do that either. I'm not interested in spending my precious free time cutting coupons I'm not going to use anyway. So here are some easy, painless ways to save hundreds of dollars every year by slightly adjusting the things you're already doing.

Use Credit Wisely.
I don't just mean paying off your bill every month. I'm talking about matching the credit card to the purchase. For example, American Express offers a True Earnings® Card from Costco and American Express that gives 3% cash back for gasoline for annual gasoline purchases of up to $3,000 (1% thereafter), 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel, 1% everywhere else, including Costco.

Definitely check out the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card that offers a $100 cash back bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Cardmembership. There's no annual fee. You also get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases with no spend minimums or rotating categories. Plus, get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card!

Since I own a Discover Card, sometimes I shop through ShopDiscover to get more bonus cash back. Chase offers a similar type program called Chase Rewards Plus. In both cases you have to login to your credit card account to access these shopping sites. Chase offers a 9% cash back bonus at Target.

Speaking of TJ Maxx and Marshalls, I'd wager at least 85% of my wardrobe comes from these two stores. They also offer a credit card that earns 5% back toward gift certificates good at either, (plus HomeGoods, an excellent home decorating store). I rarely spend more than $20 for a pair of jeans, yet I'll still get a compliment or two!

Lastly, I decided to get an Amazon credit card (you get $30 off your first purchase and 3% towards Amazon gift certificates) because I found I was spending quite a bit there every year.

Keeping track of all these cards might sound confusing, but it's really not. My Amazon card is only used at Amazon, and likewise for my TJ Maxx card. So the majority of the time I'm really just using my American Express Card. Make your credit cards work for you! By the way, none of these cards charges an annual fee.

Join a Cash Back Shopping Portal.
Cashback shopping portals like Mr. Rebates, FatWallet or ebates will split their commission with you if you buy through their links.

(An easy way to find who is offering cash back at a specific store is through evreward.com.)

Cash back portals are a true win/win situation. Not only that, but there are gobs of information and advice waiting for you in the Fatwallet forums. (You don't receive your cashback immediately; there is usually a 60-90 day waiting period before you can cash out.)

So here's how I do my online shopping. First, I'll do a little research by reading reviews at Amazon and cnet.com. Once I know what I want, I'll check a coupon site like DealHunting, TechBargains or Retail Me Not to see if there are any deals floating around. Lastly, I head over to Big Crumbs, Mr. Rebates or ebates to see if they have a cashback link. These three sites have saved me thousands of dollars, in exchange for an extra thirty seconds of my time. Some offer a $5 sign up bonus.

And don't forget to check eBay! I bought a lot of great North Face stuff on eBay last year.

Open an Online Savings Account.
Discover Bank offers an online savings account that pays 1.00% APY on your balance. That's one of the highest rates I've seen so far (unfortunately).

These accounts are great -- there are no fees and no minimums and they link to a checking account that you already have. I effortlessly transfer money between my online savings and checking account when I'm paying my bills online. Since moving my cash from a money market account to an online savings account, I'm receiving ten times as much in interest dividends! I recommend transferring 10% of every paycheck into one of these online savings accounts. It's an easy way to "pay yourself first" and you won't even miss the money. Plus you'll be pleasantly surprised at what a tidy sum will have accumulated before you know it!

That's it for now. I'll be updating with more tips so stay tuned!