According to the authors of Freakonomics, people who purchase gym memberships overestimate their attendance by 70 percent. As a result, over $500 of the average annual cost of memberships is simply lining the pockets of gym owners -- and doing absolutely nothing for your waistline.

If you struggle with getting to the gym every day, try getting fit at home for a fraction of the cost. Though you may not have the fancy equipment offered by fitness clubs, you can still meet your goals affordably by considering the following tips.

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Once again another annual celebration of all things green, Earth Day, has come and gone.  While many people offer advice on being kind to Mother Earth around this time, too many of these tips don't quite coincide with frugal lifestyles.  In an effort to dovetail these two purposes, here are 22 budget-friendly ways to go green and live more harmoniously with our planet.

1. Sign up for the "no solicitation" registry.

That way, you can avoid getting credit card offers and other ads which will reduce paper clutter and save trees.

2. Shop online to reduce your carbon footprint and save money.

According to a study by Carnegie Melon's Green Institute, shopping online reduced carbon emissions by 35 percent. The abundance of online coupons from such sites as FreeShipping.org makes this green practice a no-brainer.

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Prepare your pocketbooks, parents: This prom season is going to be a doozy.

According to a recent article in USAToday, prom-goers are spending an average of $1,078 on the annual spring formal, while Northeastern dwellers are closing in on the $2,000 mark. The main culprits are dresses and tuxes, as expected, but all the other accoutrements add up to a wedding-like final cost.

The old adage "keeping up with the Jones'" is applicable here, though Kardashians may be more accurate. Thanks to constant exposure to celebrities, reality TV and social media, standards for style are at an all-time high and parents are bearing the brunt of it. Instead of letting the event drain your bank account, consider these tips for saving on prom without sacrificing style.

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Once the euphoria of being done with class has subsided, new grads must face what adults have been warning them about for twenty-plus years: the real world.

Poised on the cusp of opportunity, young professionals may be considered "the lucky ones" by the older crowd, but grappling with unemployment and severe debt is no walk in the park. Ease the transition from carefree college life to responsible adulthood with these 11 practical gifts for college grads.

1. Cash

Life after graduation is exciting but it's also laden with ugly financial responsibilities like credit card and student loan debt. In fact, total borrowing for student loans in a single year eclipsed $100 billion for the first time ever in 2010. Despite the perceived lack of effort associated with gifting cash, new grads are likely your most enthusiastic recipients.

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No one wants a cookie-cutter wedding. The day you tie the knot should be as unique as your individual personalities. There's a quote that says, "The universe is not made of atoms. It's made of tiny stories." Just as you're coming together as man-and-wife, allow your creativity to spill into the details you're sharing on your wedding day.

1. Craft a story.

Telling your story as a couple as you approach the altar is a powerful way to connect with your guests and chronicle your journey to this point. Think of every element of your wedding -- from the invites to the wedding favors -- as a chance to craft a story from beginning to happily ever after. Don't be afraid to incorporate religious or ethnic touches that are special to you.

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Most people carefully watch their time and money, making sure neither are wasted on unnecessary activities or expenses.  In an effort to be more green, why not also consider how your home's energy is used and how to prevent it, too, from being wasted?

Follow these energy-saving tips from Sally Morse, Director of Creative Services for Hunter Douglas, the leading name in custom window fashions, to conserve your home's resources and your pocketbook as well.

1.    Go Green, Literally

Saving energy in your home isn’t entirely based on adjustments made in the home but also changing what is outside of it.  To cut down on utility bills, get a green thumb and strategically update your landscaping.  A natural and beautiful addition, plant deciduous trees on the south and east sides of the house and evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and west to provide shade and act as a windbreaker.

Well-positioned landscaping can save up to 25 percent of your home's energy a typical household uses for heating and cooling according to the world-renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

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