There is one time a year when money is on the mind (at least more than usual), and that time is tax season! Americans are gearing up for their much-awaited tax returns and their much-dreaded contributions. If you're thinking of spending that fat check on a dream vacation or new wardrobe, put down the credit card and pick up a spreadsheet before you make a huge mistake. This is the time to think about the future of your finances. Follow our advice, and you could save $10,000! You're probably thinking, "Wait, what?!" If you're like me and living paycheck to paycheck with little hope of saving or investing, re-evaluate your life and spending habits. It is possible to live a frugal (but still fun) existence with the promise of financial harmony on the horizon. Check out this list for some easy introductory ways to save $10,000 this year — instead of wasting it!

Begin with a clean, debt-free slate and wipe out any lingering credit card or student loan debt before starting a savings plan. You wouldn’t build a house on a weak foundation, and your finances shouldn’t be any different. What’s the point of stockpiling money if you owe Capital One half of it?

Take a long look at your current spending habits, and examine what can be altered or even abandoned. Paying a gym membership that you haven’t used in about three months? Let it go. Still utilizing a cable company even though you only watch Netflix? Cut it! Giving Jeff Bezos an extra $100 a year for your Amazon Prime account? Unsubscribe! (I’m sure you know someone generous enough to let you use their membership). Even if you were to save $20 on five monthly bills, that’s still $1,200 more in your pocket than last year!

Are you paying too much in taxes by not claiming every possible break? Talk to an accountant and consider the many ways in which you can (legally) lower your taxable income and claim more deductions. According to an analysis done by H&R Block, 84 percent of Americans who earned less than $50,000 collected a tax refund in 2012, while only 34 percent of those who made more than $200,000 did. Although you technically do earn the money back in the form of a refund, living without that cash during the year can be difficult for those of us who live paycheck to paycheck. (And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather emulate the financial practices of those who make over $200,000 than those who don’t.)

So at this point you are debt-free, aware of our budgeting practices, and up to speed with a shrewd tax plan that would make Martha Stewart proud. It’s time to pick a savings plan catered to your needs. In order to save $10,000 a year, $192 has to be put away every week (or $833 a month). However, if that’s too steep of a goal, then play around with some numbers and figure out what works for you and your budget.

For at least two weeks, try a zero-spend challenge to kick off your new plan. It may seem crazy, but a few weeks without gourmet coffee, professional manicures, and hair appointments can give you some much-needed momentum toward completing your ultimate goal. Note: This means staying at least 100 feet away from your local Target for some time.

Going out to eat for every meal is a quick way to deplete your bank account. The markups on food at restaurants are notorious wallet-killers. Plan your weekly shopping trips with a well-researched list and some opportune coupons. There are plenty of resources available online to help you come up with a personalized meal plan for the week. Your gut, along with your wallet, will thank you later.

There are plenty of services that our forefathers once completed themselves without hired help. Even learning how to perform simple automobile maintenance will go a long way down the budgeting road. With such resources as YouTube and eHow, there’s no excuse for not attempting an at-home pedicure or trim. Just don’t accidentally chop off all of your hair!

It’s no myth that gasoline is incredibly expensive and quite burdensome — on both your free time and the environment. Lighten up the load by walking or biking to work. If that’s not an option for your morning commute, try carpooling with a neighbor to save some green. You can even brag like your Prius-driving coworker about how you’re basically saving the Earth.

If you already use public transportation, why not sign up for a commuter benefits program? Most companies —even small ones!— offer them. You’ll save some serious coin because your train and/or bus tickets are purchased before taxes. Thanks, Uncle Sam!

Having a second job isn’t the end of the world; it actually comes with quite a few benefits. Bartending or working in a coffee shop is easy on the schedule, presents you with friends and connections you wouldn’t otherwise have, and these jobs could even provide you with a shift meal.

If you don’t have time to moonlight as a barista, try getting rid of extraneous items lying around. Gently used clothing stores are always looking to buy, and if that doesn’t work, then you can try selling stuff on eBay. Such websites as Fiverr also provide great opportunities to make a quick buck if you’re the creative type. (Pro tip: There’s always someone out there who's willing to pay to see your feet).

Unfortunately, car insurance is one of the most expensive and necessary purchases a person can hope to never use. Luckily, it’s actually incredibly easy to compare plans and prices online. I personally just discovered that I can drop my premiums by $25 a month without forsaking my coverage.

Probably the best piece of advice on this list is to hide your savings in an unreachable account. Just something a little more difficult to access than a bank’s app on your smartphone will make a world of a difference when you’re trying to buy the entire bar a round.

Life is short, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow, so don’t kill yourself trying to save every single penny. You might as well enjoy the money you work hard for, and this includes treating yourself every now and again. Budgeting, like any other lifelong habit, should be taken on gradually without running the risk of burning out or overdoing it.

Don’t want to take our word for it? That’s fine. There are literally thousands and thousands of articles and resources available online to help you meet your budgeting goals.