Right now, I believe everyone in America is interested in ways to cut costs and keep money in their pocket - I know I am.

I’m a frugal individual - but I enjoy the occasional splurge. I don’t know what it is about Office Max and Office Depot. But when I walk down the aisles, I’m immediately captivated by the immense number of office supplies. And before I know it, I’ved loaded a minature cart with a whole bunch of office goodies.

But as I sit in my office today, I can’t help but hold my head in shame as I look around at all the things I’ve accumulated. Since I’m on a crusade to save money and cut expenses, I’ve brainstormed a couple of tips to help every home based business owner lower their expenses.

• Buy used office furniture: There’s nothing like opening the box of a brand new desk or printer, or rolling your new Executive chair into the home office. But if you want to save money - buy used. Open the local classified ads, visit a yard sale or go to a thrift store. You’ll find qualify merchandise at amazing prices.

• Purchase office supplies in bulk: Buying in bulk can create a huge initial expense, but you’ll save money down the road. What’s more, you’ll save time because you won’t have to run to the store two and three times a week. Great bulk items include printer paper, ink cartridges, pens, notebooks, etc.

• Choose advertisements wisely: Customers are the life of any business. And to attract customers, you’ve got to advertise. But this doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands of dollars on marketing. Find ways to reduce your budget. Choose a different type of paper for print ads, or experiment with signs. Rather than spend money on a direct mail campaign, go door-to-door and pass out door hangers.

• Ditch the business line: Business lines are professional, and necessry for people who deal with a lot of customers. But if you rarely use your business line, disconnect it and use your cellphone instead.