If coupons aren’t enough …

New York —- It’s easy to get sloppy with your finances when times are good: adding a premium cable channel, signing up for the deluxe gym membership or reaching for the pricey Italian coffee. “But there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned recession to remind people you can’t be sloppy all the time,” said Eric Tyson, author of “Personal Finance for Dummies.”

The Associated Press asked four financial experts for tips to save money on everyday expenses —- without clipping coupons.

Just as important as the strategies they advocate are the financial exercises behind them. Scrutinizing ongoing spending, mining discounts from existing accounts and searching for extras you may not be utilizing that can be painlessly cut should help spark ideas for even more ways to trim costs on your own.

Know where the money goes

> Comb through checking account and credit card statements to get a clear view of your habits. It’s what Tyson calls “the sometimes tedious and painful process of looking where you’re spending your money.”

> One savings source that may be immediately apparent: the extra fees and charges on various accounts. From ATM fees that pile up, to late charges and over-limit fees, many people can save hundreds of dollars a year by adopting more careful money management habits.

Look for savings at the grocery store

> Kick the bottled water habit. Tyson notes bottled water drinkers can spend $600 to $800 a year, but a good home filtration system runs about $200.

> “Tightwad Tod” Marks, who blogs about penny pinching for consumerreports.org, suggests only buying items that are on sale. Read through advertisements and stock up on things like cereals, pasta, juices and other staples, he advises.

> Buy private-label brands, Marks adds. For many items, from hot cereal to tea bags to sandwich bags, there is little or no difference in quality, and you can save 20 percent to 50 percent.

> Learn how to cook, Tyson recommends. Many people spend heavily on take-out or processed foods because they can’t prepare a meal, but learning a few basic dishes can save countless dollars over the years.

Examine existing accounts

> Ramit Sethi, author of the www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com blog, advises using major credit cards to make big purchases like refrigerators and home electronics, which nearly always result in a one-year warranty extension. That eliminates any reason to purchase an extended warranty from the store.

> Check your credit card, insurance company and other account Web sites for shopping discounts. Many companies offer customers a chance at extra discounts by linking to retail sites. Sethi notes some card companies also offer extra rewards points if you begin your shopping on their site.

> Take advantage of discounts offered through memberships in AAA, business organizations and social groups like AARP when traveling, suggests Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, author of “Zero Debt” and other books.

> Review insurance accounts and try to trim costs by eliminating unneeded coverage, for instance collision insurance on an older car. Shifting several insurance accounts to one company also may activate multiple policy discounts, Khalfani-Cox says.

Trim costs around the house

> Sethi advocates spending “a la carte” instead of paying higher rates for ongoing services. “It’s a bit surprising, we tend to think that if we’re on a subscription basis, we’re getting savings,” he says. But you may be able to save $40 to $50 a month, for instance, by cutting back on the add-ons for your cable service.

You can also reduce a Netflix subscription to the least expensive option, or cut it out altogether and get films from the library or watch free programs online.

> Hardcore savers might want to try this tip from Marks: He keeps his home thermostat set at 60 degrees and heats the rooms where his family spends the most time with efficient electric baseboard heaters. “It saves more than $200 a month on what it would cost to heat the home when keeping the thermostat at 68.”