Never Pay Full Price for These 10 Everyday Services and Items

Do you consider yourself to be part of the middle class? Five years after experiencing the worst recession since the Great Depression, millions of Americans remain unemployed, real wages have become stagnant, and fewer families can afford to buy median-priced homes.

A recent poll of 1,504 adults from thePew Research Centerfound that the proportion of Americans who identify as being part of the middle class has never been lower, dropping to 44 percent from 53 percent in 2008 during the first months of the Great Recession.

With income inequality growing over the past decade, it's no surprise that more Americans choose to not identify themselves as middle class. As health and education costs rise, an increasing number of Americans middle class or not might struggle with another battle: saving.

"Only about one-third of Americans are living within their means and think they are prepared for the long term financial future," said Stephen Brobeck, executive director of the Consumer Federation of America. "One-third are living within their means but are often not prepared for this long-term future. And one-third are struggling to live within their means."

The CFA recently conducted a survey assessing household savings and found that despite the economic recovery, most Americans continue to face significant personal savings challenges. Only about one-third of Americans said they were making "good" or "excellent" progress meeting their savings needs while nearly two-thirds said they were making only "fair" or "no" progress.

With so many Americans struggling to save, finding ways to cut down on expenses is imperative. While big lifestyle changes like getting rid of your car or taking on a second job can help Americans save money, it's not a realistic expectation for most people. Instead, everyday Americans might have to find ways to cut costs on the little things, which could end up making a big difference in the long run. Here are 10 everyday items and services that you can save money on by never paying full price:

1. BooksWe've all heard that chain bookstores are dying and one reason for their collapse is brand new books simply cost too much. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012 consumers spent about $110 on reading materials. That's money you can deposit into your checking account.

Why buy new books when you can just shop for used ones? Online retailers like Amazon or ThriftBooks now make it easier than ever before to buy used. Not to mention the many used bookstores that you probably never enter. Oh, and it might be worth your time and pocketbook to visit that building with all the books inside. It's called the library.

2. CableOne way you can seriously save money is cutting your cable bill. According to a Federal Trade Commission report, the average basic cable package cost was $61.63 in 2012. That adds up to more than $700 each year.

Sure, the boob tube provides endless hours of mindless entertainment, but it's not a necessity. And these days you can watch tons of free episodes online and even stream your favorite TV shows on network websites (albeit, a day or more after they have aired). Not to mention Hulu Plus and Netflix are both affordable alternatives that cost just $7.99 per month. That adds up to less than $100 per year.

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Never Pay Full Price for These 10 Everyday Services and Items