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Nowadays, it seems like every single company is trying to cut corners.

If companies are not laying off several employees, then they are forced to find creative ways to cut labor costs.

It's not easy to save. We average earners live on razor-thin margins and have trouble even imagining saving. Once we start saving, something "comes up" and the savings begin to diminish. (See also: The 10 Things Everyone Should Be Saving Saving For)

And all of that can feel okay if the savings are slowly accumulating over time. But the most soul-crushing setbacks take us back to zero, and negate all the hard work we're putting in. These are the ones that to be avoided at all costs. So take a close look at this list, because if you're doing these five things, your saving efforts are for nothing.

We can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we often forget to think of others. But a small gesture of kindness can not only make someone else's entire day, but it can also make you feel good. So why not spread the love and try a random act of kindness today? Here are 109 ideas to get you started:

RELATED: 29 Habits of Extremely Considerable People

1. Help an elderly person cross the street.

2. Help a younger sibling with homework or college and scholarship applications.

3. Let a car merge in front of you and do it with a smile.

4. Participate in a beach cleanup.

It is often quipped that the best ideas happen to someone, somewhere, while they are in the shower. And while many people do get inspired while scrubbing up (just take these waterproof notepads as evidence), the perfect "ah-ha" experience can happen most anywhere. So the question arises: Why? And, how can we encourage it to happen more often?