The Big 10 on how you can save money!!!!

First Things First
1....Make a budget. Distinguish between your “wants” and “needs” and see where all your money is going. You can even do it online—many sites offer free, easy-to-use budgeting tools to get you started.

Now that you know where your money is (and where it’s going), it’s time to start making decisions about what matters most. Follow these tips to get going.


2.....Prioritize your “wants.” This is where you’re going to be making the big cuts, so figure out what you care about and what you can live without.

3.....Eliminate the unnecessary. Do you have a gym membership you never use, or every single premium cable channel? Cancel whatever you don’t use regularly or don’t get your money’s worth from.

4.....Consider lower-cost options for your “needs.” Can you get Internet service cheaper from a different provider? Do you really need a cell phone and a home phone? Are the designer jeans really worth it? Assess, evaluate and make changes as necessary.

5....Be realistic. Be careful not to get so idealistic that you create a budget you can’t live up to.
Put away the plastic. Credit cards can be real trouble on a budget because they provide the oh-so-alluring "just this once" opportunity to splurge. But those "just this once" uses add up quickly and before you know it, next month's budget is blown paying off this month's indulgences. Make it easier on yourself—leave the credit cards at home.

6.....Consolidate your debt. Know what you owe and make a payment schedule to get it paid off. And don’t just pay the minimum due—at that rate, it’ll likely take years to get it off your back.

7.....Start saving. Treat your savings account like a bill—set a monthly amount for yourself (whatever you can afford) and start putting it away. Even if you can’t afford to save much now, the fact is it goes hand-in-hand with successful budgeting and will be vital to successful financial planning in the future.

8.....Be honest with yourself. Identify your spending habits and determine whether or not you need to exercise a little more self control.

9.....Start a Spending Diary. Keep track of receipts and monitor cash in-flow and out-go to make sure you stick to your budget.

10....Carry cash. Instead of a debit (or worse, credit) card, get your allotted spending money for the month in cash. When it’s gone, it’s gone.