EXTRA SAVINGS

The first step to finding a little extra savings each month is to find out exactly where your money is going. To do this:
1. Track your purchases and put together a spending plan.
2. Make sure your spending is less than or equal to your income.
3. If your spending is more, make adjustments to your spending plan by reviewing your spending categories.
Once you know where your money is going, it's easy to find ways to make small adjustments that really add up. Look at discretionary areas of spending first. Spending for items such as eating out, lunches, entertainment, clothing, personal items etc can often be reduced. If you cut a little in each area, you likely won't feel the pinch and still make a difference in the big picture.
In order to find additional savings, review all your spending categories and see where you can cut costs. The following are a few options:
Shop around for lower premiums on all your insurance
Shop around for a less expensive cable or satellite package
Find lower rates for long distance or Internet access
Switch to a lower cost cellular phone plan
Other cost savings options for every day living, may include:
Brown bag your lunch to the office, at least a few times each week (have the kids do the same thing for school a couple days a week)
Use coupons for things you frequently buy; keep them in your car so that they are handy for the store, fast food or restaurants
Rent a movie instead of taking the whole family out to a theater
Carpool or consolidate errands to cut down on extra gasoline expenses; when you do buy gas, do it in the middle of the week and at a gas station that has competition close by
Stock up at holiday and back-to-school sales for things you know your kids and family will need
Use email for long distance communication instead of the phone
Swap babysitting nights with family or friends
Use a shopping list when at the store; do not deviate from your list whenever possible
Keep your eye on the register when checking out at stores, purchases can easily be rung up wrong