Times are tough for everyone it seems these days. But, that doesn’t mean you have to take it. There are a few things you can do to save yourself some money, and they don’t necessarily mean you have to do without things you really enjoy and use. You just need to be a little smarter about what you spend your money on.
Gas prices are one of those things that drive us all crazy, but are also something we just can’t do without. We can however control how much gas we use with our driving habits. If you can, leave the car in the driveway and walk or bike to where you need to be. You’ll save money, and be in better shape. When you do have to drive, go easy on the gas and break pedal. By observing speed limits for a change, and avoiding excessive breaking, you’ll put less wear and tear on your car, and burn less gas.
Cellphones are great, and everyone has one. Review your plan though, just to make sure your not paying for options you no longer use or need. While at signup time, some of those extras may have seemed like a great idea, now they may not be necessary. While it can be tough and expensive to break a contract, it’s something to keep in mind at renewal time. If it makes sense for you, it will save money to get rid of your landline. How many phone numbers does one person need anyway?
I know it’s a pain in the butt, but keeping a little log of every time you spend money can be a real eye opener. While major charges that land on your credit card or bank account may seem obvious, it’s the little out of pocket stuff that really adds up. How many dollars do you spend every month on coffee, newspapers, magazines, and lunch? Don’t know? Well, you should.
Stick a dollar or two from your spare change into a jar or shoe box every day. Sure, it seems pretty old school, but it also adds up. Wasn’t it Grandma that said “worry about the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves”? It’s true, a dollar or two every day adds up to somewhere between $300 and $750 at the end of the year. That makes for a pretty nice Christmas present for someone. Maybe you?
How about robbing a bank 
Well, not exactly, but if your like most consumers, you probably spend way to much money on banking fees. Do you know how much money you pay to used that debit card, or an ATM machine that doesn’t belong to your personal bank. It all adds up after a while. Check out some of the online banking services like ING, that have much lower fees. Just make sure the services they provide are adequate for you. Those bankers have enough of your money already.
