Make Some Changes and Keep Your Coins~

$UB$TITUTE$ THAT MAKE $EN$E

1. Buying coffee on your way to work? Purchase 2 inexpensive coffee mugs with tops and make your own at home before you leave. Those daily latte's can add an extra $30.00-40.00 to your expenses each month.
2. Buying lunch out everyday or even occasionally? Make your own the night before and brown bag it. Bringing lunches, drinks and treats from home can save your family $100.00 per month depending on family size.
3. Buying fast food more then once a week? Avoid it like the plague and fatten up your wallet instead of your hips.
4. Buying at convenience stores? Being in a hurry will cost you plenty here. Food and miscellaneous items are often marked up 25%.
5. Buying food at specialty/gourmet shops? Many similiar and often identical items can be at your local supermarket for much less.

Got your priorities in order?

If your spending priorities are not:

1. Getting your mortgage or rent paid on time each month,
2. Providing food for yourself and/or family daily,
3. Keeping your utilities paid ontime each month,
4. Transportation needs met,

Then it's time to re-organize the meaning of 'spending priorities' for you. The above just represent the absolute necessities and yet so many are behind at least a month in rent/mortgage and utilities alone.

It will help to rethink the meaning of 'spending priorities' by eliminating your WANTS and concentrating on your absolute NEEDS. It is where you begin to take a hard look at where that money you earned is going and it begins with keeping an accurate record of every penny you spend. Every penny.

Begin to record everyday what you spend, not rounding off numbers but exactly no matter how small. Include every expense whether cash, check or plastic and what it was spent on. Review it after one week and you will begin to see that you are buying many things that you want but can definitely live without just fine.

Now, add the figures again but leave off the items you did not need to buy and get your total. Depending on whether you are keeping account for yourself or family, the results can be surprising.

Your ultimate goal is to see those dollars building up in your savings daily, weekly and monthly.