Can you save money? Because I can't.

[GrimJack]

If at all possible, have a %age taken out of your paycheck before you even get it. Find a credit union and open an account there and have the money deposited so you never actually have to think about saving.

[SavingMoneyGoals]

I started saving when I really WANTED to save. I started saving when my "should save" turned into a "must save". If you stop and think about it for a minute, when it's a MUST, you have no other choice but to do it.

I used to shop online excessively. I unsubscribed to the majority of newsletters that way I'm not tempted to buy as much. I also started to set a budget for online shopping and, if I really want something that goes over that budget, I would make myself wait and use two months' worth of my budget on that one sale, if necessary.

I also started to do grocery shopping by sticking as close as possible to my list. If it's not on the list, I don't get it. The only exception is if there is a great offer for any of the items on my list. So if I were getting 4 of them and they are on a huge sale and we use that item often enough, I would allow myself to buy more of that item.

I also switched to cash rather than credit card purchases. It is so easy to stop being careful what and how much you're putting in your cart when you're not limited by how much money you actually have available with you... So, I leave my credit card home and just take cash.

I also put an X amount of money away (this is fixed) every 2 weeks and, whenever we need to buy groceries, we use that money. If we buy random snacks and items we don't need and we're out before the 2 weeks is over, then we have to make do with whatever is in the refrigerator until it's time to "top up" the money.

[Kimberly925]

I save money by getting free stuff from a game app. We have a tight budget so it's been a big help with Christmas gifts. I have an album of the items I received.

[Outdoorsygal]

We use the cash only system also.
Although a Bank/CC card is always onhand just in case.

I get my gas from just one gas station now
It is in the county where we live, a local small town
.20-.30 cents per gallon cheaper
Saving about $40 a mo.
No lines either, just a few pumps open 24/7
Our new move means I drive further to work & back

Their environmental laws aren't as strict in this county so maybe they purchase gas in the state of Nevada

.
It's 1 hr away

[terri77]

I'm terrified of ending up homeless or hungry. That's my why. When you discover you're why you'll have no problem saving. All the strategies in the world won't work unless you find your motivation.

[Gailete]

Hey, guys! I always wonder how people manage to save money and to control expenses. As for me, it's getting a real problem to manage my budget. I always tend to spend my money on different things (even useless), I always need something and can't refuse it. Any recommendations what to do?

Since you know what is useless when buying it, then ask yourself each time before putting that widget in your cart at a store or online "Do I really need this? Would I rather have $XX.XX in the bank? How will this help my life? And if you want something that is truly useless, but you don't care and want to buy it anyways, leave it in the store and go figure out the cheapest way to get it. Could it be had at a thrift store for a quarter?

I live on a miniscule amount of money, but in the last 15 years, I have been able to squirrel away almost $35K into retirement and savings accounts, part of that includes dividends that are reinvested, and growth of the shares I bought. I have to do a lot of thinking through impulse purchases.

This time of year, you really must be strong as we are bombarded with calls to spend. I just cleared out a bunch of ads in my email as I know I am currently broke and don't have any money to buy anything. For Christmas presents, I will be very creative as usual. But every one of those neat sales have things that I could convince myself I need, but I don't. It is almost as easy to talk yourself out of things especially when you have a goal you are saving for, like saving $100 which you can deposit into an online account and then watch it grow. Have a reason that you want to save for whether it is retirement, vacation, new winter coat, etc. Many items can be peeled away from a budget without much hardship.

[SavingMoneyGoals]

One thing I wanted to add: I monitor and track deals for products I buy on a weekly basis and see how I can save up that way. Little things DO add up!

[nuggetsvolume1]

My advice:

Use cash

Put a certain amount in savings from each check

Live off the rest.

I totally avoid credit cards and right now I don't even have a debit card because I can't see what is going on.

Just basically: pay yourself first. A part of that check is yours to keep.

[Nutria]

I don't even have a debit card because I can't see what is going on.

What do you mean?

[nuggetsvolume1]

What do you mean?

I can't physically see the money being transacted, is what I mean. I tend to overspend with plastic. Would rather use cash. Just my thing.

[Nutria]

I can't physically see the money being transacted, is what I mean. I tend to overspend with plastic. Would rather use cash. Just my thing.

I'm the opposite (money burns a hole in my pocket), but that's reasonable.

[disneysteve]

I can't physically see the money being transacted, is what I mean. I tend to overspend with plastic. Would rather use cash. Just my thing.

I'm the opposite (money burns a hole in my pocket), but that's reasonable.

And this is exactly why a rule of thumb is just that and some people take issue with absolutes like Dave Ramsey. You need to figure out what works best for you. I'm with Nutria. Cash just disappears. I am far more disciplined when using a credit card because I know there's going to be a bill to pay at the end of the month. Plus I get a monthly statement that itemizes all of my spending. I'm far more likely to overspend with cash.

[Gailete]

For you cash folks, in Charles Long's book How To Survive Without a Salary, he pretty much was a cash only guy too. He found that the more he kept high denomination bills in his wallet, he was less prone to spend them as he hated breaking them, but $1s just flew out of his wallet.

Now that I don't go out to work or see cash machines in every corner, I tend to never/rarely have cash in my purse. Every once in a while I look in my purse and see one or two collars in there that I had forgotten about. For me, getting cash is out of my way. However, before going into town, I always check and balance my bank balance so I know to the penny how much I have and that generally limits my spending.