If you've got cash in your pocket (or a credit card), you'll probably use it. Worse, you probably can't remember everything you've bought. Write down every cent you spend for at least two weeks, and preferably a month. Include everything no matter how much you spend - from your daily cup of java to that new flat screen TV. If you're going to get serious about trimming your budget, you'll need some help. Here are a few ideas.

 

(Your Children are as a fire and a drain on house economy)

1.       Write down everything you spend. The waste in your daily spending will soon become apparent.

2.       Pay off your credit card debt as quickly as possible. It's much more difficult to get your finances in shape if you're paying 18 percent interest rates credit cards.

3.       If you have to carry debt for a while, switch to a less expensive card. Take advantage of the introductory rate and use your monthly savings to prepay your debt as fast as possible.

4.       If you can't pay in cash, don't buy it. If you use a charge card that gives you cash back or miles, don't charge anything you can't pay off at the end of the month.

5.       Bring your coffee to work instead of buying it. If you spend $3 per day (Monday-Friday), you're spending $750 per year on coffee.

6.       Give up smoking (or at least cut back). At $4 per pack or more, cutting out one pack a day will save you at least $1,456 - and perhaps even more in your health and homeowner's insurance premiums.

7.       Eat out less. A family of four can rarely get out of any non-fast food restaurant for less than $30. Eat out one time less per week and you'll save $1,560 per year.

8.       Bring your lunch to work. Spend $7 a day and "let's do lunch" turns into $1,750 per year.

9.       Raise your air conditioning in the summer and lower your heat in the winter. Put in storm windows and caulk around your interior windows. Energy efficiencies can save you hundreds of dollars per year.

10.    Give up your local newspaper. You can read it online for free.

11.    Give up the magazines you don't read faithfully.

12.    Join a Sam's Club or other discount warehouse and purchase household necessities in bulk. But don't buy more than you need just because it seems "cheap."

13.    Shop the sales and clip coupons. Some stores still give double coupons.

14.    Plan out your holiday budget in advance, then stick to it. Clip a note card to your credit card and write down every time you purchase a gift.

15.    Give fewer gifts, and be more creative about them. Consider giving magazine subscriptions as a gift, which will be less expensive and last longer than other gifts. Or make flavored oils and vinegars.

16.    Take public transportation, if possible.

17.    Do free things with your kids. Museums usually have one "free" day each week. Look in your local newspaper for free events and attractions. Or, you can always take a walk or ride your bicycle.

18.    Rent a movie instead of going out to the movies. An evening of movies (plus snacks) can run upwards of $50 for a family of four. Renting a moving from your local library might either be free, or cost just $1.

19.    Vacation at home. Take a week off and spend it at home as if you were a tourist, or somewhere within close driving distance.

20.    Raise the deductible on your homeowner's and car insurance premiums. You may be able to shave 15-20 percent off your annual premium cost.

21.    Purchase as much insurance from the same company as possible. Some companies will give you an additional five percent discount for multiple purchases.

22.    Buy your next car, don't lease. Unless you absolutely have to have a new car every two years, you're generally better off purchasing a car than leasing. And, get your financing in place before you show up at the dealer's.

23.    Buy a used car rather than a new car. A car is worth about 1/3 less the minute you drive it off the lot. If you purchase a pre-owned or pre-leased vehicle, you'll save the depreciation and the car will likely still be under warranty.

     24. Use a bank with convenient ATMs. If you find yourself paying ATM charges because your bank doesn't have ATMs that are convenient, switch. At $1-$3 per withdrawal, you're paying too much.