10 Tips to Help You Tuck Away More Money

As a teenager, I discovered something really cool about my father. 'Pop' had a rule he lived by. And that was to pick one project on which he would focus each weekend.

When the weekend rolled around, Pop knew exactly which project he'd tackle. By deciding ahead, he was mentally prepared -- and had his tools gathered, ready to work. That was his way of 'keeping things caught up,' as he so often says.

And he really did keep things caught up. That's a lot of projects completed -- and doesn't even count what he finished during the week.

So, I got thinking... Why couldn't we take this idea and make it work for us? Like, what day of the week could we each designate as a save money day?

Is there something in particular you'd like to save for? (If you're looking for a practical reason to save, how about building a Back-to-School Fund? See how much money you can tuck away by the time school starts again.) Here are some ideas to get you started.

10 Tips to Help You Tuck Away More Money

1. Deliberately reduce your grocery bill by ten dollars. Write a check for it and mail it in to your savings account.

2. Designate one day each week as a spend-no-money day. Can you carry iced tea from home with you? Tuck away three dollars for every pitcher of tea you make at home!

3. Bring lunch to work one day this week. Simply cook a bit extra for dinner the night before to take with you.

4. Buy quality greeting cards in bulk. At fifty cents or less per card, you save each time you use one. (Plus, it can help keep you out of the stores!) If you can't find anything local in bulk that you like, check out Current, Inc., currentcatalog.com (phone: 877-665-4458) They are good quality with lots of variety.

5. Challenge yourself to eating out only if you can spend less than five dollars (choose what your limit will be.)

   And how about these...

6. Ask for cash back when using coupons -- and tuck away your savings.

7. Replace a dry-cleanable item you wear regularly with an item that requires no special care. (This includes leathers, too.) Ask your family and friends to avoid gifting you with dry-cleanable items.

8. Downsize by slowly eliminating items you've kept in storage units that cost you money. Aim for eliminating the unit altogether within a month or two.

9. Replace a name-brand item with a generic, including medication, if possible.

   1. Look up one phone number or web address to cancel a magazine, newspaper, book club if you have no time to keep up with the reading. Don't forget about auto shipments, like vitamins, which you may no longer want.

Regardless of which day you choose -- or which tips you use -- be sure to actually tuck away all money you save. That way, the money sponge in your checkbook won't absorb it.

Now, how much can you accomplish by choosing just one day on which to focus? Have some fun with this!

Author Resource -> © 2004 Darlene Arechederra

Darlene Arechederra leads the delightful series, "Coming Home: A Woman's Journey to One-Income Living." Women of two-income households who want to find their way back home from the workplace will enjoy this gentle, energizing jumpstart. Visit with Darlene at http://www.AffordtoStayHome.com

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