What's your trick to save $$ each month?

I have a Christmas/Vacation Club that's a separate bank account. X amount goes into it automatically. Also toss all loose change in a giant coffee can that we return 1 or 2x a year when it's full. That $$ goes to a fun night out where we can splurge.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

We save change, have a savings account, return bottles and cans, and I use lots of coupons.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

savings account. automatic deposit. loose change thrown into a big jar, when it is too heavy it is dumped into the bank. also automatically transfer money to savings after bills are paid.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

regular savings acct where all the money stays until we need it in checking. It earns 5%. Coin jar is a must...we accumulate a ton in there.

Automatic transfer to brokerage every month.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

we try to save by taking our lunch each day and not buying.

but recently any extra $ we have went to the cc bills to pay them down.

oh yes...and we have the coin jar as well

Message edited 12/27/2006 12:21:42 AM.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

CHANGE! We get so much extra money each month from just taking our change and putting it in a jar daily- all the extra, loose change we have lying around at the end of each day. That is our "fun money" so we go out to dinner, movies, etc with it... We take it to Commerce to the free machine and change it into dollars.

Other than that we just try not to spend too much by putting ourselves on a spending budget each month- that way, we allow ourselves to have extra. We try to tuck away whatever we can b/c it really adds up-- even if it is a small amount like 35 dollars I get for pet sitting randomly- I'll deposit it into the savings rather then just spending it on crap... so that helps.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

i transfer X amount weekly into my ING direct account

also sometimes i find myself ready to "checkout" online with $100+ purchases, and i'll cancel the order and put that money into savings as i would have spent it on crap anyway

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

When we set up the budget, we wrote down every single thing we spent money on, even if it was a quarter for gum. From there, we created an excel spreadsheet and separated real bills (rent, food, gas, electricity, phone) from the stuff that is more flexible, like eating out, movies, etc. Once we saw how much we could save by cutting out the extras, we banked most of it and left X amount for fun stuff each month.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

We live on just DH's salary and recently started banking my entire salary. It's tough, but not impossible, and we've realized how much money we wasted before really using up both salaries!

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

Uh, save money?

$50/month goes toward a 403B.

We were saving money, but then the pup got sick. That has pretty much stopped any saving.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

anytime I get "coin" change...I immediately put it away and do not touh it. I also do the same for singles on a daily basis.

I automatically save 50% of my paycheck (twice a month) AFTER BILLS.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

We deposit a set amount each week into a specific account.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

Direct deposit.

I have more than half of every check directly deposited to a few different accounts.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

We do the coin jar also. We also have a cash back rewards card so we charge e/t and pay it in full at the end of the month (I set aside money every paycheck to pay the card off at the end of the month). I check the balance on the CC every day so I know how much is on there and that way the balance doesn't get too high.

When we get our yearly raises I increase our 403b contributions so that we don't see the increase in our take-home pay.

Online savings is also great b/c it takes a couple of days to get the money.

Of course, coupons, coupons, coupons. I rarely buy a/t unless it's on sale.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

I recently started becoming a saver- I love it

I have an excel spread sheet with all my expensess per month- and I work off that

I save about 20% of my pay check each month- and pay a good amount towards CC bills that I want to pay off

I compare super markets on line before I go shopping to see what's on sale - plus I know the prices at target for stuff I buy - so I see where is the cheapest and make my list accordingly

I don't carry any credit cards with me- so no tempetation to buy something I don't need

I have a 5% savings account at my bank

I just try to not just spend money- but to think about if I need it or not

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

I check all the sales circulars and make a few stops when I go food shopping. Use coupons. I find that target has a lot of food items for less $$. I stopped getting my hair highlighted, I do my own manicures/ pedicures unless it's a special occasion. I don't go to the mall, If I need clothes I'll go to TJ Maxx, Loehmann's , or Filenes. There is too much temptation at the mall I used to shop at banana republic only, and buy everything full price. Not anymore, I barely set foot in that store. I have a few good pieces of Jewelry that I wear every day, instead of "accessorizing" bc that gets to be expensive.

We try to keep our electric bill down by turning off the lights that we don't use, or turning off the TV if we are not sitting and watching. We use ING for our savings account, plus we both put a percentage toward our 401k.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

My trick? Getting married!!!!!

DH is an amazing saver, I know because I just saw his bank statement this morning.

We have separate accounts and a joint checking and CD which we contribute a certain portion every paycheck.

I also make lunch for us everyday.....HUGE savings, especially for DH, who works in the city......

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

Right now the only savings we have is my 401K. We should start saving some in the savings account starting next week when my dh gets a raise and I start the new year off with the daycare expenses (get $50 back in paycheck). Once my car lease is up, we will be able to save that too so that will help a little.
It is VERY hard to save when you have 2 kids in day and after care and make alot less than most of the people on this thread. Some don't know how GOOD they have it.

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

you guys have inspired me to start a coin jar- but I have to hide it- we have a snack machine in the basement- and DH is always looking for change for a kit kat

he drops at least $2 worth of change on the floor a day-

thanks for the tip!

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

My mom taught me the "Need and Want" game when I was a kid, and I do it to this day. Whenever I go to buy something I ask myself "is this a need or a want?" If it's "want" then most of the time I put it back.

Now of course every now and again you need to buy yourself some "wants", but you get the idea!

Re: What's your trick to save $$ each month?

eat at home, make coffee, bag lunch!
And stay out of the mall!!!!