Save Money By Tracking Your Expenses
Tracking your expenses for one month will tell you without any question where your money is spent. You can purchase financial software, use one of the many online spreadsheets or use a cell phone application. And you can always use a pencil and paper.
It is important to track everything that you spend, even very small purchases. Once you have the month-s information added up, look at where your money goes. Don-t spend a lot of time looking at national averages. They are useful to know, but every family is different. Look at what you spend. For example, if you find that you spend 200 per month buying coffee and lunch, maybe you should consider packing a lunch a couple of days a week or possibly buying a thermos. Another example would be if you find that your medical insurance and out-of-pocket expenses take a bigger chunk out of your paycheck than you thought. You may not be able to change your insurance if it-s through your employer. However, you can do a little research and make sure that you are doing business with the drugstore with the lowest drug cost. Spending a little time can save you a lot.