• The daily treat or indulgence that you had on the way to work may have taken a back seat for your finances but having an occasional treat in your budget makes you appreciate what you have more often. Preparing meals at home more often helps you save money and then when you decide to go to for a meal you will definitely appreciate the meal and company when you dine out – even if you are getting takeout.
  
• Were you a Starbucks or Caribou Coffee fan? Even though you can make your own drip coffee at home, having a cappuccino or latte once a week will make you appreciate the treat and also help you keep your waistline in check. Most people don’t have time to bake elaborate pastries and put them into a case in their home, so reshifting from priority to treat helps shave calories as well.
  
• In Chicago, bottled water carries a 5¢ tariff per bottle. Become eco chic and carry your own stainless steel bottle. The initial cost does make a noticeable dent in your wallet – the cost of a few cases of water or more, but the savings do add up.

• Many people bristle at the “latte factor” especially if they think they aren’t spending money on lattes. Buying new clothes every time there is a sale or going to buy items that you will use and not seeking out the best price means that people are spending more money and could save some.  Trying to work on negotiating larger savings may not work, especially if you are trying to decrease your rent, car payment or insurance. Making a change such as moving getting a different car or changing insurers may save you some money in the short term but what about your well being. Saving a little on big ticket items, compared to eliminating some small things are less noticeable in your budget.
• Now, where the “latte factor” detractors and supporters go awry is that the money saved isn’t put to good use. In the case of making you a millionaire the money saved should be invested or help to pay debt so that in the future you will have money. Saving money in one area to be able to afford another item or increase spending in another area will not make you a millionaire. A dollar invested wisely even in a regular savings account will earn more than a dollar that is spent on a bag of chips.

Don’t just save or spend the money somewhere else… invest it!

Quietly, my cable service added more interesting features for free as part of their video on demand service. I can see more than just television shows, but also movies for free. Since I haven’t paid anything for the movie watching something that I am interested in at home is easier than going to the library or even to Redbox.

The best deal, for newer features is using Redbox. Even though the cable company claims that they have movies available on the same day that they are released. Redbox allows you to rent a movie for $1 plus tax while the cable company charges $5 plus tax. Of course there are pros and cons to Redbox, your movie might not be available, but you can go online to reserve it and you can return it to any Redbox. If you live near one, this is definitely a bonus.

Borrowing movies from the library is sometimes a difficult proposition. Horror fans may be out of luck because according to CPS librarians horror titles are often the stolen. Also some popular releases are difficult to obtain.

I haven’t tried Redbox yet, though several friends have said that it is very addicting and easy to use. The closest Redbox is over a mile away from my house which requires a special trip to get there even though factoring in the cost of gas, the movie rental would be less than the $5 charged by the cable company.

Why does frugality have to be painful?

If you know you only have $3000 a month and your necessities equal $2150 then why spend more? Too many commercials about saving money and cutting back make people seem like they are sad. “Saving money getting you down?”

Actually saving money makes me very happy.

Does saving money so you will have it for the future make you unhappy?

Ok we know that cutting down on nonessentials is only one way of spending within your means. Just as making changes in spending habits – especially those small daily indulgences that you don’t consider will make a difference for your budget.

If you overspend in one area often, then maybe you might want to increase your budget in that area. Overspend in an area once – like for air conditioning or heat, or an emergency tire or faucet then that is one thing. Overspend for groceries or cell phone bill then you need to increase your budget in that area.

Paying for many things with cash is a way of budgeting. When you run out of cash, you have nothing else to spend… simple.

While you’re saving money, you might need more ideas about saving change or small bills in banks.

Checking receipts is crucial to saving money. We know that scanners are often wrong but what about additional charges that are added to your bill without your knowledge?

At an electronics store, my mother bought a small television set to replace an old non-digital set. The cashier asked if my mother wanted the extended warranty and then proceeded to just add it to the bill without waiting for an answer. When the price was about $70 more than the price of the television with tax she questioned the young lady and she said Oh I just added the extended warranty. You didn’t want it? No.

This isn’t the only type of upselling that happens. If you are in a restaurant and are asked if you want tap or bottled water, if you say tap you will pay an exorbitant amount for the tap water. Many places no longer just give you water without asking in order to save water and not having to wash the glass.

Watch what you are being charged for and if you don’t recognize a charge, ask.