We started $5 at a time, literally. I've always heard to pay yourself first, but I never knew if I would be able to make and then be tempted to go in and take it. So I started with $5 a paycheck. I kept it that way for a few paychecks and then bumped it up to $10 kept it that way and then bumped it up to $20. (kind of like wading into a cold pool, a little bit at a time!) I haven't gotten the nerve to bump up to $40 yet, but I'm due for a raise this week so I probably will.

Also at tax time I take 15% of my refund and put it in the saving pot as well. It's extra money any way, so it's not missed so much!

__________________
If it wasn't on a clearance rack, it's not in my house!

You all have some great ideas -- thanks for sharing.

We have $25 go into a holiday club each week & $25 into a 5% interest account (that we do not touch). All extra cash I make from doing online surveys and babysitting goes into a special savings that we can use for that "going out to dinner", etc. fund.

We also watch our budget very closely and have started lowering our expenses.

DH works for UPS so we are in peak season and the OT is starting to come in -- that all is going into our savings.

__________________

MyHotComments

What online survery's do you do?? I've never heard of that before, and that sounds interesting... how much do you get from it??

__________________
~~Mikey~~~
-Matt - DH
- Catalina - 8/17/04

Personally I think this is what u do if you are not in too much debt. Paying off any debt is more important than anything. also, I don't agree with save 10% AND invest 10%. any savings should be investments. Unless u don't have an emergency fund and then u I think u should put the 10% into that and then start investing. I think people need to find what works best for them. It may be only 5% at first.
oh, I just got what the 10% savings was about. I am assuming it is for the "extras". I budget that into our expenses and it is less than 10%.

__________________
allgirls, mom to 3 girls

There are quite a few that I do - if you want I can PM you a list.

__________________

MyHotComments

If you would, that would be great. My email is shopgal817@yahoo.com

__________________
~~Mikey~~~
-Matt - DH
- Catalina - 8/17/04

Another thing i do to save money is when i use coupons for anything, I put the money that I save by using the coupon in savings. Last week when i did my grocery shopping I had $12.00 in coupons, so I put that into savings.

I also round up to the nearest $ in my check book. If i write a check for $12.04 I just deduct $13.00 and 96 is save. By doing this you will be suprised at how fast and easy you save.

We also have a budget and at the end of the two weeks (my husband gets paid every 2 weeks) whatever is left goes into savings. And then we start the next two weeks on that weeks budget.

Every little bit helps.

I get reimbursed for mileage I drive for work. I take those checks and save the money from them as my extra $$. It gives me a good feeling knowing I have some extra just in case. I don't tend to spend it because it is nice to have that extra. I do occasionally use it for extras, or if I need to get something. It makes me *feel* like we are financially better off than we really are. That is a good thing. Those checks also have the money I get reimbursed for out of pocket expenses tied to work. I don't mind, I think of that as savings too.


Barb C