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Book I: Taking Charge of Your Finances
Don't reject any cost-cutting ideas right off the bat, even if implementing
them means major changes in your lifestyle and a lot of sacrifice. Be open to
anything and everything; try to focus less on what you're giving up and more
on where spending less will help get you in the end.
After you give up a few "essentials," you may discover that you don't even
miss them. You may find that not having them actually improves your quality
of life. For example, using public transportation to get to and from work gives
you time to read, think, and maybe even relax. And cutting out some activi-
ties that have filled your kids' after-school hours and weekends may open up
new opportunities for you and your kids to interact.
Looking for good deals
Before we tackle specific areas of your household budget, we have a couple
tips for getting the most out of your money, no matter what you're buying.
First is a Web site that should be on your list of favorites: www·yokel·com·
Whether you're in the market for a prom dress, a car, a DVD player, or a new
refrigerator, you can locate the best deals in your area by going to this site.
Next is a piece of advice about advertising: Although you should always try
to buy things when they're on sale, you shouldn't buy an item just because
it's discounted. Instead, make purchases based on whether you truly need
an item. If you scan the Sunday ad flyers in your newspaper looking for good
deals, you're bound to be tempted to buy things you don't really need. Keep
this in mind: That item that looks like such a good deal today may get marked
down even more in a week or two.
If you can't resist a sale, you may have a spending problem. People with
spending problems tend to buy for the sake of buying, even when they know
they shouldn't. Spending makes them feel good at the time but lousy later.
Even so, they spend again. If you think you may have a spending problem,
don't be embarrassed. Get help from other overspenders by going to a
Debtors Anonymous (DA) meeting in your area. To find a DA chapter in your
area, go to www·debtorsanonymous·org or call 781-453-2743.
Spending less on your housing
Housing is probably the single biggest item in your budget, especially if you
are a homeowner and take into account the cost of maintenance, repairs,
insurance, and taxes. You can rein in your housing costs in many ways.
