Dream Big: How to Start Saving!!!

One year ago, USA Today polled 45 of the top economists in the country about the state of the United States economy. The consensus was that 98% believed we were in a recession, and that the unemployment rate would continue to grow into the fourth quarter of 2009.
Having lost over 760,000 jobs in the U.S. in 2008, and with consumer spending and investing down to unprecedented levels since the Great Depression, it is obvious that the United States is in a recession...and based on the amount of investments lost, the hike in gas, food, and retail prices, the break-down of real-estate giants, and the recent bailout plan, things seem to be getting worse before they get better.

However, there is an old saying...What goes around, comes around...and there surely is a bright side to this sad economical period. When the sun shines again, it has got to shine brightly, because we are in one of the worse slumps in the history of America. So, now is the time, to start saving, to build up a reserve of cash. At a time when spending is down and stocks are down, and most of the wealth of the nation is caught up in these bad real estate deals...the time is now for us "common folks" to get on the gravy train.

But HOW do you start?

Well, one sure fire way is to decrease your own spending. Invest in items that will save you money over the long haul. Flex fuel vehicles, that take a variety of fuels, often at a lower cost, will certainly decrease the amount you spend on gas, and the cars tend to be similar in cost to traditional cars. Buy a deep freezer, so you can stock up on lower priced food and keep it fresh for months longer than fresh food lasts. Downgrade your subscriptions, to the newspaper and magazines. Get just one magazine a month, and change it up every year. Peruse the magazine websites for clips of the articles and all the sweepstakes you would normally miss. Read online newspapers daily, for FREE! Use services like Netflix and Bookswin if you rent tons of movies per month and buy tons of books. This way, you can save money on gas picking up and returning the movies, and save the costs of late fees. For books, why buy EVERY book you ever want to read, rent them and send them back for more, for the cost of one book, per month! For those luxuries you CANNOT live without, buy the larger tub of C.O. Bigelow Lemon Body Creme or Noxzema, they last long and tend to cost less per ounce. Also, shop for your clothes at Bluefly or subscribe the many sample sale sites, such as Editors Closet or Gilt Group for designer shoes, bags, and clothes at up to 75% off.

Cut out those things you SIMPLY do not need. Lunch out everyday. Fast food, from twice a week, to once every two weeks. Movies, if you have cable, buy them pay-per view just a few months later, for half the cost of just ONE ticket, invite friends over and share the costs. Cocktails, save on those $12 drinks, and instead, make a round of drinks at home for the group before you go out. Spend the night dancing...instead of at the table protecting your expensive drinks. Buy exercise videos and DVDs and equipment for home use, and cut out that expensive gym membership you NEVER use! Working out at home is free, minus the cost of the program, convenient, and worry-free...who will see the holes in your yoga pants at home?

Use a ledger to take stock of all your savings, and house it in an account SEPARATE from your checking account. Reward yourself with a small token when you hit certain amounts at your goal. You will be surprised how fast you can save $100!