Save Money with a Few Lifestyle Changes

Everyone's looking to save money these days, and the suggestions for accomplishing this financial feat seem endless even if not all are practical. While some of these ideas are sure to get you over a financial hurdle, many are like fad diets. They'll save you a few bucks now but are not really sustainable in the long run.

Here are a few money-saving tips that are fairly painless to implement. Make them habits and reap a lifetime of simple savings.

Plan Ahead

Whether it's mapping out errands to save money on gas or creating menus to save money on groceries, planning helps protect you from impulse buying and allows you to conserve time and energy as well as money. For me, knowing there is a hot meal waiting at home in the crock pot curbs that urge to stop for take-out on the way home from work or church.

Take A Time Out

Not all purchases are extravagances, but the line between wants and needs often gets blurred. The American Signature Furniture store chain currently has a chant running with its commercials that seems to have become a mantra for many: "I want it all, and I want it now." If you are struggling with wanting things that you know you can't afford, impose a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before making those iffy purchases. This is an especially good practice for those big-ticket items. Removing yourself from the decision-making process for a while will give you a cooler head with which you can determine whether or not that expense is really necessary.

Stop Window Shopping

We all know not to go shopping for groceries when you are hungry. Same is true for window shopping when you are bored. Walk through a park, a local art museum, or spend the afternoon at the public library reading a book or a good magazine. Bonus savings if you then cancel your home magazine subscriptions!

Drink Water

My children learned this as soon as they were old enough to give the waitress their own orders. When eating out, order water rather than a soda or iced tea. Many restaurants charge as much as $1.75 per glass. Even with free refills, the cost is not worth it. For my family of six, we save as much as $10.50 (plus tax and tip) on each outing just by ordering water rather than soda.

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