What was your New Year resolution for 2010? At the beginning of each year most of us make new year resolutions like, spend less, lose weight, cut back on eating out, save money and the list goes on and on, but our ultimate goal really is to get more money or at least save more money.

Well, if you haven’t find a way to make more money by now, then your next best bet is to find ways to spend less and save more.


Saving money is not an easy task, especially when we are used to a certain lifestyle. However, with a bit of hard work and looking at the bigger picture i.e., ‘the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow’ you can do it. The tips listed below are just a few ideas to help you reach your saving goals, and whatever you do –don’t give up!

Only buy what you need - There is a big difference between buying what you want and buying what you absolutely need. Buying what you need takes precedence over splurging on things that you want.
	Budget your monthly expenditures – Track how you are spending your money. Make a budget of the things that you have to pay for each month, such as car payment, insurance, cell phone bill, gas, rent, utilities, credit card payments and groceries. Once those essentials are paid for, the balance of your pay check should be placed into a savings account each pay day.
Cut back on credit card usage – If you have too many credit cards, find a way to get rid of a few by consolidating or paying off the high interest credit cards as soon as possible. It is okay to keep one for emergency purposes only, however only keep the one that offers you the best benefits. You’ll be amazed at how much money you can save if you get rid of your credit card debts.
	Contribute to your workplace retirement program – If you haven’t already, you should start making contributions to your workplace retirement program now!
Take advantage of coupons – Shopping with coupons can save you quite a bit of money every time you grocery shop – just give it a try and add up you savings.
	Refinance into a fixed-rate mortgage – Refinance out of the adjustable-rate mortgage and lock into a fixed-rate mortgage.
Yard Sale – Yard sales are a good way to get rid of things that you don’t want or haven’t used in a while. This can be done on a weekly or monthly basis or whenever you have collected a few items to sell. The money from the yard sale should go directly to your savings account. You can also advertise your for sale items and make a few bucks that way

Let 2010 be the year you stick to your resolutions and save money for an uncertain future. Use the tips above to help lower your monthly expenses and bring some financial stability to your life.