How do you Save Money?

I am really bad at saving. I want to have a baby but I also want to save money before I do. So how can I save I really need help, I tell myself I am going to save but then when I see what is left after bills I think I need to go spend it and I don't know why. Someone please help me.

Public Comments

1. Budget, budget, budget. You aren't ready for a baby until you have a stable job, stable relationship, and lots of support. Trust me on this one. Write down your take-home income. Budget how much you spent on rent (or mortgage), bills, grocery, etc. Try to set aside 10% of your income. If that's not enough, cut down your spendings and/or get another job. A good rule of thumb: only buy with cash, not debit or credit. In fact, trash your credit cards. You don't need 'em. Each month we budget $300 for food and entertainment. We get that in cash each month. We try to see what we can save and leave in the cash box. Last month we only spent $250 on food and entertainment.
2. Pay yourself before you pay your bills. If you can, have the amount you want to save taken right out of your paycheck. Even if it's not much, when you do it on a regular basis it adds up.
3. I was in the same boat for a while. It is almost like compulsive spending. I will tell you - open a high yield online savings account and start putting away money. Once you begin a new mindset and start to save, it also becomes like a compulsion. You just have to convince yourself that you don't need to spend. Keep thinking of all the things you are saving for in the future. Don't spend on the little things and extras that aren't completely necessary. Open a high yield online savings account now at www.us.hsbc.com, www.ingdirect.com or www.emigrantdirect.com There are no minimums and you can transfer money every month. Once it's in the account, don't touch it!!
4. the bank
5. I have two suggestions for you. If you want to save for the baby you plan to have go to toys r us and get a gift card and every paycheck go and put a little bit on there like 20 or 30. The best way I have been able to save money myself is have a separate savings account at a separate bank and before you pay the bills put some into it. It is harder to spend the money if you don't really see it. You could make a budget list to help to see where you could cut down to increase savings. If you have direct deposit then make an allotment of some sort to put it from the check to the bank that way you would never see it. It is always difficult to save but it can work if you try. Good luck.
6. Is it possible to have money electronically withdrawn from your check and put directly into your savings (not checking). Otherwise, pay your savings first before anything else. You'll get used to not having as much to spend and it's there if you absolutely need it.
7. It's tough to discipline yourself to save. The best way I've found is to have a set amount taken out of your paycheck and put into an account you don't normally use (RE: no ATM card attached) . This way you don't see it so it's not so tempting to go out and spend the money or use it as a backup when you overspend your budget. The first rule of money is to Pay yourself first! That means set aside your savings and spending money then budget your expenses to balance out the remainder. If you overspend one month you have to reduce your expenses the next month to get back on track with your budget. You'll probably have to adjust your savings amount in the beginning as you learn to work your budget, but in the end it's up to you to control your spending. Good Luck! Great advice Vampyre!
8. Buying stuff makes people feel better. It's called stuffitis and it's the reason so many people don't save and are in debt. Put yourself on a written budget. Inside that budget have a save column and a blow column. If you know your going to blow money you might as well have it in your budget.
9. There is no better way to save then to NOT SPEND IT. First things first. Take a few months to determine how much you spend every month, and on what. Write down every penny you spend, and on what, and at the end of the month tabulate it up. (I recommend at least 3 months, but one will do if you want to get started right away.) I will bet you will be very surprised at how much you really spend on stuff you really do not need. Step two is to CUT OUT THE SPENDING ON THE STUFF YOU DO NOT NEED. Got a cell phone? What's that cost a month? $59? Do you really need 400 minutes? Do you really travel so much that you need nationwide roaming? Get rid of it and get a pre-paid cell phone for emergencies. (remember, that's the reason you used to get the cell phone in the first place.) For around $100 a year you're covered. And, the caller ID works just fine. Call them back from your home or office phone. What about coffee? Can't live without your cafespresslatichino every day? I'll bet your life would not be adversely effected if you dropped that expensive habit. Savings aroun $20 a week, $1000 a year. Be honest about everything else you spend money on. Cable TV, Internet Access, Satellite radio, the Gym, books, bottled water, eating out, lunch at work, makeup, etc... Do you really need them at that price? I took an honest look at my monthly expenses and cut out the BS. I saved well over $280 a month in expenses that I did not need, and did not miss. (That's over $3000 a year. You can have a heck of a vacation on that kind if scratch.) The problem with savings is that it takes time to build it up. When you only have a few dollars left over at the end of the week, it is easy to convince yourself that it will take forever for the pennies to turn into dollars. "I will never save enough to go on that vacation, so I might as well just buy that iTunes download that I really don't need."
10. Have a written budget Know how much you have coming in and how much you have going out What ever is left over have it deposited directly into a savings plan When you get enough move it to a CD keep adding to the CD before you know it you will have lots of money
11. Hi, You are not an exception.All of us just can't seem to resist the temptation of that lovely top at Macy's or the super cute dress at the downtown boutique.What I personally found to really work with me was...save a portion of my salary in a different account as soon as I get it.Then either collect it for a couple of months but if u r a compulsive shopper just do it as soon as u get it and got to your bank and get a CD(certificate deposit)of atleast a 6 month tenure.This way not only do end up saving all that money,since u can't touch it before six months but also end up with a bpnus of approximately 5% on all your savings.
12. You're not bad at saving...you just don't have enough left over to start saving the way you want to. I read once that to reach your saving goals you should always pay yourself first. That means decide on your goal...like having a baby...then figure out what it will take. You have to get organized and figure out your income and then your expenses. When you have a good concept of your monthly budget you'll see places where you can really save some money. Once you know how much you can and need to save do something to keep that goal fresh on your mind. Try simple things like a coffee can with a label on it that you put all your spare change in. We do this for little things that we really want but can't normally afford...like going somewhere special. This is somewhere to start. I have found that the best way for me to really save is to have that amount direct deposited from your paycheck into an interest bearing account. This is paying yourself and your goals first! Of course you have to keep your monthly expenses in mind, but you will have to deposit the money and not spend it on stuff you don't need. I found a great website with step by step instructions! Please check it out. http://finance.yahoo.com/how-to-guide/banking-budgeting/12830