Making it to The World

My sister and her boyfriend are accompanying us to Walt Disney World this year. I'm super excited about it. The last time my sister and I took a vacation together was high school and it was to Kansas to visit family. The last time we were at WDW together, we were around my sons age. My sister and her boyfriend both work full time, but alas, with our economy they are hurting like everyone else. This post is about some ideas I have to trick yourself into saving money. Some of my ideas are

1. Save spare change. Find a jar, keep it on your dresser and throw all coins in there. In 3 months I've had $37 saved.
2. Tax yourself. Tax yourself when you perform a daily habit. For instance if you have a habit of eating out, put $1 in an envelope every time you eat out. If you smoke, every time you buy a pack of cigarette's put $1 in an envelope. If you have a daily latte habit, tax yourself $1 every time you pay $4 for a daily cup of joe. Better yet, make your own coffee to go and save that $4 a day. If you can save $1 each time on a daily habit that's 365 dollars in a year. It's tricky but you can do it!
3. Pay yourself to do chores. Remember when mom and dad paid you to vacuum? Pay yourself! Whenever you do the dishes, drop a quarter in a jar. Whenever you vacuum, sweep, do laundry, or clean the cat box pay yourself!
4. Better yet, pay your kids! (if you have them, if not use nieces & nephews) Set up a vacation jar in a central location in your home. Make a list of chores that must be done, when they are done pay your kids and promise them they can take the money to spend on vacation. I do this with my son and he's saved more than $10 already. This way you can teach your children to budget for special occasions and you can teach them to budget for souveniers on your vacation. It's a geat way to make something boring fun.
5. Saving money at the grocery store by clipping coupons, shopping sales, and using store loyalty cards? Save it! Most major chain grocery stores total your savings at the bottom of your receipt. When you get home from shopping, set up a transfer from your checking to savings account for the amount on your receipt. Just don't forget to put the grocery's away!
6. Still keep a check register? Round down deposits to the nearest 10 dollars (i.e. $255.00 would be rounded down to $250) and transfer the $5 to savings. Make purchases using debit cards or checks? Round up! A purchase for $17.35 can be rounded up to $18.00 and the difference of $0.65 can be saved. It's like saving spare change without handling cash.
7. Set up an automatic transfer every pay day. If you don't see the money come in, how can you miss it?
8. Sell your stuff. Ok not everything, just the stuff you don't use. Have DVD's you haven't watched in a while? Take them to a used media store and sell them for cash. Have a garage sale. Sell books to a used book store. Deposit those funds in your high-yield online savings account.
9. Sell your services. Like kids? Babysit. This can be your vacation money. If you get enough clients you can take a vacation every year! Know how to fix computers? Fix them on the side and pocket the cash. Just follow all tax laws!
10. Increase your income by working more. Like to write? Start a blog. Like to work with the public? Work at your local mall. In addition to some discounts (save those dollars!) you might meet some really cool people.
11. Remember when gas was nearing $4 a gallon? Pretend it's still is and save the difference when you fill up.
12. Make dinner at home and take leftovers to work. If you spend $5 a day on lunch ($5 footlong anyone?) and instead take leftovers you'll save substantially. Eat ice cream at home and not at the local ice cream parlor. I know it's delicious, it's one of my downfalls but make it a special treat (for reaching a savings goal!) and you won't be missing much, especially if you buy ice cream at the store instead.
13. Don't spoil your kids. I fail miserably at this. Instead of buying your kids "stuff" or junk they don't need, play a boardgame with them instead. My son loves playing Monopoly jr. and we even play Wii games when I can stand the humiliation. It's cheaper than going to Chuck E. Cheese or the toy store (or Walmart!) and much more fun. We are finding fun stuff to do around the house instead of spending money. I have noticed a HUGE impact in my checking account.

Some tips from my reading of personal finance blogs and articles.

• Track your spending and cut back in areas that aren't necessary
• Save automatically
• Eat at home
• Drive less (walk more and train for Disney!)
• Keep your tires properly inflated and your car maintained. Change your oil when you're supposed to, and change your air filter according to your car's maintence schedule. This will increase your fuel efficiency. You must also not lead foot it. I know in my neighborhood there are a ton of people who slam on the gas when leaving a green light only to stop 500 feet away at a red light. Slow it down when leaving the red lights, you'll notice a difference.
• Life frugally, not cheaply. Need clothes? Don't buy jeans that will last 4 washes before they fall apart. Find clothes that fit, you're comfortable in, and that will last more than 3 months. If you spend $20 on a pair of jeans that last 3 months, you are spending $80 a year on 1 pair of jeans since you must replace them often. If you spend $60 on a pair of jeans that last longer than a year, you've already saved $20+.
• Shop at consignment stores. I have to admit, I'm a clothes snob. I won't wear used clothes unless they're my boyfriends. I don't buy myself clothes like I used to but I do steal his clothes. Afterall, they're free. I may purchase used jeans for my son since he's in a growth spurt. He's got enough t-shirts to last him until next school year. You'd be surprised at how much you can save.
• Increase your income.
• Build an Emergency Fund. Pay off all debt. Get all your financial documents in order. In other words, work hard to get your financial house in order.

Saving does take hard work and dedication but it can be done. Even with those lacking self discipline such as myself. The one key point is you must make sure everyone is on board that has access to your money. I tell my son why we will purchase some items and not others. He's completely on board with me about saving more money for Florida. It's easier to work as a team instead of fighting a losing battle. If you have any more suggestions leave a comment!