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Do you budget your family income , or do you spend what you earn each month and worry about the bills later?

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You have to start thinking S-M-A-R-T. What kind of cutbacks can you make? For example: I drink bottled water. Paying $1 a bottle on something that covers over 65% of our planet is not smart. So I bought one of those water filters that screw into your faucet. I have bottles that I refil over and over again. This doesn't take much time and you will reduce your carbon footprint as a bonus. Do you have a lot of small appliances around the house that are always on? Televisions, subwoofers, computers, modems, sterio equipment and microwaves use the most energy when they are left plugged into the outlet, even when they are turned off. Plug all your plugs from entertainment system into those 6 prong outlet plugs with the switch on them. When you are not using these items shut the switch off. I noticed a huge difference on my electric bill just by doing this. I also bought some of those florescent bulbs that look a lot like a regular bulb. These things use 80% less electricity than regular bulbs. Ave 60Watt incalescent bulb (old school) runs you 2 cents per hour. Ave 60Watt energy bulb averages 0.5 cents per hour. Wanna be creative? Find yourself leaving lights on? Buy a motion sensor switch, the lights will turn on when you enter the room and will turn off (by a set amount of time) when you leave the room. I have one, they cost $15 at HomeDepot. You would be surprised, but these small things add up. If you really need the money right away start cutting back on your food costs. Romain noodles cost a dime and they taste just as good as campbells chicken noodle that costs over $1 a can. Ok no chicken in romain noodles, but you are probably just missing about 4 tiny pieces of chicken. Adjust your toilet to use lesser water. If you don't know how to do this then put a brick inside your toilet 'chamber'. You will use a less water each time you flush, this adds up over time people. Before you know it you will be ahead. Do you really need over 100 channels on your cable tv? Watch shows on-line for free and down grade your cable service. Need new windshield wipers for your car? Who says you have to buy 2? You only need the new one on the drivers side, leave the old wiper on the passenger side. Are you an impulsive buyer?? Listen here's what you do......always save the receipt. Find a place to save all the boxes, packaging, etc. Try to get obsessed with folding all the packing materials, making them neat and tape the receipt onto the box/package. Make a game out of it. And get yourself into a new habit called "impulse returning" I once bought a shampoo rug cleaner to scrub my carpets. After I was done I didnt need it anymore so I returned it to the store. I like to think of it as free rental. So remember you have to start thinking S-M-A-R-T!

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Other Answers (6)

• I spend every dollar on paper on purpose before the month begins.
  
  That does NOT mean I'm a tightwad who never has any fun, it just means I set my own limits in each category before its too late. Its a lot easier to enjoy your entertainment spending when you know you're not going to be late on something else because of it.
• I budget,most of the bills are direct debits/standing orders in any case.
  Also try to put some money away if I can,the amount varies.Trying to save a bit more next month for xmas.
  I like to sleep at nights ! lol
• I budget, I have a separate account for bills, I have set up a standing order for a set amount to be transferred into that account a day after I get paid. That what is left in my other account is mine.
• Usually try to budget
• Even though we should budget, we spend the money before we even have it!
• Budget. Dave Ramsey Rocks!