Baby Steps to Financial Freedom - By: Molly Wider

Getting your finances in order is not likely to happen overnight-nor does it have to, really. Even if you are in so-called financial straits, and have to make some big changes pretty quickly, once those are in place, over time, you will likely find plenty of other ways to save. Like any life style change, allowing yourself to "grow into" the changes slowly and easily will be a better guarantee of success than if you try to do everything at once.

Once you get the basics down, like using a budget for everything, paying off those credit cards (or at least paying more than the minimum each month), and buying with cash, you may think you've got it all wrapped up. But there are still other places where you can save huge-here are a few of them.

Think: "do it only if it's full." So if the dishwasher's not crammed with dishes, if the washer isn't chock-a-block, don't turn them on. Then, don't turn it all the way on. Turn off the dry setting on the dishwasher, and let dishes dry on their own, and only leave clothes in the dryer the minimum they need before hanging them to finish.

Cut out all the purchased drinks-coffee, pop, water, booze, and drink boxes. All of these drinks cost a fortune. You can make coffee, wine and beer at home (or give them up) and make up drink boxes with re-usable containers. For a super cheap choice with water, put a filter right on your tap and carry water in refillable containers.

You can cut electricity costs in so many ways. Use only CFL lights, wrap your water heater, and turn it down a few degrees. You won't even notice the drop in temperature. Take shorter showers. Keep the heat in your home down, and the air conditioning up. Turn the lights out when you leave a room. You can cut costs up to 75% (uh-huh) with these changes.

Clip coupons. If you must buy newspapers and magazines, use the clip out coupons to get super deals, especially the loss leaders at grocery stores on weekends. Also use your newspapers to watch for price matching where you can usually get the lower price and an additional 10% off.

Sell anything you haven't used in the past 12 months. Get the whole neighborhood to join in, and sell what you do not use. Be ruthless. You'll feel a whole lot better when you can see the back wall in your garage. Really.

Buy down. Everyone seems to buy up. But if you decide to buy a car, house or other large ticket item, buy less than what the bank says you can afford. Try about 30% less-and put the savings into the bank.

Keep your car until it drives itself to the dump. Then, buy a used one, and save about 30% or more on the purchase price of a new one.

Every time you save money and set that savings aside, you are another baby step towards financial freedom.

About the Author

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