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5 Serious Ways to Spend
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5 Expenses to Keep

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**5 EASY Ways to Cut Personal Spending**

by Suzann Kale

1. Stay impossibly organized. You'd be amazed at how much money slips through our fingers when we don't pay our credit card bills on time; when we use ATMs that charge a fee; when we don't follow up on a store refund to make sure it actually happens; when we lose small items around the house and then have to buy new ones; when we make needed purchases at the last minute save money (thus missing sales or not having time to find the best price).

2. Buy only machine washable clothes.

3. Switch to less expensive brands. There's a huge difference in price between, say Tide Laundry Detergent and Arm and Hammer. But they both do a good job cleaning. Why buy the more expensive brand? At the pharmacy, get the house brand or a generic. In clothing, furniture, and appliances, go for a lower price rather than a big brand name. Honestly, there's no reason not to buy jeans at Target. Don't allow yourself to be hypnotized by advertising and social conditioning.

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4. Give up your gym membership. There's no reason we can't work out for free - at home, outdoors, or at a community center. If you don't have a gym membership to give up, make sure you are exercising - it will hopefully cut back on medical expenses in the long run. (But I'm not a doctor - so don't make any changes without consulting your health care practitioner first, okay?)

If you're employed in a gym, you might start thinking of alternative ways you can use your skills, like making a workout video (see Financial Self-Defense During Our Current Money Crisis), or starting private classes of your own. No need to do anything drastic just yet - but it's always wise to have a Plan B.

5. Keep your cash in your bra. This will definitely curtail your impulse purchases.

Have you considered EFT? It's the medication-free relaxation technique.

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