1) Find out where your money is going
· Keep a spending journal for at least a week…a month would be best
· Just keep a small notebook with you and write down everything you spend your money on
· Break it down to categories…credit cards, mortgage, rent, car payment, restaurants, groceries, etc.
· This will allow you to see where your money is going

2) See where you can cut down on your spending
· Decide what was a NEED and what was a WANT
· For example…
· NEED = car payment, mortgage, rent, groceries…etc.
· WANT = Starbucks coffee, restaurant, clothes…etc.
· See where you can cut down…If you were buying coffee every morning, that would add up to about $25 per week, $100 per month…consider making it at home
· How often did you go out for lunch or dinner…could you have cooked at home or brought your lunch.

3) Stop using your credit cards
· Cut the credit cards up that you don't use
· Call your credit card company and ask them to lower your rate…tell them you will leave if they don't
· Look for 0% offers if you transfer your balance
· Pay more than the minimum balance and pay the highest interest cards first

4) Talk to your local bank
· Make sure your checking account is earning interest or at least has a sweep account that will sweep any excess money into a money market account.
· Consider using an internet bank…they offer interest checking accounts.

If you have a question send Aaron an email at youask@ksfy.com