NeWS to KnOW

#1 Minding the pennies and letting the dollars go. 

- Don't clip coupons and then drive over town to save the $.50.

- Also, when you save $7 at the store with coupons, move it to your savings account so you don't spend it on something else.

#2 Being confused by your credit report

- The most important part of you when you need to borrow money is your credit report.  Always know what's on it and don't wait till you need it to try to fix it.

#3 Letting budgeting get you down

- Most of America doesn't have a budget.  Start small.  If you don't know where you are spending all your dollars, start with the two largest areas of spending like dining out and groceries.  Track that for a little while and see what you can save.

#4 Letting your money leak away

- Do you spend money during the day and week that you don't track?  Do you give the kids money and have no clue what they will spend it on?  Try keeping track of these smaller types of "leaks" and you may be amazed how much money you are spending.

#5 Being out of touch

- If you are letting your partner handle everything, now is the time to get involved.  You need to know how to balance the check book, pay ALL the bills if need be, and know how much money you really have.  You don't need to argue over the finances, but maybe have "money meetings" to discuss the current balance sheet for your household.

These simple 5 steps can make a difference.  Give them a try.