Having trouble making ends meet?

If you have trouble making ends meet due to being unemployed, underemployed or just because of cost increases you need to begin by looking at your basic expenses.  Consider the following:

Are all those cable channels necessary?  Maybe go to basic cable and then add NetFlix to make sure you have more than enough to watch.

Is it necessary to have both a landline and a cell phone?  If everyone in your family has a cell phone is the cost of a land line really a necessity or can you get by with just the cell phones?

Tell your doctor you refuse to take anything but a generic drug.  He will find one for you!  He has no incentive unless you notify him that you need generics because you cannot afford the name brand ones.

Find coupons on the Internet for products you use regularly.  Do not get a coupon to “try a product” unless you would try it without the coupon.

Pay your loan payments and credit card payments more often.  Think about it, if you make a payment every 2 weeks how much less is the interest than one payment made during the month?

Try either a formal bartering exchange or simply just barter for services to keep available cash.  Trade your skill at carpentry with someone’e skill to fix your car.

Try living on cash only every other day or every other week.  You will realize where your money is going more and begin to take the steps to curb it.

If you are looking for more money saving tips, look at the Finances for Everyday website for special reports on saving money.