How to Save Little Bits of Money All the Time

Saving money is something all of us struggle with.  Unless you're Donald Trump, and even he has had his issues over the years.  Many of us get in the mindset that we'll save once we get a windfall.  The trouble, things usually don't work out that way.  Here are some tips for saving money here and there now.

Higher-end coffee shops are great, but if you're on a budget think of them more like a luxury than a daily habit. Make your own coffee before work. Buy the fancy creams to put in it if you like. By making it at home you'll save at least $1 a day. Also, there are other places that serve coffee cheaply. If you love the routine of going to get your cup of joe, don't give it up. Just do it more inexpensively.

When you pay bills, pay yourself too.  Write yourself a check and put it away.  At the end of the month, put that money away into a savings account.  The process of writing a check is meant to mentally block that money from being available to you.  So when the check is written, you can't spend it.

Nearly every bank will help you set up an automatic deposit, either from your checking to your savings or directly from your paycheck (if you have direct deposit).  You can also elect to have money transferred from your debit card to a savings account each time you make a purchase. Pennies can add up here, so why not make them add up in your favor?

You can still eat out, but if you cook, say, three more meals a week in each week you will be amazed at the savings. Having food in the house is half the battle. Don't just shop for one meal, but for several. Use leftovers to help create the next meal.

Libraries are free! It's great to buy books once in a while, but make the habit of reading come from the library. Buy books on special occasions or when an author is in town.

Pay everything with cash for a few weeks so you can see just how valuable money is. Sometimes when we use debit cards, our ideas of how much things cost get skewed. When you realize that a few cents here and there really does add up, you'll be more likely to spend wisely. Small changes really do make a difference.