Saving money doesn't have to be hard. Here are a handful of simple tips to help you save money starting today:

Invest your tax refund into a bank certificate of deposit so you won't be apt to spend it later. If you get a profit-sharing bonus or a rather large sales commission from your job, use a third of it to pay down your largest credit card or personal debt, use a third to put into savings, and have fun with the rest. Having a little fun with extra money you've earned will help keep you motivated to keep doing the same in the future, and you'll have accomplised debt reduction and savings build-up at the same time.

Pull out your home loans papers as soon as possible. Even though interest rates have been rising lately, it might be time now to convert your old adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed-rate loan now, especially if you're planning on staying put in your home for several more years.

Know where your money is going: Track "splurge" spending. Debit card statements or online bank statements can track "why-did-I-buy-that" purchases, and by totaling up your small purchases by month, you'll see where you can start cutting spending and increasing savings.

It saves money to pay off high-interest credit cards. Pay off the costliest ones first. Only transfer your credit card balance to a zero-percent card when you've cut up the first card and you've quit adding purchases to the new card (lock it up in a cabinet, make sure it's out of your wallet). Beware of paying off debt with home equity, as you'll generally just be reducing your home equity savings and spreading out credit card debt for years.

Make an appointment with your payroll department to learn all your options about automatic savings direct from your paycheck. Having 2-5% of your paycheck put directly into a 401(k) account at work or into your own personal IRA means you have fewer easy options to blow the money. Deduct the max allowed if your employer matches your contribution. Don't touch the money except for emergencies.

Make sure your home is adequately insured in the event of emergencies, but don't go overboard and over-insure your life. Shop insurance quotes with several firms. Determine how much you might save with the highest deductibles you can afford when buying automobile and home insurance. Ask about new discounts introduced since you bought your insurance policy from your current agent. If you don't find discounts, change agents.

Automate payment of regular bills to avoid late fees. Paying your bills late is the number one way to destroy your credit score. Some companies are easy to work with when you ask them to adjust due dates of your bills to better coordinate with your paydays. Pay credit card bills online, as you can pay the bill the exact day it's due and earn interest on your own money for as long as possible without having to send off a check 10 days early via "snail mail."

As you can see, saving money is as easy as taking the time to explore new ways to spend the money you already have, and to take action steps to keep your hard-earned cash working hard for you!

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