Best Ways to Save Money in 2011

What are the best ways to save money in 2011? It depends on your lifestyle and personality (eg, How much debt do you have? What's your money personality?). But these unusual ways to save money work for most people most of the time.

They're more psychological than the "same old same old" money saving tips...

Best Ways to Save Money in 2011

Relate your financial goals to your overall life purpose. What do you want to do with your life — where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years? Your thoughts become things, so stay focused on what you want to achieve in your life. Relate your life goals to specific money goals. Say, for instance, your life goal is to live in a home with a view of the ocean. Cut a picture of your dream home out of a magazine, or sketch it yourself. Paste it your fridge, bathroom mirror, office wall. That vision will help you stay motivated to save money this year.

Get rid of household and office clutter. When your home is cluttered, you often spend money to replace things you can’t find. You keep buying “organizers" such as containers and shelving units -- and you may even hire a professional organizer. Sometimes you buy things you don’t need to declutter your home — and they just cause more clutter and more debt! So, one of the best ways to save money in 2011 is to declutter. The less clutter you have, the better able you can see and find the things you need. Food will be less likely to go bad in the fridge. Warranties and guarantees and receipts will be at your fingertips. You won't have to spend money replacing stuff you have, but can’t find. Decluttering can even increase your motivation to set and achieve financial goals.

Activate two money saving tips a month. We see the best ways to save money everywhere – the internet, budget books, our rich old aunts, on placemats at funky restaurants. But do we actually apply them to our lives? Nope. It’s too much. So we need to be strategic about saving money in 2011. Pick one or two money saving tips. Focus on making those two tips a habit for a month or six weeks. Then, find one two more money saving tips to work on. This way, you’re not overwhelmed with a million ways to save money.

Make two days a week “No Spend” days. “Unspend,” advise the financial gurus at DailyWorth. “No Spend Days are powerful budget-balancing tools. By simply not spending money one day a week, you give yourself more wiggle room in other areas.” I think one day a week is too easy – I challenge you to make two days a week your “No Spend” days! No DVD rentals, no 7-11 slurpees (my personal weakness), and no restaurant meals.

These are just a few tips for saving money. For the whole enchilada, go to Quips and Tips for Money and Love.

Also -- my husband and I have discovered a pot of gold in The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated. It's not about saving money per se -- it's about living the life the way you want it, no matter how much money you have.

Any questions or comments on these "best ways to save money in 2011"? I welcome you below...

Articles on Goals - Setting and Achieving Goals

These articles on goals focus on setting and achieving goals, at work and home. This collection of articles includes different types of goals: weight loss goals, career goals, relationship goals, and life goals.

If you don't find what you're looking for here, it probably doesn't exist! I'm just kidding...if you don't find the right article on goals here, let me know in the comments section below. I'll see what I can do -- maybe I'll write one just for you!

How to Achieve Goals – Self-Improvement Vs. Performance Goals is my most recent article on goals. I've been writing articles about goals for years, and only today discovered that people with performance goals are more deceitful than people with self-improvement goals!

8 Ways to Pay Off Debt With a Low Income – Achieve Money Goals is one of my favorite articles on financial goals, because many of us who are in a great deal of debt have low incomes! But, I paid off my student loan debt while making $30,000 a year -- so I know you CAN achieve your financial goals no matter how much money you make.

Achieve Weight Loss Goals – 5 Healthy Weight Loss Diet Plans describes several different types of weight loss diets. I'm not a big fan of dieting, but love the idea of volumetrics (eating lots of fruit and veggies to fill you up). It's not a specific diet; it's just a way to eat that makes you feel full.

What Goals Should I Set for My Life? The Best Types of Life Goals is a summary of many different types of goals, including links to more articles on goals.

Those are just a smattering of all the articles about goals on Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals. Ooops, I forgot to include an article about love goals!

How to Express Love – Examples of the Five Love Languages can help you achieve your relationship goals, because it's all about how to say "I love you" to your partner.

If you're looking for different articles on goals, let me know in the comments section below...

Happy goal setting and achieving!

Laurie