Perhaps you've been complaining about not having monthly savings. You've been employed for a number of years now but still not a single centavo set aside for emergency situations. WYou are not alone. There are countless of people who share the same sentiment with you.

But take it easy, improving monthly saving isn't a very hard task. It may mean for some people to control their spending, others may need to make major efforts and change their lifestyle.

Your rent (or home mortgage and taxes) and all payments on existing debt are fixed amounts. But consider your other monthly expenses as well. You can save a lot.

Phone: Limit your use of mobile phone. Don't make long distance calls unless you really need to. Even better, buy a prepaid card and limit your calls to one card a month.

Food: Cut down on dining out, ordering food, or eating lunch at fast-food restaurants. By packing your lunch, and preparing dinners at home, you will not only save lots of money, but also you will be eating healthier food.

Although you think you are quite familiar with your weekly grocery bill and shopping patterns, examine your bill. Concentrate on vegetables, fruits, fish, and poultry. Do comparative shopping. The price on some items of food can vary up to 200 percent. Make a list of the food needed for making lunch, for work and dinners at home for a week, and buy just those items. Make an effort to find and shop at the store with the most reasonable prices of your regular weekly shopping needs.

Clothing: Don't buy any new clothing for three months. Many of us have too much clothing and too many shoes in our closets -- some that we bought and wore once, twice, or never. Go through your wardrobe and set aside your clothes for work. You may need to convince yourself that your old dress, jacket, shoes, or sweater are still useful and that you don't need to replace them yet.

Transportation: Don't use taxis except for an emergency. Use public transportation if possible.

Recreation/Travel: Instead of balcony seats, go for orchestra. You can buy your snacks in the grocery store before going inside the movie house, or just take your snacks after watching the movie. Theatre-food is expensive.

Make a barbecue picnic at your home or in the near-by park. For summer vacation, go to the beach, rent a cottage, prepare your own food, and enjoy beauty of the nature.

Others: Don't buy lottery tickets. Instead of buying lottery tickets, for a month donate that money to a charity or a person in need. It will make you feel good for a long time.

Lessen your purchases of cosmetics, cigarettes, and alcohol to half, and then keep trying to reduce those expenses.

Discuss expenses with your children, and have them understand and share commitments to sound money management.

Source: essortment.com