The Zen of Success – More Habitual Saving
Published June 24, 2010 | 
I’ve been researching saving habits of the Successful extensively over the last several years in my quest to eliminate debt, increase my savings and increase 
financial security for my family, and the I think everyone will agree the biggest problem for many of us, is that impulse spending, on eating out, shopping and online purchases, is a big drain on our finances, the absolute biggest budget breaker for many, and a sure way to become mired in dire financial straits. The Successful are able to develop their financial and saving habits through strong focus and clarity of purpose that are critical components of their vision of the goals they have defined and set for their success including some of the following.
Stop paying interest. Some people pay thousands of dollars in interest every year and I’m happy to say that I now pay zero in interest, after becoming debt-free several years ago. Remember, the key is to stop getting into new debt, and to pay off your old debt as quickly as possible, paying off your credit cards the priority, paying off car loans and purchase vehicles using cash. 
Again, this is difficult for many and not for everyone, but I highly recommend it for those who can make the changes and adjustments, and manage it.
Stop buying unnecessary items. This is a toughie, but if you’re really serious about saving, you’ll at least consider it, and if you make a list of monthly expenditures for small items and you stopped buying the things you identify as unnecessary, at least for a little while, you’ll notice a pretty sizable savings.
Stop traveling. If you travel several times a year, or even just once a year, you could save thousands by not traveling. Learn to enjoy yourself from where you are, and you can relax and take a break from work without having to leave home, as each trip can cost thousands, depending on how far and long you travel, so this is a huge potential savings for some people.
Slash your entertaining and entertainment. Entertainment expenses can really add up, so if you spend a lot of money going out to entertainment including movies, theater, dining out, drinking, clubbing, etc., you can curb t
his habit and save a lot of money, and the key is that you don’t need to spend money to have fun.
Cut out all subscriptions. Each little subscription you have is a small-ticket item, but together can amount to over $1,000 for many families, and some people that have even more subscriptions and can save thousands.
With less stress worrying about many needless costs and expenses of living, the Successful will then focus their energies on reaching the goals and objectives they have been able to carefully plan for with a clear vision of the accomplishments they will reach.
The Zen of Success – Habitual Saving
Published June 23, 2010 | The Successful credit their financial success to habitually saving (even more than investing) and it goes without saying this isn’t the easiest habit to learn, because it’s in your DNA to value today’s purchases more than those you put off until later, whether tomorrow or next year, and that’
s why most saving is accomplished automatically, which means whenever you get paid, make sure money automatically moves into your discretionary savings or retirement accounts.
With the economy continuing to under perform as far as the eye can see, many people are looking for ways to save money and get on more solid financial ground.
If you have not been able to save any substantial amounts, you might have to make some difficult lifestyle changes like many have been able to accomplish the past couple of years, so I’ve put together a list of ways you can make big changes, at least for a little while, and who knows, maybe over the long term if needed.
Of course there will be some objections, especially from people who don’t think they can change their lives this much, or who just flat refuse to, and that’s fine, as these changes will prove too difficult for many to accomplish 
voluntarily, but know that you can live with less, and with the right mindset, you can find happiness without needing to spend money, as the key is to find your contentment while living with less.
Move to a smaller home. For many people, housing is in fact the biggest expense in their annual budget, therefore representing the greatest opportunity for them to save, since living in a smaller, less costly home, you can save a lot of money all at once.
Now it’s obvious this isn’t a quick change, so you need to stay alert for a good opportunity to make the change, and you start by looking for smaller homes closer to the places you need to go including work, grocery store, schools, etc., so in addition, you can save on transportation costs, and this change alone can save thousands each year.
Sell a car. Many families are starting to adjust to relying on fewer cars, with carefully arranged schedules, be sure and take any cash you get from selling your car and use it to pay off some of the loan for the car you keep if needed, or use it to pay off higher interest debt you might have.
Get a smaller, used car. Whether you already have only one car, or you decide you absolutely need two or more vehicles, you can downgrade your car so that it costs less, and again, potential savings of thousands each year.
You must understand that just like any goal, getting your finances stable and becoming financially successful requires the development of the good financial habits the Successful have been able to weave into the tapestry of their state of being, and of course the creation of habits takes time to make the decision, establish and understand achievable goals, and define your course of action to start down the path you visualize for yourself.