Improve Your Memory Using Codes

Have you ever wondered how to improve your memory? One powerful way to improve your memory is through memorization. This article will provide three memory codes which, when memorized and used correctly, will dramatically increase your memory. This article also provides examples of how you can apply these memory tricks in real life, even when you're taking a test!

One to Ten Memory Code

1. This method gives a code word to each number, 1 - 10, each word rhyming with the number
   
   
   
   
   • One - Bun
     
   
   
   • Two - Shoe
     
   
   
   • Three - Flea
     
   
   
   • Four - Door
     
   
   
   • Five - Hive
     
   
   
   • Six - Sticks
     
   
   
   • Seven - Heaven
     
   
   
   • Eight - Gate
     
   
   
   • Nine - Pine
     
   
   
   • Ten - Hen
     


2. Remember the Code words. Repeat each combination several times, to make sure you know the keyword for each. Say "One is Bun, Two is Shoe, Three is Flea," and so on.
   
   
   
   
   • Write down the numbers 1-10 on a piece of paper and place the keyword for each next to it, from memory.
     


3. Build a story with the keywords for each item you need to remember. For example, we have a simple shopping list: a dozen eggs, a box of salt, a box of rice, a half dozen bananas, a loaf of bread, a grapefruit, shoelaces, 2 bars of Ivory soap, maple syrup, and a box of pretzels.
   
   
   
   
   • A dozen eggs is your first item. Bun, you remember is your first word. Think of taking a bun in your hand and banging it down on a carton of eggs until every egg is broken. Or think of taking an egg, shell and all, and putting it between two buns and biting into this egg sandwich!
     
   
   
   • A box of salt is your next item. Shoe is your next key word. Think of pouring a box of salt into a shoe. Think of scooping mounds of salt off the ground with your shoe. Think of salting your shoe and eating it!
     
   
   
   • Flea is next, for a box of rice. Think about a flea using a grain of rice like a weightlifter.
     
   
   
   • Half a dozen bananas. Key word-Door. Think of six doors shaped exactly like big bananas. Think of peeling the doors. Think of throwing bananas against the door until they are squashed.
     
   
   
   • Loaf of bread. Key word-Hive. Think of a bee hive made of a loaf of bread, with bees swarming around it.
     
   
   
   • A grapefruit. Key word-Sticks. Think of taking pointed sticks and driving them through a grapefruit-and imagine the grapefruit juice squirting in your eyes.
     
   
   
   • Shoelaces. Key word-Heaven. Think of angels dropping shoelaces out of the sky. Think of an angel tying her shoelace and breaking it.
     
   
   
   • Two bars of Ivory Soap. Key word-Gate. Think of an iron spike gate with two bars of soap stuck on the spikes. Think of making soap from an elephants tusk-of ivory.
     
   
   
   • Maple syrup. Key word-Pine. Think of a huge vat of syrup being poured over a pine tree. Think of dipping a pine tree in maple syrup and stirring it.
     
   
   
   • Box of pretzels. Key word-Hen. Think of a hen laying a pretzel-shaped egg. Think of pretzels all over the ground, with hens running over them and crumbling them.
     
   
   


4. Write down the numbers one through ten. Next to each one write the grocery item it stands for.
   
   
   
   
   • e.g. "One is Bun. We took the bun and smashed what?" You take it from here.
     
   
   

One to a Hundred Memory Code

1. Remember the letters for the numbers 1 - 9
   
   
   
   
   • 1 - T. If we draw one heavy straight LiNe in the T it reminds us of the number One.
     
   
   
   • 2 - N. Notice that N has two straight dark lines drawn in it to remind us of the number Two.
     
   
   
   • 3 - M. We drew the letter M with three dark lines so that M reminds us of the number three.
     
   
   
   • 4 - R. Notice we broke the letter R into four dark lines to remind us of the number Four.
     
   
   
   • 5 - L. We drew the dark lines of the number Five in the shape of an L, to remind us that Five is L and L is Five.
     
   
   
   • 6 - G. No trouble here-number Six looks like the letter G, and the letter G looks like the number Six.
     
   
   
   • 7 - K. Notice that the K is drawn half dark and half light. The dark half of the K looks like the number Seven has fallen down. Turn the article a quarter turn clockwise and the dark Seven in the K will be standing upright.
     
   
   
   • 8 - F. We stuck F inside the ToP loop of the number Eight because it forms and odd enough looking symbol to remind you that Eight is F and F is Eight.
     
   
   
   • 9 - P. No trouble here-Nine looks like a backward P, and P looks like a backward Nine.
     
   
   


2. Learn the nine key words
   
   
   
   
   • One=T=Tea. Easy. The letter T sounds like the word Tea.
     
   
   
   • Two=N=Navy. Think of two Navies with their two ships painted with the number Two on them.
     
   
   
   • Three=M=Ma. Three Ma's greet you when you come home from school. All three look exactly like your Ma. So you yell "Ma, Ma, Ma."
     
   
   
   • Four=R=Red. Four red rhymes with forehead. Think of four red heads of hair.
     
   
   
   • Five=L=Lid. Think of Five Lids of different sizes running around looking for the right size pots to fit onto.
     
   
   
   • Six=G=Guide. Think of Six guides gazing in six directions-up, down, north, east, south, and west.
     
   
   
   • Seven=K=Key. Think of the number Seven with seven keys on it, jangling along while it hops on one LeG.
     
   
   
   • Eight=F=Fuzz. Think of stuffing the number Eight into a huge pile of fuzz. Think of Eight with fuzzy whiskers.
     
   
   
   • Nine=P=Pa. Imagine your Pa shaped like the figure Nine. You say to him, "Pa, watch your posture."
     
   
   


3. Go over these linkups until you're sure you know all nine of them. When you can say all nine letters and numbers in two minutes, you're doing fine.
   


4. From now on, the number Zero will always equal the letter S.
   


5. Put it all together. We substitute the letters TS for the number Ten. But TS isn't a word, so we drop in a couple vowels-and TS becomes ToeS. Get the idea?
   
   
   
   
   • How about the number Eleven? What key word can you make out of it? Again, remember that the number One is the equivalent of the letter T. So the number Eleven becomes TT. Stick in a vowel and TT becomes ToT-our eleventh key word, meaning a small child.
     
   
   
   • Now let's see what we can do with the number Twelve. The number One is T. The number Two is N. Put them together and you have TN. Stick in a vowel and you have word number Twelve-TiN. (Of course we could have made the word ToN, but it wouldn't have been a picture word. TiN you can see, ToN you can't see.)
     
   
   
   • How about the Thirteenth key word? Again, the number One is T. The number Three is the letter M. Put them together and you have TM. Here again, we could make TM into ToM or TiMe-but neither is a picture word. So we'll try TiMer, a stopwatch used for timing sporting events.
     
   
   
   • One more example should clear up any questions about this system. Number Fourteen is equal to the letters TR. TRain should do it.
     
     
     
     
     • This is how the first twenty key words and numbers turn out to be: One=Tea, Two=Navy, Three=Ma, Four=Red, Five=Lid, Six=Guide, Seven=Key, Eight=Fuzz, Nine=Pa, Ten=ToeS, Eleven=ToT, Twelve=TiN, Thirteen=TiMer, Fourteen=TRain, Fifteen=TaiL, Sixteen=TiGer, Seventeen=TicK (The bug that bites you), Eighteen=TaFfy, Nineteen=ToP (The kind you spin), Twenty=NoSe
       
     
     
   
   


6. Look over the twenty-word key list for about two minutes, and then try this. Say, "What is Nineteen?" The letters TP must come to mind if you remember the linkups. What do you make of it? Look at the list to see if you're right. Try 20. Two is N and the number Zero is always S. NS becomes what word? Look at our list to see if you've come up with the right answer.
   


7. Now, just for the fun of it, take a stab at the number Eighty-five. The number Eight is F. The number Five is L. FL suggests what word. It's short. Its second letter is a vowel. Write out your word and check the list that follows to see if you got the right word. Notice I said the "right" word, the right word being the right word for you. Remember, you can always come up with your own picture words.
   
   
   
   
   • This is how the last eighty key words and numbers turn out to be (in groups of ten):
     
     
     
     
     • Twenty-one=NeT, Twenty-two=NuN, Twenty-three=NaMetag, Twenty-four=NuRse, Twenty-five=NaiL, Twenty-six=NiaGara (Falls), Twenty-seven=NicKel (The coin), Twenty-eight=NiFe (It's really kNife, but it sounds like NiFe. This is because no other word could be found for the NF combination.), Twenty-nine=NaPkin, Thirty=MiSt,
       
     
     
     • Thirty-one=MiTt, Thirty-two=MiNe (A coal or gold mine), Thirty-three=MuMmy, Thirty-four=MiRror, Thirty-five=MaLlet (A wooden headed hammer), Thirty-six=MuG, Thirty-seven=MiKe (A microphone), Thirty-eight=MaFia (Think of a mob of gangsters with guns), Thirty-nine=MaP, Forty=RaSp (A large rough type of FiLe),
       
     
     
     • Forty-one=RaT, Forty-two=RiNk, Forty-three=RooM, Forty-four=R.R. (A railroad), Forty-five=RoLl (A bun or pastry), Forty-six=RaG, Forty-seven=RocK, Forty-eight=RaFt, Forty-nine=RiP (A tear in a sheet), Fifty=LeTtuce,
       
     
     
     • Fifty-one=LoT (A piece of ground), Fifty-two=LiNe (String or clothes line), Fifty-three=LiMb, Fifty-four=LuRe (A fishing lure), Fifty-five=LiLy, Fifty-six=LeG, Fifty-seven=LaKe, Fifty-eight=LiFt (British for elevator), Fifty-nine=LiP, Sixty=GaSpipe,
       
     
     
     • Sixty-one=GuT (intestine), Sixty-two=GuN, Sixty-three=GuM, Sixty-four=GaRter, Sixty-five=GoaL (a football goal PoSt), Sixty-six=GoGles (Eye-glasses), Sixty-seven=GooK (A gooey mess of some kind), Sixty-eight=GaFf (A spear for hooking a fish), Sixty-nine=GuPpy (A minnow, or small fish), Seventy=KiSser (Slang for a face),
       
     
     
     • Seventy-one=KiTe, Seventy-two=KiN (Think of a special relative of yours), Seventy-three=KiMono (A loose robe or gown), Seventy-four=KeRenel (A grain of corn), Seventy-five=KiLn (stove or oven), Seventy-six=KeG, Seventy-seven=KicKer, Seventy-eight=KoFee (It's really coffee, but koffee sounds the same. KF is hard to make into a picture word), Seventy-nine=KiPper (A fish), Eighty=FiSt,
       
     
     
     • Eighty-one=FooT, Eighty-two=FaN (A machine for cooling the house), Eighty-three=FeMale, Eighty-four=FiRe, Eighty-five=FiLe (A fingernail file), Eighty-six=FiG, Eighty-seven=FaKir (Think of a turbaned Indian standing before a cobra), Eighty-eight=FiFe (A flute), Eighty-nine=FoP (Think of a dandy dresser), Ninety=PoSt,
       
     
     
     • Ninety-one=PiT (A peach or plum pit), Ninety-two=PeN (A writing pen), Ninety-three=PiMple, Ninety-four=PeaR, Ninety-five=PaiL, Ninety-six=PiG, Ninety-seven=PicKle, Ninety-eight=PuFf Adder (A poisonous snake), Ninety-nine=PoPcorn, One Hundred=TiSSue.
       
     
     
   
   


8. Right now get a piece of paper and write down these numbers: Two, Sixteen, Twenty-seven, Thirty-three, Forty-four, Fifty-seven, Sixty-three, Seventy-eight, Eighty-four, and Ninety-three. If you remember more than half of the words these numbers represent, you're doing very well. With time and a little practice you'll soon know all one hundred numbers.
   


9. REMEMBER-THE-NAME CODE: this code will improve your ability to remember names. The three things this code involves is: One-Be absolutely confident that you can remember any name quickly, Two-Pay attention to each person you meet (I don't mean that you should stand and stare at people until they feel uncomfortable, but do talk and be friendly while you do your people-watching.), Three-Link up or associate the name with the way he or she looks or acts.
   
   
   
   
   • Suppose you meet a Mr. Silverman. You look him over and note-among other things-that he walks very straight. That his hair is gray-or silver. Imagine yourself pouring a vat of liquid silver over his head so that it runs down all over him, hardens, and stops him in his tracks. You've just made him a silver man. Picture him that way.
     
   
   
   • Or how about a Mrs. Saltinstall? You notice that she smiles a lot and has beautiful white teeth. Imagine her gargling with salt water. Imagine her getting to big a mouthful of salt, sputtering, and running off to her car. She jumps in it and it stalls. These two sounds-salt-stall-or just one of them, will recall her name to you the next time you see her.
     
   
   
   • How about a Mr. Franklin? Try this name yourself first, then see if some of your associations are the same as mine, even though they don't have to be the same.
     
     
     
     
     • Imagine Mr. Franklin flying a kite-the way Ben Franklin did. Mr. Franklin mentioned that he likes to eat-so I imagined him eating a three-foot long Frank with lint all over it. (Don't worry about calling him Mr. Hot Dog the next time you meet him.) Since Mr. Franklin says what's on his mind-I knew that he was frank-or outspoken.
       
     
     
   
   
   • We'll try one more-a Mrs. Mussel. Mussel sounds like muscle. Mrs. Mussel is skinny, about ninety pounds. That's what stays in your mind after you've looked her over. You imagine her flexing her right arm muscle and you're amazed that the muscle is huge-bigger than all the rest of her.(Another thing to remember is to get action into your mental pictures. Things in motion are easier to see than things that stand still.)
     
     
     
     
     • With a few weeks practice you'll be excellent at remembering names; check out the tips for more info on practice.
       
     
     
   
   


10. Congratulations! Just by reading and thinking about these steps, you've given your memory, brain, and imagination a good workout; to really become a memory genius, check out the tip section of this article as well.
    

Tips

• For the ONE TO TEN MEMORY CODE you can always dream up your own silly associations for any item. In a way, the more images you dream up for each item, them more likely you are to remember it. It's like throwing darts at a dartboard-the more you throw, the more likely it is that one will hit the bulls-eye.
  


• To clear your mind-imagine that you've written the ten key words you've just learned on a blackboard. Now, take one of those school blackboard erasers, and mentally wipe the words off. Now your mind is cleared.
  


• It might be easier to memorize these exercises by gathering the information in this article and organizing it in a more convenient fashion. For example organizing the 100 code in columns.
  


• Antiphlogistine; periosteum, takadiastase; plasmon; threlkeld; streptococcus; staphylococcus; micrococcus; plasmodium; Mississippi; Freiheit; Philadelphia; Cincinnati; athletics; no war; Etchenerg; American; Russian; Philosophy; Piet Potgleters's Neck; Manzinyama; theosaphy; catechism; Madjesoomalops. When you can recite this list in order and backwards, after scanning it for five seconds, you will know you have a powerful memory.
  


• Make associations as silly as possible so they will stay in your head.
  


• Have a complete understanding of consonants and vowels.
  


• The best way to remember that S=Zero is to remember the Morse Code Distress signal, SOS...SOS...SOS....That way you'll easily remember that all number Zero's equal the letter S.
  


• You can make use of the One Hundred Key Word's in the One Hundred code. For example you could learn the names of all thirty-eight presidents of the United States from Washington to Gerald Ford. You could learn the key phrases of the Bill of Rights and all the other amendments to the Constitution of the United States. You could learn the names of the original thirteen states of the union, or the names of all fifty of our states in alphabetical order-or any order you wanted. You could learn geography-the countries in South America, in Africa, or the provinces of Canada. There's just no limit.
  


• If you're going to make a speech in class, or during an interview, three or four key words can remind you of key thoughts in the speech and save your writing it out.
  


• If you're wondering how you'd remember the names of the Presidents of the United States, using our key words, here's an example of how it's down. Your first key word is Tea. The president-Washington. Imagine washing yourself with tea. Washing sounds like Washington and calls the name to mind. Second key word is Navy. Adams was our second President. Picture a navy of ships falling over a dam-picture a dam. Adams sounds like a dam. Third key word is Ma. Picture a tiny son carrying his mother. Tattooed on his chest is Jeff. Jeff-son sounds like Jefferson, our third President. Get it?
  


• But let's suppose you wanted to remember the original thirteen states of the union. It could be worked this way: Tea is the first key word, Massachusetts the first of the original thirteen states. Think of Tea being served at Mass. Imagine a priest sneezing Choo. Mass-Choo sounds like Massachusetts. Navy is the second key word. Rhode Island is the next state. Picture a navy-ship after ship-on a dry road. Picture an island with only one huge road on it, with ships from the navy on that road.
  


• To test to see how good you are at remembering names, cut out pictures of ten different people from a magazine, tape them to a piece of paper, and let Mom and Dad make up phony last names for each of them and write these names under each picture. When they've done this, have them show you the names and faces for two minutes. Then they're to show you the picture of each person, one by one, covering the name under each one to see how many you can remember. Jot down your score. And don't worry if it isn't so hot-even if you don't remember a single name.
  


• Don't let other people discourage you! To remember anything, you have to be confident that you can remember.
  


• Improving your memory is similar to improving your math skills. The more math problems you work out, the better you get at solving more problems right? Well the same principle's apply when improving your memory.
  


• Practice, practice, and more practice!
  

Warnings

• Don't abandon other ways on improving your memory just because you're following this article. Exercise, a good diet, etc., is vital to a good memory.
  


• Don't get stressed out trying to learn all these memory tricks at once! Remember, you have the rest of your life to improve your memory.
  


• Don't spend to much time lying awake at night thinking about these codes. Sleep important for a good memory, and lack thereof will not do you any favors.
  


• Just because you have a good memory doesn't mean you don't have to study for an important exam coming up. While listening to the teacher talk during class, you may have missed out on important information.
  

Things You'll Need

• Patience.
  


• Practice.
  


• A writing utensil(optional).
  


• Something to write on(optional).
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Improve Your Memory
  


• How to Quickly Improve Your Memory
  


• How to Increase Your Short Term Memory
  


• How to Remember Lists of Words with the Memory Trick
  

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

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Self-defence by Bas Rutten

Lethal Street Fighting - Awesome video clips here

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How I save money

I think I’m a fairly frugal person. I haven’t always been this way, and it’s taken years of simplifying and cutting back on little things, one at a time. And while there are definitely many more things I can scrimp and save on, I’m proud of how far I’ve come already. Here’s how I save money:

1) I cut my own hair. I bought a $20 buzzer, and it lasts about a year. I used to get a haircut every month, at a cost of $20 (including tip, not including gas money to get there and valuable time spent there). So I save the cost of about 11 haircuts a year. I do the same for my three sons, saving another 36 haircuts (at $10 each). Annual savings: $580.

2) No Cable TV. We watch DVDs, or read. I don’t spend much on DVDs either (probably less than most people, per month). Cable costs about $65/month. Annual savings: $780.

3) Became vegan. I eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, which are expensive, sure, but you are supposed to eat those whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or a carnivore, so I don’t count those as extra expenses. The real comparison is between meat, and the protein substitutes I use. Most of my protein comes from tofu, although I do eat beans and soy protein such as fake ground beef or soy burgers. Overall I believe I save about $2-3 per day not eating meat. Annual savings: $900.

4) Don’t use the gym. I used to be a member of a gym. Didn’t use it much, and still got charged for a full year. Now I get a lot of exercise, but I do it at home and on the road. I do strength exercises in my living room and jog (and will soon start cycling and swimming). Annual savings: $420.

5) Rarely go to the movies. I used to go out to the movies at least once a week, and sometimes more. I slowly made it every other week, and now I don’t even go once a month. Now we take the kids to the park or out to do something more fun and creative. I figger this saves me at least $15 per week, although it’s probably more when you factor in the cost of my kids’ tickets, and concessions. Annual savings: $780.

6) Quit smoking. I quit over a year ago. I smoked a pack a day, plus a soda or tea or coffee to go with the cigarettes, at a cost of about $5 per day. Annual savings: $1,825.

7) Don’t drink much. I never did, really, except maybe in college. But for some people, drinking is a major expense. A beer or two a day can add up, and for the sake of these calculations, I’ll count it. Annual savings: $800.

8) Never go out. I don’t go to clubs, or the theater, or ballet, or opera. I guess I’m just not that type of person. Annual savings: maybe $500.

9) Stay healthy. As mentioned above, I’m a vegan, a runner, and I don’t drink or smoke anymore. I never go to the doctor, and if I keep up this lifestyle, my likelihood of getting the most common diseases are greatly lowered. Annual savings: probably $1,200.

10) Don’t go shopping. We used to hang out at the mall a lot. It was convenient, and had a lot of great stuff to look at, and a food court. The food court alone costs $30 for us, and if we bought stuff that would be another $25-75. Cha-ching. Now I rarely ever, ever, ever go to the mall. I hate it anyway. I only go to the mall or Kmart if I need something, and even then I try my best to avoid it. Annual savings: probably $2,600.

11) Have only one car. We are a married couple with six kids, soccer practice, choir, school functions, many many family gatherings, running events, martial arts, and much more. But we get by on one car. We are looking to get a used van with better fuel economy, and I am going to start commuting at least a few times a week by bike. Annual savings: unknown, but perhaps $5,000.

12) Bring my own lunch. My co-workers eat out every day, at a cost of $8-20 per lunch. I bring leftovers or a sandwich and fruits and pretzels and stuff. At a cost of probably less than $5. Annual savings: $1,800.

13) No magazine or newspaper subscriptions. I used to have the paper delivered. Now I read it online or at work. I used to subscribe to 1-2 magazines. Now I read the Internet. Annual savings: $360.

14) Rarely buy new clothes. I use my clothes and shoes until they are threadbare. Really. Ask my wife and kids. Annual savings: maybe $400.

15) Never travel. I would like to travel. When I am out of debt and my savings accounts are nice and healthy, I will travel. But for now, I skip it. Others I know take at least a trip per year. Annual savings: $1,500.

16) No more lattes. I used to get a latte every day. At a cost of about $4 per latte. Sometimes I’d get two. Now I make my own coffee. Annual savings: about $1,000.

17) I take 5 minute lukewarm showers -- I think this one is obvious.

There are more little ways that I’ve learned to save, like getting my books at a used book store, cooking most of my meals (aside from the above-mentioned lunches), power-saving measures, no long distance calls. There are also ways I can still save, including eating out less (we eat out 1-3 times per week, mostly fast food like pizza or Taco Bell or Wendy’s, all of which I can do without).

Estimated total savings: $20,445.

Now, I’m not sure if most people spend the full amounts listed above, or if I ever did. But at some point, I did come close, and I think many people do as well. But however you look at it, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Does this all go into savings? Of course not. Other expenses have gone up, because I now have six kids, and our income has temporarily gone down. Also, we’re now putting money into debt, and once that is freed up, more will go into savings.

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How to save money

Saving money is one of those tasks that's so much easier said than done. There's more to it than spending less money (although that part alone can be challenging). How much money will you save, where will you put it, and how can you make sure it stays there? Here's how to set realistic goals, keep your spending in check, and pay yourself first.

Steps

1. Set savings goals. For short-term goals, this is easy. If you want to buy a video game, find out how much it costs; if you want to buy a house, determine how much of a down payment you’ll need. For long-term goals, such as retirement, you’ll need to do a lot more planning (figuring out how much money you’ll need to live comfortably for 20 or 30 years after you stop working), and you’ll also need to figure out how investments will help you achieve your goals.
   
   • Kill your debt first. Simply calculating how much you spend each month on your debts will illustrate that eliminating debt is the fastest way to free up money. Once the money is freed from debt payment, it can easily be re-purposed to savings.
     
   
   
2. Establish a timeframe. For example: "I want to be able to buy a house two years from today." Set a particular date for accomplishing shorter-term goals, and make sure the goal is attainable within that time period. If it’s not attainable, you’ll just get discouraged.
   
3. Figure out how much you’ll have to save per week, per month, or per paycheck to attain each of your savings goals. Take each thing you want to save for and figure out how much you need to start saving now. For most savings goals, it’s best to save the same amount each period. For example, if you want to put a $20,000 down payment on a home in 36 months (three years), you’ll need to save about $550 per month every month. But if your paychecks amount to $1000, it might not be a realistic goal, so adjust your timeframe until you come up with an approachable amount.
   
4. Keep a record of your expenses. What you save falls between two activities and their difference: how much you make and how much you spend. Since you have more control over how much you spend, it's wise to take a critical look at your expenses. Write down everything you spend your money on for a couple weeks or a month. Be as detailed as possible, and try not to leave out small purchases. Assign each purchase or expenditure a category such as: Rent, Car insurance, Car payments, Phone Bill, Cable Bill, Utilities, Gas, Food, Entertainment, etc.
   
   • Keep a small notebook with you at all times. Get in the habit of recording every expense and saving the receipts.
     
   • Sit down once a week with your small notebook and receipts. Record your expenses in a larger notebook or a spreadsheet program.
     
   
   
5. Trim your expenses. Take a good, hard look at your spending records after a month or two have passed. You’ll probably be surprised when you look back at your record of expenses: $300 on ice cream, $100 on parking tickets? You’ll likely see some obvious cuts you can make. Depending on how much you need to save, however, you may need to make some difficult decisions. Think about your priorities, and make cuts you can live with. Calculate how much those cuts will save you per year, and you'll be much more motivated to pinch pennies.
   
   • Can you move to a less expensive apartment or house? Can you refinance your mortgage?
     
   • Can you consolidate your debts so that you're not paying as much interest?
     
   • Can you save money on gas, or give up a car altogether? If your family has multiple cars, can you bring it down to one?
     
   • Can you get a better price on insurance? Call around and make sure you are getting the best price you can. Consider taking a higher deductible, too.
     
   • Can you drop a land line and only use your cell phone?
     
   • Can you live without cable or satellite TV?
     
   • Can you cut down on your utility bills?
     
   • Can you restrict eating out? Buy food in bulk? Cook more at home? You might be able to save a lot of money on food.
     
   
   
6. Reassess your savings goals. Subtract your expenses (the ones you can't live without) from your take-home income (i.e. after taxes have been taken out). What is the difference? And does it match up with your savings goals? Let's say you've decided you can definitely get by on $1500 per month, and your paychecks amount to $2300 per month. That leaves you with $800 to save. If there’s absolutely no way you can fit all your savings goals into your budget, take a look at what you’re saving for and cut the less important things or adjust the timeframe. Maybe you need to put off buying a new car for another year, or maybe you don’t really need a big-screen TV that badly.
   
7. Make a budget. Once you’ve managed to balance your earnings with your savings goals and spending, write down a budget so you’ll know each month or each paycheck how much you can spend on any given thing or category of things. This is especially important for expenses which tend to fluctuate, or which you know you're going to have a particularly hard time restricting. (E.g. "I will only spend $30 a month on movies/chocolate/coffee/etc.")
   
8. Stop using credit cards. Pay for everything with cash or money orders. Don't even use checks. It's easier to overspend when you're pulling from a bank or credit account because you don't know exactly how much is in there. If you have cash, you can see your supply running low. You can even bundle up the predetermined amount of cash allocated for each expense with a label or keep separate jars for each expense (e.g. a bundle/jar for coffee, another for gas, another for miscellaneous). As you pull money from a jar for that particular expense, you'll see how much remains and you'll also be reminded of your limit.
   
   • If you need to have credit cards but you don't want the temptation of having them available to use day-to-day, restrict that section of your wallet with a note or picture reminding you of your savings goals.
     
   • Credit cards are not inherently evil; it's all about your self control. If you use them responsibly (i.e. completely pay them off every month), you can benefit from them. But the reason most credit card companies make money, however, is because people end up spending money that they don't have. Unless you are one of the people who can religiously pay off the balance in full every month, you're better off foregoing the promotions that credit card companies use to lure you in (cash back, introductory APR, airline miles, and so on).
     
   
   
9. Open an interest-bearing savings account. It’s a lot easier to keep track of your savings if you have them separate from your spending money. You can also usually get better interest on savings accounts than on checking accounts (if you get interest on your checking account at all). Consider higher-interest options such as CDs or money-market accounts for longer savings goals.
   
10. Know where your money is. And how much of it, too. If you accidentally overdraw your bank account, you will incur hefty bank fees; worse yet, the place you paid with that check may slap a bounced check fee on top of that, and send the check in again, resulting in a second overdraft fee from the bank! So just a few cents missing to cover that check could result in over $100 in fees. To avoid that, you should always know how much money you've got in your account(s), so you never cut a check for more than what you have.
    
    • Look into checking and savings accounts that pay interest. Also, consider CDs (certificates of deposit) for longer-term savings with low risk.
      
    
    
11. Pay yourself first. Savings should be your priority, so don’t just say that you’ll save whatever’s left over at the end of the month. Deposit savings into an account (or your piggybank) as soon as you get paid. An easy, effective way to start saving is to simply deposit 10% of every check in a savings account. If you get a check or sum of cash, say 710.68, move the decimal point one place to the left and deposit that amount: 71.07. This works well and requires little thought; over several years, you've a tidy sum in savings. Over decades, you'll be a millionaire.
    
    • You can set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account.
      
    • Many employers allow you to deduct savings from your paycheck. The money is directly deposited in your savings account so you never even see it on your paycheck.
      
    • You can also have investments for retirement taken directly out of your pay, and the taxes may be deferred with this option.
      
    
    

Tips

• Always OVER estimate your expenses and UNDER estimate your income.
  
• If you can afford to share things you have, from food to living space to appliances, try to do so. What goes around comes around when it's between close friends, soon enough, you'll find your friends doing the same, and everybody benefits.
  
• Have a professional shopper go through your closet before you hit the mall. They will help you assess what you already have and what timeless items you can invest in to create more looks from those you already have. There are services that do this (e.g. Visual Therapy in NYC and TimePros in Los Angeles). Remember that this service can cost a pretty penny. Don't use this method unless you have a tendency to make $250 - $400 shopping trips!
  
• Have a hobby? Match your funds. One important habit for saving is if you have a hobby, such as model airplanes, scrapbooking, dirt biking, scuba diving, etc., set a hard and fast rule that whatever you allow yourself to spend on your hobby, you match those funds to your savings. For example, if you buy yourself a $45 pair of riding gloves, another $45 goes to your savings. Serious about saving? Try doubling your matched funds! These savings plans will do two things: Save money regularly and quickly, and really show you how much you are spending on your hobby, when it costs you twice as much.
  
• If you receive unexpected cash, put all or most of it into your savings, but continue to set aside your regularly scheduled amount as well. You’ll reach your savings goals sooner.
  
• If you vacation normally, use the web to search for affordable vacation deals instead of paying full retail price. Some sites offer very discounted vacations by partnering with resorts across the country. Essentially, you are required to go on a 90 minute sales-pitch to buy a timeshare at the resort, and in exchange you receive an extra cheap luxury vacation and often freebies like theme park tickets, gas, or dinner certificates.
  
• Make purchases with paper money, not exact change, and always save the change. Use a piggy bank or jar for your coins. Coins and change may look insignificant but when accumulated over time they can help you save. Some banks now offer free coin counting machines. When you redeem your coins, ask to be paid by check so you won't be tempted to spend your newfound cash.
  

Warnings

• Do not go out "window shopping" with any money on you. You will only be tempted to spend money you cannot afford to lose. Only shop with a predetermined shopping list.
  
• After a long week of working, you may want to indulge in some luxury, telling yourself, "I deserve this". Remember that the things you buy are not gifts to yourself; they are trades, products for money. Say, "Of course I deserve this, but can I afford it? If I can't afford it, I'm still a worthy person, and I still deserve to meet my savings goals!"
  
• Unless you're in truly desperate financial straits (like 10 seconds from eviction and your three children are starving) don't try to cut corners connected to health. Basic preventative care for yourself, your family, and your pets might cost you a $60 office visit or a $30 heartworm pill today, but the skipping it will contribute to expensive problems and heartache down the road.
  

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Save Money. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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Impulse buying reduction tips

Times are tight and when consumers tighten their purse strings, bad things happen to the economy. We're told we need to spend to do our bit to avoid a recession/depression.

For many of us, we buy stuff on impulse - things we don't really need or purchases we haven't really thought through. Hyperconsumption forms the core of our environmental woes; issues that will make this financial crisis seem insignificant.

Hardware stores tend to be my toy shop equivalent. Each time I go I see lots of groovy gadgets that are so useful.. or are they? The Internet has also given us so many more opportunities to impulse buy. I'm constantly having to stop, take a deep breath and think before I whip out the plastic. Just because I'm involved with marketing, doesn't mean I don't succumb to the tricks that I'm well aware of.

Here's some tips to help you avoid impulse buying so you can do your bit for the economy by spending cash on stuff you actually need and will last for a while.

- When you see something that really grabs your eye, think about want vs. need. Is it a case of really needing it, or just wanting it? By buying that item on impulse will you be preventing yourself from buying something that you've really been wanting or needing for a long time and will purchasing this item delay you from getting to your real acquisition goals?

- Don't trust brand names as much any more. Sometimes we'll justify a bargain by saying "oh, but it's a great brand". So many goods now are made in countries where quality control isn't so great. What's more, the same factories create the same goods for many leading brands - the only thing that may differ is the color and label. Many brands that previously represented quality now churn out crap and they are still riding on their old reputations.. for now.

- when you go out shopping, take a list with you and stick to what's on the list.

- Set yourself a weekly budget and don't exceed it.

- Plan out your major purchases. A stack of research will save you cash, even if you miss an item on sale. Better to be safe than sorry.

- Never, ever buy the latest or greatest in electronic or computer equipment. The reason being is that you'll pay more and it's likely to be buggy. Better to wait a few months - the price will usually drop dramatically and you'll wind up with a product that's more likely to work as it should.

- Compare prices. An 80% off sale may sound really attractive, but not if the store was grossly overpriced for starters. Check other merchants and you might find the sale is a little misleading which will take the shine off your bargain hunters buzz.

- Check the warranty; not just the length but what the warranty covers. The sooner stuff wears out, the sooner it becomes waste and the sooner it needs to be replaced. Often a warranty will be pegged to product serviceable life - it's a formed of planned obsolescence.

- Beware of "limited time" sales, particularly those advertised online. These are designed to create a sense of urgency over a product you may not have otherwise considered buying. So many times these "limited offers" actually drag on for months.

- Bear in mind that marketers are pseudo-psychologists. They spend their careers trying to figure out how to get people to buy on impulse and billions are invested into strategies to get you to part with money. Watch out for marketing that focuses on pain points such as "Everyone's buying this - don't be left out!" As much as we think we are resistant to marketing messages, our subconscious fears and need for acceptance tend to override rational thought.

- Resist fashion and trends; particularly in clothing; even "green" fashion and eco-chic products. This years fashion is next year's moth food. Find what you feel you look good in and feel comfortable wearing - and stick with it. I grew up in the 70's and 80's and often when my peers look back at their old photos they'll often say things like "Geez, I can't believe I wore those sort of clothes - they are gross!". Fashion is so transient.

- Check out the ingredients and components of the item you're about to buy. What effect on the environment will your impulse buy have? Can the item be recycled? This tip has saved me a lot of cash - and waste :).

Out of all the things we can do to go green, one that is in the control of just about everyone is impulse buying. While our economic system is unfortunately based on consumption and spending, we can take more responsibility on when and how we spend our money.

When you think about it, the best purchases we make in our lives are usually not those that are made on impulse, but the ones we have given a lot of thought to. By resisting the little impulse purchases, we can indulge in some of our bigger green goals such as perhaps installing solar power or a more efficient washing machine; and much sooner!

Do you have some tips you've found useful in resisting impulse buying? Please add them below!

Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .


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What is downshifting?

While many are seeking to climb the material ladder in life, others have reached the upper rungs and found out it's not all it's cracked up to be; choosing to set a different course - downshifting.

Even if you haven't reached the upper rungs to discover this, if you're struggling in this economic climate to keep up with all the "gotta haves" that perhaps you really don't need; step back, take a deep breath, separate from the pack and consider downshifting. The environment will certainly benefit from you doing so.

Downshifting, a term currently used most often in Australia, is the concept of living in voluntary simplicity; usually with environmental sustainability in mind although not necessarily the focus or primary motivator. People who take the downshifting route are also called "post materialists".

While some have been making these changes for years, it's only relatively recently that downshifting has acquired the label. An Australian Institute survey in 2004 found that nearly a quarter of Australian adults aged 30-59 have chosen to downshift over the previous 10 years.

People downshift their lives for mainly 5 reasons:

a) A desire for a more balanced life with less stress
b) Clashes between personal values and those of the workplace
c) Wanting a more fulfilling life
d) Ill health
e) Environmental concerns/rejection of consumerism

Downshifters for the most part don't drop out of society or the workforce altogether; many high paid executives simply change their work focus from big business to lower-paying jobs in the non-profit sector. Not all downshifters are burnt-out execs though; the study found that the tendency to downshift was equally prevalent among blue collar workers as it was among white collar workers.

Downshifting challenges the concept of the very common Deferred Happiness Syndrome. This is the tendency for people to function in situations they find negative for extended periods in the hope of attaining a goal or dream; one that is often not achieved.

A lifetime of toil with the prospect for shattered materialistic dreams is a nightmare possibility, yet many of us seem to continue to fling ourselves headlong into it knowing full well the goal may never be realized.

Something that's important to remember about materialistic goals is to question them - are they really your own goals or what marketers have told you they should be? It happens all the time - I know as I've been heavily involved with Internet marketing for some years. We're the opposite of psychologists in many ways, yet we employ the same sorts of strategies - we know your pain points, how to stir up your fear and we know how to get you excited - and we utilize this knowledge to encourage you to buy. Unlike psychologists who seek to unburden you, many marketers seek to weigh you down with trinkets and toys that you don't really need, let alone want. It's these things you "gotta have" that have played a huge role in destroying our environment.

Don't fear not having tons of stuff or stacks of money. Many of those who downshift report that the fears they held about sustaining themselves did not materialize; they instead experience a new sense of personal freedom and renewed joy of living. They are also no longer as easily swayed by politicians or trends as their values have changed to those of the general populace.

Downshifters tend to reject items related to social status, plan spending carefully, eat out less and take less holidays away from home - because their current home becomes a holiday destination of sorts. Often they'll move from their current home, choosing to purchase a house in an environment suited to their hobbies or need for peace.

In a nutshell, downshifting is about less consumption, being happier for it and the rejection of "keeping up with the Jones's". It's a process that doesn't occur overnight, but is usually refined over a number of years.

We're being continuously warned that the environment cannot sustain our current rate of consumption, so downshifting by choice now will allow us time to get used to getting by with less, and being happy about it - which will be a hard lesson that all of us who don't start taking action very soon will have to face in the future anyway.

For a more detailed and fascinating insight into the downshifting trend, you can download the full study, "Getting a Life - Understanding the downshifting phenomenon in Australia" by clicking here (PDF)

Michael BlochGreen Living Tips.com

Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .


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