Use cash.

Seriously, it is the best way of budgetting possible. Work out what you have and what is left over for ‘extras’ and then get that ammount out in cash. Once the cash is gone you don’t get any more out. We often think we are keeping track of the spending on our cards in our head but don’t realize until we dip into overdraft that isn’t the case. but if the only spending we do outside of our essential bills is done in cash from a preset budget you simply can’t go wrong.

Let me back peddle you to English 111 (or 101): Know your audience.

In his book Mindless Eating, Dr. Brian Wansink illustrates that we often eat whatever is in front of us even after we’re full.

In one of Dr Wansink’s test restaurants people were served soup. What they didn’t realize was that the soup bowl had been rigged to automatically pump in more soup from a secret hose beneath the table as people were eating.

He found that people continued to eat the soup way past the point of having there hunger quenched all because they still saw soup in the bowl.

We do the same when we see food on a plate. We’ll continue to eat until all the food on the plate is gone, even if we are full.

The problem is that plate sizes have increased over the past decade. We’re eating off bigger and bigger plates, meaning we’re consuming more and more food.

An easy way to slash your food bill is to switch from a 11 inch plate to a 9 inch plate. You’ll eat a whopping 33% less food as a result without even realizing it!

Should also mention libraries: these places have free access to the internet, computers, phones, etc. and newspapers – so don’t buy any newspapers! If you really need to read a hard copy just go to your public library for lots of other free stuff, too.