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MONEY COMMENT
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As far as I know, there are only two ways to hold on to more of your money: earn more or spend less. Of course, earning more usually means doing more work, such as taking a second job, groan! Hence, curbing your spending is often considered to be the easier option. At the Fool, we recommend that you track your expenses for a while - at least a month - to establish where most of your money goes. Once you've done that, you can begin minimising your biggest bills, typically housing, transport, household shopping, and so on. For example, this article explains some sensible financial moves. On a lighter note, here are a dozen mini-tips to help you save money on everyday expenses: 1. Learn to love your bills, if only because they give you a chance to shop around and save money in future! 2. Start calling your credit card your debt card - it's amazing how this changes the way you see it. 3. If you need some cheering up, don't indulge in some expensive 'retail therapy' - give yourself a feel-good boost by making a Gift Aid donation to your favourite charity. The taxman boosts your gift by 28%, which turns every £1 you give into £1.28. Also, higher-rate taxpayers can reclaim a little more via their tax returns. Alternatively, you could help save lives by giving blood - I started this year and it's a doddle. 4. Switch your mobile, home telephone and Internet connection to cheaper tariffs. 5. Take advantage of supermarket 'loss leaders': don't be afraid to fill your trolley with special offers on non-perishable goods. Use those money-off coupons, and note that many stores will accept rivals' vouchers. Also, check out Fixture Ferrets, which uncovers the supermarkets' best buys. 6. Gym membership can be amazingly expensive, especially if you don't use the facilities several times a week. Why not take up jogging, cycling, or swimming at your local pool instead? 7. Buy CDs and DVDs online. It's worth the wait, because you can save £5+ on high-street prices. I normally use CD Wow!, but be sure to use a price-comparison site such as Kelkoo before ordering. 8. Books: you can borrow most books - even bestsellers - from your local lending library for free. Just watch out for fines for late returns! Alternatively, use comparison site BookBrain before buying. 9. If you like to keep your hair short, buy some clippers for around £20 and save money on haircuts. Just don't make the mistake I once made and forget to attach a clipper comb, or you end up scalped! 10. Get your own back on junk-mail merchants: buy a personal shredder and turn your unwanted mail into compost for your garden! 11. Slash your energy bills: use low-energy bulbs; turn down your thermostat a degree or two; switch off appliances instead of hitting the standby button; and look into home-insulation grants. Visit Save Energy for more advice. 12. Football fans: why pay megabucks to watch a gang of overpaid prima donnas, when you could be playing for your local team? Click on the links below for more money-saving tips. More: Save Thousands Using These Websites! | Switch Your Fuel For Great Savings | How To Beat The Taxman - Forever! | Living Below Your Means discussion board.