With the cost of everything from gas to groceries fluctuating so unpredictably, money management attempts to plan the family budget can become a confusing guessing game. Instead of trying to figure out what particular item is going to skyrocket next, it's best to make specific changes to your overall money management habits. This will free up some of your spending money, so you'll have it when the next surprise pops up. Becoming a penny pincher can be both easy and satisfying.

Just follow these three easy tips for cheap living and you're on your way to becoming a penny pincher.

• Curb Unnecessary Spending
• Trim Your Grocery Bill
• Save Gas

There's not too many of us that can survive for too long without having a job. And when the time comes when you lose it (everyone experiences this at some point in their life), what are your first few steps in obtaining employment? Where do you turn?

First of all, it's not always such a bad idea to just take a break for a week or so (if not longer!). Overcoming the tremendous amount of emotion that is sure to follow a job loss is key! Often, that emotional damage can act as a deterrent for future employers. Spending time with family, friends, relatives, and others can help you cope with the initial difficulty of lost employment.

Does cash just seem to slip through your fingers? Tired of eating nothing but noodles for three days before that next paycheck? For some, budgeting money seems natural. For most of us, it is about as much fun as a paper cut. While it may not be enjoyable, budgeting money is one of life’s skills that once mastered, will reap rewards.

Income versus Expenses
When the subject of income comes up, most people know down to the penny how much they make in an hour, a month, or a year. Even those who work on tips will tell you within a few dollars, what an average night brings in. But somehow, when it comes to where that money goes, things get fuzzy. Expenses are slippery. The only way to get a grip on budgeting money is to record and examine expenses. Dull? Yes. Do it anyway. Analyze three months of expenses minimum. One year is better.

Fact: tracking your spending is essential to working your way to financial freedom. Everybody knows that your best defense against financial hardship is simply knowing how much money is coming in vs. how much is going out. You need to make sure you're making more than you're spending.

How?
Well- you can SPEND money to budget on programs like Quicken, Pearbudget, Mint, Mvelopes, or YNAB. Many can provide you with resourceful tools that will help you keep your finances in check; however, you actually have to spend more money to use them! Aren't you creating a budget to save money?

Solution: Use Microsoft Excel or Google Spreadsheets to create a monthly budget for you!