Always go to grocery store or dollar store with a list. Buy just what is on your list. If you see items you would like to have, make a note to put them on your list for your next trip.

Always consider entire price of an item before buying. In my state, if you buy a car that costs $20,000, you have to pay about 7% in sales taxes within 30 days of purchase. That $1400 may not be that easy to come up with.

I know that above ideas takes all fun out of spending your money. Planning and budgeting are about as dull as watching grass grow. However, a family that budgets their money and plans purchases, will no doubt be able to make more purchases and feel much better about it.

Each person has to decide at what age they want to start receiving their Social Security based on their individual circumstances. Here is something to consider: Based on my own situation, if I wait until I am 66 years old to draw my full Social Security I will be about 72 years old before I draw as much money as I would have if I had started drawing my partial Social Security at age 62. It's something to think about.

Besides retirement benefits, Social Security also covers disability and death benefits. This is a fairly complicated program but it might not hurt to learn as much as you can by visiting Social Security web site. You can also request a Social Security Statement which includes a record of your earnings history and an estimate of how much you and your employer paid in Social Security taxes Estimates of benefits you (and your family) may be eligible for now and in future.

Social Security was never intended to be your only source of income after you retire. In most cases your monthly check will only be a fraction of what you were earning before retirement. It would be wise to start a savings and investment program as soon as possible to ensure that you have enough money when retirement rolls around. This link may help get you started: http://beginnersinvest.about.com/mbody.htm