Sometimes it seems that our money can just magically disappear. We know we worked for it, we received the paycheck, but there’s sometimes more month to go when we run out of money. Most folks have experienced this phenomenon or they know someone who has been down that road. Of course things occur that we don’t expect that can cut into our carefully prepared budget but it can be frustrating to see the balance in the checkbook approaching zero. There are many different things that can happen to money and most of them are individual to each person. Here’s a few things to consider when your money supply seems to shrink too quickly.

1. If you have children, remember that to raise a child to adulthood (approximately seventeen years of age) can exceed $200,000. This amount does not include anything extra, like cars, college loans, or buying him or her a house. Just feeding and clothing a child, taking him or her to the doctor, dentist, school activities…you know the drill, can add up to plenty! It is also prudent to assume that these costs will go up every year. We don’t really notice what dance lessons cost, or haircuts, or birthday presents. We would never deny our children all the good things we can get them, but it will cost us plenty.
2. Eat in, not out. Everyone likes to go to restaurants. Mom gets a break from cooking, the family eats new and exciting things from the menu, Dad gets to treat the family to a night out on the town. Eating out is outrageously expensive! Every time you go to a restaurant, you are spending three to four times the amount of money that a good home cooked meal would cost. The food is better at home. The portions that you feed the family can be controlled, not so in the restaurant. The money you spend on the gas to get to the restaurant is also a drain on the budget. When you really analyze eating out, it is a huge drain on your money supply.
3. Look at what it costs to maintain your transportation. Most folks have two cars (or more). More likely, everyone in the family with a driver’s license has their own vehicle. All of these cars require fuel, repairs, insurance, and eventually, replacement. Notice the charges on the bill the next time you get the oil changed. Does oil really cost forty dollars each time you change it? Most of the money goes for labor. Maybe it would save a lot of money if we learned to change the oil ourselves. Consider riding bicycles or scooters instead of gas guzzling trucks. Sharing a single car might work out well instead of maintaining two vehicles.
4. Stay away from trends. If you care what label is on the back of your jeans, you are throwing away money. If you buy all the "bells and whistles" on your truck or car, you are wasting money. If you have to have the latest cell phone or blackberry, you can look no further to find out where your money is disappearing. Buy what you need to to a job and nothing else. Learn to live within a sensible budget and your money troubles will take a quantum leap in a more comfortable direction.