How Less Can Be More

Dec. 3, 2010 - PRLog -- In these hard economic times people are increasingly learning to live with less.  

Many people change their lifestyles to live more simply, whether by necessity or by choice.  

Surprisingly, they often experience positive and healthy results in the process.  

If you decided to live with less these days, use these tips to stay happy, healthy and on budget.  

Rule #1: Be Frugal and Shop Smart  

Write a list before you go to a grocery store, use coupons whenever you can, buy produce only when it's in season, and stock up on canned foods, pastas and other items when they are on sale.  

Rule #2: Stop Eating Out  

Start dining at home. It's not that hard, and it can be fun too. Restaurant meals can cost 6 to 10 times more than meals made at home. You do the math, how much money you can save in a month.  

Rule #3. Stay in Control of Your Finances  

Get rid of all high interest credit cards. Stop using them completely. Pay down your loans, and if you need to do so, get a second part-time job.  

Try to pay cash for everything, and when you run out of money, that means only one thing: you are not buying anything any more - because you can not afford it!  

Rule #4. Pack Your Own Lunches  

If you make your own lunch, it will be so much healthier for you and better for your finances. It will contain less calories than fast food or prepackaged meals, that are always loaded with sodium, sugar, fat and calories.  

You could not only save $100 to $200 per month doing that, but also loose a few pounds and become healthier and more fit.  

Rule #5. Choose Less Expensive Form of Entertainment  

Instead of going to the movies and spending $30 or more for two, rent a movie at a Red Box just for a dollar, buy some pop-corn for $2 and get some bear or wine. All this will cost you only $10 for a fun night at home.  

If you have to cut expenses in different areas of your life, look at the bright side and don't feel like you are missing out on anything.  

Instead, think that there are plenty of benefits in having a healthier and happier lifestyle based on a long term financial stability.  

Always remember: Less can be More.

For more tips on Finance, Happiness, Health, please visit my Happiness and Finance Blog called http://www.happy-healthy-successful.com

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Elena Moiseenko is the author of the blog called www.happy-healthy-successful.com and is originally from Kiev, the Ukraine.
Graduated with honors from Minsk Linguistic University with a Degree in Linguistics (Russian, English, Italian).