If you want to find money to save, you need to know where all your money is going in the first place. Once you've created a budget, it's time to start looking for ways to cut expenses or increase your income or both.

There are lots of ways to spend less. Here are a few guidelines:

• Convenience costs! Whether you're buying groceries at a convenience store or using an ATM machine that charges you extra fees, you're almost always paying more than if you had planned ahead. 

• Do your homework. Especially when it comes to big-ticket items, you can save a lot of money if you know all the costs involved and all your options before you buy.

• Wants vs. needs. Before you buy, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" If the answer is yes, consider whether it falls within your budget and how it affects your saving goals.

• Pay yourself first when you "pay yourself first," you put money toward your saving goal before you can spend it. If your employer or bank offers direct deposit or automatic transfer, you can have money put into your savings account directly from your pay cheque. If you get a windfall-such as a bonus from work, a cash gift, or a tax refund-make a point of putting some or all of that money into savings. Make sure your budget includes a line item for saving-even if it's only a small amount

Did you know:  If you are buying a coke from a fast food place or the snack bar every afternoon 5 days per week and 4 weeks per month, you could be spending $30 per month.  If you bought two cases of coke at the supermarket and carried them to work instead, you could save $15 per month.  If you put it into an account that earns 8% interest, over 5 years, you'd have $1,102.15!  If you converted this daily habit into a lifetime savings habit of 30 years, you'd have more than $22,000 and you wouldn't have had to change a thing except do a little planning!

Next, see  cutting expenses or increasing income