Become an expert. Once again, the solution to this problem is to become an expert on your own finances. Sit down with your checkbook and credit card statements and figure out where all your money is going. Then, spend a month tracking all of your cash expenditures. Once you see where your money is going you can determine which expenses can be reduced, which can be trimmed, and which must stay the same. There’s only one way to save money: spend less than you’re earning. You can do that by maintaining your income while cutting your expenses, maintaining your expenses while increasing your income, or, for the best results, increasing your income and simultaneously cutting your expenses.

Interestingly enough, becoming aware of this problem is often the biggest step in solving it. Very few people will admit to not saving enough money, even though the problem is epidemic. Admitting you have the problem injects a certain degree of consciousness into your financial life. Sometimes, that, and fewer trips to the ATM, is all it takes.

If you find it difficult to restrain your spending, consider having your paycheck automatically deposited with a portion of it going immediately into some kind of savings plan. Perhaps if you don’t have that money in your hands it will be easier for you not to spend it.