Money seems to be a hard thing to keep track of. One minute it is there, then the next minute, it is gone into oblivion. While money tends to be as slippery as a wet bar of soap, there are ways to keep track of it rather well. When it comes to keeping track of your personal finances there are numerous helpful ways to do so. This article discusses the ins and outs of keeping track of your money and allowing your personal finances some stability.

Get a piggy bank and put a few dollars in it every week and forget about it. Make that your fun money. After a few months, use it to have a nice, fun night out. That way, you won’t feel guilty about having a night of entertainment because the money was already removed from your budget and accounted for.

Don’t just accept any savings account to hold your money. You need to find an account that will protect your funds against inflation. Ideally, you need a high-yield savings account. This will allow you get a better return on your money. Just check whether the rules regarding withdrawing from the account (if you need to have access to the money at short notice), and that there is no investment risk.

What is there in your daily habits that you could eliminate from spending? A latte, pack of cigarettes or bottle of wine? These expenses are small ways of taxing yourself out of saving. If you cut out this expense on a daily basis, and put the money in a savings account instead, you could be amazed at the total by years end.

Learn to live frugally as a way of life. Consider going with only one car for your family. Your car is probably the second most expensive item in your budget, after your home. This can be a short-term strategy to help you catch up on bills and build up your savings, or an ongoing lifestyle change.

Buy an automatic coffee machine and start it brewing before you leave for work in the morning. You can save money on coffee purchases on your way to work in the morning. These can add up at gourmet coffee shops that lure you in with fancy words. Take an insulated cup and some joe from home.

If you need to rebuild your credit, set up a secured credit card with your bank or other provider. You will need to make a “deposit” to draw against initially; however, after you have spent several months drawing against this amount and paying it back, you will be able to qualify for a credit card again.

A great way to keep on top of your personal finance, is to set up a direct debit to be taken out of your paycheck each month. This means you’ll save without having to make the effort of putting money aside and you will be used to a slightly lower monthly budget. You won’t face the difficult choice of whether to spend the money in your account or save it.

Never cosign on a loan for a friend or family member unless you are willing and able to pay it in full. Even the best intentions could lead to financial ruin if something happens, and your loved one cannot pay up. This could not only strain your finances, but your relationship.

Many people think that unreasonable fees and minimum balances are a normal part of banking, but that is not the case. Most banks actually offer free checking accounts, and some offer accounts that become free if you use a debit card regularly or sign up for direct deposits. Avoiding those pesky fees will help you save money.

Cable TV is considered a necessity by many families, but it really is an optional expense, and usually comes at a high monthly cost. Over-the-air TV is free and you can get it in high-definition. Other options for movies include, subscriptions like Netflix, websites like Hulu, renting from Amazon, or wireless set-top boxes like Roku or Apple TV. Chosen judiciously, these options could save money over cable.

As we have discovered, money is not easy to keep in grasp. It seems as soon as we have money, we do not have it long. However, with the aforementioned money saving tips in this article, your money will not escape your account unnoticed. Personal finance will be a subject of ease once you apply these tips to your budget!