Step #7:
Tighten Up (AND Happily) ...

You don’t have to be a tightwad to “tighten up.” But if you truly want to be debt-free — and remain so — cutting your expenses is a critical step.

For starts, that means slashing your costs on necessities, like insurance, groceries and utilities.

But it also means looking at some of your habits and considering ways to cut back. Would you be willing to go to the library instead of the bookstore the next time you want a good read? Or testing your culinary skills in your own kitchen instead of dining out? Or taking one less vacation every year?

Take action ... starting NOW. You’ll be the world’s happiest cheapskate!

(For more money-saving tips, check out 12 Ways to Save on Life's Necessities.)

Next: Step #8: Sock it Away for a Rainy Day

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