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Comment by jsmcallister | Hacker News Reader

THE most important thing to securing your financial health is getting control of a monthly budget for variable expenses like groceries, lunch, dinner, Starbucks, drinks, gas, shopping, entertainment, etc. The more-specific the better. Then work on whittling that budget down or trying to be under as much as possible.

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Absolutely agree with this. In fact, something worth trying out that's worked for me is getting a no thrills prepaid debit card with minimal to no fees.

I fund my card from my main checking account with a pre-allocated amount of allowance money that I've budgeted. Whatever I don't use that month rolls over to the following month.

I find that when I have 'my money' (vs the money I need for bills and such...) I end up saving much more. Especially so when the money on the card is low and more comparable to my daily low cost expenses such as the ones you've listed.

I just did this two weeks ago in mint. It's crazy to see how packing your own lunch and skipping coffee every morning can add up to hundreds of extra dollars saved every month.

  | skipping coffee every morning

You could just invest in a coffee maker / french press. You could still have you coffee in the morning without the much expense (just the capital investment in the equipment).

Oh I have a coffee maker, espresso maker, French press. It's when you aren't at home and decide you want a coffee and pay 3-4 dollars.

Instead of skipping coffee, buy a nice travel mug (that keeps your coffee hot) and brew from home before heading out. My travel mug keeps coffee made at 7.45 warm until around 9 before becoming undrinkable. In addition, you'll be able to explore more expensive brands/roasts at low costs and find some new favorites!

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