Karen, thank you for featuring my article.

We really are "nickel and diming" ourselves to death by taking on more and more monthly obligations.  Few people stop to realize how much things will ultimately cost over the life of all these payments.

And thanks for including my article - I'm surprised you didn't refer to it as my "unpopular" post, considering some of the comments.  As I wrote in the comments at my blog, the post was a not a dig against poor people, it was a rant against poor attitudes and their associated language.

I was like this.  I get paid bi-weekly and my goal was to save $10 out of every paycheck, but never managed to do it, then I started tracking my spending and did automatic savings, where instead of $10 every 2 weeks, I have $50 transferred to my savings every 2 weeks.  I realized if the money isn't there, I won't spend it.

I agree, I've had to carry a small amount of cash per week and only spent what I've budgeted.  I will not use my debit because the pain of seeing my cash slip through my fingers is visible and more of an awakening to me.  It's been effective so far, I've saved twice as much as usual.  Sandi McGuire

You've heard of the PPI (Producer Price Index).  Now, we have the BBI (Brown Bag  Index).  Just open the refrigerator door in your office and count all the brown bags.  I have been Brown bagging for the past few months, and the savings have been tremendous.  We have a cafeteria and the prices are moderate compared to downtown restaurants.  Generally a sandwich and a soft drink will call about $4.0 x 5 = $20.00/wk.  A hot meal will cost about $5.50 x5 = $27.50.  Some of the employees even eat breakfast in the cafeteria, which adds to the $20 0r $27 per week.  I am able to save $80 to $100 a month by brown bagging it.