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You need to set ambitious goals to encourage you to save money. For example, you plan to have a formal dress in one year, to own a car in two years' time or to buy an apartment in five years.
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Form money saving habits while stay away from those that waste money. Learn to keep a diary of how much you spend and what it's for. Think twice before using money on expensive skin care products. The best ways to keep your skin in good condition is sufficient sleep.
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Economize your daily expense. Change electric wares into energy efficient ones and leave no more than one light open when you leave home. Buy vegetables from a market not a supermarket where vegetables are less expensive and more fresh. When going to a supermarket, take a notebook with you. Write down what you wanna buy to avoid buying unnecessary stuffs. For things like shampoo, soap or washing powder, buy the family pack.
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For girls, who always spend money on clothes, there are some rules helping cut off the expense. Keep an eye on discounts information, you're likely to buy good summer dress in winter in a reasonable price. Shopping malls issue membership cards periodically. Go and get one if it's free, it may give you special discounts.
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Economize your social life. Package the leftovers for next day when you have dinner in a restaurant. When it's your turn to offer a meal, invite your friends to your home, cook the dinner yourself. If you are to attend a wedding ceremony and an expensive present is needed, ask several friends to go together to share a present. When separate from your boyfriend, send the gifts he sent you to your friends instead of throwing them away
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While reducing expenditures, you need broaden your way earning money. Find yourself a part-time job if you are energetic enough, which gives you more working experience. Give birth to your money. If you are not good at making investments, talk to a financial consultant and entrust your savings with him.
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In general, the expenses on transportation command a big part of the budget. Travel by train if you have enough time. You can save a lot in this way. An example is, from Chongqing Municipality to Beijing, a round-trip flight costs about 2,800 yuan (US$337), while a round-trip train ticket costs only 800 yuan. The difference reaches 2,000 yuan.
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It is also important to select the most economic vehicles after you have arrived at the travel site. Choose from city buses, taxis or shuttle buses for special routes to scenic spots. A good suggestion is to buy a map and design the most suitable transport route in advance.
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Hotel expenses can also cost a lot if you do not have good choices. It is important to bargain for the rate at each hotel. A good way is to book your room through a travel agent or an Internet travel service provider before you start traveling.
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Don't buy a phone system. No one will use it. No one at Mahalo has a desk phone except the admin folks. Everyone else is on IRC, chat, and their cell phone. Everyone has a cell phone, folks would rather get calls on it, and 99% of communication is NOT on the phone. Savings? At least $500 a year per person... 50 people over three years? $75-100k
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