In God we trust, all others must pay cash.

There are a few things one can do in order to save $$. I'm obviously no financial expert, i'm also trying to do my best to save up for a rainy day. But I thought I'd share a few tips anyway:

1) Settle your monthly bills and consolidate your debt.
Prioritise which ones need to be paid first. Pay for the bills that are important - your rent, electric, water and gas bills, and food. You should be able to predict the total amount as it should be about the same every month. Next - pay debts that have high interest rates. Then you can settle the other bills when you have the cash.

2) Keep a journal or excel sheet to monitor your spendings.
Record everything you spend on, and review it at the end of each month. My brother Timan just reminded me of how vital this is, especially when you're a student. I agree with him that this will keep you disciplined when cash is not in its abundance. Reviewing is an important follow-up step as it will teach you lessons on which areas you need to work on. If your phone bill is too high, make a mental note to talk or text less from then onwards.

3) Eat in.
It costs a lot to eat out in Geneva. Try to limit it to once or twice a week. If a friend wants to catch up, suggest to meet up for coffee instead of lunch. It would be better if you can pack your lunch early. I should wake up earlier too and pack my lunch after having my breakfast.

4) Avoid any unnecessary travelling.
Fuel costs a lot if you don't live in Brunei. It is not subsidised most of the time. Try not to travel abroad too, because although that travel deal looked like a bargain the first time you see it, you forget that there are always hidden costs. Not to mention the amount of money which you will spend on things you don't need once you get there. This is a problem especially if you're a shopaholic, like me. :p

5) Make the best of what you already have.
I paid for a year's membership to the gym, and i should really make the best out of it. Next year i should stop, and actually make the best of the gym equipment i already have at home. There are a lot of things i could do at home without actually going out to have a good time. Be grateful of what you have and don't worry about the things you don't have. Clean up your place too, you will enjoy and appreciate it more.

6) Keep your money where you can't access it as often.
This is after you have settled all the necessary bills. If you have cash in your wallet and has no strong will power to keep it there, then leave it in the account. Try not to use your credit card as much as possible, because you might not be able to keep track of how much you have already spent so far. Also another tip is try not to withdraw cash from non-associated ATMs. If it's not your chosen bank, don't withdraw from their ATMs. These charges can build up overtime.

7) Having not to spend money doesn't mean you can't hang around your friends.
You can always car pool if you're all going to the same place. And try not to shout your mates often, unless they do it a lot for you. They will be impressed only for a mere moment if you do anyway. You can also invite them over to your place, and if you want to get together for dinner, then suggest a pot luck where everyone gets to contribute, and the good news is, you don't have to slave over the kitchen for hours when they can each bring something to the table! Suggest a movie night at your place instead of going to the cinema. If you have internet at home, try to stream or download freebies instead of buying or renting DVDs. Better yet, ask your mates to bring their hard drives so you can copy and have an exchange of movies.

8) Go online and find more tips on how to save $$.
There are hundreds of sites out there. Choose one to suit your situation. Good luck!

Money is good for nothing unless you know the value of it by experience. - P.T. Barnum