So far we are not talking income.

Make a list of all your weekly and monthly income.

Compare what you bring in to what you have to spend out.

If you're paying out more then you bring in, you are in debt, if you're breaking even, you will never get ahead.

If you have money left over, you can start saving.

Let's talk about saving on those expenses.

The gas bill. Because I live in Michigan it can get really high in the winter.

Some people do a budget plan, that means the gas co. averages your yearly bill and you pay the same amount every month.

Example, my sister in law is on the plan, let's say she pays $120 every month.

My bill for July was $32, there is no way I'm forking out extra, I know when it gets colder, my bill will go up.

The money I am not using for gas, goes into the emergency fund and earns interest, not much, but better me then the gas co.

At our house we have the hot water tank, stove, dryer and furnace on gas.

Using these appliances with a little savvy can help out.

Let's start with the water tank, I keep it on the lowest setting, we are in and out shower takers, if you take long hot showers, you are spending more. Cut back just a little and the savings will add up. I love to take long hot soaks so I know sometimes you just need that time to yourself.

Laundry, sometimes, especially for socks ,towels, you need hot water, I don't just wash in cold, most times I use warm,

really depends on what I am washing.

Inspecting your water tank, many times older ones rust out, every 6 months take a peek, if you see a drip, know that a major basement flood is well on it's way .

Also a good idea to have a smoke detector with a carbon monoxide detector on it.

Your Dryer, keep your lint trap clean and the pipes that lead outdoors. Not only will your dryer work more efficiently, you may very well prevent a fire.

Major cause of house fires, smoking, candles, furnace, dryer stove, Christmas trees, poorly maintained electrical wires.

Big Joe your booky, just kidding.

To clean your lint trap, remove lint, you can spray it with lime away to dissolve  soap and fabric softener build up.

To clean your pipe leading out doors, we just unscrew ours and I vacuum it out.

Well, just got a phone call will continue this tomorrow, I got to go.