Straighten Out Your Finances in 2010

On the eve of the first serious workday of the New Year, take a hard look at your finances and see where you can cut back in 2010. A relatively small investment in time can result in some serious savings, Kathy Kristof writes for the Los Angeles Times:

• Save automatically: "Try having just $25 a month put into a savings account at the beginning of each month." You can still spend it, but if all goes well, "you'll just find a way to spend that much less."

• Choose paper, not plastic: "A pile of studies dating back to the 1970s shows that we spend more freely when we pay with credit cards."
• Press your telecom provider and insurance companies for better deals: A mere $15 monthly savings on phone service "adds up to $180 annually," and shopping for a homeowner's policy can be eye-opening.
• Volunteer: Intangible benefits aside, "it keeps you out of the stores."

To see the whole list, click here.
(More budget stories.)