I don't have an official budget or accounting system, I keep a running total in my head of what I have and how much I spend and I always keep a certain amount of float in my account just on case I miscalculate something. I have however over the last 2 years, been changing my spending habits. The horrendous shape our economy is in, has me worried about ever being able to retire, so I figure I need to be saving, saving, like mad.

Here's my list of spending changes:

1.) Pay off my credit card every month - ~$50 savings a month in interest
2.) Paid off my car and that money goes to savings automatically every month - ~$400 a month
3.) No more eating/drinking from vending machines or fast food - ~$350 savings a month on food
4.) No more going home for lunch every day - ~$100 savings a month on gas
5.) Converted over all my phone/cable/internet services to where I pay less, but actually have more services now - ~$150 savings a month
6.) Refinanced my mortage at a really low interest rate, so my house payment is essentially the same, but with a 15 yr vs 30 yr loan. Amazing amount of equity in my house in just 5 yrs now vs what piddling amount there would be if I still had that 30 yr loan.

So that's approx. $1000 savings a month. Next on my list is seeing if I can widdle down my electric bill. I could still cut back on entertainment, but that's a last resort. I'm sure Suze Orman would have me cutting back on that too, but one has to live a lil'.

Par...