All successful Self Made Millionaires watch and pinch every penny - shouldn't we?

Everyone must be in charge of their own personal financial destinies and what one considers "wealthy" one might just consider to be "comfortable".

What ever level you are at or what ever level you want to reach, these money saving strategies will give you an edge in successfully accomplishing your financial goals. Not all of these will be for everyone so find the ones that will benefit you the most, and hopefully the others will provoke some new ideas - Enjoy!

You have to take responsibility for your own money - no one else will do it for you! You need to begin with a monthly cash flow breakout, write down everything that is coming in and going out. This will allow you to identify leaks in your ship that if left unattened to will compromise your ship's integrity over time.

Mortgage Interest is one of the largest portion of money a consumer pays in debt. Most people end up paying 115% of the original purchase price of their home. You can save thousands of dollars shopping for the lowest interest rate and making sure you avoid high and/or excessive fees. Avoid prepayment penalty clauses. Choose the shortest term of loan you can afford - Have a plan and system in place to Pay off your Mortgage early. Make sure your property taxes are not to high. Drop private mortgage insurance if it is no longer necessary, generally after you are 20% vested it is no longer required.

Rent - Rent a room or a basement, find a roommate. Rent from a private individual rather than corporations when possible to reduce the chase of periodic rent increases. Try to find a rent payment that is around 25% of your income, the more you pay in rent the less you have for other expenses.

• Check windows and doors for air leaks. Caulk is cheap and can save you hundreds of dollars a year - Double pane windows
• Insulate walls and attics
• Insulate water heater
• Use a programmable thermostat - Turn down heat 2-5 degrees
• Use air conditioner as little as possible - open windows at night and close early in the morning to trap cool air in and hot air out.
• Replace light bulb with energy efficient ones - Use timers
• Turn off lights and TV when you leave a room - use dimmer switches
• Turn off appliances when not in use - purchase newer energy efficient models when possible.
• Fix leaky faucets - Install water regulators in shower heads and toilet bowls
• Shut heater vents in rooms not used often.
• Purchasing a years worth package can save you on your Internet and cable or satellite television.
• Go to a single phone plan - cellular only or skype, use weekend free minutes, find a plan that fits your needs and does not waiste money or minutes. Pay-as-you-Go plans are a great to moderate excessive usage.
• Avoid Rent-to-own contracts, you will end up paying for the item several times over by the time it is paid in full.
• Monitor your utilities, some studies showed that 4 out of 5 utility companies overcharged. Auditing companies report that most homes on average are overcharged by 20%.

No matter what level your income is at - Money Smart People are always on the look out for Money Saving Strategies in every aspect of their lives.

I strive to continually read books that will help me grow on a personal, spiritual and financial level. Recently I read an excellent book by Richard Paul Evans, The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught me about Life and Wealth. This is a great book! It is written by a real person who has not just experienced but triumphed over struggles and challenges that most wouldn't. In his book, Richard shares practical Money Saving Strategies that ANYONE can use, strategies that the wealthy use and most middle to upper class would not recognize or even think about. I highly recommend this read!

Bottom Line - Every penny counts in creating your personal wealth, whether you are a blue collar worker or a six figure earner.