What do you do to stay on top of your finances?

2010 will be the year I get rid of credit card debt and start building savings. I am trying to change spending habits and to budget well (one of my goals is to actually stick to the budget..) I used to plan by pen and paper but papers would get lost and I’d have to make another list, etc. I was referred to an online site, BudgetSimple, and it seems promising so far. I like that I can access it on the go and make pie charts (without having to make individual Excel sheets myself).

Another thing I like to do is to set reminders on my cell phone calendar to pay the credit card, cell phone and internet bills and rent (more recently, to transfer a certain amount of money to a savings account too).

One way to increase cash flow is to sell possessions you no longer want. I’m in the process of selling a pair of snowboard boots; next are CDs and some books (at least books I have the heart to part with.. I love books!) Last winter I got rid of some handbags (erm, another thing I love..) and got a cool 150–200 bucks for them, thanks to Craigslist and my university’s online classifieds. Going through the handbags made me realize how many I had. Handbags are now things I won’t splurge on unless it’s something I really really really want (I did not buy a single one in all of 2009!)

So, dear Flutherites, what do you do in your every day life to improve your finances? What tips do you have to restore financial health and build savings?