Controlling your spending while shopping can be really hard sometimes. You start off with the best of intentions; you have a carefully planned shopping list. Then, as you’re making your way through the checkout lane, you look down and realize that you have way more stuff in your shopping cart than you are supposed to have. Where did you go wrong?

Making a shopping list is only the first part of controlling your spending list. The more important step is sticking to that list once you get to the store. Stores design their layouts and displays to tempt you to make impulse purchases, so you’ll need a few tricks up your sleeve to escape without spending any more than you have to.

Leave the kids at home. Having an extra set or two of hands will make it harder to keep extraneous items from making their way to your shopping cart. Avoid the dreaded, “Mommy, I want,” entirely to make your shopping excursion easier.

Give yourself a time limit. If you have extra time to browse the store, you’re much more likely to find one more thing that you “have to have.” Shopping quickly only leaves time for you to collect the items on your list and make your way home.

Avoid shopping on Saturdays and other typically busy times. Long lines only slow you down and add to your stress level. You’ll be less likely to make impulse purchases if you’re enjoying your shopping trip.

Carry a specific amount of money with you. You have an idea how much you’ll need to make the purchases on your list. Bring just enough cash with you to buy those items, and you won’t have the option to buy extra things. Make sure you leave your credit card at home, too.

Shop with a buddy. Peer pressure can be positive if it’s used correctly. Bring a friend with you when you’re tackling the shopping. You can encourage each other to stay on track while you each shop for your own families.

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Homeowner’s insurance is a regular expense for anyone who owns a home. This extremely important insurance coverage protects what is, for many people, your most valuable asset. But, in these trying financial times, even the most necessary expenses need to be kept to a minimum.

Saving on your home insurance is often as easy as making a phone call. Many times, there are discounts available to you that you may not be utilizing simply because you didn’t tell the insurance agent that they applied to you. Talk to your insurance agent and explore the different discounts that will entitle you to lower insurance premiums. Possible discounts may include:

New Home Discounts – Be sure to tell your agent if your home is less than ten years old.

Material Discounts – Homes made with some more durable materials like stone or bricks may enjoy lower premiums. You should also ask your agent about any discounts for damage-resistant roofs made out of materials like metal or tile.

Alarm Service Discounts – Homes that feature monitored alarm services are often eligible for special discounts.

Insured Age Discounts – Older homeowner’s may enjoy lower premiums than their younger counterparts.

Claim-Free Discounts – Homeowners who never, or rarely, file a claim are often favored with discounted premiums.

Besides taking advantage of special premium discounts, you may be able to find another way to lower your insurance premiums. If you can afford to pay a higher deductible in the event of a loss, you can raise your deductible and enjoy some significant savings. Just take care to choose a deductible amount that won’t throw your family’s finances into chaos.

Finally, carrying all of your insurance coverage through the same company will entitle you to many multi-policy discounts. For instance, having your auto insurance and homeowner’s insurance through the same carrier will entitle you to a nice discount. While shopping for insurance, be sure to mention each type of insurance you need and find a carrier who can take care of each one. And, as with all things, be sure to shop around to get the best possible price.

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Medical expenses are a growing part of every family’s budget. Although there are many areas of the budget that can be whittled down when money is tight, medical expenses are much harder to skimp on. Medicines and doctor’s visits are important, regardless of your financial circumstances.

Fortunately, health reimbursement accounts can greatly reduce the real cost of many medical expenses. These IRS-sanctioned plans allow employers to take money out of your paycheck to cover your medical expenses. Since the money is withheld from your paycheck and the plan is administered according to IRS guidelines, these withholdings are made before the taxable amount of your paycheck is determined. Simply put, you won’t have to pay taxes on those withholdings. This tax savings can be as much as 20% of the withholding for some people.

To sign up for your employer’s health reimbursement account, you should see your human resource person. Once you’ve determined when you can enroll in your employer’s plan, you’ll need to decide how much money you’ll need to set aside during the plan year. Make your calculation carefully, since funds that aren’t used by the deadline can’t be returned to you.

After you’ve enrolled, you’ll need to save your receipts as you make eligible purchases. Co-payments to doctor’s offices, over-the-counter drug purchases, and even first-aid supplies like bandages are all eligible for reimbursement under these types of plans. Submit these receipts according to your plan’s guidelines and you will receive a reimbursement for them from your payroll withholding.

Purchases that are to be reimbursed from this plan should be made within the calendar year of your withholding. Some employers will extend a grace period for a few months after the first of the year, but you should verify that grace period with your employer. Also, once you enroll in the plan, you should know that you often can’t withdraw from the plan until the end of the year.

Enrolling in your employer’s health reimbursement plan is a great way to save money on purchases that you were going to have to make anyway. By simply doing a little paperwork and keeping track of your receipts you can control the costs of these necessities and eke a little more out of your family’s pocketbook.

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