As the nation celebrates the New Year, many people across this great country will make resolutions. While many Americans do not keep their resolutions, I would encourage you to make and keep one. I would encourage everyone to take part in living the frugal lifestyle. The frugal lifestyle means different things to different people. However, I define frugal as living within your means and finding savings at every possible opportunity.

There are several reasons living the frugal lifestyle is important.

These are tough times. The best way to handle tough times is to make sure you live within your means. With the uncertainty on the future, most Americans cannot guarantee they’ll have a job tomorrow. You cannot depend on the government or anyone else. You must depend on yourself. This is why it is important to live within your budget and set a nest egg aside. If devastation strikes, you have something to fall back on.

If you live the frugal lifestyle you can better provide for your family and take care of them. Our family has always stressed the importance of need versus want. My children have grown up in the frugal lifestyle. They have learned to appreciate what they have and know that if the money is not there we do not get it.This has helped our family to be debt free. We have learned that if we really need it we save up the money until we are able to afford it. It is working hard and saving for it that makes us appreciate the item even more.

I would encourage all who read my column to live debt free this year. Free yourself from the burden of debt. Cut up your credit cards, pay off your bills and do not spend more than you have. Make a resolution to save in the new year.

Do you have frugal saving tips? E-mail them to localnews2005@yahoo.com.