All save, no pain

Whether you own a business or are just trying to get your personal finances in better shape, saving is a decidedly tough nut. There always seems to be some bill, some draining obligation or some other nasty payment that saps whatever money you'd dearly love to set aside.

Well, there's an easy way to do it--and to think we can all thank an old bill for the tip (how very thoughtful). Here's the gig--once you've finished paying off a bill or some other financial obligation, just keep making the same payment--to yourself. For instance, if a $200 a month credit card bill has finally headed over the horizon, keep cutting that $200 check, only stash it in savings. It's not as though it takes any sort of Herculean discipline--if you could afford the payment before, nothing should stop you now.

And, bear in mind the money's going to a much more worthy cause--you.

Jeff