start saving money

Really hard right now, considering my pay has been cut 15% but I am still going to try. I need to just remember that even if its only a small amount, its a start.

This keeps getting put on the back burner. Something always comes up. But its getting more and more vital now, especially since I work for the state of California and am about to take a big paycut!

I had to dip into the savings account, which bums me out. I am goingg to try to repay that money asap, but its still money lost since instead of just repaying I wanted to actually add to the savings account on payday. Oh well, still have a tiny start. I just found that the IRS approved a tax incentive for new homebuyers that purchase in 08 or 09. Its a $7500 credit! I have to read the information still, not quite sure how it works but I am still excited. http://activerain.com/blogsview/628006/New-First-Time-Home

I opened up a savings account that is not linked to the checking account and is harder to access. I am hoping that I didnt get too eager and put in too much to begin with, might have to take a little back out and put it in the checking but it will still be a good start. I am planning on depositing every month and any windfalls.

This goal has been lingering around on my list, and I have always said I wanted to start saving money, but havent given this enough attention. I wish I had made a concerted effort much earlier, and now am going to start working on my budget. I have a great budget program on my computer that I am going to learn how to use today. I work for the state of California and it was announced today that Gov Arnold wants to cut wages for 200,000 state employees until a new budget is signed. The state has a 15 billion dollar deficit and the budget is 23 days late right now. This could potentially effect my August paycheck and I am scared. It would take me down to Federal minimum wage which is 6.55 an hour and I definately can not live on that. I am in the process of trying to buy a house and wonder now if I should even move forward with this or how it will affect that outcome. I wrote to the Governor today to tell him that I feel like my center is overstaffed, which has actually been something I have thought for a long time. We have people sitting around doing nothing, 5 to 7 people a shift doing the work that 3 to 4 could do far more efficiently. So now I am feeling guilty about trying to off fellow workers. But I do believe its a serious drain.