Saving seems like such a simple task, right? While it should not be hard to do, many Americans simply do not have a dime in the bank. With the sorry state of Social Security, the future economic status of the country is in peril in the opinion of many.

Is there a reason we cannot seem to save a single buck? Yes. There are two of them. One is a culture where spending money hand over foot is the norm and the second is a lack of personal responsibility. Well, credit is getting tight so you have to save now.

Saving in general is very difficult. Saving for something specific is usually very easy. With this in mind, it is vital that you set targets for your saving effort. If you foresee the need for a car in a year, start saving now. It can be pretty easy.

Now put a realistic timeframe into effect. Write down a specific date that you want to have your money saved by. Make sure that this date is one that can be achieved, or you may just wind up frustrating yourself. Now comes the hard part (ready?).

We are beings of routine. We do the same things over and over each day because it is part of our routine. Make saving money part of your routine. Put some money aside each day. It can be a tiny amount because it will add up over time.

As you work through your savings plan, write down everything that you spend. This way you can keep track of your spending habits. If you see that you are spending too much money in one area, see whether or not you can cut back on that spending habit.

Pay attention to the routine expenditures you have that are not really necessary. Hit Starbucks every morning? At $4 a pop, that is $80 a month. How about lunch time expenditures? Buy DVDs? Why not rent them? You can really cut costs if you just try.

Once you start trying to save money, there can be a tendency to overdue it. The goal is to save money, not become offensively cheap. Set aside some splurge money, but do not spend more than that.

We are a society of debtors. Everyone seems to be up to their eyes in debt. It is incredibly stressful, so why do it? Cut your expenses. Save some money. Pay off your debts and be truly free. No credit card company should every have authority over you.