Save $1,000 By Christmas

Saving $1,000 between now and Christmas... It's easier than you think. Provided you are willing to make a few sacrifices and change some of your daily habits, it can be done... Just in time for Christmas. There are 43 days left until Christmas, which means it's never to early to start saving. And even in these tough economic times, it doesn't have to be hard. NewsChannel 10's Kristen Guilfoos sat down with Certified Financial Planner Steve Swicegood to find out just how easy it is to save $1,000 in six weeks. That's roughly 160 dollars per week.

1. Adjust your tax withholdings. If you are getting more than one thousand dollars a year in tax refunds, it may be time to re-evaluate. That is roughly $500 every month the government is getting to use, interest free.

2. Increase your car insurance deductible. Save another $150 by increasing your car insurance deductible, which is smart move on older cars. Your cost of insurance versus what you might receive in the event of a total loss claim is probably not a good deal.

3. Skip your daily latte. Do this and you'll save $240. Coffee and lunch out everyday is $8 to $10 dollars a day.

4. Plan ahead before going grocery shopping. Tack on another 150 dollars to your savings by taking a list with you to the grocery store. That will save the average family about 25 dollars per week. This cuts down on impulse buys.

That brings you to a grand total of 1040 dollars. Steve says the most important thing is to save your savings, and put them in a savings account.

Now that you've reached your goal of saving $1,000 in time for Christmas, you can save even more by doing these things:

5. Turn in expense reports early. Many people on flexible re-imbursement plans at work wait until the end of the year to turn in their receipts. Turn them in early and get the cash now.

6. Stop eating out. The average family of four who eats out three or four nights a week will spend close to $150 every week. Start cooking at home and you'll exceed your goal in no time.