It's time to prepare for what's to come. It doesn't matter if the economy gets better or worse, saving money is always a huge advantage.

 Here are 3 great money saving tips!

1. Instead of going out to eat food, make a family commitment to eat more home cooked meals. Cook the food as a team and sit down to enjoy as a family. Bring the old family traditions back to the dinner table. Most families can save hundreds of dollars by cutting down on going out to eat.

2. Start what I call "The Under $10 Gift Year!" This is simply an agreement to buy or make gifts that are less than $10. Believe it or not, these gifts are often times more meaningful because they require much thought. You can save a lot of money and get gifts to truly treasure for a lifetime.

3. Start "Family Entertainment Clubs!" A family entertainment club is a group of families that share movie rentals, participate in game nights together, and other fun low cost activities. If you create your own entertainment with others, you'll save tons of money that can go toward your savings.

These ideas require planning and commitment, but they can prove to help you increase savings or withstand a financial crunch.