Saving money can be hard work. Worse: Many strategies have no obvious, immediate payoff. I mean, who can figure the savings for, like, not leaving all the lights on?  WSJ—that’s who.

This article has tips that are good for saving (for your BreakAways), good for the earth, and in some cases even good for your health. 

To encourage you to read more, here are a few pecuniary teasers:

• Cool down:  Turning down the thermostat can save hundreds yearly.
• Slow down:  Drive 55 and save 70 cents per gallon.
• Use your legs:  Biking or walking to work could easily save a thou or more annually. 
• Brown-bag it:  Save another thou (or more—and that may include daily calories!) by taking a lunch to work. 
• Don’t grocery-shop on an empty stomach.  
• Get a better credit card. 
• Get your DVDs from the library. 

Check it out!

We blame the banks.  Blame the Wall Streeters.  Blame the Joneses.  But once again, we did it ourselves.  This fine article reminds us that the average credit card debt has hovered around $8,400.  And more than 40% of U.S. households spend more than they earn.  And that was BEFORE the current meltdown really got nasty. 

The history of consumption in America goes back decades.  But the propensity to “need” posh stuff is fairly recent—and went off the charts for a while. 

If we can buck that trend—and save a few bucks instead—not only will our nation will be stronger, but we’ll be able to afford more BreakAways. 

I may be topping off a glass that’s not even half-full.  But buried in this dreary personal wealth story are some—okay, a few—signs that Americans are learning fast during this disastrous downturn.  Can compulsive spenders change their ways?  Maybe they already are.  Check out the good news numbers, then the bad news numbers. 

The Good News! 

• Amount in savings:  $620.2 billion, the most since 1959
• Personal savings rate:  5.7%, the highest since 1995

The Bad News  :  ( 

• Personal wealth losses:  $1.3 trillion, the lowest since 2004
• U.S. stock market holdings:  Cut by more than half, peak to trough
• Collective home equity:  41.4%, the lowest since 1945
• Home value losses:  Down 32%, from peak in 2006

Now here’s the conundrum:  If we DON’T spend, the economy may not turn around, and these losses may linger or get worse.  If we DO spend, we may stop being thrifty and start ourselves back on a cycle toward another crash. 

Guess that’s why sage souls know to do everything in moderation.  (Including moderation.) 

“Staycations” are huge this year, and there’s nothing wrong with a little home cookin’.  But if you long to BreakAway, it need not bust your budget.  This pithy article suggests going by car, packing a cooler (yes!), trying off-season, and more ways to save bucks while seeing a slice of the world. 

Give it a read if you’re on the edge of sanity AND solvency.  There’s also 5 good websites to help plan your getaway. 

• RoadsideAmerica.com
• Hotels.com
• Homeaway.com
• Roadfood.com
• Priceline.com

A recent survey published in TIME reveals that more than half of Americans are losing faith in the future of the American Dream.  No surprise there, and perhaps it’s even a contrarian indicator?  After all, people get overly giddy when times are good, and then go too gloomy when cyclical downturns happen—which can suggest a bottom. 

Percentage of people who believe the American Dream will be easier or harder to achieve in 10 years.

13% Easier

57% Harder

This time may be be different, though.  We’ve given ourselves far too much credit for far too long.  If the American dream is pay-as-you-go for a while, these numbers could be spot-on.  Oh well, the best things in life are still free. Right?  This site is all about taking TIME (not the magazine, duh)—not spending money on stuff! 

Financial writer Kara McGuire hits “Pay Dirt” (her column name) with this article, “Put a Squeeze on your Financial Stress.”  We hear same-old suggestions a lot, but here Paymar seeks fresh ideas from a three wise folk whose area of expertise usually is not money.  They are:

• Barbara Murphy, a Buddhist priest
• Rebecca Thomley, a clinical psychologist
• Michelle Burns, a life coach

There’s so much more to life than money—and so much more to these tips than tactical money-management stuff.  If financial worries have got you down, take a gander…  

It’s my sense that families have been taking “staycations” for years.  But these days, with folks trying to cut back on spending, the idea is generating all kinds of buzz and steam.  In this clever memoir from the NY Times, a family tries—and succeeds–at going nowhere.  Yet they do find some bumps in the road less traveled.  To wit: 

• One child wonders—presciently—if the folks will just work all the time, like they do when home.  Guess what?  They kind of do. 
• Mom (the author) admits she works every single day, sometimes for hours.  Yet she seeks balance toward the end by allocating some time blocks as “work” and others “play.” 
• They did, indeed, save money—even though they enjoyed some splurges and agreed not to worry about it. 
• This time, they avoided coming home from the vacation feeling like they need a vacation.  Who doesn’t know that sensation? 

As this story suggests, staycations can be a great BreakAway from work—and from the normal routine.  But you need to plan special outings you normally don’t do, avoid plugging into work too much, and have realistic expectations. 

My advice to this family?  Next year, go somewhere dreamy.  And afterward, have a family meeting to see if one wins by a mile, or if there’s room for both in the future. 

This website, after all, is dedicated to free time of ALL kinds and places.