 TITLE: Should I Save or Pay Off Debt? CONTENT: How to Save Money\n-----------------\nThere are two major categories of expenses you can reduce to save money: fixed and variable. Fixed expenses are recurring bills that don't change, like your rent or mortgage, while variable expenses, like entertainment and meals out, can vary from month to month. Here's how to address both:\n1.  You won't know where to cut back if you're unsure where your money is going in the first place. Make a budget so you can assess what you're currently spending and where there's room to trim.\n2.  Target your biggest monthly expenses first, like rent and transportation. Moving into a less expensive place, getting a roommate or refinancing your mortgage can all yield big savings. Buying a used car instead of a new one or shopping for cheaper car insurance could also help bring down monthly bills.\n3.  If you've already cut back on major expenses, or you're unable to make a change to your housing or transportation at the moment, next set your sights on smaller monthly bills, like utilities. Negotiate down your cable or internet bill, for instance, or shop for a new cell phone plan.\n4.  Next look at variable expenses. If food takes up a big portion of your budget, try cutting out takeout for a month to see how much you save, or go out to eat just once a week instead of three times. Spend Sunday afternoon cooking for the week so you can bring leftovers to work. Cancel any subscriptions you don't use, like gym memberships or streaming video or music services.\nSee \"How to Save Money Every Month\" for more tips on how to save money. END