Have you ever hit the ATM one day to find that you've spent it all the next? You look in your wallet and wonder where did it all go. What did you spend it on?

Hey, if you haven't noticed by now, money goes fast. The little things just keep adding up. For many people, their entire paycheck is spent within two days. Sometimes, it is partly spent before it even comes in.

The fact is that we all waste our money. In some way we make decisions that aren't necessarily great ones. We may not even realize that money is trickling through these cracks in our management. But once you know where the money is leaking out, you can apply some stop leak to the problem.

Most of us have things that we just can't live without. Heck, we don't even use or understand those things most of the time. Are you paying for call forwarding? Do you use it? Does it make your life easier? Or could you simply check your messages when you get home and save the fee?

These fees go hand in hand with those silent upgrades. We are "given" things on top of our normal service -- for a fee. Don't pay for things you don't want or need. There is no point. It is just a waste of money.

I am convinced that the best way to waste money is to sign up for a gym membership. Believe me, as soon as you start paying to work out, you will stop working out. If you don't use it, cancel it. If you don't cancel it, use it. Otherwise, you are wasting money.

And don't fall for package deals. Hey, that calling plan sounds great, until you realize that there are $30 worth of taxes and charges tacked onto it. And you don't need to pay more for unlimited usage if you don't need it. If you only make one phone call for five minutes a month, don't pay for the largest package -- buy the smallest. Make sure you read everything. And again, if you don't need something, don't pay for it.

Finally, you need to develop some self-control when shopping. Don't buy something just because it is on sale. Don't buy something that you won't use. Don't buy anything that isn't on your shopping list. Don't buy in bulk if you tend to throw food away.

Remember, it is better to save than to spend. Look around your home, hidden deep in the closets and in the attic and look at all the items that you have wasted money on. Remember those items when you need inspiration not to purchase something. You know where your money goes. Keep it on the right track.