I just read an article about how hard it is for rich people - those making $250,000 a year - to save money. And for the first time since the Great Depression, the savings rate in the U.S. is actually LESS THAN zero (meaning that as a whole, we Americans spend more than we save).

Wow, what a sad story. If people making a quarter of a million dollars each year can't save properly, how in the world do the rest of us hope to build a nest egg?

Rising credit card debt ... skyrocketing numbers of foreclosures ... "rich" people having trouble making ends meet. Doesn't ANYONE know how to manage their money?

No. Plain and simple.

But there is hope. No matter how much - or how little - you earn, you can get ahead.

Here are 3 simple ways to save money, even if you don't make a lot:

1) Get rid of all "extra" expenses. Cancel your cell phone, cable TV, newspapers, gym memberships. Stop eating out, buy in bulk, don't buy as much junk food. Once you start cutting expenses, you'll realize just how easy it is. I'm not saying it's fun, but the 2 years I lived without cable (because we lived in a rural area that did not have cable yet) were 2 of the best years I've ever had - I spent more time working out, listening to music, going for walks. Yes, you can live without modern technology!

2) Force yourself to save. If you have a 401k at work, use it. If not, set up a savings account with an automatic withdrawal from your checking. Start small, $25 a month $50 a month, $10 a month, whatever you can afford. And then don't touch the money. In a few years, you'll have a pretty decent emergency fund. I've used the Bank On Yourself system for just over a year, and so far I've put aside an extra few thousand dollars (on top of my other savings) - and I've set myself up for the future!

3) Make extra money. Get a second job. Have a tag sale and sell all the old stuff in your basement or attic that you don't really need any more. Start a business - cut lawns, shop for an elderly person, build an online business. Be creative, and do something you're good at!

And here are some more money saving tips to give you a few more ideas - hey, if I can do it (and I'm definitely NOT rich) - so can you!