Financial health is a necessity. The idea is simple. Spend less; save more. The question is HOW? Here are some tips.

Make financial health a family matter. Talk with your spouse. Get the children involved in saving. One source suggests having short and regular family talks.

Write down every penny you spend for one month. Once you know where money is going, you can prioritize. Create a spending plan. Make one you can live with, not so extreme that there is no plan for recreation and incidentals. One person made a budget, then tried to reduce each expense by 10-20 percent.

Save 10 percent of your income. Take advantage of payroll depost directly into your Savings Account, so that you don't even see it. Defining "emergency" in writing can be a tool to leave the savings alone.

Regardless what the commercials say, eating out costs more than cooking in. Cooking a meal together can make memories for kids, as well as "plan-overs" for other dinners and lunches. Brown-bagging does not have to be boring.

Set a limit on grocery spending. Check the internet for coupon sites. Store brand products are often as good as, sometimes better than, national brands.

Diapers are expensive. One family found Diapers.com is a good place to buy in bulk and save.

People are choosing to cancel land lines and use only cell phones. Family cell phone plans are a source of savings.

Some families have saved $100-150 by investing in a programmable thermostat. Others have turned the thermostat down and left it there.

Instead of canceling auto insurance (and breaking the law), shop around. Some people save up to $350 per year. Higher deductibles also create lower premiums on both auto and homeowner policies.

Very disciplined people are able to save using credit card rebates. The rebates get wiped out when people 1) do not pay the entire bill off each month and 2) spend more than they had budgeted, which credit card companies count on.

Learn to purchase only what is necessary. Use internet resources such as online retail discount sites and sites where you can compare prices. One man gives and saves by using BiddingforGood.com. He buys what he needs for less while donating to charity.

Be creative. And find ways to have fun in creating financial health.