The state of the economy is forcing many families to take a long, hard, look at their wallets. Focusing on spending and saving may feel frustrating, but taking good care of your personal finances with Hewitt Resources  will only benefit you in the long run. Here are some great personal finance tips to help get you started.

If you're a student looking to start college, you should try as hard as you can to avoid student loans. Your personal finances will never be the same with this debt looming over your head. Always check out grants instead of loans. You won't have to repay these. And although it may put a strain on you, you could always work and pay your way through school. It's better than being 200k in debt when you enter the workforce.

Do not invest your money in something you do not fully understand. Financial advisers are here to help you make the best decisions. Sometimes the best way to get rich, is to stick to what you know, and do what you are good at. Start doing some research about different investment options.

Focus on high-interest debt first when paying down credit card or loan balances. The higher the interest rate, the more you pay over the long term, so getting rid of these high-interest items saves you considerable money over the long run. As an added benefit, each time you reduce the overall balance on a high-interest item, you also reduce the overall debt.

When investing money, make sure that you do not bounce around too much. Find a few solid investments and stick with them. Moving money around may seem like a smart idea, but the money you will end up spending in commission and transfer fees will make it, not worth your while.

Make sure you read over your credit card statement very carefully every month. Make sure there aren't any charges that shouldn't be on there. It helps if you keep any receipts from purchases where you used your credit card this way you can use those to verify any charges on your account.

Use any credit cards that you intend to keep. Credit card issuers can and do shut down or decrease credit lines for accounts that are not profitable. However, while it is best to use each credit card regularly, you should still pay them off in full every month to avoid having to pay any interest. Obviously, you need to have a budget which allows for a monthly credit card payment, and you have to stick to it.

Try to avoiding using your credit card unless it is absolutely necessary. For smaller purchases, go the cash route. New legislation allows stores to require a credit card minimum of $10 for transactions. Make sure to carry cash or a debit card if you intend to make under $10 in purchases.

Always save your change from the day, when you get home. Any change you have in your pocket should go into a jar. Change adds up quickly, and it should go straight into your savings account where the change from the week can add up and build interest for your future!

Live below your means. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. This happens, because we are spending as much as we are earning or in some cases, more. You can break this cycle by leaving yourself a lot of room in your monthly budget. If you only need a smaller percentage of your income to pay your living expenses, there will be more left over to save or to pay for unexpected things that come up.

Are you concerned about your personal finances? Cut costs at the grocery store! Go vegetarian a few times a week! By eating less meat, you cut your grocery prices. Meat is usually one of the most expensive items in a grocery budget, so eliminate it once or twice a week. In addition, you may be eating healthier, as well as, making yourself try new and creative ways to eat!

While no one wants to cut back on their spending, this is a great opportunity to develop healthy spending habits. Even when your financial situation improves, these tips will help you take care of your money and keep your finances stable. It's tough to change the way you deal with money, but it's worth the extra effort.