The American consumer, according to the media and financial institutions, is a person mired in debt. We continue to spend, but we don't save our pennies for a rainy day. Here are some simple ways that you can start taking control of your money and put what you don't spend in a "rainy day" account.

Before you buy something, ask yourself the following questions: Can I afford it? Do I really need it? If I purchase this item, what then will I have to forgo later? Even though you may really want it at the time, if you ask these questions of yourself, the majority of the time you will realize that you really don't need it or want it. It was more of an impulse purchase at the time.

Don't go shopping after having a bad day. This is especially common for females to do if they have had a bad day at work or have just broken up with their boyfriend. Buying something nice for ourselves makes us feel good. The problem is that when we are feeling so low, we don't think about how much that item cost us, until we get the credit card bill next month.

Cut up those credit cards. Having four or five credit cards with credit lines of $5,000 and more just isn't necessary. It is good to have a credit card on hand for emergencies. Remember though, buying a new dress for a weekend out on the town is not an emergency! Learn to pay with cash or get a debit card that gets paid directly out of your checking account.

Shop for your groceries after you have already eaten. When you are hungry, it is easy to want to buy everything that looks and tastes good. Also, bring a list of what you need for the week and stick to the list. Just because something is on sale, doesn't mean you need it. Thank of it this way. If an item is normally $2.50, but is on sale for $1.95, then you saved $0.55 by buying it. However, if you don't buy it at all, you saved $2.50.

Subscribe to your favorite magazines. A single magazine purchased from the newsstand will cost you the cover price. If you have a subscription, you can save anywhere from 20% to over 50%.

Shop in outlet stores. There are so many choices of stores that sell their clothing, housewares and miscellaneous items through outlet stores. You can find name brand clothing for a fraction of the price. Places like Nordstrom Rack, TJMaxx and Marshall's are great places to find deals. Look, also, when department stores have huge clearance sales. You can also try shopping right before the next season, as this is when retailers mark down last season's clothing right before the next season's offerings arrive.

Make your own lunch to take to work. Instead of eating out at a restaurant every day during your lunchtime, try making a healthy lunch to eat. Not only will you save money, but chances are, you will also be eating better.

These seem like simple little things to do and they are, but they have the potential to save you hundreds of dollars a month. This is just one of the first steps in getting your finances under control so you can start having your piggybank full.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Money Management.