Recent studies have found that Canadians are saving less money than the used to. That’s not entirely surprising, given the tougher economic times. But most people agree that saving money — whether it’s for retirement, a down payment on a house, a child’s university education or just a rainy day — is a priority for them. So how do you develop the discipline to save on a regular basis? Here are some helpful tips:

• Make a budget. The first step towards saving money is recognizing where your money is going. Start by making a list of all your expenses. From there, you can start to decide which expenses are necessary and which ones can be cut out.

• Eliminate waste. Sometimes saving money simply means being smart with your money. Avoiding things like late fees can prevent needless spending.

• Pay down high-interest debt. If you owe money on credit cards, where you’re paying a high rate of interest, focus on paying those down first. The less money you give away in interest, the more you have to save for other things.

• Make healthy choices. Strangely enough, sometimes healthy choices can be as good for your wallet as they are for your body. Things like smoking and eating a lot of fast food are not only unhealthy; they also cost a fair amount of money. If you can reduce or do away with those sorts of expenses, you’ll save money and feel better.