While my results are mixed, I’ve realized something: credit and debit cards have spoiled me. I remember a childhood spent going to the bank with my mom to pick up cash for our errands, and you know what? I am really glad I don’t have to do that — other than the missed lollypops, of course.

It seemed almost every time I needed something, my wallet was empty. While it did curb some spending — e.g, I got creative with what was already in my cupboard instead of calling delivery or going out to eat — for the most part, it was just a hassle.

The month before I cut credit cards and use cash, I charged a total of $975.95 to my debit card. In the process I discovered I spent one-third, or $338.83, dining out. So this month I made a point to bring lunch whenever feasible, eat leftovers and get creative instead of calling for takeout.

The result: Less overall spending, but more in the “food” category. Here’s why: I went on a ski vacation!

Treating friends to a lunch and cocktails is almost exactly the difference between last month’s $338.83 and this month’s $468.36. But it was something I wanted to do, so I certainly can’t complain. Plus, the $330 from the change collection I’ve been working on all year covered all of my lift tickets and rentals.

Overall, though, I was still able to reduce my monthly cash flow by $157.20, for a total of $818.75.

All in all, I don’t think I was as disciplined as I could have been, but I did wind up saving overall. For my next trick, I’m going to really put the squeeze on my budget and see if I can bring down my total by another $150 — or more — next month.

Recently I wrote about the benefits of cutting credit cards out of your life to save money and help rein in your budget. I figured it’s only fair to put my money where my mouth is and follow through myself.

So last month I put my credit card on the shelf and relied exclusively on my debit card for, well, everything. Turns out I charged a total of $975.95 to my debit card, and saved $228 in interest fees by doing so.

But besides the obvious benefits of saving on those added interest costs, I also wanted the exercise to help me pinpoint where my money goes. I can’t say I am surprised at where the bulk went, but the amount shocked me — especially since, like the rest of America, I’ve been cutting back for many months already.

Maybe it’s because I’m tired when I get home, maybe it’s because I’m a bad cook, or maybe it’s because I live upstairs from a restaurant row; whatever the reason, I’ve realized I spend most of my money dining out — $338.83 last month, to be exact. This includes dinners, brunches, workday lunches, happy hours, take-out and anything else prepared by a restaurant.

So I’m taking on a new challenge this month: Cash only! And when I say cash only, I mean literally using greenbacks exclusively. It will probably be a pain to run to the ATM on a regular basis, but I’m hoping (hypothesizing even) that watching the cash dwindle before my eyes will help me put the breaks on spending across the board.

When using a credit or debit card, it’s easy to separate needs (gas and groceries) from wants (clothes and dining out). But when I have a finite cash flow for everything, I’m hoping it will force me to scrutinize each and every purchase — be it an office vending-machine snack or buying the expensive brand of shampoo at the grocery store.

So I’m only a few days into the month, and I’m already committed to a cash-only lifestyle. Oh, and I have to run to the ATM.

Be sure to check back in a couple of weeks and see how I’m doing with my cash-only diet.

Do you think I can stick to it and save? Are you willing to join me on a cash crusade to rein in spending habits? If you do switch to a cash-based existence, let me know about your progress!

As Americans struggle to weather economically challenging times, more small town governments are looking at innovative uses of existing technology as a way to give residents new options for controlling rising costs. Take, for instance, the golf cart.

There was a time when golf carts were restricted to the golf course, a few forward-thinking resort areas that wanted to protect environmentally sensitive ecosystems and certain planned golf communities like Peachtree City, Georgia, which offers 80 miles of golf cart paths that are used by the whole community, including high school students.

But even while currently stable gas prices have given Americans some respite from last summer’s record-high prices, interest in golf carts as a means of affordable intra-city transportation is growing.

For several years now, golf carts as the primary mode of transportation have been the norm, not the exception, in the village of Bald Head Island, just like Santa Catalina Island off the Los Angeles coastline. At McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia, students use a specially designated golf cart parking lot on campus.

Ordinances permitting golf cart use on city streets have been passed or are being considered in towns throughout Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina and Virginia.

While local and state laws vary, owners of battery-powered golf carts in these towns can drive them on roads with a posted speed limit of less than 35 miles per hour. Safety concerns persist, however. Under-age drivers have been seriously injured in accidents with larger motor vehicles.

Most towns that have given the thumbs up to golf carts require they be outfitted with headlights, windshield wipers, seat belts and turn signals to make them street-legal. The carts need to be recharged about every 30 miles.

As Americans begin to feel the withdrawal pains of lessening our dependence on foreign oil, we’ll need to consider every possible way to lessen consumption and come up with alternatives to automobile-dominated culture.

What’s happening in your community? Are you seeing any golf carts zipping around?