In the business world, there are a lot of requirements — keeping up your appearance, networking, etc., etc. — which in my experience can often get a little expensive!

As someone who’s saving for a wedding, trying to get out of credit card debt, make a mortgage payment and student loan payments, I’ve found easy ways to keep a little more money in my bank account.

1. Eat in the office.

It’s easy to get caught up in going out to lunch everyday during business hours. However, this can often end up costing $50 a week or more! A good way to save money is to eat in the office, at a nearby park, or to run home if you’re close enough.

Where to get the food from? I generally opt for leftovers from the dinner before. OR I hit up the nearby Kroger to find something good to make. The best way to save money here is to check the circular online before you go and scope out what’s on sale. Then, I visit some online coupon sites (such as Coupons.com, CellFire, Shortcuts and SmartSource) to see which coupons are available. I generally base my lunch choice on what deals I can get. Yesterday, my lunch (delicious tortellini from Marie Calendars) cost me about $1.15 after a store discount and a coupon!

2. Dress with basics.

Keeping a professional wardrobe can also get expensive, and dressing presentably five days a week can often do a number on your wallet. However, I’ve found that keeping a closet full of solid-colored basics is the best way to go. The reason I love basics is that you can mix and match them to create numerous outfits with just a few items. Plus, they tend to be a little easier to care for. (Don’t you just hate when things are “dry clean only”?)

Some great stores for these items include Express and H&M. While Express generally has some larger  price tags compared to H&M, you can sign up to receive Express discounts, which can often cut half the price off! Plus, if you catch Express’ “Shop the Box” sale, you can get basics for mere dollars!

3. Find alternate modes of transportation.

This is the more obvious of the three I have on this list. And I must admit, this is one I actually don’t do. Living in Knoxville, our options are a little limited in terms of transportation — especially being that I live 30 minutes from the office. However, for those of you in bigger cities or who live/work in downtown areas, this is a definitely viable option that can save you money!

Carpool with a coworker or try public transportation. Gas is still expensive, and cutting down on how much you need will definitely keep a little extra money in your wallet.

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So there you have it — 3 ways to save money in the business world. How else do you save?

If you found out today that you had only one day to live, what would you do?

I’ve recently become obsessed with MTV’s new show, The Buried Life, which has inspired me to write this post. (In case you haven’t seen it, tune in next Monday.)

The basic premise of the show is inspiring to say the least. Four guys make a list of 100 things they want to do before they die and set out to accomplish them. For everything they mark off their list, they help a stranger do the same. (When they started the project three years ago, they actually weren’t affiliated with MTV.)

So what do you want to do before you die?

I think many of us fall into a routine when it comes to life. Between school, work, and other commitments, it’s often easy to let your dreams fall to the wayside. We race through life, focusing on money and success, sometimes forgetting to actually live.

And what does that get you? Does money make you truly happy? Or is it the experiences that define your life? Isn’t it time we stop worrying so much about material things and place a little more emphasis on life experience?

No, I’m not suggesting everyone quits their jobs, buys a big bus and travels the country crossing items off their list. However, it doesn’t hurt to keep your dreams in mind while you’re living the day-to-day. Do you even have a list? Have you thought about the things you need to do before you die? Are they written down? Do you know how to accomplish them?

For the past year or so, I’ve been working on living my life a little more freely. While I’m still focused on accomplishing my career goals, I always save time for true life experiences. And I’m not saying your career goals can’t factor into your life experiences…I’m just saying that it’s important to break the routine a little bit sometimes to ensure you’re getting the most out of this short life.

I think it’s important to make sure that we all live the life we set out to lead and accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. When I’m laying on my death bed in my old age, I hope that I can look back on life with no regrets. Do you wish to do the same?

I decided to jot down the first few things that came to mind when I thought of my “bucket list”. I’ve had these things in mind for quite some time. However, I’ve never actually written them down. (In my experience with goals, it’s always best to write them down somewhere.)

So here are a few things I want to do before I die:

1. Go skydiving.
2. Travel across the country in an RV.
3. Start a pit bull rescue.
4. Go to Shambhala Music Festival.
5. Zipline in Costa Rica.
6. Enjoy my wedding day.
7. Travel through Europe.
8. Make someone’s day.
9. Raise two children.
10. Start my own business.

I know I have more to write down. However, this is a start. Why don’t you take a moment to write down some of the things you want most in life?

What are some things you want to do before you die?