• Add up all your monthly expenses, so you know what a month of personal expenses really are for you.

• Still in a day job? Then start setting aside 5 percent of your net pay each paycheck and build savings.

• Sound like too much? Start with a goal of setting aside $100 week=$5,200 a year, which is a nice cushion.

• As an entrepreneur, you want to be sure that whenever you take a cash draw from the company, you set aside money for tax. Don't be surprised later with a nasty tax bill.

• Start now. The most important thing is to create a habit of saving each week.

Brought to you by SCORE, America's small business mentors, at www.score.org.