Are you living a simple, but enjoyable life?

Keeping your life simple makes your luxuries all the sweeter.  When your life is crowded, it is next to impossible to really enjoy what you have.

In addition, you appreciate your indulgences so much more when they are fewer and farther between.  The contrast they create makes them stand out.  So, if you want the best life possible, keep it simple.

Keeping Life Simple

For some reason, humans have an amazing tendency to complicate every situation they touch.  We clutter up our lives by always wanting more.  We have been deceived into believing that “more is better” when in fact it is not.  More is draining.  It costs too much to continually want more and I’m not just talking about money.  More stuff costs you time, resources and energy.  Is it all really worth it?  Does it truly make your life more enjoyable?  Is it even possible to truly appreciate it all?

A few years ago, I began a personal economic recovery.  Initially, it was all about money.  I was living above my means and I needed to correct that.  I started by becoming a lot more frugal and cutting many unnecessary things from my life.

What I found was that there are a multitude of benefits to simplicity that lead to getting a lot more enjoyment out of life.  In other words, I found that more is NOT better.  It was quite an eye-opening realization for me.  I’d never really thought much about simplifying.  I always thought the path to happiness was paved with bigger houses, more toys and lots of luxuries.

As a result of my awakening, I continued to simplify and pretty quickly adopted some completely new attitudes about money, spending and possessions.  These drove me to continue down the new path I was on to see where it would lead.

Now, in terms of my finances, I’m debt free except for my house and that alone has tremendously improved the quality of my life.  Overall, I lead a fairly simple existence.  I’m not fanatical about it.  I don’t live an austere life by any means, but I have learned to keep things simple because it is more enjoyable, less stressful and just a better way to live.

Adding Back a Few Luxuries

When my wife and I began correcting how we handled our money, we cut back on just about everything.  We trimmed most of the luxuries out of our budget so we could throw every possible penny at the debt snowball we used to pay off everything we owed.

We were so convinced that our debt was stealing our joy that we were willing to do just about anything to get it paid off.  Now that we’ve accomplished our goal, we’ve decided to lighten up a bit and add back in some luxuries.

We are still trying to keep things fairly simple.  We don’t want to complicate our lives with things that don’t add much value or that we can’t afford (i.e. pay cash for).  We have a whole new appreciation for getting something new and we really do get joy out of the luxuries we are consciously choosing to add back to our lives.

Here are a few of the things we’ve done:

1.  Bought a Newer, Nicer Car

Last year, for the first time in my life, I paid cash for a new car.  Well, it wasn’t really new.  It was just new to us.  But, after driving a couple of cars that were several years old and had some ongoing issues, this newer car is truly a luxury for us.  Of course, it lacks one feature that all our other cars had when they were new – a payment!  I can tell you that it drives even better without lugging around a multi-year loan.  The simplicity of just paying cash for a car is awesome.  I’ll never go back to the old, complicated way of making this purchase.

2.  New TV, Cable and DVR

When we got frugal with our finances, we cut our cable television service back to just the first 25 channels.  It was just enough to get the local stations.  About a year ago, we bought a new flat-screen, LCD television to replace our old clunker.  Along with it, we added back full cable service and a DVR.  I know there are a lot of negatives to watching television, but with the DVR we are able to record and watch what we really like.  Our family has definitely enjoyed this luxury.

3.  Replaced Several Household Items

In the last year, we have bought new privacy fence, a hot water heater, a new dishwasher, a new washer and dryer and a new central air conditioning unit.  I don’t know that all these things are luxuries, but if we weren’t debt-free yet and if we didn’t have cash in hand to make these purchases, then we wouldn’t have bought them.  We would have done without most of them at least for awhile.  These items make our lives more comfortable and simpler.  I’d hate to have to heat up water on the stove just to avoid a cold shower.

4.  Took a Trip or Two

My wife and I love to travel, but it can be expensive.  We cut back quite a bit there for a few years while we were working on our finances, but since then we’ve been able to take a few nice trips.  We don’t go overboard, but we do enjoy the luxury of being able to travel.  Again, we pay cash for these trips so we don’t complicate our lives by charging up credit cards along the way.  This way, when we get back from our travels, our lives are still simple and unburdened.

5.  Thinking of Starting a New Hobby

Now that there’s a little more discretionary money in our budget, I’m thinking of starting a new hobby.  For a long time, I’ve wanted to have a home aquarium.  I think aquariums are so beautiful and the whole thing really intrigues me.  To this point, I’ve just been reading about it and trying to learn what all is involved, but I’ll probably make some purchases pretty soon.  I’ve decided to go with a freshwater aquarium at first because there’s less startup costs and I think it might be a little easier to maintain.  Our simpler lifestyle gives me the freedom to try things like having my own aquarium and that makes me happy.

Simplicity with Luxuries = Great Life

Our simpler, debt-free lifestyle has definitely added quality to my life.  Yes, I love having a few luxuries around, but I’m cautious not to overextend myself financially or otherwise.  I’ve learned that everything you bring into your life comes with some responsibility.  So, I’m embracing two ideas – a simple life is a good life and less is more.

What are your thoughts on this?  Have you tried simplifying your life?  How did it go?  Leave a comment on this article and let me know.  I’d love to hear from you.

Photo: Copyright PhotoXpress.com

The unexpected loss of income can be very difficult to handle.  In addition, getting fired will have some negative emotional consequences. 

If the person losing their job is your spouse, then you’d better be ready to help or things could go downhill quickly!

How to support your spouse after they have lost their job

No matter the circumstances, losing a job can be very upsetting.  It can cause feelings of insecurity and bitterness.  Of course, neither of these is helpful in regaining employment.

If you husband or wife has lost their job, then it is critical that you immediately become very supportive.  Here are some suggestions:

1.  Reassure your spouse that they are valuable and smart

A layoff can make a person start questioning, “Why me?”  It can undermine their confidence and stir up all kinds of insecurities.  Be sure to spend ample time reassuring your spouse that they have a lot to offer.  Point out contributions they made at their former employer and remind them of their strongest talents.

2.  Help your spouse to look to future instead of dwelling on the past

Most people get angry when they get laid off.  This is natural.  It is okay to be upset for a couple of days, but it is important to move on.  Help your spouse by focusing their thoughts on the future instead of continually dredging up the past.  There is very little to gain in rehashing the layoff over and over again.  Suggest that maybe the layoff happened for a reason and that something better is just around the corner.

3.  Support their ideas and encourage them to explore opportunities

A layoff can be viewed as an opportunity to realign one’s career with what they really want to do.  It can be a time to seek significance and meaning or to rekindle an old dream.  Be supportive.  Some of the ideas that come from your spouse may seem a little far fetched, but give them some room to be creative.  If they have a responsible track record, they will likely come to the right conclusion anyway and they might stumble onto something very profitable along the way!

How to adjust your finances to live on one income

Losing a job also means the loss of a source of income.  It is imperative that you take immediate action to mitigate the financial damage that this can cause and to give your spouse time to replace the revenue.

Here are some things to consider doing:

1.  Re-evaluate your monthly budget

You have a written budget right?  If not, then get started budgeting your money now!  Re-evaluate the necessity of all your expenses.  Cut out all non-essential items immediately!  This may seem extreme, but I believe that swift action early will accomplish two things.  It will maximize the amount of time that you can live on one income which in turn will take some pressure off your spouse.

2.  Come up with an estimate of how long you can survive financially

Once you’ve adjusted your budget, figure out how long you can last financially on just one income.  When will your emergency fund run out?  How long can you last before you’ll start getting behind on your bills?  Hopefully, you have enough saved to last at least 3 to 6 months.  If not, then you and your spouse may need to consider part-time jobs to generate more income.  This step is a necessary reality check!

3.  Look for ways to temporarily increase income

Besides part-time employment, there are other ways to temporarily increase your take-home pay.  You can adjust your payroll tax withholdings.  You can also adjust or stop retirement contributions to your 401k or IRA on a temporary basis.  Talk to your HR or payroll people at work and explain your situation.  They might be able to think of other ways to help increase your take-home pay.

4.  Sell possessions to generate income and reduce expenses

Take an inventory of the items you own.  Now might be a good time to sell things of value that you don’t use or that cost you money for storage and upkeep.  I have sold boats, computers and a hot tub via craigslist or local classified ads.  Your spouse should have the time to help with this project and you might be surprised at how good it feels to get rid of some stuff.

5.  Consider down-sizing your lifestyle permanently

Face it.  Your income may never be what it was before the layoff.  Your spouse might decide to pursue more satisfying, but lower paying employment or they might decide to stay at home with the kids.  You may need to make permanent adjustments to your lifestyle to cope.  You might decide to sell your house, get rid of one of your cars and start being frugal.  It sounds crazy, but it might be the best move you’ve ever made!

Losing a job is not the end of the world if you take action

The key to surviving your spouse losing their job is to take decisive action quickly.  You need to provide emotional support and organize your finances quickly.  If you do these things, then you’ll be well on your way to weathering this storm!

What other suggestions would you offer?

Photo by Kai Hendry

Fortunately, there is a ton of great guidance available to help us stay on track in each of these three important areas. 

Today, I want to share with you six excellent articles from each of the other members of the Life Skills Network that offer indispensable advice for staying motivated, managing your finances and keeping it simple.

Life Motivation

Without motivation our lives become stagnate.  We fail to achieve anything.  We grow bored and disillusioned.

Revitalize your dreams!  Create a vision for your life.  Pursue significance!

In How To Walk On Water, Marc lays out a very specific set of steps for maintaining and pursuing our life motivation.  I love his suggestion to follow your heart and to be who you were born to be.

Once you’ve set your heart on achieving something specific, then follow Ron’s advice on how to Use the TRACK Method to Achieve Your Goals.  This plan will help you to be consistent and to measure your progress toward fulfilling your dreams!

Living Below Your Means

In our economy it is more important than ever to be financially responsible.  Money is the grease that makes our lives whir.  It opens up opportunities and enables us to invest in significant causes.

Debt is like a ball and chain.  It makes us a slave to those we owe.  We can’t afford to move to the place we really want to live because our cost of living is too high.  With debt, we can’t take our dream job or strike out on our own as an entrepreneur because we can’t survive any dip in our income.  We are shackled to paying our bills.

However, as Madison points out, Gettin’ Out of Debt is possible.  All you need is determination and a clear plan.  Becoming debt-free isn’t always easy, but it is simple!

I believe frugality and avoiding debt are essential to good financial health, but some ask Is Frugality The Anti-Stimulus Plan?  Are we being bad citizens by saving instead of spending?  The government and media seem to believe so.

I would side with Frugal Dad on this question.  I believe that true economic recovery begins when individual citizens start living below their means!

A Simpler Life

Remember the old saying, “Keep it simple stupid”?  This is wisdom to live by.  Complications rob us of our joy.

Sara asks, Does Decluttering Make Sense in Hard Economic Times?  When scarcity seems to threaten us as a part of this recession, we might develop the tendency to hoard things.  However, there really isn’t any shortage of goods to buy.  In fact, bargains are plentiful.

Hoarding just creates clutter which frustrates and burdens us.  We are better off dumping all the extra weight we carry in our lives to make ourselves lean and mean.  This way we can be prepared no matter what happens.

Of course, it isn’t just stuff that complicates our lives.  We can also mess things up by allowing external circumstances to distract us from what matters the most.

In Putting First Things First – Where Are You On The List?, Corey points out that we need to make time to take care of ourselves.  If we want our relationships to survive under stress, we first have to tend to our own needs.  The article is written mostly to moms, but it applies to us all.

Motivated, Frugal and Simple

I truly believe that these are three keys to a rich and fulfilling life.  It takes effort to stay focused and on track in each of these areas, but the payoff is well worth it.  A super-charged life is available to us all where these three exist.

Photo by pasotraspaso

Scott says…

Wow, what a time to get a good deal! Prices are dropping and bargains are everywhere. However, I’m finding that many of us are still not using basic negotiating skills to drive prices down even more.

So if you aren’t a negotiator here is a quick and easy training lesson that will get you started. All you need to know are the five basic steps:

• Preparing
• Planning
• Pretending
• Patience
• Purchasing

Preparing to negotiate

Preparing is what we call goal setting. You decide that you want to buy a washer and dryer for the house. You’ve looked around, checked out Consumer Reports, spoken to friends and maybe even talked to a few dealers. Now you have made up your mind on roughly which make and model you want. The next step is to put together your research in a file so that it is available to you when you are shopping. The third step is to list each and every extra benefit that might be offered/added on the purchase such as shipping fees, taxes, discounts, custom colors, coupons, exchanges, disposal fees and the like. The final step is to decide what vendor(s) you are going to pursue.

Planning to negotiate

Planning is the strategy portion of the negotiation process. This is where you figure out how you are going to go about the purchasing of the appliances. What tactics will you use? Will you carry in a budgeted amount of cash? Will your spouse be there to help? How about a take-it-or-leave-it offer or looking for a scratch and dent sale? If you aren’t familiar with these tactics then use this handy dandy, all purpose favorite:

Plan to say to the dealer after every offer, “You’ll have to do better than that” and follow it with a large dose of silence.

Pretending during negotiations

Pretending is what we call “feeling out the other party” or questioning. Pretend means to pretend you don’t know anything about washers and dryers. Let the salesperson educate you on their products and their policies. Ask questions and listen (don’t just hear) them as they speak. By listening I mean to really comprehend what they are saying. For instance, let’s say the dealer tells you that this is a limited time offer. What does limited time mean? Is it being discontinued? Is there a newer and better model coming? Is the appliance not popular or does it have a defect? When the salesperson makes a statement think about what that statement could really mean.

Exercising patience when negotiating

Patience is taking your time to negotiate. This is without a doubt the hardest skill to master and probably the strongest tool at your disposal. Most Americans like for negotiations to go quickly. But when this happens you don’t get enough time to build a relationship with the seller. If the seller is an impatient person you can use patience to force the price to drop by simply stalling or continuing to ask questions. On our blog you can read about the time I kept a salesman standing in the hot Georgia sun for an hour while he tried to sell me a car and the price kept getting lower and lower with each drop of sweat.

Making the purchase after negotiating

Purchasing is the closing of the deal. This is where you agree to the price and prepare to pay the vendor. Watch for unexpected charges and add-ons from the salesperson. If they try to nibble you (there are extra shipping charges on Friday deliveries or you’ll need laundry soap for your new washer) then politely let the salesperson know that you will have to open the negotiations all over again and they have already spent an hour with you.

Go out and negotiate!

Using the simple system of preparing, planning, pretending, patience and purchasing will allow you to negotiate a better price without having to learn a lot of skills. All of these steps are time proven to give you the best deal. So start having fun negotiating and you’ll save money!

Marie says…

Thanks, Scott for the really great deal you got on the new washing machine you bought a few months ago. You saved us $207 off the already low sale price and got free shipping, installation and removal of the old unit. It works great and the spare change I’m getting out of your pants pockets is going to pay for a trip to Alaska!

For more daily negotiating tips check out www.rainydayfinances.com!

Photo by maveric2003

“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose yours.” 
~ Harry S. Truman

Unfortunately, we do not have a crystal ball to tell us exactly what the hard times ahead will look like.  We don’t know whether the recession will impact us a little or a lot.  However, it is likely it will have some affect on our finances. 

This is why I’m,suggesting everyone trim your budget and be prepared.  I’d rather be accused of crying wolf than find out the worse when it’s too late for people to prepare.

20 ways to trim your budget starting today!

Let’s get to budgeting and trimming the fat!  Come on.  This won’t hurt as much as you think.  Plus, if things get ugly, it will feel really good to know you took action to prepare and protect your family.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

1.  Liquidate the luxuries

Look at your monthly budget and determine where your money is going.  Chances are you have some luxuries that you are either making payments on or that cost you money in maintenance.  For me, I sold a boat, Seadoo, camping trailer and a hot tub.  Stay with me here, I promise this gets easier!

2.  Quit the gym

Yes, I understand that exercise is important, but does staying fit really require a gym membership?  It is possible to exercise at home or even outdoors.  Radical, I know, but sometimes you have to take drastic steps!

3.  Sell the Lexus!

Okay, even if it isn’t a Lexus, you might consider selling it.   What is your monthly payment on your vehicle?  What percentage of your monthly income goes toward making this payment?  What?  You are making more than one car payment!  Oh my gosh.  Sell the expensive cars and pay cash for some basic, dependable transportation.

4.  Turn down the heat

There are a ton of ways to reduce your monthly heating bill.  It just takes a little forethought and proactive effort.  Utility payments are important, but they don’t have to break the bank. 

5.  Cut some coupons

Couponing is a great way to save some money.  Every little bit helps.  There are even some easy ways to take the pain out of using coupons.  Remember, coupons aren’t just for groceries.  There are great coupons available to save on a wide-array of purchases.

6.  Turn off your home phone

We are all so mobile these days.  It seems almost every family member has a cell phone.  If this is the case at your house, then you might consider dumping your home phone.  This can save $50 to $100 per month!

7.  Reduce spending on the grocery bill

Groceries often take a big bite out of our budget.  It might be time to cut back on the grocery bill.  Believe it or not, you can still eat well while saving a few dollars along the way.

8.  Buy clothing at secondhand stores

I know that this one is going to be hard for some of you to do, but clothes are one item that can be purchased very cheaply when they are slightly used.  You can get name brand clothing for a fraction of mall prices at consignment stores.

9.  Grow some of your food

I understand that most of us are city dwellers nowadays.  However, it is possible to plant a small garden in your backyard.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are yummy and very healthy.

10.  Check books out from the library

I love the library.  I think it is one of the greatest institutions in America.  The library can also save you a lot of money if you read frequently.  Stop buying and just borrow!

11.  Use hand-me-downs

Parents are notorious for overspending on their newborns.  I’m a big believer in using hand-me-downs.  If this is your first child, then ask around your family.  It is likely that someone else has just what you need.

12.  Slash the cable TV bill

Do you really need all those channels?  Take a look at what you are spending every month to watch television.  You will probably be surprised and appalled.

13.  Stop going to so many restaurants

Eating out has got to be a big chunk of where a lot of our money goes.  I am amazed at how packed the parking lots are at many restaurants in the middle of the week.  It is time to make some frugal meals at home.

14.  Refinance your mortgage

Check the interest rate on your mortgage and determine if now is a good time to refinance.  We refinanced our home a few years back and shaved quite a bit off the monthly payment.

15.  Pay off your debt

It is awesome being debt-free during hard times.  It relieves so much of the pressure.  In fact, you can even take advantage of the situation by paying cash for all the bargains being offered both at retail stores and in the stock market.

16.  Get a new insurance quote

Visit an independent insurance agent and get competitive quotes on your homeowner and auto insurance.  You might be surprised how much you can save this way.

17.  Take a sack lunch

Again, eating out at restaurants is expensive.  Packing a sack lunch at least a couple of days a week can save you quite a bit over a month or year.

18.  Examine your vices

Do you have an expensive habit?  It might be smoking or could be Starbucks.  It varies from person-to-person.  These things usually cost $3 to $4 a pop, but they add up fast.  Now might be a good time to quit.

19.  Buy frugal gifts

I know that when you are giving a gift that you want to do something nice.  However, there are ways to give nice gifts and be frugal at the same time.  Explore the options!

20.  Shop hard for a good deal on your next vacation

I love to travel, but why pay more than you have to?  The Internet offers a ton of great resources that will help you get the best deal possible on your next trip.

Survive hard times with a finely tuned budget

I think it is time to get lean and mean with our budgets.  If you follow this guide, you should be able to reduce your monthly spending considerably.  This will give you the best chance to survive any hard times ahead with the least amount of suffering.

What other ways have you trimmed your budget?

Photo by russelljsmith

“Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it.”
~Benjamin Franklin

Why do I constantly want stuff that I don’t need?  It seems that there are certain items that I am continually attracted to buy even though I probably wouldn’t use them if I bought them.  Why does this happen?  What makes certain items so alluring? 

It seems to be the same things that keep popping into my head over and over.  I convince myself that it would be a waste of money and then a few weeks later, I’m looking at the same thing again! 

Do you ever struggle with this sort of impulse to purchase things you don’t need?  If so, how do you deal with it?

I struggle to keep from buying an iPod or MacBook.

I don’t know what it is about Apple products right now, but they seem almost impossible to avoid buying.  I constantly keep coming back to the idea of purchasing an iPod or MacBook.  They are both cool, but I certainly don’t need either one.  I guess it is the popularity of these products that keeps pulling me back. 

Marketers do a fantastic job these days of selling us an image.  It is just cool to own Apple products.  After all, who would you rather be?  The geeky Windows guy in the commercials or the cool, laid back Mac guy? 

Most recently, I’ve been looking at the iPod Touch.  It is a sweet device.  I’ll admit that I am especially susceptible to buying gadgets.  However, when I stop and really think about it, I know I would get a Touch, play with it until the newness wore off, and then it would sit idle on a shelf most of the time.  I don’t listen to that much music and why watch a video on such a small screen when I can just watch it at home?  If I traveled a lot, then I could see where something like the Touch would be valuable.

Why worry about buying things?

Isn’t buying things we want a privilege we earn from working?  Many people use this reasoning or something similar to justify buying whatever they want.  They usually charge these items on credit cards.  This is how they sell themselves to their pleasures as Ben Franklin states in his quote above.  They get in debt and then instead of being able to enjoy what they bought, they become slaves to the lenders.  They have to work harder and longer to support their artificial lifestyle. 

Purchases of a few hundred dollars add up quickly to thousands of dollars.  On top of that, if you carry a balance on your credit card, you will pay on average 12-14% interest.  These rates can skyrocket quickly if you are late on even one payment.  In addition, you may become subject to late fees and penalties.  All this to get something that isn’t even used or enjoyed.  No thank you!

How to avoid buying things you don’t need.

I had a recent flare-up of the wants lately so, in order to help myself deal with this, I’ve researched some ways to overcome buying things I don’t need.  Here’s the very best suggestions that I found:

1.  Make yourself accountable to someone that’s frugal.

If you often buy things you don’t need, then get an accountability partner that is naturally more frugal than you are.  Tell someone in your life like a spouse, sibling, or close friend that you are trying to curtail your spending and you need their help.  Ask them to talk you out of items you don’t need.  Just knowing that you are going to have to answer to someone for buying the latest gadget will help you to stop and think twice about it.  My wife often helps me in this area.

2.  Don’t go shopping.

This one may seem obvious, but boredom often gets the better of us.  Here’s how it goes.  We have some free time with nothing to do and before you know it we are out at the mall or surfing the online stores.  Either way this is dangerous!  I often disguise this as research.  I’m just checking into the features of the latest gadget.  I most recently got sucked into wanting the iPod Touch by participating in a survey that promised to give three of them away.  I started looking at the Touch to see if it was worth the time it would take to complete the survey.  Of course, this was just fuel for the fire.

3.  Cut up your credit cards and use cash.

I know this is radical, but it works.  For some reason, it is just mentally easier to charge things on a credit card.  When you have to count out cold, hard cash to make a purchase it makes you stop and think.  At least, this is my experience.  It is a lot harder for me to let go of my money when I’m holding it in my hand.  I think that credit card balances are abstract, but cash in hand is very real.  If you can’t go as far as cutting up your credit card, then give it to your accountability partner or at least stow it away at home.  This will help you avoid those impulse buys.

4.  Feed your mind vitamins of frugality.

Our minds operate a lot like a computer.  Garbage in, garbage out.  Therefore, if you are trying to avoid buying things you don’t need, you should find as many good inputs as possible that feed your mind the right ways of thinking.  I do this by following good personal finance blogs, listening to Dave Ramsey, and reading great books that stress simple and frugal living.  I think of these things as vitamins for my mind.  They strengthen my resolve to hold on to my money.

5.  Decide in advance how you are going to use your money.

A budget, done correctly, helps you decide in advance every month exactly how you want to spend and invest your money.  You give every dollar a name and tell it precisely what you want it to do for you at the beginning of the month.  Once you have a spending plan or budget in place, then it is easier to avoid buying things you don’t need.  It is often because we don’t have a plan for our money that we spend it on impulse.

6.  Be careful about who you hang out with.

We are strongly influenced by the people around us.  Who are you usually with when you make frivolous purchases?  You may want to avoid this person for awhile until you get your financial footing.  If you do have to be around people that you feel are a bad influence, then try to arrange it so that you are doing something other than going to the mall or shopping.  Go to the park or plan an outdoor adventure instead of going somewhere where you’ll feel tempted.

7.  Always sleep on it before making a purchase.

Give yourself a financial timeout.  You can always wait until tomorrow before making a purchase.  In the meantime, talk to your accountability partner about the purchase, feed your mind some frugality vitamins, and review your budget.  If you still feel the purchase is a good one and you have the cash to buy what you want, then go for it!

Get control of yourself and start winning with money!

Take it from a recovering over-spender, it is possible to stop buying things you don’t need.  It just takes some forethought and planning.  The suggestions above are what work best for me.  By implementing these things in my life, I have been able to pay off all my debt except for my mortgage and I’ve started saving to pay cash for a newer car.  I am living-proof that it is possible for someone to turn their life around and start winning with money.

What works for you?  Please leave a comment below and let me know.

Photo by TheAlieness