You Can Make Financial Resolutions Anytime

The New Year often brings with it a desire to right the wrongs in yourlife. From this desire springs the tradition of New Year resolutions.You should take advantage of this to change your financial situation.

There is a good chance by the time many of you read this, you willhave already made and BROKEN your financial resolutions. Those of youwho have not already done so, know they are hard to keep. You canchange that. Anytime is a good time to make financial resolutions.

Since you are thinking about this, you must suspect a problem. Thefirst step is defining the problem. Define it specifically. "I spendtoo much money", is not good enough. You spend too much money on what?Why do you spend too much money? It is not often you are speaking oflife's necessities here. You need to specifically target your problemareas.

The best way to identify problem areas in your spending, is to pullout your check registers and credit card statements for the pasttwelve months. Write down all checks and charges for items other thannecessities. This spending will be your gold to mine.

After making this list, add up the total amount of these expenses.This will be a very revealing exercise. For some the total will bestaggering, especially when done for a twelve month period.

Pay close attention to checks and charges for restaurants and fastfood chains. Look at the amount and frequency of payments toconvenience stores. Examine closely the spending on your home and yourcloset.

Using this information you become aware of your weaknesses and wherethey occur. You are now better equipped to overcome them. You need tomake conscious decisions to stay away from the places where youoverspend. If you don't go there you won't be tempted to waste yourresources and place your financial life in peril.

Now, armed with these bits of information you can boldly andsuccessfully make resolutions. Remember, changing your behavior is howyou will keep these resolutions. If you fail, and you will, just climbright back on the resolution wagon. Dogged repetition will help yousucceed. Check how you are doing on a monthly basis. Make anyadjustments needed.

Putting your financial house in order and becoming debt free is aprocess before it is an event.

(C) David Wilding

David Wilding has for the past ten years worked with groups and individuals to rid their lives of debt. Visit his website http://www.debtattack.com for more ideas, tools, and strategies to become debt free.

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Debt Relief Information:

Related Articles

Debt Elimination 3
Planning To Achieve Debt EliminationOnce you have started the process of changing your debt mindset to be against taking on consumer debt, then that is something you need to continue until it becomes the norm in your life. In some ways it is like stopping smoking; trying on will power alone is not enough, you need to get to the source of your problem and permanently change it.
How To Get Out Of Debt
If you have found yourself in a position where you are in serious debt and cannot think of a way out of the situation, then take a few minutes to read these few tips. Some may seem obvious but do put them into practise as they will help.
Why You Should Get Out of Debt Today?
The main reason for getting out of debt today, is because people with little or not debt have more control over their future:1. They have more discretionary income, meaning that you won't be living pay check after pay check as you probably are right now.
Bankruptcy Reform: Designed to Protect Big Business
Who will benefit from the new bankruptcy reform laws? The financial services industry and other big business groups, that's who.These groups contributed millions of dollars to elect Bush and other Republican candidates in 2000 and 2004, with the goal of overhauling the bankruptcy system.
5 Methods Toward Reducing Your Debt
Decreasing your debt is paramount to having a good credit rating as well as giving you peace of mind. You want to get out of debt, but not all debt reduction options may be beneficial.
Personal Bankruptcy: Last Option To Legally Stop Bill Collectors
Do you have stacks of unpaid bills?Are you in debt?Are bill collectors hounding you?Are you frustrated and annoyed and wish to get them off your back?If you answer yes, then pay close attention.Filing for a personal bankruptcy may be the last option for you.
New Bankruptcy Law Will Not Protect You from Identity Theft
Recently passed by Congress with overwhelming support, the oddly-named Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act was designed to eliminate "bankruptcy of convenience." The perceived problem is that many compulsive gamblers, shoppers and drug users often run up huge debts on easily available credit cards with no intention of paying their bills.
Eliminate Your Credit Card Debt, But How?
Can a debt consolidation loan eliminate your credit card debt? A consolidation loan might (or might not) be the key. There are several things you must consider when making the choice to consolidate debt using a debt consolidation loan.
Credit Card Debt & the Unfairness of the Universal Default Clause
Let's look at a real world example: A woman purchased a new $4,000 large screen TV a few months ago based on the knowledge her monthly payment was going to be $175, and based on the 9% interest rate charged by her credit card company. For five months straight she made all her payments on time, but in the fifth month she was late paying her mortgage bill, for reasons unknown.
Is Debt Negotiation Bad?
Educating yourself about the ins and outs of debt negotiation is a good first step. Please note that the term 'debt negotiation' is also known as debt arbitration or debt settlement.
Credit And Debt Relief--A One Stop Solution
Amy Wright, 34, was extatic when her realtor showed her the three bedroom townhome overlooking the lushious golf course. It was exactly the home she was looking for.
Student Loans Can't Be Swept Away Through Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is in the news these days, as Congress has finally overhauled the Federal bankruptcy law after years of talking about it. The credit card companies, rightly or wrongly, have been pressuring members of Congress to tighten the bankruptcy statutes, saying that too many people were willfully spending money they couldn't repay with the intention of avoiding paying the money back by filing for bankruptcy.
You Can Make Financial Resolutions Anytime
The New Year often brings with it a desire to right the wrongs in yourlife. From this desire springs the tradition of New Year resolutions.
Creating A Realistic Budget
Budgeting -- ooh, what a scary word! If you want to frighten someone whose finances are out of control, suggest that they tally up their expenses on a piece of paper. We all understand the value of such an exercise, but when it comes to the practicality of putting a budget together, we get cold feet.
Personal Bankruptcy - If Its Unavoidable, File Now
The Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law by President Bush last April, promises changes to Federal bankruptcy law that have been long sought by the lending industry. The bill promises sweeping changes to Federal law, and will make it much harder for the average consumer in financial trouble to have their debts wiped out by filing for bankruptcy.
Purchase Your Future Now While It Is Still Inexpensive
Leaving school, getting a new job, or even a raise at your current one, has most people considering their next great purchase. Few think about the affect this could have on their future.
Debt Getting You Down? - Make a List!
Debt is not much fun and when faced with it, people sometimes look for complicated debt solutions and often overlook the many simple ways that you can save money. Believe it or not, one of the simplest and most effective debt solutions is to get hold of a pen and a piece of paper and make a list.
How To Pay Credit Card Debt Off
If you are determined to pay credit card debt off you are making the best financial decision of your life. The reason credit card debt is so bad is because it carries such a high interest rate.
Bankruptcy: What the New Law Means to You
On April 20 of this year, President Bush signed a bankruptcy reform law. When this law goes into effect in October of this year, it will be much more difficult for Americans to use Chapter 7 bankruptcy to get a fresh start on their financial lives.
Worried About Debts?
Having trouble paying your bills? Getting dunning notices from creditors? Are your accounts being turned over to debt collectors? Are you worried about losing your home or your car?You're not alone. Many people face a financial crisis some time in their lives.