The New Year often brings with it a desire to right the wrongs in your
life. 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 will
have already made and BROKEN your financial resolutions. Those of you
who have not already done so, know they are hard to keep. You can
change that. You can make financial resolutions any time of the year.

Since you are thinking about this, you must suspect a problem. The
first step is defining the problem. Define it specifically. "I spend
too 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 of
life's necessities here. You need to specifically target your problem
areas.

The best way to identify problem areas in your spending, is to pull
out your check registers and credit card statements for the past
twelve months. Write down all checks and charges for items other than
necessities. 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 be
staggering, especially when done for a twelve month period.

Pay close attention to checks and charges for restaurants and fast
food chains. Look at the amount and frequency of payments to
convenience stores. Examine closely the spending on your home and your
closet.

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

Now, armed with these bits of information you can boldly and
successfully make resolutions. Remember, changing your behavior is how
you will keep these resolutions. If you fail, and you will, just climb
right back on the resolution wagon. Dogged repetition will help you
succeed. Check how you are doing on a monthly basis. Make any
adjustments needed.

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