At the beginning of the year, we committed to having things be different in our lives for 2006.  This is the year we will get our financial house in order.  We have taken the blinders off and finally, we know where our money has been going in the past.  Were you surprised that you spent so much money on food?  Was it the clothes or perhaps it was the Starbucks coffee at $3.50 per cup?  Nevertheless, we are now focused and we can establish a viable plan of action.  I asked you before about your strategy to save.  Let’s explore that even more.  You’ve worked hard all week and now its payday.  How much money do you keep for yourself?  What do you do with that amount?  Well sometimes people will buy themselves something special, save for a vacation, get their hair cut or nails done, or allocate the money for a night on the town. 

Another Christmas has come and gone.  You promised yourself this year, you were going to stay within your budget.  You weren’t going to use your charge cards to purchase gifts and you were not going overboard.  But the sales were too good to be true and things you just had to have, now sit in your living room.  After all, you can start fresh next year, turn over a new leaf- stick to a plan.  Next year is going to be different, better than ever.  Next year you will gain control of your finances.