- Tips to control your finances and live abundantly -

The simple solution of getting out of debt and staying out of debt is to spend less than you earn. Through the Personal Responsibility Program you will learn how to take control of your finances. Financial stability is about understanding your core values, making wise choices and changing behaviors. Want to learn more about PRP? Contact me and we can discuss what you need to do to organize your finances and live debt-free.

1. Balance your checkbook each month. I am amazed at how many of my clients fail to balance their checkbook. This is irresponsible and a bury-your-head-in-the-sand attitude. Do you honestly believe the banks never make a mistake?

2. Track every penny you earn and spend. Divide your expenses into major categories and continually review spending patterns. You just might be surprised at the strong possibility that you spend more than you earn.

3. Evaluate all purchases through your value system before you buy. It is the smallest purchases when added together that creates the biggest debt.

4. Pay all bills on time to avoid late fees and extra charges. There is no worthy excuse to missing due dates. Use a central bill-paying area in your home or office and invest in a tickler file system to keep your paperwork in order. You can view the one I display on my website on the Products Page.

5. Chisel away debt by committing to a budget. This financial action plan represents how you will allocate your resources. The benefit of having a budget is that it alerts you to trouble before you are knee deep in muck.

6. Carefully watch your food allowance. This is a major source of careless spending. Impulsive dining out results from poor meal planning.

7. Become familiar with your local librarya source of books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, DVDs, movies and audio books that you do not have to buy yourself.

8. Credit cards are addictive and quickly erode financial freedom. Maintain one card that you pay off completely each month. Cut up the rest. If you cannot bear to cut them up, then freeze them in a block of ice to reduce the temptation to use them. A pocketful of credit cards equals a life of long-term debt.

9. Credit cards teach you how to be a debtor. You get to use other peoples money while forgetting the cost. Credit inflates your lifestyle with resources you do not have. You will always be trying to catch up or break even. It is a losing battle.

10. Stop juggling debt. Moving debt from one credit card to another is not the same as paying it off or debt consolidation. Set up a system to pay off high-interest debts first.

11. Stay true to your core values. When you put your priorities first, you eliminate the pressure of Madison Avenue advertisements. If you want to know what you truly treasure, take a good look at your credit card invoice and checkbook. Revealing!

12. Establish a savings plan of 15 to 20 percent of your annual income and watch it grow. A study conducted by the Consumer Federation of America indicated that 56 percent of Americans fail to save for their retirement. Save and have, as Ben Franklin once wrote.

13. Transform your relationship with money. Take a good look at how much you are sacrificing for a lifestyle. The pursuit of money can steal time away from family, friends and home as well as peace of mind. Learn to live on less and enjoy more of what life has to offer. Understand when enough is enough.

14. Make wise spending decisions and gain power over your finances.

Financial stability is a personal matter. If you organize your paperwork, set realistic financial goals and stick to your budget, you will reap the benefits that abundant living affords. The goal is to always have enough.