Here we are with a new year of opportunities before us to save money, get out of debt, and live financially free. What financial goals do you have this year?

Write down five you wish to have done by this time next year and then look around for opportunities to reach those goals. As the adage goes, you cannot get to where you do not know you are going.

One of my goals is to consistently give you ideas and encouragement to help you meet your goals. I am VERY grateful you have joined me and look forward to providing lots of ideas in the coming year to stimulate your thinking and inspire you to action.

Mall crawling and hanging out in retail stores to kill time is counter-productive and part of the reason we spend frivolously.

From bookstores, to lottery tickets, gourmet coffee, food-court lunch, and a quick movie, items you do not really need, but think you or your spouse or kids would like leads to hasty, flawed and almost distorted decision making.

The thought, actions and actually purchases are not budget-driven and money conscious at all. All these things add up over time. Smoking, daily coffee (or two), buying candy, chocolates, pop, magazines and more to ‘kill time’ are all money-guzzlers that should be avoided.

Digging Deeper

What is Budgeting?
by David Kimball

Discover this mystery as you embark on preparing a household budget plan of your own and you will avoid ending up with more month than money.

Read more .....

Financial Freedom Radio

Next month, I will begin to bring you Financial Freedom Radio. With each successive episode, you are going to learn how to save money, get out of debt and live financially free with effective strategies to inspire you to action.

In the meantime, send in your money related questions and tips to help others. I will include them to help you and others obtain financial freedom.

A Little Perspective

In the old days a man who saved money was a miser; nowadays he's a wonder. Author Unknown

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Deuteronomy 15:11