Get organized. Get all your financial information in front of you in one clear format. Get your time and space organized (such as by scheduling a block of time each week to pay bills and designating a central place for your receipts). After cleaning up your physical space to deal more effectively with money, get rid of unhealthy attitudes (such as escapism) that clutter your mind, so you can concentrate better.

Tackle overspending. Analyze your current spending by writing down everything you spend money on for a few days or longer. As you study the record, ask yourself honesty whether or not your purchases truly reflect your values and whether or not they're truly worth what they cost. Consider whether or not you truly need what you bought. Then ask God to give you the clarity of mind to distinguish between wants and needs. Remember that, to subsist, you need very little - food, water, clothing, and shelter.

Don't buy things you don't really need, or even want. If you have some extra money, save it rather than spending it. Only buy things when you can afford them. Don't spend money to make yourself feel better. Don't overspend on gifts to impress or gain the approval of others. Don't buy things on sale just because they're on sale. Resist indulging in spending rituals such as buying in pairs. Don't keep your spending habits a secret from others.

Overcome an addiction to shopping. Be clear about what specific things you want to buy before you set foot inside a store (or click onto a vendor's Web site). Make a list and stick to it.

Plan for big purchases so you'll have enough cash to pay for them without going into debt. Don't use shopping as a form of entertainment, or a way to help you deal with anxiety, to feel like you're taking care of yourself, or avoid unpleasant realities in your life. Don't buy things you won't use. Don't hide your purchases from others.

Use credit cards wisely. Don't use credit cards to avoid reality, gain a sense of power, for comfort and companionship, for excitement, or for love and approval. If you don't have the cash available to pay for something, don't charge it to a credit card.

Never pay just the minimum balance on credit cards each month; try to pay each month's bill off in full so you don't incur expensive interest. Build up an emergency reserve of savings so you won't need to charge emergency expenses like car repairs and medical bills on credit. Don't spend up to the limit of your credit cards, or use one credit line to pay another. Keep track of what you spend when you use credit cards.

Avoid gambling. Seek God's healing for past wounds that help drive you toward gambling. Rather than seeking excitement in gambling, look for other, healthier adventurous experiences. Never gamble with money you can't afford to lose. Don't view gambling as a way to escape your troubles. Don't seek status or attention through gambling. Never borrow or steal money for gambling, or keep the amount you've gambled away a secret from others.

Decide to trust God - rather than chance, or money - for your future. Know that only God will prove reliable.