• Persevere in your quest to achieve your financial goals. Regularly remind yourself why you're working hard to pay off your debts and save money. Plug into support systems (like a club in which members swap coupons) and avoid people whose materialism tempts you to accrue new debt. Have fun seeing how you can improve the quality of your life as cheaply as possible (such as redecorating with a new color of inexpensive paint or turning your dinners at home into "theme nights"). Keep a journal in which you list what you're thankful for and why. Spend less time watching television or scanning catalogs so you won't be tempted by ads. Every once in a while, splurge on something special like a visit to an amusement park so you won't feel deprived.
• Go through your house room by room to see how you can save more money. Walk through your house and consider creative ways you can pursue savings on the items and services you use there. For example, when in your bathroom, think about how you can save money on linens, water utility bills, and tile repairs.
• Use your savings to share with others. After your saving habits have brought you extra resources, share those resources with others. Support your local church with a tithe, and also give generously to charities such as The Salvation Army, homeless shelters, food banks, orphanages and battered women's shelters. Be sure to save your donation receipts if you itemize your taxes.
Adapted from A Woman's Guide to Family Finances, copyright 2004 by Ellie Kay. Published by Bethany House Publishers, Bloomington, Mn., www.bethanyhouse.com.
Ellie Kay, married to a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, has seven children. An engaging speaker, Ellie has appeared on 300 radio stations and numerous national TV shows. Her previous books include Shop, Save, and Share; Heroes at Home; and The New Bride Guide. She and her family now make their home in New Mexico.
