Great Financial Advice from Jean Chatzky

Below is an excerpt from a Money Tips newsletter I subscribe to, read, and sometimes even accidentally adhere to. The words of wisdom pour forth from the mind of Jean Chatzky, Author and financial advisor. You may have seen her pretty face on Oprah or Regis, or read her advice in Time, USA Weekend Magazine, Forbes, New York Magazine, Working Woman, and who knows where else!

By actually doing something over and over again, like reducing your spending in an effort to save, you’ll gain a feeling of accomplishment — even power. That’s why it’s so important to do just what will help you conquer what’s getting you down when you find yourself feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by something. When you’re feeling fat, for instance, you should hit the StairMaster instead of the refrigerator. And when you’re feeling poor, you should sit down with a pad of paper and figure out just how much your new habits are saving you. Saving two dollars a day by walking to work rather than taking the bus may not sound like much, but it adds up to more than $500 a year. Once you write it down, focus on how the accomplishment makes you feel. Concentrating on the change will make you feel energized. Think of it as insurance for how you’ll behave tomorrow.

If money appeals to you, read anything and everything with this Author’s name attached to it. I’m trying to absorb all the financial wisdom she has that I lack, so I may one day even be able to bud–, budg–, budg–…..