8 ways to stretch your dollar$

At the Risk of Sounding just like your mother, here are my top 8 ways to survive these tough economic times:

1. Stop spending money out of habit! For the next 30 days keep a log of everywhere your money goes. Start questioning yourself on every purchase.

2. Know Your Cost of Living! You are spending money every day-even if you never leave your house: your housing, utilities, food, insurances, etc have to be paid regardless of your activities. Know exactly how much you are spending per month (see point 1) and then divide by 30. That will tell you exactly how much you need to survive every day. Bet it's more than you think.

3. Go Through Every Purchase and Question It! If money is tight, I suggest that you go through all of your monthly bills and scrutinize them. See were you could save. Cut back on eating out & the daily latte. Do you really need that $3 cup of coffee ?

4. Drop Your Spend-y Friends!  These are the friends who always want to "go shopping." People who live to spend should be kept at arms length in this market. Some people see all of their worth in how others see them. Ask yourself if you think this way as well...become aware of your thought regarding your consumption.

5. Redefine Yourself! When was it that Americans went from being called ‘citizens' to being called a "consumer." We are not what we consume. You are not what you drive or what you wear! Define yourself by your own terms.

6. Do Activities that Pay! For the next week, track your daily activities. Keep a log of what you are doing hour by hour in the next 7 days. Be honest with yourself about where your time is going. Chances are you are ‘working' 8+ hours per day but, only doing things that will result in a pay check (commission) for only 1-2 hours per day.

7. Eliminate Your Debts! Imagine what you would feel like if you had no debts. Most agents work because they have to. They have so much overhead. They are still paying for the upscale lifestyle that they  have been living when business was booming. In the recent leaner years, refusung to change lifestyle may have resulted in accumulated debt.

8. Save some money! Once you are in control of your spending habit, have paid off your outstanding debts...start saving and you will be able to keep your head up above the water until the market flourishes again!