I woke up happy with my financial progression thus far. It has been one month and two days since I've put down the cigarette in exchange for healthier living. While I still feel a little buzzing going on here and there, I spend alot of time looking for new ways to occupy myself in hopes of making frugal living a PERMANENT lifestyle.

Change#1: After reading several journals, I caved in a visited my local library. What a treasure trove! Geez... it makes me sick to think of all the money I could have saved by borrowing instead of buying.

Change#2: Re-defining Keywords in my life is certainly helping curb the desire for unnecessary habits. A friend of mine who "quit" smoking in November is now back in the habit because her mom is in the hospital. Sure news like that is distressing but the whole idea is not to be a chronic hospit- ahhh bleah.. I won't get into the anti-smoking rhetoric lol.. I know, I know the worst non- smoker is the ex-smoker lol. Another word I've filed under my list for obsolete words is "shopping". In the past, shopping was my excuse to bring home piles of junk that in turn accumulated into basement fodder. MORAL: Do not SHOP... step out for necessities instead

Change#3: Keeping up with financial information can really affirm a situation and prevent wanton destruction (ex: overspending on the credit cards, auction rummaging). I devote some time to finding little ways to save more everyday and keep my budget handy so I can gauge the progress in a pretty little notebook I call "the Finance TOME". My kids know not to touch it and hubby is impressed at my book-keeping neatness

What CHANGES are you making towards your future? Please post them and perhaps we can all learn more from each other