lay it on me

OK, here's the deal. You can save money, on any income. And you can achieve realistic goals--and even some of the ones your naysayers will call "unrealistic." But it will take self-discipline. And it will take self-denial.

Don't get nervous! Those words have a negative connotation in our society that they don't deserve. I assure you: if you faithfully follow this site & the tips contained herein for at least 52 weeks and you diligently practice self-discipline & self-denial during that year, you will come out on the other side not only with more net worth but more confidence, empowerment, and character than you have today.

Give it a try--you really have nothing to lose. You're not paying for this, right? This is all free info from someone who knows frugal inside & out, and I give it to you so you can really live. There is no true freedom when you're living under a sea of debt. We were all designed to live in financial freedom.

We're going to spend a lot of time on some subjects and hardly any time on others. If you've got a big chunk of money and you want investment advice, you've come to the wrong place. If you want to nickel & dime your way to a big chunk of money so you can then seek investment advice elsewhere, you're in exactly the right place!

Some of your current expenses are fixed. Some are not. You can save money in just about any area of your life, but ovbviously, the non-fixed expenses are a good starting point since they require very small lifestyle changes. Many people begin their tightwad training by looking at their grocery bill & clothing expenditures. This is an excellent place to start.

Before I dive into the tips, I'd like to ask that you consciously decide to throw your opinions of the Joneses out the window. Have you ever seen your neighbor's credit card bill? Have you laid in bed nightly with the other preschool moms to see whether they toss and turn and can't fall asleep, worrying about money? How do you know that your attorney family friend doesn't shop at Aldi? Why is it that we all respect people who have "worked hard to get where they are?" It's because anyone can charge a big-screen TV on her credit card, but few people have the self-discipline to save for years for a vacation of a lifetime and enjoy every minute of it.

Keep your goal squarely in mind, and remember that your goal is not the same as Ms. Jones' goal. And at the end of the 52 weeks, I will be surprised if you're not proud to be a tightwad.