MONDAY -  Start with baby steps to avoid overwhelm.  Pick a room and set a timer for just 15 minutes.  You’ll be surprised what you can achieve in such a small amount of time when you work fast and have your mind set on the end result.  Work as fast as you can, cleaning, tidying and sorting.  Once your timer alarms, stop and move on to the next room.  Take a break after every two rooms (1/2 hour).

TUESDAY – This is paperwork sorting day.  Tax documents need to be kept for five years, utility bills such as gas and electricity only need to be kept until the next one arrives with the previous payment on it.  Credit card statements should be shredded to prevent identity theft once you’ve checked the transactions are correct and paid the monthly instalment.  Have a filing system so that everything is easy to find.  Consider steamlining your filing by choosing paperless billing when offered.  Every day spend five minutes sorting and opening your mail and paperwork.

WEDNESDAY – Wardrobe clearing day.  Create two piles.  One to keep and one to sell, swap or donate.  If an item of clothing hasn’t been worn in the past 12 months then it really should be put in the pile to go.  You will probably never wear it again so it is just taking up space.  Never keep clothes that are too small in the hope that one day you’ll loose some weight.  If you do loose weight, you can reward yourself with new clothing.  Rehang and refold your clothing.  Sort by colour or season.

THURSDAY – Handbag and wallet clean out.  File receipts you may need for items purchased.  If a receipt isn’t needed, throw it out.  Place cash notes in order of value and all facing the same way.  Seperate silver and gold coins.  It’s a great idea to save all the coins you have in your purse/wallet at the end of each day.  You’ll be surprised at just how quickly loose change can add up.  Respecting the money you already have is the first step to achieving financial freedom.  Every Thursday can be a wallet and handbag tidy up day.

FRIDAY – Clear out old toiletries and cosmetics and declutter your bathroom.  Throw out everything that is passed it’s use by date, broken, seperated or gluggy.  Remove loose hair from your hair brush.

SATURDAY – Out with the old and in with the new.  Make room for new things to appear in your life by donating items to charity.  You could also have a garage sale to make a few extra dollars, but donating is quicker, easier and makes for good karma.

SUNDAY – Now that your space is becoming clutter free, keep it that way.  Use the one in, one out rule.  If you buy a new dress for example, then donate a dress from your wardrobe to charity.  Every night before bed do a quick tidy up, you’ll feel more energised waking to a tidy environment.

Wishing everyone a very happy St. Valentine’s Day.

It’s better to hang out with people better than yourself who have acheived what you are aiming to acheive.  Choose associates whose behaviour is better than yours, and you will drift in that direction.

- Warren Buffett

Happy Australia Day To Everyone, Enjoy.

To build upon your self esteem, try the following:

*  Have realistic expectations of yourself

*  Listen to your own self talk and silence any negatives that come up

*  Set goals to create regular success experiences and then reward yourself once your goals are met

*  Graciously accept positive feedback from others

*  Evaluate negative feedback

*  Practise giving positive feedback to others

Wishing everyone a magical, prosperous, safe and peaceful 2012.  I’m about to start my 2012 journal, are you?

Wishing my Inspirations community, a very safe and peaceful Christmas 2011.

If you’re depressed, you’re living in the past

If you’re anxious, you’re living in the future

If you’re at peace, you’re living in the present

Age is mind over matter,

If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

*Automate your savings:

Set up a direct credit from each pay directly into a savings account.  The online savings accounts pay the best interest.  What you haven’t got you really don’t miss, and you’ll be amazed at just how quickly your savings will grow, especially with the wonderful effect of compounding interest.

*Track your progress

It’s so exciting watching your savings grow, and you’ll feel encouraged to save even more.  Remember that money gives us choices.

*Track your spending:

Write down EVERYTHING you spend your money on.  Try doing this for one month.  Mondy often just seems to vanish and we don’t really know where it’s gone to.  By tracking your spending you’ll get a good snapshot on where you’re spending your money, and where you can potentially cut back to save even more dollars.

*Budget

Create a realistic budget plan.  You wil need to be exact with your figures, knowing exactly how much you earn and how much your outgoing commitments are.

*Follow the 24 hour rule

If something costs more than $100, wait for 24 hours before your purchase.  If you still think that you want/need the item, then purchase it if your budget permits.  In that 24 hours, you may find a better deal that will save you some money.  Remember to always ask if there is a discount for purchasing with cash.

*Follow the 30 day rule

For really expensive purchases, try waiting for a month.  You may find a better deal or even change your mind.

*Share and support

If you have a partner, it’s a good idea to share financial ideas and advice and support each other around financial choices.

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Remember to save whatever you can.  You’ll be surprised at just how quickly small amounts will add up to become big amounts.  At the end of day it’s a great idea to empty all the coins out of your purse and save them.  Gold coins might go straight into your savings account.  Silver coins could be saved to give to a charity you support or used to purchase the daily newspaper, school lunches, the kids bank accounts or anything else you can think of. Happy Saving.