Believe You Can Do It

• Pulling yourself out of debt requires some self-discipline and the firm belief that you are capable of doing it. Make a serious effort to visualize what your life would be like if you had no debts. If you are able to imagine this convincingly, it will provide you with a strong determination to stick with your debt reduction program. If your debt is the result of a history of excessive spending, it will take a lot of effort to change your ways and develop new methods of spending. If you have a close friend with a history of responsible money management, spend as much time with that person as possible.
  
  

Monitor Your Finances

• Carry a small notebook with you everywhere you go. Whenever you buy something, write down the date, what you bought and how much you paid for it. Transfer this information into a ledger that you keep on your desk at home. Keep track of all the money that comes in and where it goes out. After a few months, you will have a comprehensive record of your spending habits that you can refer to when you're wondering where the money went. This level of record keeping may seem obsessive to you at first, but it's a critical element in retraining yourself to be aware of where your money is going.
  
  

Stay Home

• If you enjoy going out to restaurants, bars and clubs, you may be unaware of how much you spend in these places. Your written budget may alert you to this. If you decide you want to save some of that money, start entertaining friends at home with inexpensive activities like potluck dinners, watching videos or playing yard games. There's no need to give up restaurants and bars altogether; if you keep track of your spending, you can budget a few nights out within the limits that you can afford. If you try to limit your spending too tightly, you probably won't stick with it.
  
  

Grow a Garden

• The simple act of growing a garden in your yard will give your family fresh vegetables that you won't have to buy at the store. Just as importantly, it will retrain your mind to realize that you are able to provide for yourself without spending a lot of money. You may discover a latent love of gardening and the outdoors. If you have a gym membership that you are paying for, you may find that you get enough exercise in the garden and can save money by canceling the membership.