Sweat the Small Stuff

Obviously I don't mean the small stuff like the idiot that cut you off or the cashier that somehow managed to text and ring up your purchase, but rather the small stuff like the bottle of water you bought at the gas station or the shirt (or any other clothing item) that was on sale at the mall that you didn't really need, but it was on sale...

I'm not saying don't buy those things, but don't just pull out your wallet on a whim.  Take a minute and THINK about what you're buying and what the cost is.  For me, it's much easier to think about the $2 bottle of water if I have a financial goal in mind.  So now I think about how I would have $2 more toward an Australia trip or $2 closer to getting a wood floor in the living room. 

It's hard to think like that if you don't have a big picture or goal.  The first goal you should work on is building an emergency fund - something that can get you through six months if something drastic happened - losing a job, big car repair, hospitalization or injury...(I know that's not fun saving, but foreclosing on your house isn't fun either!) But, once you have that, identify what you love to do and work on saving toward that.  Open a special savings account just for that purpose (online accounts typically have better interest rates than a walk up location).  

In the end it's all about what makes you happy.  Personally I think I'll enjoy Australia a whole lot more than a bottle of water.  Speaking of water, check this out!