Shop till you drop? Not hardly. You need to set up a budget you can live with over the next year. And to be able to stick with it, you need to make your budget as honestly as you can, leaving a little for savings and a little (if there is anything left) for fun. You also need to write a plan for the next 10 years. Business’ have to have plan for the future and you should too.

If you’re married, the two of you need to sit down and have a real hear-to-heart talk about finances. One person cannot keep spending while the other is working hard at staying on budget. And the two of you need to discuss what you want for the future. Maybe it’s a house. Just make sure you don’t think mansion when you have the money for a beautiful little cottage. How much did you budget for and how much do you have in savings? Do not dig yourself into a hole again. And remember when you buy a house you will have a lot of extra bills and things you will want to purchase or need to purchase. So make a plan including everything it will cost you…not just the mortgage payment and insurance and taxes.

Develop a way of keeping track of every penny you spend. At the end of the month look over what you spent and see if you not only stayed within your budget, but if you can afford to raise the amount for a specific thing you would like to purchase down the line.

After a bankruptcy, you will receive credit card offers almost daily. Whatever you do, do not get any. In fact insist on being taken off their mailing list. If they persist, put the unopened offer into their prepaid envelope and mail it back to them. Don’t forget to sign up for the no-call register. You can call toll free 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register or go to www.donotcall.gov. Most states have a do not call number too. It may block telemarketers who are presently exempt from the federal regulations, such as political pollsters and charities. Call the attorney generals office in your state.

Think smart. Take your lunch to work along with a snack. Add a V-8 or soda. Right there you have saved a lot of money every day.

Retrain yourself. For fun rent ONE (I didn’t say 5) video instead of going to the movies (or go to the matinee which is cheaper and take your snacks). Borrow books from the library instead of buying them. In fact, many libraries even have DVD’s and videos to check out and they are free. Go to the park and watch baseball games instead of paying to watch games. Get back to nature….it is a great one-on-one time.

Take up cooking as a hobby instead of going out to eat. BBQ. Learn to bake

You know by now if your budget is working or not. You know the tell-tale signs of getting into financial trouble. If you’re headed the wrong direction…stop it.

After Bankruptcy