Well-said, Donna! This tracks well with voluntary simplicity. A lot of folks interpret that to mean recycling toilet paper tubes and making your own dog treats, but what it really means is spending in alignment with your goals and values (and if you can't justify buying dog treats, making your own could fit in with that).

In the last year, I've done a lot of (for me) impulse spending, and one of my goals is to cut back on that.

Donna these are three great resolutions not only for this New Year but for your whole life.

As I also pointed out on my website tracking your spending in real detail occasionally really does help you find laces to stop wasting your money.

Your second resolution is vital, to many of us fall into the marketing world's keep up to the Jones pitch.  We all need to learn we are not the Jones, we are ourselves and our own families.  We all need to spend time to consider and plan what we really want and need in life.  Then focus on that, instead of what other want.  Often 99% of our junk resulted from trying to do what others wanted or expected, and worst of all most of that junk just made us miserable anyway.  This is a great resolution for people who are ready to actually become their own masters instead of someone else's slave follower.  I encourage everyone to take up this resolution and find themselves true freedom.

Lastly your third resolution is also great, once we have our financial lives together and know what we want, we should actually enjoy it.  We have recently given our selves some gifts just like that and because we actually wanted them we truly enjoy having them.  We all work hard for our money so we should be spending those extra discretionary dollars on what we enjoy and enjoy doing it.

To Donna and all her readers a Happy New Year from Robert D at www.budgetingsense.com

I've been living this way for my entire adult life. it wasn't easy to do 5 or 10 years ago when the "this party is nevr going to end!" mentality was the norm. I think many people have too much leisure time on their hands and don't knwo what to do with it...so they "spend". Leisure time can be better "spent" finding a relaxing hobby that does not sot much financially but  richly rewards the soul; gardening, art and crafts, learning to or playing a musical instrument, etc. are fabulous ways to enRICH lives! I have also volunteered with animal shelters, environmental groups,etc and not only did "good deeds" but made tons of friends and had a fun, cost-free way to socialize! There a LOTS of healthy options for things to do besides purchasing things you really don't need.Go cold turkey; stop going to the mall,watch a lot less TV ( and leave the room when commercials come on!), and read less of the "fluff" magazines...they are all there to push you into spending what most cannot really afford. Taking back your life isn't dismal...it's actually a lot more fun to be free of worry!

Indeed! I am trying to start the new year with a cleaner, clutter-free apartment. I am astounded to see the things I have that I'd forgotten, or that I really didn't need. This isn't junk; it's mainly clothes, but the resolutions will apply to that! I am folding and hanging and donating, and I'm resolving to keep a closer eye on the clothes budget. I'm not going to be cajoled into buying more clothes, and I'm going to wear and enjoy what I already have. Happy New (and FRUGAL) Year to all!

i will try

I've been doing 1, 2, and 3 forever.  I thought these are financial common sense :)

Amen!  now is the time to focus on things that really matter and not appearances. Spend more time with your family and children, play board games together, help kids with homework and school projects. If you don't have children think about signing  up to be a mentor to an at risk child like Big Brothers Big Sisters. These are things that really matter, not spending $$$ to keep up with everyone else, when they are actually BROKE themselves.  2009 is a crucial year and you will either sink or swim!

THANK GOD FOR ALL YOUR BLESSINGS AND SHARE THEM WITH OTHERS!

Smart, and these speak of the origin of how people can STAY out of trouble, by not yileding to foolish temptations

They say, "The rich stay rich through petty economies, but the poor stay poor through silly extravagences"

I don't know..-maybe it's true some of the time

I agree with all of this ideas and should be implemented for life, not just in down economic times.  I bet if you ask the wealthy - the ones who have worked for what they have - that these were their financial guidelines always.

I too don't agree with buying things like clothes at regular price and then selling them in garage sales for $1.  I always try to buy on sale.To keep from impulse buying I stay away from the malls unless I really have a purpose in going there because I need something.  Too many people spend too much time in malls, wasting their time and their money or their parent's money.  Often if you look at these people's budgets they have way too much debt for junk that they don't even use.  We definitely need to wise up before we end up the poorest nation in the world and the most indebted.  We need leaders that will set a good example in spending habits and if they won't than we need to give them the boot and rely on ourselves.

Nancy