Any good articles/websites/books to motivate me to save money?

[lespauldude]

I'm spending more money than I can afford right now. The problem is that I can't seem to control my spending. I can get quite impulsive.

Know of any articles, websites, or books that can MOTIVATE me to save money and in general build a habit of doing more with less?

Thanks guys!

[Daffy Duck]

I'm a fan of Ramit.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich: Personal finance and entrepreneurship tips from a Stanford graduate

He just released his book a few months ago. It's very good.

[JWebb38222]

I'm a fan of Dave Ramsey's stuff. Most people don't have the desire to become finance experts. Dave has a system that is tried and tested and about as sound as it gets. He has a way about him that may rub some people the wrong way but he knows what he's talking about. If you mention him to someone who says, "That's just canned finance." Don't take their advice. When it comes to your money, you either have to keep it simple or know the complexities of finance to make your own decisions because that's the only way to know if you're getting good advice.

He pushes what he calls 7 Baby Steps. It's simple and easy and fits perfectly within the complex financial systems we have in this country.

I chose the route of learning how to manage my own finances and I still use almost all of his advice.

[kf4qhk]

Dave Ramsey. Real Debt Help - Get out of debt with Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Plan.. A super smart man!

[marciehunt]

Hi

It's Marcie. Money and abundance are probably some of the biggest challenges for almost everyone right now. My take is this. Alot of times we put ourselves into debt because we don't truly have a prosperity consiousness at a deeper level. So the very first thing is to affirm that you deserve abundance, and that abundance is unlimited!

If we feel good about money-whether we make it or save it, then we are creating a prosperity consciousness. The moment we tighten up around money, then we stop attracting it!

I find that buying what I'm really inspired about, and not just buying the latest gadgets, helps me to have fun, but not be a slave to buying it all!

Hope this helps...

[JWebb38222]

I'm sorry. Maybe I don't fully understand the intention-manifestation thing.

It seems to me that pretending something will magically appear couldn't possibly work. It's like climbing a tree, closing your eyes, and letting go of the branches as you lean forward, "intending" for anti-gravity to be attracted to you. It's not going to keep you from falling out of the tree.

I do fully believe that you can make up your mind that you want something, even if at this moment you don't see how it's possible, and then your eyes will open up to all the possibilities that come along. In other words, your desire is attracting you to the thing rather than attracting the thing to you. Is that what intention-manifestation really means? Because, if so, I don't know why we need this new agey lingo for something that's not really a "secret", has been around forever, and is pretty easy to figure out. (The concept is taught to prisoners as part of a program called Breaking Barriers.)

How is an abundance mentality any different than truly believing you can have what you desire? Isn't it the same thing?

Part of neurolinguistic programming involves reframing a problem so that it seems different than it once was. For example, answering the question "Can we afford this?" with the question "Can we afford not to?" I know the first question is a closed-ended question that shuts down the creative process. Is that why this abundance mentality and intention-manifestation stuff rings home for some people? If so, I think people could understand it better when it's explained in plain english. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be cynical. I just like to simplify things. The more I read about abundance and intention-manifestation, the more I start to think I've wasted my time reading thousands of words for something that could be explained in less than 50.

[Holistic Star]

"How to make one hell of a profit and still get into heaven" by John Demarini,

Specifically he talks about saving first and how putting that intention to pay yourself first before anyone else means that you generate more money.

[DummyChef]

you can exchange, post/get giveaway things and some green tips.

[Strem2]

Originally Posted by lespauldude

I'm spending more money than I can afford right now. The problem is that I can't seem to control my spending. I can get quite impulsive.

Know of any articles, websites, or books that can MOTIVATE me to save money and in general build a habit of doing more with less?

Thanks guys!

Why?
What?
Explain?

And, don't miss out on the FREE personal development stuff which might help you save. ...

[pjhaggerty]

it sounds like your savings are not linked to anything definite. it is psychologically dificult to save for no reason.

if you really want to be motivated to save, then perhaps you should set a definite goal to save for.

for example, you could decide save up for a guitar, or a cruise, or a massage, or whatever else would make you feel good, but which is a little out of your reach financially.

now that you have a reason to save, make two accounts 'long term savings' and 'short term savings' split your savings 50-50 between the two.

your long term savings is going to build up an emergency fund or towards retirement, or whatever other long term financial goal you are saving for.

your short term savings is going towards that guitar or cruise or whatever.

trick is, you cannot put anything into short term savings without putting an equal amount into long term savings.

from then on, save all you can towards your definite goal.

one other rule. Short term savings must be spent in under two years from when you start saving. long term savings cannot be spent for at least 5 years, unless an emergency happens.

This system might help make saving easier, psychologically, because you can tell yourself what you are saving for, you have a why that motivates you. you can start small. save towards a nice dinner, or concert tickets, or a twinkie, nothing is too small. just split the money up when you save, and only buy the things from what you save.

hope that helps.

[Gemini15]

Handling money is not a skill we are born with and tend to learn from those closest to us. If you are really determined to change your money behaviour you can. Read a variety of money magazines and books to help you find the system that is most suitable to you.

My website may also be of interest.

Good Luck

[fairyblogmother]

The Motley Fool is a web site with loads of information about personal finance. You can find like-minded people and support on the Living Below Your Means message board. There's a lot of info there, so you may want to search through the archives.

And for a humorous take on managing your finances... here's a post that may help: The ONLY Way to Get Out of Debt (be sure to watch the video at the end). Enjoy!

[Creative]

It depends on where you are based but if you're in the UK Money Saving Expert is the best site to sort your problem.

[lycan]

Save money... that's a very interesting expression isn't it?

"Fear not money, I am here to save you!"

I wonder where people got the idea that money had to be saved. What is it in danger of?

[lemonmeringue]

Check out SavingAdvice.com. Lots of personal finance tips, but there are also blogs (both professionally and member-written) and forums.