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Money Fitness
Money fitness does not mean your dollars
are thinner than they’ve
ever been before, this year we are fattening up those dollars.
We know the routines necessary for
becoming physically fit, now let’s become financially fit.
 This is the time of the year when we look
at our bodies and make the decision that summer is on its way
and
we need to take the
time to shed a few pounds. We increase our exercise, shake of
the winter pounds, and move that New Year’s Resolution into high
gear. In some cases, any gear to get us going.
At the same time we were making that physical resolution; most
of us were making some resolution to fatten out wallets by taking
better care of our money situation or to have more money in 2003.
We can complain about the economy, like we
would complain about our bodies. Complaining doesn’t get us
more fit.
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Action, in the body and action with our money is the only way
to become Money Fit.
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People who are physically fit have routines.
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People who are money fit have routines; certain exercises they
do every day to stay conscious with their money.
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Now if you are financially fit, these practices will fine tune
the routine.
Ten Beginning Steps to Money Fitness
1. Money Counting Calories
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Know how much you spend.
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Count your money in the morning
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Keep track
of how much you spend during the day.
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Write it down in a small
journal.
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What you buy.
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The cost.
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Cash or Credit Card
Count you money in the evening at the end of your day.
Begin to see where you are spending money
that is extraneous or has a heavy fat content. Then you can ask if you want it,
need it, have to have it, or if it is a good value for value. Value
for value means that the money exchange and the product or services
purchased are worth the amount of hours you had to work for it. Like
a chocolate bar for the allotted amount of minutes of exercise
required to offset the calorie intake.
2. Respect and Honor
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Keep your money in Order.
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In your wallet, place all
the ones together, all the fives, all the tens etc.
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Face them
in the same direction
- Money and the energy of money are attached
to order.
4. Reaching for the Heavy Weights
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When you don’t buy something, and say, Wow, I just saved myself
$3.00. Put the money in the piggy. That’s real savings.
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Go on a scavenger hunt of all your bags,
pockets, knapsacks, gym bags, clothing, inserts
of sneakers or running shoes,(most
runners I know put a $5 bill under the insole of
their running shoe when they don’t have a pocket in their shorts.), all the
drawers in your house or office, etc. You’ll be surprised at
what you’ll turn up. The last time I did this, I
found over $200.00 in change and cash.
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Do it with a friend. Turn
on great dance music. Moving and saving both
at the same time.
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Balance Your Check Book every month. Banks
are not gods. They do make mistakes.
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Check all the charges
on your Credit Card Statements. I have
a great routine for making this easier
than you can imagine, in #7.
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Place a post it on the back of
each credit card.
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Every time you use it, write the date and
the amount you are spending on the post it. This exercise allows
you see what your
monthly spending has been and you can match
the spending to the monthly statement when it arrives.
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Practicing
the system shows you the number of money calories you are
expending. It gives you new choices
about using the card.
8. Protein Morsel
- Owe a balance? Write the balance on the top of the post it.
This practice gives you the BIG money picture.
9. Buddy System
- Do the exercises with a friend. Support
each other in the practices.
10. Power Shakes
- It is important to shake things up. New practices
help you fatten your money.
- Celebrate your successes.
- Recognize the abundances
and be grateful for all that comes forward. Gratitude
itself is a fabulous
celebration!
Congratulations on your new routine and your money fitness.
Dr. Audrey Reed is the founder of Works
in Progress, Inc., a personal and business consulting firm. She
is a successful business woman, speaker, author of Money ToolBox for Women,
radio talk show host, Prosperity News on KFNX 1100 Phoenix and
Wale 990 Providence. She is a requested radio and television expert.
Other fitness related articles: Eating Disorders or Spending
Disorder; How Are They Related? Or Calorie/ Money Savings.
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