1. Understand that you've got an issue with overspending. If you're scrapping with your husband/wife about finances, or you're over stressed about your current spending, it's now to time to stop and ponder your situation. Think directly about the root of your money disputes. Is your husband/wife out of touch with making purchases and/or are you out of control with making purchases?

2. Go in a tranquil place and start to document your financial information. Get into a tranquil place for at least an hours time. Document your revenue and your expenses. Make a revenue vs expense report.

If your house is too noisy and there are too many distractions, go to a local coffee shop or library where there are no distractions. You need to be able to concentrate fully on your finances for 1-2 hours.

The major challenge I've noticed with myself and my friends is that we get too bogged down and don't take the time to focus on household expenditures.

When I would use too much money, I was over busy and denying what I was doing. My father described this at spilling money, at the time. He said, "You dump more money than I earn." I agreed with him, however, at that time didn't want to deal with it as I was knee deep in creating my business.

3. Accept that you're too busy If you're overspending, and you're over busy, you have to get less "over busy".

If ever you've commented, "I'm too buried to do a money strategy for myself", then obviously you've got too much on your plate. If you want to work yourself out of your own money problems, it is a must do to rewrite your time plans and take more time actively working on your money plan.

With your family activities keeping you busy, you may need to cut out some of them temporary while you organize your finances. This might be difficult but it is necessary.

Giving yourself time to concentrate on your finances will automatically start the process going forward.

4. Structured financial counseling may help It's difficult to seriously accept the fact that you're over spending if you're still too busy and still not able to give yourself the time to internalize that you've got a problem.

By acknowledging that you are too busy to deal with your overspending is the first step. With programs such as Til Debt Do Us Part it forces you to concentrate on the finances. With lessons in how to manage your finances you have to follow it to get the full benefit of the course and hopefully their financial lives.

For some, seeking professional help for finacial woes is the only answer.

Outside help, such as councellors, often helps me to focus on the topic on hand and not scramble trying to catch up in all areas at once. It often helps to chat with a qualified person whether it be financial, marriage, kids, business, etc., to help allocate time for all the things that makes us too busy and to reprioritize.

This may be a way for you to guarantee yourself a way to focus on your finances, if for only an hour or two a month.

In the episode of Til Debt Do Us Part that I watched; as soon as Melinda took some time to talk to Gail Vaz-Oxlade, the counsellor, she immediately realized that she had a problem and started to work on it right away. Sometimes that's all it takes.

" If you keep spending this way, you'll increase your debt by $34,000 in 6 months, and $500,000 in 5 years." was what Gail Vaz-Oxlade told Melinda.

An experienced financial counsellor is able to analyze your situation and explain your future if you continue on the same path.

5. Develop a new plan for your finances. This requires you to go to your quiet place again. You need to take the time in a quiet place to develop your new financial plan.

By asking yourself these questions, you might find some answers * How much money do I need for my highest priority debts? * How much money do I need for my highest priority expenses? * How much should I save up to develop financial reserves? * What items are things that I can do without?

List your highest priority debts and expenses first, and then if you have money left over, start planning your savings. ( Yes... Savings!! ). It sounds pretty simply but harder to follow.

6. Finances is something that you must take the time to deal with. Allocating time and energy to dealing with a cash crunch can cause a lot of upheaval emotionally. By focusing, you can reduce the amount of upset it cause.

To correct any problem, such as a money crunch, allow yourself the necessary time to find a solution and to implement it.

Find the activites that take the most time and stop them. It may take a while since we are constantly being bombarded. Your highest priortiy (outside of family) should be taking control of your finances if they are causing you serious problems. If you feel this strongly about your situation, then you will work it out.

Give yourself time. It won't happen overnight. ( I've learned this the hard way over the years. )

7. Implement your new plan - NOW!! Be realistic about your plan. Realize that change takes time, especially when it comes to finances. Focus because if you don't you will will lose the desire to change.

Realizing that living the plan does not mean that all your financial woes will go away. It is just the beginning of your new life without money problems.

Focus, focus, focus to help you start thinking about your financial problems.