Admit the problem to yourself

Before you can fix anything, you've got to understand your problem. That means self-analysis, says Carlo DiClemente, co-author of Changing for Good and a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland's Baltimore County campus.
Start by examining your basic beliefs. DiClemente suggests asking yourself whether you're conservative or compulsive and understanding the downsides to both.
Compulsive personalities may find themselves falling for the first sales pitch, while a conservative person may fail to take on enough risk in their investments to guarantee a solid retirement.

Think about every angle of your financial life: home, debt, savings, investments and credit cards. Then, make a list of the bad habits you've fallen into with each.

Where do you waste your money???

Calculate what your bad habits cost you. If you carry only as much credit card debt as the average American family, or $9,500 according to Cardweb.com, you're shelling out $1,400 every year in interest and fees.

Hold it............... Did you spend 5 or 10 minutes thinking this over, or did you "skim" it over?? If you skimmed it please reread the 3/3/05 post: Pay now or pay later.

ONLY IF you decide to not read that post: then skim over the 3/23/05 post quickly, call a friend that agrees with you ( real easy as 95% will), and both of you go out to buy yourself more designer sunglasses. :)