"Don't find fault; find a remedy."

budget. That word alone can make us shiver in our new boots! But hardworking people need not fear — there is an easy way to win budget battles. It was fun and what better time to start! So what's the secret?

Think this trick is too simple to be effective? Think about the last time you broke your budget. You've probably made pretty good progress. After a great month in life, you just have something wrong. Two months later - rumble! Your budget is gone, big time. How long did it take you to get back on track after that?

How to Set Up Your Goodies List 

This is where the fun begins. Your Goodies List is your personal list of rewards, fun, or things to buy or do. Write down something that excites you, something to look forward to. Why? Because if you don't have the motivation to keep going, there is no effective budget in the world.

How to Use Your Goodies List to Motivate You

Reward yourself with items from your goodies list each month (or weekly) within your budget. Keep your reward within a range you can easily afford (just make sure it's enough to motivate you.) Try a monthly reward of $40 or less. Try $10 a week. Even $5 can get you going.

In the past, you may have felt like you had to "give up" something to stay on track. You will find that you are not giving up anything at all. They just target what you really want or need and reward you for not making those expensive purchases. It's easy to burn out or feel forgotten when your hard work has nothing to show.

So how inspiring is this? Remember, you're not only rewarded for keeping your budget on track. Use your good things list to avoid procrastination and motivate you to complete your projects (even those dreaded tasks).

Adjust your plan now until it works for you. Get started - start today!

Darlene Arechederra offers simple, unique strategies to help others make the transition from spending to saving. She thinks the trick is figuring out what works best for everyone—because her money isn't one size fits all. Darlene encourages others to discover their *own* unique money-saving strategies! Sign up for the free newsletter today.