I started carrying cash on me when I decided to take charge of my money. Tony Robbins talks about the power in this simple act, and one of my mentors reminded me the habit has more do with the consistency than the actual amount.  This made me FEEL a LOT different. It made me feel less broke. I always had something on me. Enough for a snack if I needed it. $5 or $20 just something. This alone can help you feel more abundant, loosening the reign’s stress. I oftentimes would not spend it for weeks or months even, just knowing I had it meant something to me. When I did spend it, it was on those small things that normally would have cost more in interest (when added to a pretty pink credit card) than the initial purchase. 

Side note: I loved seeing my credit card, I got compliments on my credit card, few people saw credit cards that pretty. It had a cursive R over pink stripes and glitter. I LOVED it. So I did not mind whipping it out over my bank card. I even enjoyed the fact that it was different from everyone else's cards when I would go to dinner with friends. Point being (while working toward not ever needing to own a credit card again) if you are going to have one, get an ugly one. 

Limit gifts and trips. We, my guy and I, became more and more open about our endeavor in becoming debt-free. Conversations with family and friends went something like, "we won't be doing this or that this year, because we are working on being debt-free." Everyone was pretty understanding. When they weren't, that was okay by us, it isn't easy not seeing family year after year, or being able to attend supercross with the motofamily, or not being able to afford, I mean really afford (not charge) gifts for your nieces and nephews. Like everything, it is a choice. 

Live like no one else, so later, you can live like no one else -Dave Ramsey

Let go of keeping up with the Jones, sit back at watch the peeing contest continue, and be the witness to your nonparticipation in it. No judgments here, not on yourself or them. Just witnessing. Recognize how easily it is to be caught up unconsciously in matters big or small of 'keeping up with the Jones'. Yea, that means wearing the shoes for another month until you have the cash or buying a less stylish pair. If you do get swept up, notice it as soon as you can, recalibrate, and move forward. 

After you outline your budget and establish your $1,000 savings account. It’s time for bite-size pieces. Both my guy and I paid off our smallest credit cards $500 each. THIS WAS HUGE. (Obviously, this is relative, but to us, this was a big deal, it was momentum.) This feeling was as tantalizing as spending money! I wanted the next bite! So back to the drawing board, on paper, on dry erase boards, combing over funds, exploring ways to generate more income, mapping out the flow of money. I wanted to not just pay down, I wanted to pay off another big chunk, and I wanted to do it now. The next debt that we were tackling was no longer in the distant horizon but so close that I could taste it and sure enough we took another big bite. 

You can do the same! Refocus your behaviors in a new way that supports you! The financial piece is a major, and very necessary part of designing your ideal life.