Money Fitness
By Dr. Audrey Reed

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.

It’s like the time of the year when we look at our bodies and make the decision that summer is on its way and we 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 the new year.
We can complain about the economy like we would complain about our bodies. Complaining doesn’t get us more fit. Action in the body and action with our money is the only way to become Money Fit. Just as people who are physically fit have routines, people who are money fit have routines and certain exercises they do every day to stay conscious with their money. Now if you are financially fit, these practices will fine-tune the routine:

Ten Beginning Steps to Money Fitness

1. Money Counting Calories

• Know how much you spend.
• Count your money in the morning.
• Keep track of how much you spend during the day.
• Write it down in a small journal what you buy, the cost and whether you used cash or credit card.
• Count your 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
Keep your money in order. In your wallet, place all the ones together, all the fives, all the tens, etc. Face them in the same direction: money and the energy of money are attached to order.

3. Light Weights
Put all your extra change in a box with a lid or in a piggy bank. This will assure you a savings of $25-$40 per month practiced.

4. Reaching for the Heavy Weights
When you don’t buy something, say, “Wow, I just saved myself $3.00” and put the money in the piggy bank. That’s real savings.

5. Jumping Rope
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. Do it with a friend. Turn on great dance music -- moving and saving both at the same time.

6. Kick Boxing
Balance your checkbook every month. Banks are not gods. They do make mistakes. Check all the charges on your credit card statements. I have a great routine for making this easier than you can imagine in #7.

7. Toweling Off
Place a post it on the back of each credit card. Every time you use it, write the date and the amount you are spending on the post-it. This exercise allows you to see what your monthly spending has been and you can match the spending to the monthly statement when it arrives. 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 businesswoman, speaker, author of Money ToolBox for Women and radio talk show host. She is a requested radio and television expert. Visit her website at: www.draudreyreed.com