As America slowly comes out of her financial crisis, we are all beginning to spend more - buying gifts and necessities, as well as some frivolous objects. And while it's nice to be buying what you want, when you want it again, we all need to keep in mind that the economy is fragile. After all, it was over-spending that got us in this mess in the first place.

So how do we re-enter the buying market without frivolous spending? You need to be acutely aware of where your money goes, particularly in this season of spending. Even without the aid of a financial planner you can make the most of your hard-earned money with these tips.

Be sure to keep track of where your money goes. As dieters cling to their Weight Watchers point booklets, diligently recording each m&m they consumed at the work party, you, too should keep a notebook. Write down each purchase, from latte to love seat, to know what you spend each day. You may find wasteful spending after only a few days. Perhaps that $1 a day on the newspaper could be better spent in penny stocks, and you can read the online version of the news. Or you could cut out your morning coffee by making it at home, putting those daily $2 towards college finances.

A financial advisor can help you sort out the larger picture of your personal finances, but for day to day financial discipline consider yourself to be your own wealth advisor. A dollar a day may seem like nothing, but it adds up quickly, and if you put it into an interest-bearing account, those dollars turn into even more.

If you do decide that a financial advisor is right for you, we can help you find one in your area today!

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