Saving Money Without Saving Face

Crying while saving.

Shame had a field day at my house this week.

I had a couple of windfalls early in the week, and  I was feeling flush already by Monday.

So I guess I got carried away and started doing crazy things. Like eating lunch.

I'm ashamed, but not a bit sorry. Because I'm learning to make shame pay.

My new thing is to match, dollar for dollar, every splurge I make. Until the money runs out, it's working. I call it Match Your Shame.

About a third of my weekly savings goal is already in place every week, which helps get me in the zone. This is money that I have pre-programmed to go to a couple of charitable organizations or toward bills over and above the minimum. So I start every week with a lift and a nice jolt of energy, which I think we'd all agree even the strongest among us could use.

So I am already close to the first $1,000, or 1/26th of my enormous two-year goal. Not a penny of it is true savings, sadly. It's all going straight to the cards.

Still. I am almost certain this is how one famous financier got her start.

Drop me a line and tell me your saving secrets. I'm feeling pretty good about money these days.