Resolutions break without resolve

I wish everyone A Happy New Year, and success with their resolutions. - to lose weight and get into good condition, to stop smoking,, to stick to a budget, or whatever they choose to improve in their lives.

Unhappily such resolutions are, most often, short-lived or die a-borning.

Rather than break such resolutions, my remedy is to make none. So, I'm fat. I quit smoking when I was 18, too many years ago to even think about.

A budget?

I never had one.

I buy what I must have to live, and pay my bills. If there is anything left, I bank it for "a rainy day" which will arrive as surely as taxes and, according to the old saying, "death."

This seems to work better than most "budgets" to prevent being in debt, and to have an emergency fund when the inevitable unexpected happens. It also helps when the big expected bills, like taxes and insurance arrive, bigger and more invasive each year.

Borrowing , having to depend on borrowing, to cover these expenses only makes paying them more onerous as the loaners charge interest for the use of their money. This goes for using credit cards, too, unless they are paid off each month so there is no interest. The credit card companies don't care about how you get by.

Their only interest is in the dollars of interest in dollars they collect from the borrower..

There is real satisfaction in paying, in being able to pay, for every thing with cash. You never have to look behind you and wonder who is in pursuit of your hard earned dollars.

I have no active credit card, and don't want one. I admit it's convenient to use a credit card to order merchandise on the phone, or computer, but it's a sacrifice I make willingly.

Some years ago we found that, because we paid cash, we had no credit rating. We set up two accounts and used them only often enough to keep a rating.

People complain they can't put money away. It isn't easy. It takers

determination, self control, and coordinated efforts of both partners in the marriage. They need to differentiate between "I need"

and "I want." Until genuine needs are taken care of, there is no surplus to either save, or to buy "wants."

I have done this, so know it can be done. It takes self control, and self restraint. The rewards are there for those who resolve, then follow through.