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There are 3 fundamental principles that effect your finances. If you learn how to manage them you can take control of your finances. I like to tell people that I was born with the money gene. It is in my DNA to save money and to spend it in a reasonable way. My mom had an incredible ability to save money and so I claim it is inherited, but in reality it is a learned talent. I never reached the level of mastery that she possessed, but I did learn how to manage my money and at an early age. I opened my first savings account when I was twelve and I have been saving ever since. My friends thought I was obsessed with money. Each month they looked forward to the new comic coming out and I was always looking forward to my bank statement arriving in the mail. The desire to increase my savings balance put me on the path of financial independence. I was told many times by my parents to prepare for a rainy day. I was getting ready for a flood.

Good money management is all about attitude. You have to approach your spending habits with the right mind set. I like to equate my spending habits with a man who is venturing on a hiking trip. I envision him crossing mountains and deserts during his long trip. While passing through the mountains he passes many streams and lakes. One might believe that he could afford to waste water, but the experienced hiker knows that drier times are ahead and a wise person would collect enough water to survive a drought. The difference between life and death, it seems so obvious when you talk about water, but most people don't realize that money has a direct correlation.

The bases of financial stability is the ability to save. In finances, the word save has a duel meaning. You need to put some cash aside in a savings account but you also need to save when you are spending money. Almost every time you buy something, you have a chance to save on that purchase. Today I saved twice, I had lunch at a fast food restaurant and I purchased new tires for my car. In both instances I saved money. The restaurant, which will remain nameless, offers a Whopper meal and a Whopper Jr. meal. They both have fries and a soda, the only difference is that the Jr. meal's burger is a little smaller. By getting the Jr. I saved a dollar. You might say, big deal a whole dollar, but imagine if you saved even a little money on every purchase you ever made in your lifetime. It adds up to a lot of money. I also saved sixty dollars on my tires. I did that by phoning

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