Here's a technique to help you plan and save for all special occasions, taking into account some of the extra expenses you bear around these times that might be throwing your budget off-track. (An added benefit: you won't likely forget special occasions any more either).

February is real life, and it's probably how things are going to stay at least until summer starts, unless we take action to change them.

But none of that works -- or at least none of it will stick -- if you don't also get your mindset going in the right direction.

If you take a critical look at absolutely every penny you spend - a really detailed examination - you might realize that your money is going to a number of places that it doesn't need to go.

Review everything I say against your own good sense, and consult with a doctor if you think that your nutrition issues call for it.

Since I'm guessing that more than a few of you have set New Year's resolutions around fitness, this week I'll suggest a few ways to keep the ball rolling with your workouts.

This article will deepen the timeline by giving you some additional tips to ensure your kids have a healthy relationship with money, right from the start.

In fact, I recommend that you start with teeny-tiny wins. If you're truly feeling stuck about, your fitness, your finances, your relationships, your career, or any other part of your life; you can gain momentum with a small but effective victory.

Repeat after me: What will I do differently in 2011?

That's not a bad thing, necessarily. My life is substantially better now than it was 12 months ago. There was just a lot of hard slogging in between. Here are five key things that I learned -- more accurately, re-learned -- along the way.

Sometimes the holidays seem to make everything harder: you have more demands than ever on your time, your pocketbook, your family, and even your emotions.

You're trying to keep yourself in good shape, maybe even lose some weight. And then the holidays roll around . . . and suddenly it's January 15th, and you still haven't gotten back to the gym to start working off the pounds of lard you put on between Halloween and New Year's.

When I became a Professional Hobo almost four years ago, it came with a cost-- one that was hard to come to terms with, but one that was ultimately among the best things I could ever have done. I got rid of everything I owned.

Your weakness could be the big sales -- for shoes, power tools, or whatever -- at your favorite store. It might be wasting whole evenings on junk television, then feeling guilty because you're not caught up on housework.

Whose expectations are you trying to live up to?

The holidays are a great time to reflect on this, since so many people make this the season of excess: too much food and drink, too many parties, and too much spending on too many gifts.

Taking a break for just a few days with our closest family -- no gifts to exchange, no religious ceremonies, just enjoying good food and each other's company -- can be wonderful. 

Clutter doesn't come from the stuff itself, but from the decisions we make -- or fail to make -- about the things we have and the available space we have for them.

Even if you're not the best with your own finances, you owe it to your children not to pass along bad habits and fears.

I firmly believe that we have a lot of control over how we react to situations in our lives -- which means that we can choose to experience less stress. Sound good to you? Read on!

Impulse shopping is something we all fall prey to from time to time. But when impulse shopping tendencies become a full-on syndrome, we need to find ways to conquer it.  

Want to increase your will power? Want to smooth out the path toward your goals? Make fewer decisions.

"I want to get out of debt...I want to get out of debt," you repeat to yourself. This is a mantra that you wake up to each morning, go to bed with each night, and are pensive over every day. "I don't want any more bills...I don't want any more bills," is the accompanying harmony.  

There are usually many things you can do -- lots of levers you can pull -- to change things for the better.

Most of us recycle paper and plastic, but there are many more things we simply can't recycle on our own. And if it still works (but just not for us), then it's a shame to toss it in the trash. Electronics in particular increasingly need replacing, but have numerous components that are toxic to landfills.

So, figure out where to strike the balance between (a) being a responsible parent, looking out for your children's well-being, and (b) not being a complete spoilsport.