8 (Totally Easy) Ways to Make Over Your Finances

Michelle Singletary, "The Color of Money" Columnist for The Washington Post

Do This Now: Challenge yourself with a 21-day financial fast, during which you eliminate all spending except for the bare essentials. Halting unnecessary purchases forces you to reflect on how much you consume.

Do This Soon: Keep a spending journal for 30 days. A month's worth of data makes it easier to see where you can cut back.