I remember standing at a jewelry store counter once with a fellow who purchased a gold chain big enough to tie a python in knots.He flopped his money on the counter and said, “Easy come, easy go” with a huge smile.

People who think like that are a hamburger short of a Happy Meal. I’m not against people owning gold chains if they can easily afford it and that’s their thing. But I happen to know this fellow was so broke he couldn’t pick up all the pieces.

Do you wish you could save an extra $1,000 this year without downgrading your lifestyle? It is possible to save big bucks by making small changes in your spending. Even small changes over a year really add up.

Here are some tips to give yourself a $1,000 raise. . .

1. Look for discounted dinner entrees

Saving money doesn't mean you can't enjoy meals at your favorite restaurants. Discount deals can be found in the mail, newspaper or online. Check out your restaurant online or when you get there ask the manager if they have any special promotions.

Would you walk by a quarter on the sidewalk and leave it? Probably not. A penny maybe. Did I get it right?

One more question. Would you walk by a dozen quarters lying on the sidewalk or would you stop and pick them up? Well, every time you go tothe grocery store you can rescue some serious money by using coupons.

If you’ve thought coupons are a hassle then you need to read this article where I will share with you how you can use coupons with a minimum amount of effort if you organize them properly.

Going through the ads or coupon pages of your newspaper, only grab onto those you use. If you have children, get them to sort them by date for you. It’s good training for the kids plus I’m convinced the older I get, the smaller the manufacturers print those expiration dates.

File your coupons by month, not type. That way, there’s never a question whether the coupon is expired. It also helps you know which coupons you need to use first. I keep an envelope with each month written on the front and stack them in an old envelope box. I always keep the current month in front.

Click On Savings

Things have changed dramatically over the past few years and now there dozens of websites offering coupons but BEWARE of the hook.

You should only select FREE sites. . .never ever pay a monthly fee for coupons. There is so much free stuff available that you don’t have to spend the hard-earned money you’re trying to save.

Check out the websites carefully. . .let me know if you find others we can recommend.

Click “Cool Savings” and “Coupon Cabin” for a closer look. Find your comfort level and know that some of these sites may well send you unsolicited offers in the future.

Coupons and Menu Planning Save Money

When it comes time to plan menus, I pull out the current month along with the next two or three upcoming months and look for menu ideas using the coupons first. You can also add your weekly grocery store flyer … ours comes in the mail on Wednesday every week so I plan my menus on Thursday.

Once your menu choices are complete, flip it over to make your grocery list. More than once I’ve found myself in the grocery store trying to remember if I needed something for a menu plan I’d left at home. I’ve also been known to pull out all the recipes I plan to use. That way it’s easier to look down the list to make sure I’ve remembered every ingredient.

I don’t save a coupon if I think I can use it immediately. After all, more coupons will be coming in. When the month is over, it’s easy to discard unused coupons and put the envelope in the back of the stack.

Making the Most of Your Coupons

Coupon specifications vary. When I find the words “Any Size” I smile. You will generally save money by buying the smallest size using a coupon. I do this with Harold’s favorite steak sauce. I dislike paying this brand name’s high price, but they regularly give out coupons, so I continue to buy the smaller size and use a coupon. This works well on laundry detergent too.

On my grocery list, I’ll put ‘c’ after something I have a coupon for so I remember. If there is a size specification, I’ll write that down too. When I use a coupon, I’ll pull it out so I’m not searching for applicable coupons when I’m at the checkout. I like to watch that scanner for price defects.

Making the Most of Your Grocery Store Experience

Grocery stores vary. Some offer double coupons, but I’ve found that I only stop there if I feel their overall prices are good also. Otherwise I just use my coupons at the store with the best prices. Some grocery stores will attempt to lure you in with what’s known as “price leaders.” That means they are losing a little money on these advertised specials, but they know once you are in the store, you will pick up other items also.

The point is you don’t have to spend a lot more time when you use coupons to your advantage. Don’t worry about every dime. Save what you can and know that whatever you do save is more money in your pocket.

One of the most successful military strategies an enemy can employ in warfare is to separate you from your supply lines. . .to keep you from receiving reinforcements or supplies.

That’s exactly what the devil wants to do when he has you, your family, your finances and/or your health under attack. . .he wants to separate you from your supply line (the Word). . .to keep you from receiving reinforcements and orders from your spiritual headquarters (God).

The only way the enemy can spiritually terrorize you is by doubt, separation and isolation.

When you find yourself under attack whether it’s a natural enemy or spiritual enemy indecision can be costly.  Even though you may not know the best strategy to employ at any given moment. . .God does.

Your tactical advantage is your personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and your reliance on the Word of God.

God will never do a new thing in our lives. . .as long as we’re holding onto the past.

Our Heavenly Father wants us anticipating each new day and the new thing He is about to do in our lives during the remainder of 2014.

If we dwell on past hurts, failures, broken relationships and financial mistakes, then we’re doomed to repeat them.

Isaiah 43:18 in the Message Bible says:

Get ready...the verse I'm about to share with you will make you SHOUT...JUMP UP AND DOWN while you TURN AROUND when you realize what it can mean for you!

Ephesians 3:20 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].”

1.         Now.  Not tomorrow. . .next week. . .next month or in the sweet bye and bye.

I’m fed up with people. . .unbelievers. . .even God-fearing. . .tongue-talking people who, with a certain degree of religious snobbery, say with seeming authority that rich people can’t be happy or go to the heaven.

The basic premise of these negative, self-postulating, unscriptural people is that if you have money. . .you’re going to change and become some sort of greedy, immoral deviant who is overcome with anxieties, sinful desires (booze, drugs and sex), long hours on the job that will decimate your family and that being rich means you’re obviously trapped in an unhappy existence.

Excuse me. . .but that’s just crazy.  Let’s look at some scriptural facts based on the entire counsel of God’s word. . .and not scriptures taken out of context.

For years, I've taught people in seminars around the world that no doesn't always mean "N O" sometimes it actually means know.

The person with whom you're speaking may not have either the knowledge or the authority to answer to your question.

If you're calling a financial services company about a credit card situtation or anything else...it's always best to talk with a supervisor who has the ability to say yes..

Sir Winston Churchill said:

The best way to get over a past mistake is get on to something new.

Don’t dwell on what you’ve messed up. . .get up.  .confess your mistakes and move on.

Here are seven ways to get over past mistakes.

Have you ever had someone give up on you?

A teacher who felt that you would never understand Algebra II?

A spouse who felt you’d never get that better job you wanted?

An employer who got frustrated because you didn’t understand the company’s computer program and software applications?

No matter what you’ve done or not done. . .no matter how many times you’ve messed up. . .or how often you’ve lost your way. . .there is one person who will never give up on you. . .your loving Heavenly Father.  Never has. . .never will.

Here are five reasosn God will never give up on you.