Living Below Your Means, as Husband and Wife.

Photo: Venice Italy

1. Self Control - Don't give into life's pressure of spending on what you want, rather than what you actually need. Do your best to meet 95% of your basic needs and 5% of your wants.

2. Write down the total amount of your Income. The actual net amount of you and your spouse. Place that number in an area that is visible to both you and your spouse on a daily basis.

3. Freeze your credit cards or don't rely on them. Think: "If I don't have the cash for it, I probably don't need it."

4. Pick up Sunday's Newspaper and clip out coupons to use on your cooked meals. Coupons.com and many Grocery Stores offer online coupons and shopping deals. Print them out or add the app to your IPhone.

5. Buying dinner each night can easily place your spending into the unnecessary over your means pile of spending. Make a trip to Marshalls or Walmart and pick up a handy cook book for $3.99. You can rotate your meals weekly and even take brown bag lunches with leftovers.

6. There will always be 7 years of "Plenty" and 7 years of "Famine." Prepare yourself for both. Having the   financial flexibility at the end of the day is all that should matter.

7. Live your life through yourself and not through anyone else. It's all on you at the end of the day when all the bills are due.

8. Have an emergency fund. One of the hardest things to do! Whether it's just $1 a day. Place $1 under your mattress each morning for a year.

 9. Share! If your into books or dvd's, swap with your friends or borrow them from your Library.

10. Don't take on additional expenses. Spending everything you've earned, makes living your life together very uncomfortable.

11. Pay your bills on time to avoid paying late fees and interest.

12. Study your expenses. Review all your outgoing funds. Write them down and see if they were necessary. Learn how to avoid similar spending situations in the future.

13. Stay healthy. Having less money each month can cause excessive stress.

14. Avoid car repair delays. Regular oil changes, tire rotations etc are necessary to maintain your car for as long as possible. Delays equal bigger problems.

15. Roth IRA's are good retirement plans. You actually fund a Roth IRA with money you already paid taxes on.

With over 14 Million unemployed, it's hard to look at this list. However, Believe you can make anything possible. Adjust whatever circumstance your in the best way you can, and remember your purpose. Things will get better.