Well, you may say the holiday isn’t over yet. But I bet you have finished 99% of your holiday shopping, right? If not, it is probably too late to shop online to get delivered in time.

Now it is time to think of your new shopping strategies, if you are really trying to get your financial life back to normal, or to have a healthier financial life.

1. First of all, you got to have a goal. What is new financial goal in the new year? Maybe limit your expense to a certain level? Or save some amount in your saving account.

2. You got to have a strategy, or some rules. List your goal and your rules on a sheet, and put it on your fridge.

3. I am not going to list the details the rules you should be following. I bet you can come up a lot by yourself. The more important thing is to strictly follow your own rules.

4. There is THE  ultimate money saving rule: Before you buy, think about it, do you really need it? If you can, postpone your purchase for a few days. Remember, the only thing you really needed is food, while water and air are free.