Once you have gotten your budget aligned, you will start to realize that most of us are living way beyond our means. Obviously, the crisis itself is the larger picture of homeowners, investors, executives, and many more living beyond their needs. I like the simple motto: “If you can’t pay cash, you can’t have it.” Jobs are so scarce these days that we cannot afford to pile up debt without the security. If you really want something, make a short-term goal and save towards that goal. If saving is not an option, make a sacrifice like selling that old guitar on eBay to make up the difference. The best solution for living beyond your means is to start saving. Saving is what I like to call paying myself. Every time I get paid for a job, I pay myself 5% directly into my savings account. In addition, I have my personal checking set up to automatically transfer $25 two times a month into savings. You may think it’s impossible, but it isn’t if you cut out the $2/day coffees or $5/day cigarette habit. We are humans, so adapt!