I'm creating a new sticky thread to keep everyone up-to-date on the steps we've done so far. You can join the project at any point, just make sure to follow the steps from the beginning and at the appropriate time. Be sure to click on the links below to read more about each step in greater detail. Feel free to leave comments within each step to encourage others. Good luck!

PHASE ONE: THE SPENDING FREEZE

#1 Grab a Notebook
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/60485-assignment-1-grab-notebook.html

#2 Go on a 21-Day Spending Freeze
#3 Question the Difference Between Wants and Needs
#4 Create an "Approved Spending" List
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/60547-assignments-2-4-a.html

#5 Get Support
Assignment #5: Get Support

#6 Track Your Temptations
#7 Celebrate Your Victories
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/61197-assignments-6-7-a.html

Step #8: Get a Clear Financial Picture/Calculate Your Net Worth
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget...tml#post492188

Step #9: Reflect Upon What You've Learned
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/62739-new-step-9-reflect-upon-what-youve-learned.html

Step #10: Track Your Spending
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/63116-new-step-10-track-your-spending.html

Step #11: The Modified Spending Freeze
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/63186-new-step-11-modified-spending-freeze.html


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PHASE TWO: DREAMS AND GOALS

Step #12: Dream a Little
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/63538-step-12-dream-little.html

Step #13: Analyze Your Dreams
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/64096-step-13-analyzing-your-dreams.html

Step #14: Organizing Your Dreams
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/64409-step-14-organizing-your-dreams.html

Step #15: Turning Your Dreams into Goals
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/64836-step-15-turning-your-dreams-into-goals.html

Step #16: Supercharging Success
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/65595-step-16-supercharging-success.html#post525342

Step #17: Accept Responsibility, Gain Control
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/66320-step-17-accept-responsibility-gain-control.html#post531479

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PHASE THREE: BUDGETING


Step #18: Gather Your Records
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/66793-18-budgeting-gather-your-records.html

Step #19: Calculate Your Cost of Living
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/66995-19-calculate-your-current-cost-living.html

Step #20: BONUS STEP Create a Vision Board
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/67294-step-20-bonus-assignment-vision-board.html

Step #21: Calculate Your Income
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/67591-step-21-calculate-your-income.html

Step #22: Re-Evaluate Expenses
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/68193-step-22-re-evaluate-expenses.html

Step #23: Avoid Budgeting Mistakes
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/68325-step-23-avoid-budgeting-mistakes.html

Steps #24 & 25: Wrapping Up Your Budget
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget-joneses-project-2008/69042-steps-24-25-wrapping-up-budget.html

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PHASE FOUR: PAYING IT DOWN


Step #26: Know Your FICO Score
Step #26: Know Your FICO Score

Step #27: Analyze Your FICO Score
Step #27: Analyze Your FICO Score

Step #28: Get a Handle on Your Debt
Step #28: Get a Handle on Your Debt

Step #29: Prioritize Paydowns
Step #29: Prioritize Paydowns

Step #30: Accelerate Paydowns
Step #30: (Last of Debt Steps) Accelerate Paydown

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PHASE FIVE: PURGE

Step #31: Create a Vision
NEW! First PURGE Step! Step #31: Create a Vision

Step #32: Plan Your Piles
Step #32: Plan Your Piles

Step #33: Create Room for What You Want in Life
Step #33: Create Room for What You Want in Life

Step #34: Think About Why You Hang Onto Things
Step #34: Think about why you hang onto things

Step #35: Get it Done!
Step #35: Get it Done!

Step #36: Organize
Step #36: Organize

Step #37: Freshen Up!
Step #37: Freshen Up!

Step #38: Maintain
Step #38 Decluttering: Maintain

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PHASE SIX: MINDFUL SHOPPING

Step #39: Identify Shopping Mistakes, Weaknesses and Triggers
Step #39: Identify Shopping Mistakes, Weaknesses and Triggers

Step #40: Come up with Coping Mechanisms
Step #40: Come up with Coping Mechanisms

Step #41: Put Your Money Where Your Priorities Are
Step #41: Put Your Money Where Your Priorities Are

Step #42: Be Wary of Spaving
Assignment #42: Be Wary of Spaving

Step #43: Spending with a Purpose
Step #43: Spending with a Purpose

Step #44: Be Wary of Rationalizing Purchases
Step #44: Be Wary of Rationalizing Purchases

Step #45: Fun Money
Step #45: Fun Money

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PHASE SEVEN: KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

Step #46: First Things First
Step #46: First Things First
Step #47: Delay of Gratification
Step #47: Delay of Gratification
Step #48: Determine Underlying Wants
Step #48: Determine Underlying Wants
Step #49: It's About the Feeling
Step #49: It's About the Feeling
Steps #50 & #51: Energize Your Goals
Steps #50 & #51: Energize Your Goals

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PHASE EIGHT: SAVING EVERY DAY

Step #52: Re-evaluate Monthly Expenses
Step #52: Re-evaluate Monthly Expenses

Step #53: Find Low Cost (and No Cost) Fun
Step #53: Find Low-Cost (and NO-Cost) Fun

Step #54: Using DIY Projects to Improve Your Life (and Your Finances)
Step #54: Using DIY Projects to Enhance Your Life (And Your Finances)

Step #55: Practice Resourcefulness
Step #55: Practice Resourcefulness

Step #56: Make "Never Pay Full Price" Your Mantra
Step #56: Make "Never Pay Full Price" Your Mantra

Step #57: Get it Used
Step #57: Get it Used

Step #58: Learn to Spot a Bargain: Keep a Price Book
#58: Learn to Spot a Bargain: Keep a Price Book

Step #59: Be a List Keeper
Step #59: Be a List Keeper

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PHASE NINE: RECLAIM YOUR TIME

Step #60: Create a Family Mission Statement
Step #60: Create a Family Mission Statement

Step #61: Schedule Important Things First
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget...ngs-first.html

Step #62: Identify Time Wasters
http://mommysavers.com/boards/forget...e-wasters.html

Step #63: Apply the 80/20 Rule
Step #63: Apply the 80/20 Rule

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PHASE TEN: FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Step #64: Money Talk and How You Influence Your Kids
Step #64: Money Talk and How You Influence Your Kids

Step #65: Kids and Allowances
Step #65: Kids and Allowances

Step #66: Date Your Spouse
Step #66: Date Your Spouse

Step #67: Give of Yourself
Step #67: Give of Yourself

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PHASE ELEVEN: UNDERSTANDING AND DEALING WITH SOCIAL COMPARISONS

Step #68: Be Aware of Media Influences
Step #68: Be Aware of Media Influences

Step #69: Get Off the Hedonic Treadmill
Step #69: Get off the Hedonic Treadmill

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