Don’t spend money just to de-stress.  I used to spend money just to wind down from a stressful day at work. Instead, I’ve found that I quite often feel much better by talking a quiet walk around my neighborhood, picking up my journal or taking 20 minutes to sit and meditate. I end up feeling much more together, happy, and ready to face an evening with the kids in the right mindset than I ever would by just blowing some cash after work on something that I probably didn't really need anyway. Instead of spending to de-stress, try some basic meditation techniques, stretching, or yoga and see how you feel.

Lisa Rogers-Cherry is the author of Lifting the Burdens of Debt:  A Helpful Guide to Getting Your Debts Paid and Your Life Back on Track (2005; $14.95). Lisa writes monthly financial tips for www.bloggingblackmiami.com and writes articles for various newpapers and magazines.  If you have a question or for more information go to www.redpenpress.com, e-mail her at [email protected], or write Lisa Rogers-Cherry, Red Pen Press, P. O. Box 1196, Dania Beach, FL 33004.