Most of the talk on financial blogs is pretty negative these days. Most people are discussing the economic slowdown, the stagnating housing market, the rising number of bankruptcies, and increased risk of having a serious recession.

In times like this it is probably wise to cut things back a bit, just in case things get worse before they get better. One way to approach this kind of situation is to go on a financial diet. It is almost inevitable that we extend ourselves financially during good times and then have to rein in some of our spending habits when things slow down. This is probably a good time to lose some of that extra weight.

Like quitting smoking or dieting, it's a psychological battle when it comes to keeping your finances under control. You will need to prepare a plan stating exactly how much you are going to spend, and how much you will save, by giving up certain things. Then, it is critical that you design techniques that will help you stick to the plan.

One of the most important rules of financial dieting is to avoid binge spending. Once you've developed a slimmed down budget, don't succumb to the kind of impulsive buying we all get caught up in when we're flush with money. If it's not in the budget, don't buy it.

On the other hand, we are all human, and that means we all fall victim to temptation from time to time. Don't get down on yourself when your will power slips and you buy something you swore you weren't going to buy. Just put it behind you and get back to the plan.

In fact you might consider bringing the fun right into your plan. It can often be beneficial to compensate yourself with small perks or indulgences on occasion, just to take the daily grind out of the "diet". Just try to stay within your budget. That will give you the satisfaction of splurging and the sense of accomplishment that comes with meeting your goals.

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