Organize Your Personal Finances ...In No Time

Becoming a Master Listmaker for More Organized Shopping

In this section, you set up lists to carry in your paper planner or PDA that will maximize gift-giving, collection-building, and holiday/seasonal supply purchases. Keeping lists of these items contributes to your financial organization in several ways: It helps you to budget for future purchases, allows you to plan purchases calmly rather than making them as a knee-jerk reaction in the store, and prevents duplication or overbuying because you've forgotten what you already have.

How many times have you been in a store, discovered something you need or want—on sale!—and wished you had the specifics so you'd know what size, color, or model to buy? Now you'll never have to wonder: You can carry ...