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If you set New Year's resolutions to get your finances in order, Michelle Singletary suggests a fast to reset your spending. She's walking people through her 

 and joined The Daily Circuit to offer budgeting tips.

 Singletary said it's too easy to be disconnected from your spending when you use plastic. 

 now that you can connect to your accounts and monitor spending. These won't be as helpful when you're only using cash, but they can go back in time and show you your spending trends. 

 Make sure you eat before going to the store to prevent impulse buys based on cravings. As you put each item into your cart, think about why you are purchasing it and how you will use it for your meals at home. 

 Singletary said it's OK to have certain things you splurge on, such as dinners out or pedicures, but doing a financial fast allows you to see which indulgences you truly value. 

 One caller said he went back to a flip phone to save money. He can still use all the apps on his smartphone when he is at home or at a place that has wireless internet. 

6. Think about why you're spending on certain items.

 Singletary told a story about a woman who was eating out a lot. When she started digging into her finances, she realized she was using it to comfort herself while she was grieving. She cut back on the dinners out and used that money to get counseling. 

7. Make a plan to pay off credit card debt.

 If you are carrying a balance on your credit cards, you're paying monthly interest that you could be using elsewhere. 

. They can often negotiate lower interest rates and consolidate debt. 

TEDxAsheville - Adam Baker - Sell your crap. Pay your debt. Do what you love.

Business and Economic News

Emily Kaiser

Author

Columnist Michelle Singletary joined The Daily Circuit to share her tips on how to pare down personal spending with a 21-day fast.

Michelle Singletary joins The Daily Circuit to share her tips on how to pare down personal spending.

7 tips to reset your budget with a 21-day financial fast

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