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MSU Teton County Extension
PO Box 130 * 1 Main Ave S., Courthouse
Choteau, MT 59422
406-466-2491 Office * 406-590-2492 Cell
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I just reached into my wallet and ran across one of my
favorite resources from MSU Extension.
You might think it was the cash from my paycheck, which I certainly do
appreciate. But, what I was referring to
were the credit trackers that I use on my credit and debit cards. The trackers are a register-style wrapper
that help me keep track of my spending.
For any of you who use Rutgers Small Steps to Health and Wealth, you
know that one of the most effective tools for behavior change is to track your
current behavior. In the Small Steps to
Health and Wealth workbook, authors point to the five A’s of successful
behavior change – awareness (tracking current behaviors), ability (being able
to make a change), ambition (a strong desire to change), attitude (a positive
state of mind about changing) and action (taking steps to actually change).
For me, the credit card registers have helped me reconsider
a few purchases. One evening, I was
doing some on-line shopping and as I got ready to check out, I took out my credit
card register. Written in the register
was a $200 expense that I had already incurred that month, but had ‘forgotten’
about until seeing it on the register.
If I had not been tracking my credit card expenses, I would have
absent-mindedly overspent that month. As
it was, I emptied my shopping cart and decided to wait until another time when
I knew I could pay for my purchases
without caring a credit card balance.
Awareness is the first step.
Many people are oblivious to their current behaviors. Keeping written records can be an effective
way to track patterns and work toward change.
If you want to use the credit trackers for a class, or for your own wallet, you can find them at the MSU Extension store, or stop by our MSU Extension Distribution Center to pick them up while you are in Montana in September!
