We might live in a world of credit and instant gratification, but as this country’s recent economic troubles have shown us, owing isn't owning, and being able to live within a budget is a lot more important than creditors would like you to believe. Budgets, are in fact, one of the greatest tools you can use to achieve your financial goals, live within your means, and save up money for the fun things in life.

Here's how it works: you assess the flow of money in your household, namely where it comes from and where it goes. Draw out your budget (in a spreadsheet, on a graph, with crayons- whatever works for you.) Then, you evaluate that. Are you spending too much money on something you don't need? Are there areas where you'd like to save money? How much money can you afford to save each month? If you are currently in debt, look for ways to make the largest payments possible until you're in the clear. Next, draw up the budget you would like to be keeping, being realistic about living expenses. If you have long term financial goals, draw those out on a timeline so that you can see how they can and will be achieved.

Finally, you'll want to find a program or bookkeeping method that will allow you to easily track your earnings and spending. After that, you just start living your new budget. It might take a month or two before you can fully transition to your new budget, but don't give up. Then, continue to refine your budget as you go. It will be a lot easier to save up for your dream vacation if you know where the savings can come from!

Socially Responsible Investing, or Green Investing, is a unique approach to investing that makes up nearly 10% of the U.S. investment marketplace today. So what is it all about?

Conscientious investing, takes into account the investor's financial needs and the investment’s impact on society or the environment. These investors speak with their dollars; pushing corporations to enhance their practices on important issues.

How do Investors use Socially Responsible Investing? There are a few common approaches:

1. Screening evaluates investment portfolios or mutual funds based on predetermined, objective social, environmental, and corporate governance criteria. Screening may include different criteria, depending on the investor or firm doing the screening. Normally, corporate social responsibility (CSR) factors are incorporated into the process of investment analysis and management.

2. The most rapidly growing social investment method today is community investing, which supports communities that are under-served by traditional financial institutions by directing capital from investors and lenders to these communities – giving access to credit, equity, capital, and basic banking services that these communities would not otherwise have. In the US and around the world, community investing makes it possible for local organizations to provide financial services to low-income individuals and to supply capital for small businesses and vital community services, such as affordable housing, child care, and healthcare.

3. Shareholder advocacy, which is perhaps atypical of other corporations, involves investors who take their shareholding seriously by playing an active role as an owner in a corporation. This may include filing Shareholder resolutions, or discussing relevant and important topics with the corporate leadership. Issues range from political contributions, corporate governance, discrimination, labor practices, environmental impact and climate change, pollution, etc.

If you are looking to make solid investments in companies that are responsible, giving back to the community, and motivated to do their part in eradicating many of the issues we face, look into Socially Responsible Investing. Socially Responsible Investing performs competitively with conventional investments over time. Now that Green Industries are expected to boom, thanks to new spending reforms and initiatives, there has never been a better time to invest in our conscience.

Some might think it unfathomable to be considering ways to become wealthy in the midst of a recession, but there is never a bad time to try to leverage your talents and resources in an effort to boost your net worth.  Even in the face of market volatility, and even if you don't foresee a salary increase in the next few years, there are some things you can do to build upon your wealth, most of which start with simply changing your way of thinking. 

First and foremost, try and think of your wealth as the sum total of your decisions to date.  Think about that long and hard.  No one but you is responsible for your wealth - or lack thereof.  Where you find yourself today is the total of your efforts and decisions since you were equipped with the brainpower to execute such things.  Get excited and make some new decisions today.  Decide to build up a massive desire for that which you want most for your life.  Your desire for happiness will bring you happiness, just as your desire for wealth will bring you wealth.  Once your mind is made up, the desire will translate into a tremendous amount of extra energy and brainpower, which will be needed to accomplish your desired outcome.

It may help to narrow your focus and simplify your strategies by breaking your ultimate goal down into a number of smaller goals.  Map out a path to that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Maintain your focus, and make a conscious decision to dominate anything that best exploits your skills and talents.  You might find that it helps to study the decision-making processes of your mentors, and other folks you admire for their success.  Find out  why they make their decisions the way they do.