SJRickard

How I did it: I started tracking my money -- everything I earned and everything I spent. I used Microsoft Money, but I think any decent money-tracking program (or even a notebook) would do the same thing. I managed to save more than I expected, putting together an emergency savings fund. It feels good to know exactly when my bills are coming in, and to know that even though I'm on a tight budget, I've got the money to pay them. Read how I did it…

How I did it: I ate nothing for ten days, drank about a gallon of water every day, went for walks and got plenty of rest. I made sure to read quite a bit beforehand to make sure that it would be okay for me to do this. I don't have any preexisting medical conditions and I'm not on any medications, so I felt safe not eating for ten days. If you do take medications, be sure to check with your doctor before doing any kind of fast. Read how I did it…

How I did it: I didn't really do much ... I just let it be known that I was in the market for a car. I then got lucky: my 81-year-old grandmother decided she wanted to buy a new car, and offered to sell me her 10-year-old Nissan Maxima for well below blue-book value. It's the stereotypical little-old-lady car: lived in a garage, and had only 70,000 miles on it. I'm so pleased! Read how I did it…