It’s January and thus begins a new year…and with the new year comes new directions and goals. Earlier last week I introduced you to the new direction my blog would be taking and now I’d like to introduce you to the new financial direction our family will be taking. As much as I hate to admit it, we still depend on credit cards to help us through some months and while we always get them paid off, I am desperate to find a way to stop living off of them.

With this new column, Money Games, you can follow our family on a journey to save money and still have a good time. We’ll be trying one activity from MONEY GAMES: 85 Fun Ways To Save Money And Attract Abundance {affiliate link} – by Randy Patrick each month and saving the money in a separate account. You’re invited to join our family in the activities as I’ll be blogging my way through to savings and I’m sure will need your encouragement. At the end of the year we’ll take a look back at the activities our completed and compile a list of our favorites to share with you (or a family member).

Our first “game” is called Pillow Talk and can be found on page 14 of the book. Here’s a short description of the game:

”…take a few moments each night to say some positive things to yourself. Such positive thoughts are called affirmations.” “…You can speak – or affirm – positive statements about money in your life any time, anywhere. The things you talk about are very likely to show up in your life. (Yes, you are to say these things before they are actually true. The act of repeatedly saying them actually helps them come true.) …” “Instead, learn to say, ‘I always have plenty of money’ and ‘I love to pay my bills!’…The more you say these phrases the more your brain will work to find ways of making them come true in your life.”

Here are some examples of positive-abundance affirmations the author suggests you use:
Do you practice positive thinking? Have you seen any results?

• 1. “All my investments are successful and benefit everyone involved.”
• 2. “I always have everything I need. Abundance flows to me simply and naturally.”
• 3. “New ideas come to me effortlessly when I need them. God reveals them to me whenever I ask and remain open to following His lead.”
• 4. “Through God’s unfailing grace and His perfect timing, all sorts of abundance arrives in my life. I am quick to express my thanks for all good things.”
• 5. “I always have plenty of money.”
• 6. “My income increases as I share my abundance. The faster I give, the faster new and increased abundance shows up in my life.”
• 7. “I enjoy bountiful abundance and give thanks for it continually.”
• 8. “My wealth and abundance increase twenty-four hours a day, whether I am at work, at play, or at rest.”
• 9. “As I open myself to God’s guidance, I find myself exactly where He wants me to be and am profitably engaged in just the right activities.”
• 10. “My value to the world and the abundance I enjoy increase in wonderful ways as I learn and grow every day.”
• 11. “There is always more money in my life than I need because I give from my heart and freely allow God to direct my actions.”
• 12. “I enjoy a financial life of ease and am free from worry.”

Mr. Patrick issues this warning though: “Do not underestimate the power of this game. I have had friends make only this one [emphasis mine] change in their lives and completely transform their finances. Be careful to speak aloud only what you want to be true in your life. This technique works and has tremendous power. Stay completely aware of what you are saying about money.”

He recommends following these “Action Steps”.

• 1. Have a good talk with yourself each night before you go to sleep.
• 2. Talk aloud!!
• 3. Say only things that you want to be true.
• 4. Let your brain and the universe take it from there.

It should also be noted {for those of you following along with me} that Randy also suggests repeating these phrases a lot saying “The more you say these phrases, the more your brain will work to find ways of making them come true in your life.”

Here’s what I’m going to do:

Jon and I will follow the action steps every night of the month and on February 6th I’ll write out our thoughts, how we did, and give you the scoop for the next month. At first I wasn’t sure how I would track the amount of money we save during this game, but I’ll trust that I will attract the right amount of abundance and that I will know to save it/track it when the time comes. I’m looking forward to doing this exercise and seeing the fruits of positive thinking.