The other day, I stopped and put gas in my car. It cost me $10.00. I looked in my wallet and found three ones, and a twenty. I started to give the twenty to the gas attendant behind the counter when I spied a ten in my wallet.

I gave him the ten and laughed. He looked at me quizzically... I explained to him that I felt richer, because I still had the twenty. Even though I still would have had $23.00 in my wallet after I got my change (if I had paid with the twenty), somehow two tens and three ones would have FELT like less money!

He agreed.

Why is that? Why are we often so easily tricked when it comes to money? We all realize that something that costs $1.99 really is closer to $2.00 than to $1.00, but somehow $1.99 still feels so much less than $2.00. Until we go to pay for it that is. But by then, it's too late; that $1.99 price already talked us into buying whatever it was!

So do you think it's possible to trick yourself on purpose when it comes to YOUR money?

Here are some things to try. Picture this...

It's a Saturday. You're going to the mall with your friends. The plan is to eat lunch and go to the movies. You also really want to find and buy an awesomely wonderful, I-can't-believe-I-found-this top. BUT, you're worried that you'll blow too much money on lunch and on candy and other junk at the movies before you get to the store. You can see your hot new top slipping away....

What can you do?

Bring a wallet that has several compartments -- one with a zipper. Or use the little zippered pocket in your purse if it has one or even a sealed envelope. For what? To stash the money that you want to spend on your top. DO NOT touch it until you get to the store no matter how badly you want a giant bag of popcorn!!!

Put the money you want to use for lunch, the movie, and treats in another section of the wallet, in another little wallet or even tucked in your jeans pocket. Make the cash for your top DIFFICULT to get to. Make it impossible to pretend to yourself that Oh gee, I didn't realized that this was the money for my top!

Here's another trick that might work for you...

You can save money for extra coffee shop visits or bottles of nail polish or chocolate, or any of life's other little pleasures by doing this...

A quarter isn't very much money. Only 25 cents. But they add up pretty quickly. Get yourself a container -- either a glass one so you can watch the progress, or a cool box so you'll be surprised. Toss every quarter you get into the container.

No, NOT just some, ALL of 'em!

If you do this for say a month, you'll be amazed how much money those quarters will add up to. You'll either want to run right out and spend them on a treat for yourself, OR you'll be so impressed that you'll save them up for another month so you can get something even nicer!

Speaking of purses... Is it time for a change? Maybe a purse wilder and crazier or even daintier than you've ever tried before! Want to shake up YOUR wardrobe?