Victories — however small — mean financial plan is working

Editor's note: Deseret Media Companies sponsors a financial empowerment campaign for women. As part of that, three women were selected for yearlong financial mentoring, one each in the areas of overcoming debt, budgeting and investments. All three blog regularly about what they are learning and how their journeys to a brighter financial future are going on www.imagineahappieryou.com. Each week, one of the blogs — or that of one of the mentors — is published in the Deseret News.

If you see me smiling this week, it might be because I enjoyed a couple of little financial victories.

First, I started my Christmas shopping. I should tell you that finding just the right gifts for my husband's family is always a challenge.

I start scouting for the perfect something months ahead of the holiday. But I think that sometimes we end up wrapping and sending "stuff" just so we can be sure the other family members know they're on our list.

I'm always hoping to make a more meaningful gesture — a few times I've thought, "Maybe a gift to charity instead of adding another toy to their collections."

This week an opportunity for a gift to charity presented itself AND I had money set aside in my holiday account at the same time. (That's never happened before. Three cheers for automatic savings deposits!)

When I heard about the fund drive for Primary Children's Medical Center (I LOVE that place), I had to jump on it.

My little contribution of rerouted holiday shopping money is a drop in the bucket. But now, instead of another DVD or family game, for Christmas 2011, my extended family and I will share in the joy of supporting this unique, miracle-delivering facility.

The second victory is a footnote to one of my recent blog entries — "The envelope please." To my delight and amazement, the envelope WORKED. Putting my dining-out dollars in an envelope did in fact help me stay on budget.

Gonna do it again next month!

Follow Stephanie and the other women on their financial journeys at www.imagineahappieryou.com.