The financial gurus will be arguing for years how we got into

the economic mess we're in—and just how we'll get out of it.

But while all the babbling and blaming is going on, you'd like to

know how to prop up your resources so you won't have to

worry about every little dip in the economy.

Here are tried and true techniques you are able to master—how

to spend less, reduce your debt and muck more. Center on

what you are able to control. Small steps can truly make a big

difference.