Economists, financial commentators and even Oprah and Suze Orman have been warning us for years that a crisis was coming and our personal finances would be hit pretty hard. Now it?s here. The economy is who-knows-where, your 401K is a joke and the stock market?s ups and downs are making you feel queasier than riding a roller coaster. Whether you?re watching CNN, MSNBC, or your local news, all you hear at every turn is FEAR, FEAR, FEAR. You?re scared about what?s going to happen next and that this crisis could last for years. You know you set the tone in your life and in your household, what do you do?

The good news is that we?re all in this together, so as we make changes in our lifestyles, we won?t be alone. BUT, we each have to take responsibility for our own finances. That means YOU have to take action. Where do you start?

Here are six victory steps that will help you keep your sanity and not only survive, but thrive. Start NOW.

1. MAKE THE DECISION OF YOUR LIFE

Before you get depressed, DECIDE you ARE going to turn this crisis into an opportunity. Even if you are starting at rock bottom, Victorious Woman research shows that YOUR DECISION not to go under and to pull through a crisis ?no matter what? is pivotal to your success. You can choose to make this moment in time be your undoing or your crowning glory. Choose and decide strongly that this will be your greatest victory.

2. GET HONEST

Look, Ladies, this pot?s been heating up for a long while. Now that the pot has boiled over, it?s clean-up time. Start with what you know. Make a list of everything you have, including credit card debt, 401K, savings, mortgage, monthly bills, other monthly expense such as food, lunches/dinner out, coffee stops, foodie treats?everything. Be courageous. How much do you spend each month on utilities, cable, mall trips, eating out? Get the facts all out in the open now. Yes, it?s painful and frightening, but you can?t fix a leak if you don?t know what?s causing the drip?and if you don?t fix the leak, it gets worse, and you end up with a flood. BE FEARLESS. Honesty is awareness and recovery. Denial is death.

3. MAKE THIS A FAMILY PROJECT

Don?t let this be a ?wonder woman? project with you leading the way and dragging everyone along. Bring everyone in the family into the plan. Start with your spouse/partner and make sure you are both on the same page. Then have a family meeting and bring your children into the process. Ask them what they want as treats and what ideas they have for no-cost fun. Yes, it?s true, your children won?t like it at the beginning. When you decide to forgo a vacation so that you have money for their tuition, they won?t understand it. But remember that you are the parent and you have the final say. You are the one who has to choose what?s best for your family and you are the one who can?t sleep at night from money stress, wondering how to take care of them.

4. BE FIERCE WITH YOUR FINANCES

Look at your list and the line items on your credit card bills. Highlight or underline every item that isn?t critical to your life. Decide what you can ? and will ? cut. Start by cutting out every non-essential, and then add back in just a few ?treats? ? and only pick the less expensive ones. For example, you can you eat out once a month, instead of four times. You switch from premium cable to basic?or none at all?and rent TV shows and movies from your local library instead. When you get your hair cut, you can say ?no? to the extra additional $30 of products. You can restructure Christmas, birthdays and special events to be more about fun and less about over-the-top spending. You CAN do this.

5. FORM A VICTORY TEAM

Find family, friends and/or neighbors who want to think about the future in a positive way. Look for those who are, like you, making the decision to do more with less to stabilize their financial foundations and want to find positive solutions by focusing on a ?can do? or ?there is a better way? attitude. Meet weekly or monthly for covered dish dinners, dessert parties, game nights, in-home movie nights, etc. These are inexpensive events and way less fuss (and usually more fun) than over-the-top parties. You can even choose tongue in cheek themes, like depression desserts and victory videos.

When you are finding victory together, life doesn?t seem as dire. In fact, victory teams will give you and your children the opportunity to rediscover the lost art of interdependence and togetherness through teamwork.

6. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

Have you been overdoing, overprotecting or overspending so your children don?t have to sacrifice. If you have, STOP IT. Your job as a parent is to teach your children to take care of themselves so they don?t need you anymore. Overcaring for your children isn?t love. It?s child neglect. This is a great time to let go of helicopter parenting, and a perfect time to teach your children about making good decisions, problem solving, working well with others, and the thrill of working hard to achieve a goal for themselves, by themselves. Model those behaviors for them and watch them grow strong.

Ladies, while have little control over the vast economy, we can get our personal finances cooking again ? and make it a lastingly positive experience. You CAN do this. Others have. Remember, our economy goes in cycles. Right now it?s down in the dumps, but it willcome back. When the stock market crashed in 1929, there were many people who lost everything. Some chose to jump out windows or shoot themselves. Others chose to grit their teeth and hang tough. They scaled down, did without, and ate beans. Most families banded together and shored each other up. When it was over, they lived to experience one of the most prosperous times in our history. This is likely to be the same.

Make that decision and choose victory for yourself. It?s true that it won?t be pretty ? at first. But it?s very doable?and certainly better than the alternative. You and your family canlive well on less and you can do the things that bring you peace, satisfaction and happiness. Your children can learn valuable, positive and life-lasting lessons.

The sooner you get started, the faster it will happen. Don?t wait. Start Today!

© 2008 Annmarie Kelly. All rights reserved.

Read more tips at Annmarie Kelly?s blog at www.victoriouswoman.com