Do you have the POWER of Suze Orman?

This break off of school and work has been very nice. Though I should be studying and preparing more my job, I found myself fully immersed in Suze Orman and "Your 2009 Financial Action Plan" yesterday on Oprah.

Here are some of the wonderful ideas she was able to share with Oprah's educated and brilliant audience across the world:

To start strong in 2009, Suze says you have to get honest about what you have—and what you don't. "You cannot have a plan where you build it on a foundation of lies," Suze says. "We're starting a new year. We're going to start it in honesty."

Suze says there are three ways you can start improving your FICO (credit) score today:

1. If possible, pay more than the minimum every month on your credit cards. "If you're charging on your credit cards and all you're doing is paying the minimum, the credit cards are afraid now that you're not really being very smart with your money," Suze says.

2. Pay your bills on time. "Paying your credit card bills on time, essentially counts for 35 percent of your FICO score," Suze says.

3. Never go over your credit limit. "That's when they start to raise your interest rates, close you down," Suze says.

Another thing to keep in mind: Never close down a credit card. "It will hurt your credit score," Suze says.

Create a Spending Action Plan

Suze says Scott and Carol can curb their spending habits by following a three-step process:
1. Sit down with your expenses and separate wants and needs.

2. Circle all expenses that are wants.

3. If you have debt or no savings, eliminate the wants. "Scott thought he needed to play fantasy football," Suze says. "Guess what? He does not. That is a want."

Are you ready to take control of your finances, but find such a big shift intimidating? Start with a pledge to make three small changes.

Are you ready to take the pledge to take the challenge from Suze? Whit and I are already committed, in fact we started yesterday. Leave us a comment and let us know, if you have the guts to take Suze Orman's 2009 challenge!

1. For just one day, do not spend any money on anything at all.

2. For just one week, do not use a credit card.

3. For just one month, do not eat out at a restaurant.

Good luck!