Earning more is challenging, in part because your income gets calcified in your brain. Whether you work for yourself or someone else, it's easy to wander down the path of least resistance—I earn X, therefore I can afford Y—and get stuck.

Instead, put the horse back in front of the cart: I want to afford A, B and C. Therefore I need to earn D. In other words, make an accurate assessment of what your current lifestyle, future goals—and security—will cost. Maximize your earning power to achieve those aims.

This method is sometimes called a reverse budget, but it's really a way to hone your priorities and rev up your earning power.

Here's how it would work for Karen, who earns $60,000 a year working as a legal secretary. If you are self-employed, this system still applies.

Karen's Current Budget
Gross Income = $60,000
Monthly take-home = $3,750
Basic expenses (mortgage, car, utilities, insurance, etc.) = $2,400
Saving = $250
401k = $300
Debt = $300
Misc. (eating out, clothes, ATM, random expenses) = $500

Total Spent: $3750

• But Karen knows she should be saving 10% toward retirement (+$200 = $500).
• She wants to double her personal savings so that she can buy a new car and take a vacation (+$250 = $500)
• She wants to get out of debt (+200 = $500).
• Also, she knits beautiful babywear, and she would like to launch her business online (+ $300 per month for supplies, other costs).

Valentine's Day weekend is just a week away—the perfect amount of time to put a little thought, rather than lots of money, into creating some sexy fun for your guy or gal. Here, an inspiring collection of our frugal favorites, from around the web:

When we met Ashley on Monday, she was pacing the floor, worried about her future savings—when suddenly she got the news that her mother had already opened a Roth IRA in her name.

This raised several questions for Ashley, and a particular one for many readers, who asked: How do you open a dang IRA anyway?

Because we don't want you to miss a single step in this invest-along-with-Ashley, here's the answer.

1. A common misconception. Many people assume that when they open any sort of IRA or 401k, that this IS the investment. It's an easy mistake to make, because people always say that you "contribute to your IRA or 401k." Not quite.

The IRA or 401k is just a vessel: an empty egg carton, a truck with no cargo. You select mutual funds (usually) to put onto your truck or into your egg carton. The money you deposit grows inside these investments.


2. To open an IRA, call Fidelity, Vanguard or another low-cost or discount brokerage and tell them that you want to open an IRA or a Roth IRA, if you prefer.

Erica Sandberg is a columnist for CreditCards.com, and the author of "Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families."

Confession: Like many women, I’m not skilled at negotiating proper compensation. This is ironic, given that I'm a personal finance adviser. However, I've taught myself to command a fair fee. Here's how:

Know the marketplace. It's critical to find out what others in your position earn. Ask around and use salaryfinder.com salary.com. Once you have a range, focus on the high end. Never low-ball yourself, because climbing up from the bottom rung is tough.

Know your worth. When asking for a raise or stating your fee, lay out your relevant experience and achievements. People pay you because you're good, not because they like you.

Channel a bigwig. I'm friendly with a successful Wall Streeter, whose chutzpah is legendary. When quoting my rates, I adopt his persona. Try it: Identify someone whose confidence is off the charts and imitate his or her attitude. This classic ‘fake it till you make it’ technique works.

Request the range. A large corporation recently asked me for my day rate, which I nearly revealed. Instead I asked what their norm was—and it was three times what I typically charge. Lesson: When an employer asks what you expect to be paid, politely but firmly say it depends on many factors, and ask for their range.

Rehearse. Pretend a potential employer is on the phone. State your ideal salary or fee out loud. Repeat that figure until it feels natural—and you get that question mark out of your voice.

Dwell on what you deserve. Good-for-the-world professions are rife with underpaid women. If you look at the top, though, the directors are usually well-compensated. You should be too. Quality employees come at a cost and they know it. Negotiate with that in mind.

• Understand and manage systems. Systems enable order and growth, personally and organizationally.
• Be comfortable enough financially to make the choices, or take the risks that will best enable our success.
• Carve new paths away from the cultural patterns that leave millions of women in poverty (not just the noble kind).
• Offer young women and men a new model to emulate.

Note: This post applies to Canadians, in part.

Millions of Americans use their tax refunds as a form of forced savings. You know who you are.

Money experts quibble with this strategy, arguing that when the government withholds extra money from your paycheck, you're giving Uncle Sam a year-long, interest-free loan.

That's true. But our beef with the refund-as-savings method is that many people get that nice chunk o' change—the average is about $2,800, according to the IRS—and don't save it.

It's vacation money, new TV money, iPod upgrade money, "Honey, let's get rid of this old couch" money.

If your tax refund enables you to make purchases with cash instead of credit, that's a smart choice. But we'd rather see you save at least a portion of your refund toward your SaveUP! goal.

If you haven't joined SaveUP!, seize this inspiring moment to list your pledge with  more than 100 other DW readers—and take advantage of the split refund option this year.

Use IRS Form 8888 to have your tax refund directly deposited into as many as three different accounts. For example, have the IRS deposit $500 in your checking account, $1,500 in your IRA and $200 in the vacation/TV/iPod fund.

Spend a little—save a lot. That's how the money grows.