So, how has this year treated you?

Are you spending less money going out on the town and more time inside with friends and loved ones — appreciating that the company we keep is what’s most important?

I’ve never been a big spender — I buy what I need and maybe grab a few treats along the way — but this year really had me thinking big time about my funds, just like everyone else out there.

It’s all about making wise decisions, knowing what you really need for you and your family and having faith that everything will turn out right. It’s an easy thing to say, but sometimes we tend to get upset when things go wrong and waste some serious energy brooding about the down economy or other things we’re faced with, be it school, work, whatever.

A good dose of positive energy is needed these days and we all have it in us somewhere to bring to the surface and help ourselves and others around us.

A pat on the back when someone does well is a big deal, not just taking it for granted. Being there for a friend when they need advice or just to tell you about something interesting that happened during their day is also key. Don’t get too caught up in your own life so that someone else’s doesn’t seem as important.

Everyone deserves to be in the spotlight sometimes.

And this is the time for that to happen, when there’s too many negatives floating around, such as the economy. Make a negative into a positive by treating a friend to a meal or a small gift. Show them that you’re there for them — they’ll do the same for you sometime.