This may seem counter-intuitive, but if you don't save before you begin paying down debt, you'll struggle to cope with unexpected expenses.

Never fight over a bill if someone else offers to pay; you can counter once, and then after that simply thank the person paying for the generosity and offer to pick up the TAB the next time.

However paying for behavior plays out, researchers say there are some steps that may help counter your brain's hold on bad habits.