Rein in Your Spending
Last year, you may have spent a great deal of money on clothes, restaurants and entertainment. The Chinese New Year presents a golden opportunity to build a new nest egg. Cut your clothing budget in half. Instead of going out to fancy eateries, get into the habit of fixing meals at home. Rent movies instead of heading to the theatre. Above all, get into the habit of putting a certain percentage of your income into savings each week. Put a ceramic piggy bank in the far left corner of your home, and put all of your spare change into it at the end of each day. By this time next year, you'll have accumulated quite a hefty sum!

Negotiate!
In a 1 Water year, you can nearly always get more than what you're initially offered. If you're not happy with an estimate, pay raise or home price, make a counter offer. Be willing to go back and forth several times. You may not get everything you wanted, but you'll emerge with a far better deal than was initially proposed. Wearing the color black is always a good idea when bargaining, as it intimidates the other party.

Trust Your Intuition
When given the choice between following your intuition and conventional wisdom, choose the former every time. 2008 will sharpen your instincts. If you feel like an offer is too good to be true, it probably is. Conversely, a seemingly risky move could be right in keeping with your spirit of adventure. If you're faced with a difficult decision, withdraw to a dark, quiet room and listen to your heart. It won't steer you wrong in a 1 Water year.

Play Your Cards Close to Your Chest
Watching and waiting is the name of the game throughout 2008. Keep your opinions to yourself whenever possible. Release information on a need-to-know basis. Above all, refrain from gossip. The more close-mouthed and trustworthy you appear, the easier it will be to gain access to money, romance and other kinds of good fortune. If you have a hard time keeping your feelings hidden, position a mirror in your work space so you can see it from your desk. This will heighten your self-awareness and make you more reticent.

Tap Into Your Spiritual Side
Water years favor spiritual endeavors of all kinds. Attending a house of worship, going for nature walks, meditating, doing yoga ... all of these activities are worth exploring. It doesn't matter if you're religious or not. By spending time on the people and endeavors that make life meaningful, you'll experience the best 2008 has to offer. Don't be surprised if material and emotional concerns that once consumed you feel relatively unimportant this year. To cultivate your spiritual side, surround yourself with wavy shapes. Swagged curtains, cascading plants and curvy furniture can prompt you to get in touch with your higher self.

About the Author
Stephanie Dempsey is an accomplished author, feng shui practitioner and astrologer. Stephanie has authored a weekly home design column for Women.com, which combined the precepts of Astrology and feng shui. She has also contributed to such New Age titles as Love Signs and You: The Ultimate Astrological Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships. Stephanie holds a degree in feng shui from the Mountain Institute of TRIBECA in New York City.