Financial Abuse costs you more than money. The reality is when you abuse your budget you pay with retirement, child care costs, health costs, and other fees too numerous to mention. So what can you do about it?
These suggestions will help you put in place a financial management system that works effectively all the time, every time, to save you money.
Meal Time Planning and Freedom
As a parent you may believe, mistakenly, that if you don't prepare food for your child for every meal, your child will be permanently damaged. Sometimes you need to allow your children to fend for themselves, and prepare exactly what they want to eat. (I'm not talking two year old cooking stew here, I'm talking simple meals anyone can prepare.)
Growing up, my family had Fend for Yourself Night once a week. Everyone prepared something they wanted from a specific selection and had a great meal, filled up their belly, and didn't break the bank. From a selection of ramen noodles, frozen veggies, fresh veggies, fruit, breads, and a few small canned meats and soups, we were allowed to prepare what we wanted. The only rule was it couldn't be fast food, and it had to be somewhat healthy (no candy bar/soda pop dinners). My favorite meal was buttered wheat toast, fruit, and tea. My tummy was happy, mom was content, and I didn't have to work hard. It's still my favorite fast food meal.
How often do you grab McDonalds or Arby's because you're out of time? Is it really faster to drive across town than to pop bread into the toaster. Top toast with peanut butter and add a banana or an apple and you've got a healthy FAST meal, that only cost you pennies. No, you can't do that for every meal, but why abuse the fast food privilege? Why not use that option only for special times, when you really want to spend that money?
The best part of Fend for Yourself Night, it teaches children to prepare simple foods for themselves, a skill they'll need in college, that will keep them healthy and well fed on a limited and very SMALL budget?
I remember my daughter calling home and saying she'd been careless with her money, but she still had food for the last week of the month. I asked what she had, and she told me she still had peanut butter, two cans of tuna, two cans of pineapple, a case of ramen noodles, several cans of veggies and fruit, a can or two of pudding, and a box of tea bags. She had eighty-five cents for a loaf of bread. She restocked her supplies on the next paycheck, and was happy eating at the dorm until she got paid.
Smart Consumers Save Money with Gas Rebate Credit Cards
Help offset rising gasoline expenses by paying with cards that pay you back each time you fill up the tank.
Prices at the pump continue to skyrocket, leaving most Americans frustrated and stressed by budgets that are strained to the limit. High gas prices shocked consumers and made headlines a couple of years ago, but by now everyone knows that they are here as a permanent reality. The only news worth mentioning nowadays is practical advice on how to survive the rising expense of fueling our cars, trucks, SUVs, recreational vehicles, boats, and other kinds of miscellaneous gas-powered equipment.
But many consumer experts recommend a simple and straightforward solution that offers a direct way to address the problem. Credit cards that offer cash rebates and other benefits are not only safe and convenient for buying gas, but they offer significant savings that go directly back into your wallet, not into your fuel tank. By buying gas and other items with the right card - or the right combination of different cards - you can offset the financial impact of overpriced gasoline without paying added fees, high interest rates, or hidden costs.
The credit markets are in turmoil because of the spillover of problems related to bad mortgage loans, and banks and other lenders who offer credit cards are competing fiercely to get your business as their own profits get pinched. Take advantage of their generous offers while you still have the chance and you can leverage the bleak situation to your own advantage by paying less for gasoline.
For example, dozens of major credit cards now offer a wide range of benefits, cash-back offers, and other incentives for using plastic, including these:
* Apply for some cards and they will give you $50 back after your first purchase.
* Many cards pay 5 percent or more cash back to you for ordinary purchases such as gas, groceries, or prescription medications at the local drug store.
* Some combine these rebates with other perks; such as coupons you can redeem for merchandise or travel upgrades.
* The more you use some cards, the more cash you earn. Use these types of cards often enough to qualify for preferred card user status - which isn't hard if you buy gas on a regular basis - and companies will even throw in other gifts and cash rewards.
* Lots of cards do matching programs; so that for every dollar you spend you get a bonus point. Many offer double rebates, to double your points or cash savings.
* Apply for many of these popular cards and you can get a free signing bonus worth, for instance, as many as 12,000 bonus miles that you can redeem for travel awards with any airline without restrictions on which dates you fly.
* An important feature of the best rebate cards is that they do not charge you any annual fee, unlike most frequent flier or frequent user programs that charge as much as $100 or more just to join and be a member.
With lots of these cards you can also get zero percent financing for up to a full year on all your purchases and credit card balance transfers. So if you have costly credit card debt you can switch it to a rebate card and make money in a matter of minutes. Say, for example, that you owe $3,000 on a credit card that is charging you 18 percent interest. Shift that balance to a zero percent card and you automatically save yourself 18 percent interest, which is approximately $540 or nearly 50 bucks a month.
On top of that instant interest rate savings you will, of course, still be entitled to whatever rebates and benefits the card offers. That kind of consumer strategy is like giving yourself an unexpected payroll raise. Soon the credit card company of your choice will be pitching in to pay for your gas each time you fill up the tank. That is a great way to manage your finances in partnership with those who issue plastic, during these challenging economic times.
Prices at the pump continue to skyrocket, leaving most Americans frustrated and stressed by budgets that are strained to the limit. High gas prices shocked consumers and made headlines a couple of years ago, but by now everyone knows that they are here as a permanent reality. The only news worth mentioning nowadays is practical advice on how to survive the rising expense of fueling our cars, trucks, SUVs, recreational vehicles, boats, and other kinds of miscellaneous gas-powered equipment.
But many consumer experts recommend a simple and straightforward solution that offers a direct way to address the problem. Credit cards that offer cash rebates and other benefits are not only safe and convenient for buying gas, but they offer significant savings that go directly back into your wallet, not into your fuel tank. By buying gas and other items with the right card - or the right combination of different cards - you can offset the financial impact of overpriced gasoline without paying added fees, high interest rates, or hidden costs.
The credit markets are in turmoil because of the spillover of problems related to bad mortgage loans, and banks and other lenders who offer credit cards are competing fiercely to get your business as their own profits get pinched. Take advantage of their generous offers while you still have the chance and you can leverage the bleak situation to your own advantage by paying less for gasoline.
For example, dozens of major credit cards now offer a wide range of benefits, cash-back offers, and other incentives for using plastic, including these:
* Apply for some cards and they will give you $50 back after your first purchase.
* Many cards pay 5 percent or more cash back to you for ordinary purchases such as gas, groceries, or prescription medications at the local drug store.
* Some combine these rebates with other perks; such as coupons you can redeem for merchandise or travel upgrades.
* The more you use some cards, the more cash you earn. Use these types of cards often enough to qualify for preferred card user status - which isn't hard if you buy gas on a regular basis - and companies will even throw in other gifts and cash rewards.
* Lots of cards do matching programs; so that for every dollar you spend you get a bonus point. Many offer double rebates, to double your points or cash savings.
* Apply for many of these popular cards and you can get a free signing bonus worth, for instance, as many as 12,000 bonus miles that you can redeem for travel awards with any airline without restrictions on which dates you fly.
* An important feature of the best rebate cards is that they do not charge you any annual fee, unlike most frequent flier or frequent user programs that charge as much as $100 or more just to join and be a member.
With lots of these cards you can also get zero percent financing for up to a full year on all your purchases and credit card balance transfers. So if you have costly credit card debt you can switch it to a rebate card and make money in a matter of minutes. Say, for example, that you owe $3,000 on a credit card that is charging you 18 percent interest. Shift that balance to a zero percent card and you automatically save yourself 18 percent interest, which is approximately $540 or nearly 50 bucks a month.
On top of that instant interest rate savings you will, of course, still be entitled to whatever rebates and benefits the card offers. That kind of consumer strategy is like giving yourself an unexpected payroll raise. Soon the credit card company of your choice will be pitching in to pay for your gas each time you fill up the tank. That is a great way to manage your finances in partnership with those who issue plastic, during these challenging economic times.
How To Improve Your Finances?
Managing finances is an important way in order to improve the financial affair where one is safe from unnecessary botheration and economical hassles. However, in order to have stable finances, it is very important to take care of one's expenses. Therefore, one has to be extra cautious while handling money right from the early days. If you are a university student, it is the best time to learn the financial management tips so as to avoid financial crisis in life. One of the first financial management tips is to use credit cards in a judicious way. It is important to understand the fact that using credit card not only adds to your credit but requires interests as well. Therefore, use of credit card should be made in emergency situations.
Given the fact that one has to repay the total amount to the creditor, one should take extra care while using the card. This realization will definitely help you in saving your money by saving you from unnecessary expenses. The second tip that should be kept in mind is timely payment of credit card balances. It is important to pay off credit card bills on time as they are the debts. If one is not careful with these bills, they will keep on adding to the credit cared score as well as pile on as a part of debts.
It is important to know the fact that credit bills can create a financial mess in your life. Be careful while handling bills. If you are irregular with your bills and do not care to pay off them on time then you are damaging your credit history. A poor credit history will ruin your chances for loan at an affordable interest rate. Therefore, a clear eyed realization is important while handling the credit bills. Also, it is equally important to develop a healthy habit of saving money. This is a wonderful way of imparting yourself a good habit that will take you a long way while saving you from financial difficulties. If you keep a tab on your unnecessary expenses, you will save your money.
Apart from saving your money, you will be inculcating a good habit. Keep your money in a bank account that helps you in continuing with your savings. However, while going for a saving account, make sure you check the status of an account that does not demands an accounting fee and lays the criteria for minimum balance. While opening an account, make sure you do keep a strict eye on your incomes and expenditures. In case you do not have a fixed and regular source of earnings, it is important to be judicious with one's expenditures. In such conditions, one should save from splurging in excess and try to restrict one's expenses to the basics. Indeed it can be a tough decision yet it will help you in increasing your investments. So, the next time you have extra money, try to use it seriously.
Given the fact that one has to repay the total amount to the creditor, one should take extra care while using the card. This realization will definitely help you in saving your money by saving you from unnecessary expenses. The second tip that should be kept in mind is timely payment of credit card balances. It is important to pay off credit card bills on time as they are the debts. If one is not careful with these bills, they will keep on adding to the credit cared score as well as pile on as a part of debts.
It is important to know the fact that credit bills can create a financial mess in your life. Be careful while handling bills. If you are irregular with your bills and do not care to pay off them on time then you are damaging your credit history. A poor credit history will ruin your chances for loan at an affordable interest rate. Therefore, a clear eyed realization is important while handling the credit bills. Also, it is equally important to develop a healthy habit of saving money. This is a wonderful way of imparting yourself a good habit that will take you a long way while saving you from financial difficulties. If you keep a tab on your unnecessary expenses, you will save your money.
Apart from saving your money, you will be inculcating a good habit. Keep your money in a bank account that helps you in continuing with your savings. However, while going for a saving account, make sure you check the status of an account that does not demands an accounting fee and lays the criteria for minimum balance. While opening an account, make sure you do keep a strict eye on your incomes and expenditures. In case you do not have a fixed and regular source of earnings, it is important to be judicious with one's expenditures. In such conditions, one should save from splurging in excess and try to restrict one's expenses to the basics. Indeed it can be a tough decision yet it will help you in increasing your investments. So, the next time you have extra money, try to use it seriously.
An Unconventional Success Story
This morning my wife got a frantic call from a friend asking if we knew anyone in the medical field who would be willing a write a referral. Asking for more details, my wife listened as our friend told her that her daughter's asthma had been terrible lately and nothing the doctors were doing would help. She was up every night giving her breathing treatments and knew her daughter needed to see a specialist. In contacting her primary physician, she was told her child needed to come in again in order to receive the referral.
Exasperated the mother told the receptionist that there was no need, the doctor was well acquainted with her daughter's health issues and had recently seen her for the same thing. "It's all about money," she cried. "You want me to come in so I can pay, you don't need me to." The receptionist humbly replied that yes, it was all about money, but unfortunately there was nothing she could do about it and was sorry.
So what advice did my wife offer - something unconventional - acupuncture. She got her in touch with a personal friend who is able to treat asthma. Unconventional, yes, bureaucratic, no. Helpful, yes, the most obvious choice, no.
Tradelines are not conventional, nor are they always the most obvious choice, but do they help - absolutely. Unless you were born yesterday, you have learned the shameful fact that everything is about money. You got the loan you did because of money. Your lender made quite a bit off of yours. Perhaps you saved a bundle getting your option ARM, but your resources have run out due to adjusted payments, loss of a job or other personal circumstances. There is no money. Often the answer to our problems are most unconventional.
Ted Stearns, owner of TradeLine Solutions, a San Diego based credit aide company, is not a newcomer to the world of finance. His experience began as an options and futures broker with Currency Trading International about 12 years ago. Since then he has been a financial advisor who hosted a live radio show on AM 1000 KCEO for four years, educating callers and listeners on stocks, bonds and various investments. Over the last five years he has delved into the nationwide mortgage business informing both clients and lenders alike in the arena of purchasing and refinancing.
Exasperated the mother told the receptionist that there was no need, the doctor was well acquainted with her daughter's health issues and had recently seen her for the same thing. "It's all about money," she cried. "You want me to come in so I can pay, you don't need me to." The receptionist humbly replied that yes, it was all about money, but unfortunately there was nothing she could do about it and was sorry.
So what advice did my wife offer - something unconventional - acupuncture. She got her in touch with a personal friend who is able to treat asthma. Unconventional, yes, bureaucratic, no. Helpful, yes, the most obvious choice, no.
Tradelines are not conventional, nor are they always the most obvious choice, but do they help - absolutely. Unless you were born yesterday, you have learned the shameful fact that everything is about money. You got the loan you did because of money. Your lender made quite a bit off of yours. Perhaps you saved a bundle getting your option ARM, but your resources have run out due to adjusted payments, loss of a job or other personal circumstances. There is no money. Often the answer to our problems are most unconventional.
Ted Stearns, owner of TradeLine Solutions, a San Diego based credit aide company, is not a newcomer to the world of finance. His experience began as an options and futures broker with Currency Trading International about 12 years ago. Since then he has been a financial advisor who hosted a live radio show on AM 1000 KCEO for four years, educating callers and listeners on stocks, bonds and various investments. Over the last five years he has delved into the nationwide mortgage business informing both clients and lenders alike in the arena of purchasing and refinancing.
Simple Ways to Prevent Data Loss
Sunday night, tomorrow you have an important presentation to deliver or assignment, then without any warning of any kind your screen freezes, you reboot the system after no response from the keyboard or mouse.
No problem the file will be auto saved, hang, what's this message hard disk drive (HDD) not detected ?! gulp, I'll try a reboot, same error!
This kind of scenario can make any IT battle hardened user fold on the spot, but it need not be this way.
The bad news
All hard drives have finite lives and MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) as many other products, however HDD will fail when you least expect it or when it hurts most.
Magnetic storage media aka HDD are electro, mechanical devices which operate at the envelope of mechanical tolerances. What do we mean by this? Well modern hard drives spin platters at speeds from 4200 to 15K which are either metal or glass and covered by a process called spluttering a magnetic sensitive material, now the part which decodes and encodes data directly to the platters are part of the head stack assembly, now the tolerance bit, these heads have to repeat ably go to specific locations on the media quickly (less than 10MS), here is where issues can really happen. The heads "fly" above the platters and contrary to popular belief the disk enclosure is not a vacuum, or how could the heads "fly" above the surface?
Now, due to heat, vibration, shock or system malfunction the head stack assembly may place the heads directly on the surface in a inappropriate place and way, thus damaging the surface; you have what most people would call a head crash.
The heat is on
Ok, so heat really can cause issues for your hard drive and here is why. Excessive heat to the media can cause the thermal expansion to the head stack assembly, thus "shifting" the precise alignment. Magnetic properties also change with thermal variations, and finally the PCB (printed circuit board) can enter a thermal runaway scenario; The motor control chip gets warm, the ambient and working temperature of the drive increases, this affects the resistance to failure which is often the main failure type of PCB failure.
No problem the file will be auto saved, hang, what's this message hard disk drive (HDD) not detected ?! gulp, I'll try a reboot, same error!
This kind of scenario can make any IT battle hardened user fold on the spot, but it need not be this way.
The bad news
All hard drives have finite lives and MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) as many other products, however HDD will fail when you least expect it or when it hurts most.
Magnetic storage media aka HDD are electro, mechanical devices which operate at the envelope of mechanical tolerances. What do we mean by this? Well modern hard drives spin platters at speeds from 4200 to 15K which are either metal or glass and covered by a process called spluttering a magnetic sensitive material, now the part which decodes and encodes data directly to the platters are part of the head stack assembly, now the tolerance bit, these heads have to repeat ably go to specific locations on the media quickly (less than 10MS), here is where issues can really happen. The heads "fly" above the platters and contrary to popular belief the disk enclosure is not a vacuum, or how could the heads "fly" above the surface?
Now, due to heat, vibration, shock or system malfunction the head stack assembly may place the heads directly on the surface in a inappropriate place and way, thus damaging the surface; you have what most people would call a head crash.
The heat is on
Ok, so heat really can cause issues for your hard drive and here is why. Excessive heat to the media can cause the thermal expansion to the head stack assembly, thus "shifting" the precise alignment. Magnetic properties also change with thermal variations, and finally the PCB (printed circuit board) can enter a thermal runaway scenario; The motor control chip gets warm, the ambient and working temperature of the drive increases, this affects the resistance to failure which is often the main failure type of PCB failure.
R&D Companies and Data Loss
R&D Companies and Information Technology (IT)
R&D companies, as the acronym suggests, have to engage in a lot of research. A very high level of research is required to come up with a new invention. Therefore, researchers tend to use a lot of data to test the various outcomes and hypothesis. Due to limitations posed by the traditional way of storing data, R&D companies are increasingly storing their valuable data electronically.
R&D companies in the field of medicine tend to painstakingly undertake several experiments. The results of these experiments have to be recorded, evaluated, and maybe even published. While computers can help the researchers to record their findings, Internet can allow the researchers to publish their results with minimal effort.
Since the laptops offer the required mobility while performing research and analysis, most of the researchers in the defence, agriculture, pharmaceutical, defence, aerospace, and biotechnology industries tend to use laptops. Therefore, most of these companies tend to have a dedicated IT department. If the data is mobile, as is the case with laptops, the chances of losing the data are also higher.
If R&D companies are exchanging the research data across the Internet, they also need to be sure that the server is secure because any malicious user can easily misuse the data. More often than not, the data related with R&D is extremely confidential. Therefore, most companies tend to use the latest IT to help them keep their data secure.
Why is R&D Data Important and Valuable?
R&D is a field that requires large amount of investment because of the sheer nature of the industry. In addition, it is not a field that reaps immediate results. Research can take months or years before an appropriate product, equipment, or idea can be developed. Therefore, while the investment is huge, the results may not be apparent. Any data loss or leakage can ruin the entire capital and infrastructure investment.
Companies invest in R&D to stay ahead in the market competition whereas governments invest in R&D to ensure that the country is ahead in technological advancements or for national security. While most companies have to be extremely cautious about their R&D data so as to avoid data or idea leakage lest the competitor steal the idea, the government has to protect the R&D data to ensure that there is no threat to national security.
Protecting the Valuable R&D data
It is imperative to protect the R&D data because of the nature of the data. Most companies create centralised reporting systems so that data can be gathered comprehensively in one place. This minimises the chances of losing your data because the flow of data is restricted.
Some R&D companies do not wish to risk exchanging their data on public networks. Having personalised servers that allow you to exchange data within company in the most secure manner is a very good idea. You can always test the security of these measures and upgrade the security when the need arises.
Data encryption is the most important measure that R&D companies should make use of. Data encryption allows your valuable data to be encrypted before it leaves the secure premises of your office via a network server. Only authorised users with the requisite passwords can gain access to this data. Encrypting the data is the best way to minimise your risk against hackers, data theft, and malicious users.
R&D data is not the kind of data that can be created again once its lost. Therefore, the R&D companies will have to ensure that their valuable data is always backed up appropriately. Using manual backups may not be a good idea because it leaves room for error. Your best bet would be to either use Continuous Data Protection (CDP) or Automated Remote Backups.
CDP technique mirrors the data on two disks. Therefore, even if something happens to one disk, the other disk remains protected. Automated remote backups ensure that your data is automatically backed up and stored in a location that is geographically distant from the primary office site. This ensures that the data remains protected even if a natural or man-made disaster such as terrorist attack occurs at the primary office site.
What to do in the Event of Data Loss?
If all your data protection measures fail, you will need to hire the services of a professional data recovery company. Since the nature of the lost data may be confidential, it would be best if you sign a confidentiality agreement with the company. In addition, make sure that you hire the services of the best company because the cost of recreating your lost data can be much higher than the cost of recovering your data.
R&D companies, as the acronym suggests, have to engage in a lot of research. A very high level of research is required to come up with a new invention. Therefore, researchers tend to use a lot of data to test the various outcomes and hypothesis. Due to limitations posed by the traditional way of storing data, R&D companies are increasingly storing their valuable data electronically.
R&D companies in the field of medicine tend to painstakingly undertake several experiments. The results of these experiments have to be recorded, evaluated, and maybe even published. While computers can help the researchers to record their findings, Internet can allow the researchers to publish their results with minimal effort.
Since the laptops offer the required mobility while performing research and analysis, most of the researchers in the defence, agriculture, pharmaceutical, defence, aerospace, and biotechnology industries tend to use laptops. Therefore, most of these companies tend to have a dedicated IT department. If the data is mobile, as is the case with laptops, the chances of losing the data are also higher.
If R&D companies are exchanging the research data across the Internet, they also need to be sure that the server is secure because any malicious user can easily misuse the data. More often than not, the data related with R&D is extremely confidential. Therefore, most companies tend to use the latest IT to help them keep their data secure.
Why is R&D Data Important and Valuable?
R&D is a field that requires large amount of investment because of the sheer nature of the industry. In addition, it is not a field that reaps immediate results. Research can take months or years before an appropriate product, equipment, or idea can be developed. Therefore, while the investment is huge, the results may not be apparent. Any data loss or leakage can ruin the entire capital and infrastructure investment.
Companies invest in R&D to stay ahead in the market competition whereas governments invest in R&D to ensure that the country is ahead in technological advancements or for national security. While most companies have to be extremely cautious about their R&D data so as to avoid data or idea leakage lest the competitor steal the idea, the government has to protect the R&D data to ensure that there is no threat to national security.
Protecting the Valuable R&D data
It is imperative to protect the R&D data because of the nature of the data. Most companies create centralised reporting systems so that data can be gathered comprehensively in one place. This minimises the chances of losing your data because the flow of data is restricted.
Some R&D companies do not wish to risk exchanging their data on public networks. Having personalised servers that allow you to exchange data within company in the most secure manner is a very good idea. You can always test the security of these measures and upgrade the security when the need arises.
Data encryption is the most important measure that R&D companies should make use of. Data encryption allows your valuable data to be encrypted before it leaves the secure premises of your office via a network server. Only authorised users with the requisite passwords can gain access to this data. Encrypting the data is the best way to minimise your risk against hackers, data theft, and malicious users.
R&D data is not the kind of data that can be created again once its lost. Therefore, the R&D companies will have to ensure that their valuable data is always backed up appropriately. Using manual backups may not be a good idea because it leaves room for error. Your best bet would be to either use Continuous Data Protection (CDP) or Automated Remote Backups.
CDP technique mirrors the data on two disks. Therefore, even if something happens to one disk, the other disk remains protected. Automated remote backups ensure that your data is automatically backed up and stored in a location that is geographically distant from the primary office site. This ensures that the data remains protected even if a natural or man-made disaster such as terrorist attack occurs at the primary office site.
What to do in the Event of Data Loss?
If all your data protection measures fail, you will need to hire the services of a professional data recovery company. Since the nature of the lost data may be confidential, it would be best if you sign a confidentiality agreement with the company. In addition, make sure that you hire the services of the best company because the cost of recreating your lost data can be much higher than the cost of recovering your data.
Top 10 Excuses For Not Saving
With the current writer's strike, there must be a few others out there hungry for a new Top 10 list. So, from the home office in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, here are the:
(followed by the reasons these excuses are lame)
1. I'll save more later (when I make much more money).
2. But I really do need this.
3. Life is too short.
4. What's another $X?
5. But I don't want to be cheap!
6. My friends don't save.
7. Mom and Dad help with all that.
8. I wouldn't have any idea what to do with any money I saved.
9. I have so much debt!
10. My husband/wife/partner/accountant/financial planner/mailman/crazy roommate/barista/dog is in charge of my household finances.
And now the matching top 10 reason those excuses are lame:
1. Did you remember saying that two promotions ago?
2. When was the last time you used it? Okay, how about where you put it? Do you even own it anymore? Do you remember what it was?
3. Then your retirement may be too long.
4. Depends on how long it takes to pay it back. Could be many times $X.
5. Me neither. Instead, be fiscally responsible.
6. Do you really need me to respond to this? Didn't you have a parent say to you 1,000 times growing up "If all your friends jumped off the bridge, would you?"
7. Good for you. Count your blessings. When you're done, hit 'em up for something else, like a financial education.
8. That's what we call a good problem. When it comes to investing, remember: how you invest matters far less than how much you save.
9. Then you already know that you need to pay it off. The only way to do so? Spending less than you make. Doesn't that kind of sound like saving?
10. You can outsource love/tax prep/technical expertise/postal delivery/loud music/a mean espresso/love. But you can never delegate financial responsibility.
(followed by the reasons these excuses are lame)
1. I'll save more later (when I make much more money).
2. But I really do need this.
3. Life is too short.
4. What's another $X?
5. But I don't want to be cheap!
6. My friends don't save.
7. Mom and Dad help with all that.
8. I wouldn't have any idea what to do with any money I saved.
9. I have so much debt!
10. My husband/wife/partner/accountant/financial planner/mailman/crazy roommate/barista/dog is in charge of my household finances.
And now the matching top 10 reason those excuses are lame:
1. Did you remember saying that two promotions ago?
2. When was the last time you used it? Okay, how about where you put it? Do you even own it anymore? Do you remember what it was?
3. Then your retirement may be too long.
4. Depends on how long it takes to pay it back. Could be many times $X.
5. Me neither. Instead, be fiscally responsible.
6. Do you really need me to respond to this? Didn't you have a parent say to you 1,000 times growing up "If all your friends jumped off the bridge, would you?"
7. Good for you. Count your blessings. When you're done, hit 'em up for something else, like a financial education.
8. That's what we call a good problem. When it comes to investing, remember: how you invest matters far less than how much you save.
9. Then you already know that you need to pay it off. The only way to do so? Spending less than you make. Doesn't that kind of sound like saving?
10. You can outsource love/tax prep/technical expertise/postal delivery/loud music/a mean espresso/love. But you can never delegate financial responsibility.
Creat a Working Budget for You
A budget is the key to getting yourself back on track financially. If you follow the steps I am outlining for you then you should be able to create a budget that is designed for you.
The first thing that you need to do is agree to write down everything you spend for the next month. This mean everything even a soda from 7-eleven. Every time you spend money on anything you need to write it down.
I suggest that you do this either on the computer using word or excel, or in a note book. The first thing to do to get yourself organized by creating spending categories. I am going to list out categories for you in just a moment but before I do that I want to stress that you write everything down and this is why.
In order to truly understand what you spend your money on and what things you are willing to curb and what things are essential to your lifestyle it is important to first see where all the money goes. You may know what you spend your money on but I guarantee after a month of writing it all down you will see you spend more than you should.
Okay here are the categories for spending. You may have others or not even use some but this is the list I have used personally and with my clients when I worked as credit counselor.
Mortgage,,
Condo/association fees,
2nd mortgage,
Equity loan,
Car payments,
Student loan,
IRS payments,
Personal loan,
Other loans,
Credit card payments (list each separately),
Groceries,
Eating out (this includes 7-eleven and such),,
Tuition,
Daycare,
Medical/dental expenses,
Health and beauty (manicures. pedicures, haircuts, ex....),
Heat/oil,
Electric,
Cable,
Satellite,
Phone,
Internet,
Cell phone,
Water/sewer,
Clubs/organizations (usually monthly dues),
Gym,
Entertainment,
Holidays (estimate yearly and divide by 12),
Birthdays (estimate yearly and divide by 12),
Gas for vehicles,
Tolls / easy pass,
Newspapers / magazines (add total and divide by 12),
School expenses (sports, lunches),
Clothing
Some of these categories might be an expense only a few times a year. The reason I include them is that I want you to get in the habit if living within your means. This may take time and practice like anything else you need to learn how to spend money, but it will come with time and patience.
Take the time to write down everything you spend for the next 30 days. I suggest that you begin with the first of the month and then go from there.
Once you have 30 days worth of data you can begin to look at it and see where the money is being spent. You will need to look at the list and decide where you are going to trim the spending. Perhaps you eat out too often or spend too much money at the mall.
Start with expenses that you cannot control such as the fixed ones like the car and mortgage or rent. Then move to the ones you have some control over such as food and entertainment. There may even be some categories you need to eliminate such as eating out.
The first thing that you need to do is agree to write down everything you spend for the next month. This mean everything even a soda from 7-eleven. Every time you spend money on anything you need to write it down.
I suggest that you do this either on the computer using word or excel, or in a note book. The first thing to do to get yourself organized by creating spending categories. I am going to list out categories for you in just a moment but before I do that I want to stress that you write everything down and this is why.
In order to truly understand what you spend your money on and what things you are willing to curb and what things are essential to your lifestyle it is important to first see where all the money goes. You may know what you spend your money on but I guarantee after a month of writing it all down you will see you spend more than you should.
Okay here are the categories for spending. You may have others or not even use some but this is the list I have used personally and with my clients when I worked as credit counselor.
Mortgage,,
Condo/association fees,
2nd mortgage,
Equity loan,
Car payments,
Student loan,
IRS payments,
Personal loan,
Other loans,
Credit card payments (list each separately),
Groceries,
Eating out (this includes 7-eleven and such),,
Tuition,
Daycare,
Medical/dental expenses,
Health and beauty (manicures. pedicures, haircuts, ex....),
Heat/oil,
Electric,
Cable,
Satellite,
Phone,
Internet,
Cell phone,
Water/sewer,
Clubs/organizations (usually monthly dues),
Gym,
Entertainment,
Holidays (estimate yearly and divide by 12),
Birthdays (estimate yearly and divide by 12),
Gas for vehicles,
Tolls / easy pass,
Newspapers / magazines (add total and divide by 12),
School expenses (sports, lunches),
Clothing
Some of these categories might be an expense only a few times a year. The reason I include them is that I want you to get in the habit if living within your means. This may take time and practice like anything else you need to learn how to spend money, but it will come with time and patience.
Take the time to write down everything you spend for the next 30 days. I suggest that you begin with the first of the month and then go from there.
Once you have 30 days worth of data you can begin to look at it and see where the money is being spent. You will need to look at the list and decide where you are going to trim the spending. Perhaps you eat out too often or spend too much money at the mall.
Start with expenses that you cannot control such as the fixed ones like the car and mortgage or rent. Then move to the ones you have some control over such as food and entertainment. There may even be some categories you need to eliminate such as eating out.
Are You Frugal or Cheap?
A lot of families are facing tighter budgets right now. It's not just rising gas prices. It's mortgages they didn't realize they could afford. It's jobs lost to downsizing. It's a tough economy in many places right now.
Times like these make living a more frugal lifestyle not only more appealing, but more necessary for many families.
Frugality is not just about being cheap. In fact, being cheap is one of the traps of trying to be frugal. Choosing things that really aren't of a reasonable quality can quickly derail your frugal efforts to spend less.
Sometimes the situation is urgent enough that it makes sense to buy flat out cheap. If money's tight and that's the only way you're going to get what you need, what other options are there, really? But when you can afford to spend the extra to buy something that will last, and that's reasonable to your need, it makes a lot of sense to do so.
You should also figure out what you're paying for that you aren't making enough use of. Long distance phone plans, for example. You may have one and not be making enough use out of it, or you can find one that better suits your needs. Go through your phone records to figure out how much you really need. Don't under buy, but don't get the biggest plan just because it has the most minutes.
Being organized can also help you to be frugal.
For example, running as many errands as possible on one day can help you to save money on gas. If you do as I do, and try to have that day be on the day you know you can get your best discounts on shopping, you'll save even more money. My local grocery store has double flyers on Wednesdays, so there are more specials to choose from.
Keeping your home organized means that you will have a better idea as to what you really need to buy when you shop. It can also help to keep things around the house in better condition. And of course being organized can save you tons of time in just looking for something that isn't where it belongs.
Buying clothing is a great area to remember to be frugal rather than cheap.
Which is better? A $10 shirt from Walmart or one bought from a thrift store? If you're good at shopping, you can get some amazingly inexpensive clothes from thrift stores that look like new and are higher quality than you would get buying "cheap" elsewhere. You may even pay less. It's just a matter of finding the right thrift stores for your area. Some carry amazing merchandise at great prices. Others have those gems more rarely.
Times like these make living a more frugal lifestyle not only more appealing, but more necessary for many families.
Frugality is not just about being cheap. In fact, being cheap is one of the traps of trying to be frugal. Choosing things that really aren't of a reasonable quality can quickly derail your frugal efforts to spend less.
Sometimes the situation is urgent enough that it makes sense to buy flat out cheap. If money's tight and that's the only way you're going to get what you need, what other options are there, really? But when you can afford to spend the extra to buy something that will last, and that's reasonable to your need, it makes a lot of sense to do so.
You should also figure out what you're paying for that you aren't making enough use of. Long distance phone plans, for example. You may have one and not be making enough use out of it, or you can find one that better suits your needs. Go through your phone records to figure out how much you really need. Don't under buy, but don't get the biggest plan just because it has the most minutes.
Being organized can also help you to be frugal.
For example, running as many errands as possible on one day can help you to save money on gas. If you do as I do, and try to have that day be on the day you know you can get your best discounts on shopping, you'll save even more money. My local grocery store has double flyers on Wednesdays, so there are more specials to choose from.
Keeping your home organized means that you will have a better idea as to what you really need to buy when you shop. It can also help to keep things around the house in better condition. And of course being organized can save you tons of time in just looking for something that isn't where it belongs.
Buying clothing is a great area to remember to be frugal rather than cheap.
Which is better? A $10 shirt from Walmart or one bought from a thrift store? If you're good at shopping, you can get some amazingly inexpensive clothes from thrift stores that look like new and are higher quality than you would get buying "cheap" elsewhere. You may even pay less. It's just a matter of finding the right thrift stores for your area. Some carry amazing merchandise at great prices. Others have those gems more rarely.
Have Your Early Retirement
Are you planning to work for another 30 years in order to have your own retirement? 95% of people are using the 30 years plan in order to have their retirement.
Many people believe that this is normal and this is the only way to have your retirement. They strictly follow this formula, study hard, get a good result, join big companies, work hard for 30 years and enjoy their life with their retirement fund.
I am not saying that this is not true and giving any comment for this retirement formula. What I want to highlight here is in fact, you have many choices in getting your retirement.
Imagine, you work hard and smart for 5 years and the result from your hard and smart work is, you will be paid each month for life regardless whether you're working or not! Just work for another 5 years and you will be totally financially free and get your early retirement without working hard for 30 years!
It's true! In fact, almost everyone who has a burning desire to have their early retirement can easily achieve the goal of financial freedom within 5 years.
This is not impossible mission. Internet is the tool which will help you to get your early retirement in next 5 years. Internet not only shorten the distance of communication around the world but also shorten the gap of rich and poor.
If you have no money to start a business, you can consider to start your business online. You don't need to have your own product or service, by just become a reseller or affiliate, you can start your internet business immediately with some little money (normally less than $100)
Some affiliate programs even offer you a free affiliate sign up. In other words, you don't have to pay any single cent to get a reseller licence, and they even offer you an automated marketing system to auto-pilot your internet business. Now, you can even earn money 24 hours even you sleep! No kidding!
Currently, I'm personally using a system to fully automate my marketing process. This system is easy and simple for everyone to use. The best is, with this system you can easily earn a residual income each month which will help you to have your early retirement.
Of course, this is not the only way to your early retirement. There are over thousands of programs online which show you how to make money, earn residual income from their programs. Be aware of some scam programs, especially those programs promise to earn you 1,000% of return in one year!
Many people believe that this is normal and this is the only way to have your retirement. They strictly follow this formula, study hard, get a good result, join big companies, work hard for 30 years and enjoy their life with their retirement fund.
I am not saying that this is not true and giving any comment for this retirement formula. What I want to highlight here is in fact, you have many choices in getting your retirement.
Imagine, you work hard and smart for 5 years and the result from your hard and smart work is, you will be paid each month for life regardless whether you're working or not! Just work for another 5 years and you will be totally financially free and get your early retirement without working hard for 30 years!
It's true! In fact, almost everyone who has a burning desire to have their early retirement can easily achieve the goal of financial freedom within 5 years.
This is not impossible mission. Internet is the tool which will help you to get your early retirement in next 5 years. Internet not only shorten the distance of communication around the world but also shorten the gap of rich and poor.
If you have no money to start a business, you can consider to start your business online. You don't need to have your own product or service, by just become a reseller or affiliate, you can start your internet business immediately with some little money (normally less than $100)
Some affiliate programs even offer you a free affiliate sign up. In other words, you don't have to pay any single cent to get a reseller licence, and they even offer you an automated marketing system to auto-pilot your internet business. Now, you can even earn money 24 hours even you sleep! No kidding!
Currently, I'm personally using a system to fully automate my marketing process. This system is easy and simple for everyone to use. The best is, with this system you can easily earn a residual income each month which will help you to have your early retirement.
Of course, this is not the only way to your early retirement. There are over thousands of programs online which show you how to make money, earn residual income from their programs. Be aware of some scam programs, especially those programs promise to earn you 1,000% of return in one year!
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