December 23rd, 2008 -- Posted in Wealth Strategies |
For some people, getting personal finances in order is more grueling than wandering the desert for 40 years. But it doesn’t take a miracle. If you are looking for some basic guidelines, just follow these 10 commandments:
1. Thou Shalt Take Action
Reading about how to improve your personal finances is a start, but it has absolutely no meaning if you don’t take the action of putting what you learn into motion. Before you can get anywhere with your personal finances, you need to begin — right now. If you are reading this article, you know that you should be taking steps to get your personal finances in order.
Print out this list and place it where you will see it every day, so that you are reminded that personal finance is a priority in your life and that you will take some action each and every day to try to improve your lot. If you aren’t sure where to begin, start with getting your banking accounts in order.
2. Thou Shalt Pay Off All Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is, in most cases, continue reading »
October 22nd, 2008 -- Posted in Misc Ranting, Vacations and Fun, Wealth Strategies |
I grew up in a pretty conservative household when it came to saving and spending money. Guess that’s why I started teaching my daughter, Mikaila, when she was young (& the other kids in my life) to be responsible with their money early on. By the way, she’s the baby and just turned 21 today! Happy Birthday kiddo!
I believe in giving children an allowance for two reasons. One, it instills in them a sense of pride completing a responsibility and receiving something tangible for their efforts. But secondarily (& most important I think), is to teach them how to manage money early on.
I gave the kids 4 "piggy banks" when they were about 4 years old and explained continue reading »
September 3rd, 2008 -- Posted in Wealth Strategies |
I didn’t do my normal post this morning because I have been stuck as to what to say. My mind keeps coming back to a place of anger. Rather than pushing it aside I decided to get it off my chest and write about it. You see, a dear friend of 30 years just passed away this last weekend of cancer. She was diagnosed 2 years ago with bladder cancer and since then it has not been a pleasant road for her.
We have worked together off and on over the years, we’ve vacationed together, gone to weddings, hiked, shopped, and even were there for each other when each of our spouses passed away. My husband was only 39 (10 years ago of leukemia) and her husband a few years older (12 years ago of Lou Gehrig’s). We have a lot of history together and sometimes we’d talk not believing we had known each other that long…. were we really getting that old?
I am sad that she had to leave us so soon. She had many lemons handed to her over the years, but she would quietly make lemonade from them. She never complained, never had an ill word about anyone, never held a grudge…..
Why am I angry you wonder? What I’m about to say may offend some of you, so I will say my apologies in advance…. but,
Why do we treat our animals more humanely than we do people? This is not the first time I’ve seen someone terminally ill with absolutely no hope of survival have to lose their dignity and suffer besides. My friend was bedridden for the last few months with absolutely no quality of life. For the last couple of weeks she was barely cognizant we were there, yet legally no-one could "assist her through the transition". When horses break a leg we don’t let them suffer. When cats and dogs are terminal with no quality, we are allowed to "put them to sleep". Have our lawmakers truly not experienced watching a loved one die or more accurately waste away? Why couldn’t a little "cocktail" be administered so she could peacefully drift off to sleep? I can only hope no-one has to endure that when it’s my time….
There…. I had to get that off my chest because it’s been affecting my focus and my business. I’m sure there will be some of you who would like to comment one way or another…. 
There was an article in AARP magazine last month about life lessons. It was a discussion between two friends, one coming to the end of her life. Here’s what she told the other…"Look, darling," she said, tapping her watch. "From age 50 to 80 it’s not minutes - it’s seconds. Pay attention." I must not have looked as if I was paying enough attention, because she put her hand on my wrist and squeezed. "It’s seconds. You think you know, but you don’t." I’m beginning to know…..
Until next time, J.
"Take control of your destiny or someone else will"
