Archive for the ‘Financial Happiness’ Category
Happiness and Contentment – Part 1
Everyone seems to have a collective thought in the western world, that achievements bring success and happiness, that must always be pushing ourselves forward to avoid failure. Achieving your own definition of happiness in your own mind is a step towards achieving your other goals.
Generally speaking, feeling good is everyones goal and there are two basic feelings, that of good and bad, and nobody want to feel bad surely? Assuming youre still with me, Ill carry on. The desire to feel good usually attaches itself to the need to go out and buy things. Most people think that if they drove a nicer car then they would feel good, but honestly, how many times have we all bought something and then the thrill of owning it is short-lived at best.
We are pre-programmed to believe that material goods will lead to happiness. If that is the case, why are so many millionaires miserable? Why are so many around the world who live in squalor still happier than you are?
The reason is that your definition of success is based on a flawed argument. We tend to compare ourselves with the most successful people that we know, which makes us feel bad. If you were to compare yourself with most of the planet, you will find that you are actually doing very well.
Success and wealth should be thought of as entirely different things. Either way, what we are all searching for is contentment and it is something that very few of us possess, but most of the truly successful people I know have it. Unfortunately, we all seem to be under the impression that if we have more things, we would feel more content, and so would feel happier. Whereas in actual fact what tends to happen is, as you get more possessions it become more and more of a stressful effort to keep hold of what you have gained.
The bottom line is that if you are not happy with relatively few possessions, having lots of things is not going to make you happier. It is the attitude that you develop now that will provide you with contentment in the future. Being happy with your lot, content with just being you in the here and now, that is real wealth.
Tags: achievement, advice, contentment, emotion, finance, Financial Happiness, happiness, health, misc, relationships, self improvement, Stress, wealth, well being
You Just Can’t Afford Not To Ask
opportunities to save in just about every industry. You see the signs, the online specials, and the flyers that tell us about all of the “deals” and “bargains” that we can get. In addition to getting you excited about saving, cost conscious consumers can use these advertised specials as a price point for future purchases. Pretty much, once you see what the “special” price is supposed to be, then you will be able to figure out the real price versus the supposed deal. But, don’t stop there with trying to buy for cheap. You can also find lots of other discounts by doing something so simple as asking!
Asking for a bargain is a basic part of life in some cultures. They know that there is always a way to buy for cheap, so they never expect to pay the list price. The world is in an economic crisis and so asking for a cheaper price is definitely more acceptable and widely used for saving, cost comparisons, and to get the absolutely best buy. Cheapest is always best in these economic times. Try your hand at asking for bargains when you need these things
1. Motels and Hotels – The hospitality industry is known for always having some type of deals going on. You can get the best buy, cheapest price, and best rooms by doing something as basic as asking for them. Managers want to sell off all of the space that they have available, and even though there are internet specials and advertised discounts, they are often willing to offer even more breaks for those that ask for them.
2. Eateries – Restaurants are the perfect place to ask for the best deals because they almost always have a “house special” or “manager’s deal” going on. They don’t always advertise these, but they are there if you want to get a great buy. For cheap meals or possibly even free food, simply ask.
3. Planes, trains, and automobiles – Most travel companies offer discounts either through their frequent users travel programs or through haggling based websites such as Priceline.com. From upgrades to “buy one, get one” to free future travel deals, people can usually expect to buy for cheap when it comes to the travel industry if they make effort to ask for the best possible price. In an economic crisis like we are currently in, people will most likely be doing less traveling. So, there should be plenty of opportunities for families to get cheaper prices.
4. Phone and internet service – All of the telecommunications companies want your business. They usually publicize the deals that they want people to see. These are not usually the best possible price. To get that “special” unpublished price, you will need to call and speak with an agent. Tell them that you want a deal and watch them make it happen for you.
There is always a way to buy for cheap. But to get the best price ever, simply smile, be nice, and ask!
Tags: buy cheap, Family, family fun, financial tips, frugal living, household budgetting, live cheaply, save money
Manage Your Money
Do you know the best way to financial freedom and wealth? It may be a simpler answer than you had anticipated. The steps to good finances is successful management of your personal finance. Learning how to manage your personal finances will allow you to get in the best financial shape possible.
There are a range of topics covered under personal finance. Personal finance includes areas like budgeting, retirement, savings and debt management. Personal finance covers everything involving your money, from making it to spending it.
The main part of managing personal finance is budgeting. Many people not budget and this can cause problems with personal finance. People often misunderstand and budgeting and complicate it. The thing that complicates budgeting is that it takes away your freedom to just spend impulsively. This is one of the main reasons why budgeting is so important.
When you do not control your spending you end up with debt. To have financial freedom you need to be debt free. This comes when you get control over your expenses and be in control of your spending. Preparing a budget will help you to do this.
Budgeting is all about knowing what you have to spend verses what you desire to spend. Your budget will clearly lay out where your money needs to go and what extra money you may have. You will see your spending habits laid out and you can then decide if that money is being spent well or if it needs to be allotted to another expense.
There are five keys in financial planning that will be essential in to getting your finances under control. These include: assessment, setting goals, formatting a plan, executing and monitoring the plan and reassessing the plan as needed. By following these five areas you will be well on your way to financial freedom.
Assessing your finances is a necessary part of budgeting. This will allow you to really see what you are doing with your money. It will let you see your spending habits and give you better understanding of it.
Setting goals allow you to make decisive plans about your finances. When you have direction you have something to work towards. This makes things like paying off debt simpler because you have it clearly spelled out what you want to accomplish.
Your financial plan sets out how you will attain your goals. The plan creates the method by which you will reach your goals. It will help you to understand what you have to do to reach your goals.
Executing and monitoring your plan will help to ensure that you stay on track. You need to just get started and put it in action and then ensure that you stay on track through keeping on top of your progress.
There will come a time when you may need to reassess your plan. This may happen if your financial situation changes or you get of track. Reassessing your plan is just another step to ensure that you stay on track.
The last bit of financial advice to help you towards that goal of financial freedom is about credit cards. Credit cards can be harmful to your finances due to high interest. However, you do not have to get rid of all your credit cards. You just need to take charge of the situation.
If you have a credit card account that isup to date on payments then you can ask your credit card issuer for lower interest rates. A phone call may be the way to get your interest rates lowered to a more manageable rate.
In the long run paying less interest will help you to save a lot of money that can be better used to help you towards financial freedom.
Tags: cash, finance, financial advise, Happy Career & Business, managing money, money, personal finance
Your Debt and You
Do you have too much debt? If you do, what steps are you taking to reduce your debt?
Review your credit card and loan statements and do your best to calculate the total amount of combined debt.
Determine the percentage of your pay that is spent on non-housing debt and then determine the percentage again; this time include housing payments.
Speak with your spouse about working toward the goal of being debt free.
Having some debt some debt is typically unavoidable. But the problem is that many people are in over their heads. With mortgages, car payments, and credit cards, many people find themselves drowning in debt.
The average American has over 9 thousand dollars worth of credit card debt, and credit card companies have made it super easy to get there.
How do you know if you’re too far in debt? The general rule is if more than 20 percent of your take-home pay goes to pay for non-housing debt, or if your housing payments surpass 30 percent of your monthly take-home pay, you may well be overextended.
If you discover that you are overextended, there are several steps you can follow to eradicate debt and get back on track.
Plan a budget. Step one is to determine where your money goes. You will need to write things down and track your spending for about a month to hatch out what you’re spending and where. It may help you to keep your receipts for review.
After that initial month, you will tally your expenses and begin to construct your tangible budget. Take into account the things you will have to pay for and also the areas in which you can cut back.
Once you have settled your budget, you can attack your current debt. You should pay off high-interest rate debt initially. Take an aggressive interesting eliminating high rate debt.
If your credit card is an issue, consider a balance transfer to a lower rate card. Consolidation will save you quite a substantial amount of money over time. You can locate a catalog of low-rate cards at www.cardtrak.com. Your current card companies may have a low rate to offer if you’ll only call and make the inquiry. Most credit card companies will lower rates in order to keep customers
If you must borrow, borrow long term. You should try to go into debt for things that will either appreciate or things that will still be around when the debt is gone. Don’t use credit cards to give you creeping debt such as long-term unsecured loans.
Reducing expenses to cut your debts takes commitment. Analyzing and keeping track of your spending, controlling your expenses, and devising a plan and a budget, will help you reduce, if not eliminate, your debt.
Ways How To Have A Debt Free Life
Did you know that credit card debt contributes to over a million bankruptcies every year? Unfortunately, many people fail to read the fine print on their credit card offers. Then they charge too many luxuries to their cards, and with annual fees and missed payments, the balance of their cards gets out of control.
Although you may feel as though the blame rests on credit card companies, in reality you are the one causing your own financial mess. Credit card companies just supply the cards; it is up to you to use them appropriately.
One day of overspending does not usually cause you to fall into an amount of debt from which you cannot escape. Usually, it is a spending pattern of consistent purchases that adds up to a large debt. However, there is an easy long-term solution to get yourself out of credit card debt. Just spend less money than you make. Although it seems simple, it will require effort on your part. This is necessary if you truly want to pay off your debts and avoid adding to it.
This solution, of course, requires willpower. If you can’t follow this plan, it can be very difficult to get out of debt. If you cannot stick to your lower spending limits, you will keep finding yourself in debt, and will never be able to pay off your credit card debts. Getting out of credit card debt requires a great deal of time and dedication. You will probably find it difficult at times to keep your credit card spending down, but you need to stick to the plan if you want to get yourself out of debt.
It is very important that you get out of debt, and then stay debt free. This requires strict control over your finances and spending. While getting out of debt can be very difficult, it is well worth it. Being debt free comes with great peace of mind.
Overall, you need to remember not to spend money that you don’t have. Credit card debt problems come when you spend money that you don’t have on things you don’t need; even if you are promised with low interest charges on your outstanding debt. Use credit cards for real emergencies only, and try to keep a rainy day fund so that you don’t need to use credit cards to make it to the next payday, either. Balance transfers can also do you good if you have more than one card. You got yourself into debt, but with work, you can get yourself out of debt.
Tags: credit card, credit card debt, debt, Family, finance
Frugal Living: How to Make It a Reality
Living a frugal lifestyle is much easier than you might think. It takes a mindset that is interested in saving for the future. There has to be a plan in place and an obtainable goal. Most importantly, it has to involve everyone in your family. Here are some tips in how to go about living a frugal lifestyle.
When you first start out in the frugal lifestyle you will have to adjust your thinking. Instead of asking yourself if you can afford to buy something, ask yourself if the money could be better spent elsewhere. It’s not necessarily just about saving. Being frugal is about spending in the best way possible.
It is a good idea to set up priorities that will help to develop your basic plan for your frugal lifestyle. This could include the type of home you require, the activities you must have in your life, and the sacrifices that you are willing to make now for a more secure future tomorrow. There should also be a budget involved in there somewhere.
After getting control of your financial situation, you will be better enabled to establish some goals. Start by listing what things you need buy don’t yet have, what things you want, and what things you desire. Then you can devise a plan that will ultimately allow you to obtain the things in all three categories.
If you want to live frugally you need to train your children to do the same. Explain to them that, even though you could afford to have more things, you choose not to in an effort to save money for something better, like a big vacation as a family. When the entire family is working together, living frugally becomes substantially easier.
Everyone can be involved in the decisions regarding frugal living that will affect the whole family. Having family meetings on a weekly or monthly basis to talk about what to do with the money that living frugally is allowing you to save will help you stick with it. You can also discuss how to live frugally in a more efficient way.
Your choices will be personal. No one can tell you the exact formula for becoming frugal. It all comes back to making the best choices for your spending and developing a mindset that wants to save.
You will probably find that as you grow and experiment with your frugal lifestyle, some of your choices will change, some of your needs will vanish (or fall to desires) and you life will become a much greater experience.
Tags: budgeting, Family, finance, frugal living, frugality, personal finance, saving money, spending, spending less
Get Out Of Debt By Financial Planning Advice
If you’re like most people, you have a difficult time wading through all of the financial advice out there to find strategies that work for you. If you watch or listen to financial help shows, like I do, you’ve probably come across several financial planning programs that seem to give good advice. You may even have incorporated some of their strategies or advice into your life. In fact, a lot of the advice you hear on financial planning shows is actually great advice; in my experience, very few programs dispense harmful advice.
Developing a sound financial planning strategy is not rocket science. In fact, your personal financial strategy should be based more on common sense than on detailed knowledge of markets and economic models. You should be trying to save as much as you can, while avoiding debts, especially credit card debt. Many people over complicate their financial picture, getting themselves into debt and turning their lives into a financial nightmare.
This can be hard to understand when there are so many financial planning resources out there to help people. Why do many people struggle so much to get out of debt, and why do they fall into debt in the first place? The reason is that many people do not follow this advice consistently, even if they agree that it s good advice. It is easy to get sidetracked by the lure of excess spending. Financial planning will not work if you try to use it only to get out of debt. Instead, you need to make sound financial decisions all of the time. You will only be successful with a financial planning program if you follow it in detail.
To get started with a financial plan, one of the first places you should look is your credit card debt. Your financial program in this arena should be clear: stop spending more than you make. If you have several cards, get rid of the one with the highest interest rate by transferring the balance to the card with the lowest APR. Then, pay off this debt as quickly as possible. Sell anything you can, and use this cash to pay off the debt. Do not keep racking up credit card debt; cards should be used for emergencies only, not for buying luxury goods you can’t afford. By paying off this credit card debt, you can improve your personal finance picture and get back on your way towards following sound financial strategies.
Tags: credit card debt, credit cards, debt, Family, financial planning
Getting Back On Track With Debt Consolidation
Getting many expensive and otherwise useless items in your life can land you into a large debt reserve. Using credit cards, loans and various other sources of money can leave you on the verge of a break down once everything needs to be paid off. An almost certain negative credit problem is likely to occur if you can not make payments for your spending choices.
Using money that is not yours to buy something will always get you into debt. Taking advantage of a credit card does not mean using it while you still can. What happens once the card is completely maxed out? Will you simply get more cards? Wrong answer, you are probably now in bad debt at this point in time.
Usually there are many things that keep a person in debt. Many things like monthly bills, food, necessities and maybe even some indulgent spending when you shouldn’t be spending are responsible for keeping you in debt. There are fewer things that you can do that you require to do to actually get back on track with your debt if you keep on spending this way.
You could use a debt consolidation solution to help pay off your existing debts, making it possible to get a break from the constant worry of wondering if you will have enough to cover everything you need to pay for in the month. You can easily use a debt consolidation loan to your advantage as it will certainly free up your monthly obligations to just a single manageable account with smaller repayments and lower interest rates than previously existing ones.
Your debt consolidation loan can be much easier to pay off than having many separate loans that demand large chunks of your income monthly. Missing a payment on any of these loans will land you further into debt, so having only one loan to worry about makes it much easier to accomplish. Getting yourself back to a zero balance makes it much easier to manage your time and money as you will then be debt free.
Making sure not to over spend is one of the ways that you can easily keep on track without getting back into debt. Reminding yourself what you needed to do to get being debt free often shocks you back from going the wrong direction.
Closing Comments
Debt consolidation loans and options help keep people on track by paying off their debts and reconsolidating their monthly obligations into a singularity. They can more easily make payments to the new loan and get more done with their money every month.
Tags: advice, business, consumer, Family, finance, Finance:Debt Consolidation, general, home, internet, loans, personal finance
Good Budget Planning Can Keep Everyone Happy
Money is without question the number one topic couples argue over, and also a topic most people stress over throughout most of their lives. Money is also a common reason for couples separating.
The trouble usually stems from the fact that one of the partner’s controls the majority of the finances and financial decisions, disrupting the middle road balance that couples try to maintain in most aspects of their relationships.
What often happens is that the main money earner becomes overly protective of their money, feeling the weight of the work they put into earning it more keenly, while the other partner simply views it as excess money that can and should be spent.
The first step to having a healthy financial relationship with your partner is to be completely open and honest. This not only includes any money your spending, but also on the overall financial health of the household in general. One partner often knows how the finances are doing while the other partner may be in the dark.
When the partner in the know tells their spouse that things are okay to avoid stress or arguments, even when they’re not, this can create more problems. The other partner will likely continue to spend money that the household cannot afford to have spend in that way, thinking that their finances are okay. This can just lead to further financial woes and stress.
When you’ve both agreed to be open and honest about your purchases and the financial picture, things should run much more smoothly. Your last major issue will be in breaking any stalemates over planned purchases or the like. You should sit down together and try to discuss it and see if it makes sense at the time.
You may come up with a mediation method that works in all cases, such as if one partner is unsure about any purchase, then you both err on the side of caution. At the very least a compromise may be able to be worked out where less money is spent for a similar item or service.
A last resort would be to go to counseling. If a couple isn’t on the same page like when one person applies for a VISA balance transfer card and not discussing it with their spouse, arguing starts and often accomplish nothing but wasted time and hurtful words, with very little satisfaction. In these cases a third party is useful for getting both parties on the same page by reaching a middle ground that can work for both of them.
With money being as important as it is in society, and with being the number one thing individuals stress over, it’s not surprising that this topic is also the most stressed over and fought about by couples.
Life is a constant work in progress, and things can change on a dime, and this mindset needs to be incorporated into your finances. What may have or may not have worked before very well may or may not now. Adapting and working together as a team should keep you ahead of the game and happy over your financial picture.
Tags: Budget Planning, couples argue, financial health, financial picture, mediation, working together as a team
