Steve Repak's Blog - Posts Tagged "6-week-money-challenge"
Five Bible Verses to Teach Your Kids Practical Money Skills
Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
The longer you wait to start teaching your children to be good stewards of their financial resources the harder it is to instill good habits. Most kids in America know their way around the local shopping mall and can run circles around their parents when it comes to the latest app on their favorite gadget but when it comes to practical money skills most of them are in the dark. If your child can add and subtract then most likely they have the intellectual skills to master personal finance but many do not have the emotional maturity to make good financial decisions. By the way many adults also have that same issue. So what can we as parents do in order to start our children off on the right way to go when it comes to money? These five Bible verses can help get them on the right track:
1# Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
God is the true provider for all of our needs but nowhere in the Bible does it say that God will give us everything we want. That doesn’t mean we can’t give our children things they want but we must teach them the difference between wants and true needs. For example, we NEED to eat, but we do not NEED to go out to dinner every night. We NEED clothes so people won’t look as us funny, but we do not NEED to be wearing the latest fashion craze.
#2 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
If we are unable to be good stewards financially, how then we can expect God to trust us spiritually? So we need to keep in mind that every financial decision is also a spiritual decision. We can all be better stewards by being grateful and content with what we have and understand that everything comes from God, belongs to God, and is distributed by God.
#3 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
That doesn’t mean I believe your child needs to work before you provide them food, shelter and clothing but by paying your child an allowance for doing work/chores around the house does teach your children the value of work. If you want to teach your child about saving, giving and spending money, they first have to learn a lesson on earning it!
#4 Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
The most joyous people are not always the ones who have the most but they are usually the ones who give the most. Teaching your children about giving their time and money develops discipline because an awareness of others’ misfortune will serve them well in any aspect of their lives.
#5 Proverbs 6:6-8 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Thought they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
Does saving mean that we are not relying on God? No, saving is being a good steward of your financial resources. Nobody likes to plan on things going wrong, but invariably they do. An easy rule to teach your child is the 10-10-80 rule where they give the first 10%, save 10% and can spend the rest!
Article first posted via: http://brendayoder.com/steve-repak-fi...
The longer you wait to start teaching your children to be good stewards of their financial resources the harder it is to instill good habits. Most kids in America know their way around the local shopping mall and can run circles around their parents when it comes to the latest app on their favorite gadget but when it comes to practical money skills most of them are in the dark. If your child can add and subtract then most likely they have the intellectual skills to master personal finance but many do not have the emotional maturity to make good financial decisions. By the way many adults also have that same issue. So what can we as parents do in order to start our children off on the right way to go when it comes to money? These five Bible verses can help get them on the right track:
1# Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
God is the true provider for all of our needs but nowhere in the Bible does it say that God will give us everything we want. That doesn’t mean we can’t give our children things they want but we must teach them the difference between wants and true needs. For example, we NEED to eat, but we do not NEED to go out to dinner every night. We NEED clothes so people won’t look as us funny, but we do not NEED to be wearing the latest fashion craze.
#2 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
If we are unable to be good stewards financially, how then we can expect God to trust us spiritually? So we need to keep in mind that every financial decision is also a spiritual decision. We can all be better stewards by being grateful and content with what we have and understand that everything comes from God, belongs to God, and is distributed by God.
#3 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
That doesn’t mean I believe your child needs to work before you provide them food, shelter and clothing but by paying your child an allowance for doing work/chores around the house does teach your children the value of work. If you want to teach your child about saving, giving and spending money, they first have to learn a lesson on earning it!
#4 Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
The most joyous people are not always the ones who have the most but they are usually the ones who give the most. Teaching your children about giving their time and money develops discipline because an awareness of others’ misfortune will serve them well in any aspect of their lives.
#5 Proverbs 6:6-8 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Thought they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
Does saving mean that we are not relying on God? No, saving is being a good steward of your financial resources. Nobody likes to plan on things going wrong, but invariably they do. An easy rule to teach your child is the 10-10-80 rule where they give the first 10%, save 10% and can spend the rest!
Article first posted via: http://brendayoder.com/steve-repak-fi...
4 Simple Ways to Jumpstart Your Finances
If you feel that your finances are on life support and you have little hope of the situation improving, I want to you to provide you with a little ray of sunshine by showing you 4 easy ways to jumpstart your finances.
1. Start Giving More
I know what you are thinking, how can you jumpstart your finances if you are giving your money away! Truth be told, getting onto a healthier path with your finances has less to do with knowing what to do and more with doing what you know. If you truly believe that God is able to provide for your needs, then you acknowledge that by giving back to God. If you truly believe it is better to give than to receive, once again, you demonstrate that by giving to others that are less fortunate. Your money attitudes are crucial so by learning to give first, you will have no choice but to learn to live on less and that is the cornerstone of personal finance!
2. Start Tracking Your Spending
There is no secret that people who don’t run out of money at the end of the month are the ones who spend less than they make. Keeping a spending journal for two weeks can really make a big difference in your spending patterns. I think most of us know how much we make; the problem is that many of us have no idea exactly what we are spending each week. If you want to spend less so you can save more and pay off debt, you must know what you are spending your money on and then decide what expenditures you can eliminate or reduce. Consider using cash for two weeks instead of using your credit cards or debit card. I have heard that it hurts to break a $20, so maybe using cash can help you to start spending less of your hard earned money.
3. Start Knocking Out Your Debt
Don’t be one of those people who justify their debt by thinking that as long as you can afford to make the minimum payments on your credit card you are ok. You must start paying more toward your debt which will reduce the amount of interest you will pay over the life of that debt. Also by paying more towards your debt, you will be able to pay that debt off faster so you can start putting that money towards your savings and start earning interest instead of paying interest. Finally, do not be afraid to call your credit card company to negotiate a lower interest rate. The worse that can happen is that they say no!
4. Start Saving, Start Saving, Start Saving
Between making excuses, having good intentions, or just breaking the promises we make to ourselves, it’s easy to understand how we oftentimes fall short of achieving our goals, but we have to start saving money now! For our short term savings, consider opening a savings account at a financial institution different from where your checking account is (to make it a little harder to get to) and set up a bill pay or draft where you pay yourself each month before you pay any other bills. In addition, start putting money away towards retirement because retirement isn’t a question of if, it is a question of when. If your company offers a match where they will contribute a certain percentage of pay if you are setting aside some of you earnings into a company plan, you are leaving money on the table by not taking full advantage of this benefit. For example, if your company will match $.50 of every dollar you set aside into your 401k up to 5% of your salary, by putting anything less than 5%, you are basically saying no to free money. The last simple tip when it comes to saving is this: saving something is better than saving nothing and whatever you have been saving, start saving more!
article courtesy of : http://www.crosswalk.com/family/finan...
1. Start Giving More
I know what you are thinking, how can you jumpstart your finances if you are giving your money away! Truth be told, getting onto a healthier path with your finances has less to do with knowing what to do and more with doing what you know. If you truly believe that God is able to provide for your needs, then you acknowledge that by giving back to God. If you truly believe it is better to give than to receive, once again, you demonstrate that by giving to others that are less fortunate. Your money attitudes are crucial so by learning to give first, you will have no choice but to learn to live on less and that is the cornerstone of personal finance!
2. Start Tracking Your Spending
There is no secret that people who don’t run out of money at the end of the month are the ones who spend less than they make. Keeping a spending journal for two weeks can really make a big difference in your spending patterns. I think most of us know how much we make; the problem is that many of us have no idea exactly what we are spending each week. If you want to spend less so you can save more and pay off debt, you must know what you are spending your money on and then decide what expenditures you can eliminate or reduce. Consider using cash for two weeks instead of using your credit cards or debit card. I have heard that it hurts to break a $20, so maybe using cash can help you to start spending less of your hard earned money.
3. Start Knocking Out Your Debt
Don’t be one of those people who justify their debt by thinking that as long as you can afford to make the minimum payments on your credit card you are ok. You must start paying more toward your debt which will reduce the amount of interest you will pay over the life of that debt. Also by paying more towards your debt, you will be able to pay that debt off faster so you can start putting that money towards your savings and start earning interest instead of paying interest. Finally, do not be afraid to call your credit card company to negotiate a lower interest rate. The worse that can happen is that they say no!
4. Start Saving, Start Saving, Start Saving
Between making excuses, having good intentions, or just breaking the promises we make to ourselves, it’s easy to understand how we oftentimes fall short of achieving our goals, but we have to start saving money now! For our short term savings, consider opening a savings account at a financial institution different from where your checking account is (to make it a little harder to get to) and set up a bill pay or draft where you pay yourself each month before you pay any other bills. In addition, start putting money away towards retirement because retirement isn’t a question of if, it is a question of when. If your company offers a match where they will contribute a certain percentage of pay if you are setting aside some of you earnings into a company plan, you are leaving money on the table by not taking full advantage of this benefit. For example, if your company will match $.50 of every dollar you set aside into your 401k up to 5% of your salary, by putting anything less than 5%, you are basically saying no to free money. The last simple tip when it comes to saving is this: saving something is better than saving nothing and whatever you have been saving, start saving more!
article courtesy of : http://www.crosswalk.com/family/finan...
Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
A 2015 study by SunTrust Bank found that it’s not just those in a lower-income tax bracket that are living paycheck to paycheck. According to the online study, which was conducted by Harris Poll, nearly one-third of households earning $75,000 annually found themselves with more month than money. Perhaps even more worrisome, according to the study, a whopping 71 percent of millennials making $75,000 also had difficulties with their monthly spending.
One of the biggest factors to which these survey respondents attributed their spending problems wasn’t related to transportation or housing—or even medical expenses. More than two-thirds of retiree households earning $75,000 or more blamed their issues on dining out, and the same went for 70 percent of millennials making more than $75,000. Money spent on clothing, entertainment, and hobbies also made up a large portion of the drain on monthly cash flow.
If you’re finding that you don’t have as much left at the end of the month as you want, here are a few ideas to consider that may stretch your paycheck dollars further:
Stop dining out as much
You don’t have to be a financial expert to figure out that this approach can help put your spending on a diet, but the key phrase here is “as much.” You can still dine out, but instead of eating out every night, consider cutting back to once or twice a week. The same goes for weekends. Don’t go out on both Saturday and Sunday; instead, pick one day. The key is to go out less than you are now because a restaurant meal usually costs significantly more when compared to going to the grocery store and then fixing a meal at home.
Spend less when eating out
If you enjoy adult beverages consider switching to water. Not only will you leave the restaurant with more money in your wallet but also your body will likely appreciate it because you will be ingesting fewer calories. You can also consider ordering lower-cost lunch or appetizer portions instead of the larger dinner portions or splitting a meal with your friend or significant other. Finally, consider order desserts for special occasions only.
Be smarter when clothes shopping
Even though you may have been out of school for many years, you can still take advantage of a tax-free weekend in the dog days of summer. Depending on your state, sales tax is usually not collected on selected items, such as clothing, typically the weekend or a few days just before school starts. You may also want to consider other clothing options such as consignment stores, which often offer budget-friendly options.
Find alternatives for entertainment and travel
Instead of paying the big bucks watching professional sports at an overpriced stadium, consider visiting a local minor league, college, or high school football or basketball game. Tickets can be substantially cheaper or even free, as are the items at the concession stand. If you like traveling and consider yourself a little adventurous, take a train trip. Trains can be comfortable, you can see the sights, and the trips usually won’t be too hard on your pocketbook. If you like reading or watching movies, check out your local library. Find your nearest beauty school for a discounted haircut, manicure, or perhaps even a massage.
Make hobbies pay
If you’re retired and you have more time than money, consider turning a hobby into a fun side job. For example, if you enjoy home renovations, woodworking, painting, or do-it-yourself activities, you might be able to turn those hobbies into some extra money from your friends and neighbors. If you have a talent in stained glass, jewelry making, sewing, or knitting, you may be able to sell your unique goods to local craft stores or online using marketplaces like Etsy.
If you enjoy an expensive hobby like golf, you might consider exploring a cheaper alternative, such as biking, swimming, or tennis. You could take up chess or cards and join a local group, or you may want to try bird watching and nature walks, which usually don’t cost a thing. Whether you are retired or are just starting out your career, living on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have fun!
article courtesy of: https://blog.equifax.com/credit/stop-...
One of the biggest factors to which these survey respondents attributed their spending problems wasn’t related to transportation or housing—or even medical expenses. More than two-thirds of retiree households earning $75,000 or more blamed their issues on dining out, and the same went for 70 percent of millennials making more than $75,000. Money spent on clothing, entertainment, and hobbies also made up a large portion of the drain on monthly cash flow.
If you’re finding that you don’t have as much left at the end of the month as you want, here are a few ideas to consider that may stretch your paycheck dollars further:
Stop dining out as much
You don’t have to be a financial expert to figure out that this approach can help put your spending on a diet, but the key phrase here is “as much.” You can still dine out, but instead of eating out every night, consider cutting back to once or twice a week. The same goes for weekends. Don’t go out on both Saturday and Sunday; instead, pick one day. The key is to go out less than you are now because a restaurant meal usually costs significantly more when compared to going to the grocery store and then fixing a meal at home.
Spend less when eating out
If you enjoy adult beverages consider switching to water. Not only will you leave the restaurant with more money in your wallet but also your body will likely appreciate it because you will be ingesting fewer calories. You can also consider ordering lower-cost lunch or appetizer portions instead of the larger dinner portions or splitting a meal with your friend or significant other. Finally, consider order desserts for special occasions only.
Be smarter when clothes shopping
Even though you may have been out of school for many years, you can still take advantage of a tax-free weekend in the dog days of summer. Depending on your state, sales tax is usually not collected on selected items, such as clothing, typically the weekend or a few days just before school starts. You may also want to consider other clothing options such as consignment stores, which often offer budget-friendly options.
Find alternatives for entertainment and travel
Instead of paying the big bucks watching professional sports at an overpriced stadium, consider visiting a local minor league, college, or high school football or basketball game. Tickets can be substantially cheaper or even free, as are the items at the concession stand. If you like traveling and consider yourself a little adventurous, take a train trip. Trains can be comfortable, you can see the sights, and the trips usually won’t be too hard on your pocketbook. If you like reading or watching movies, check out your local library. Find your nearest beauty school for a discounted haircut, manicure, or perhaps even a massage.
Make hobbies pay
If you’re retired and you have more time than money, consider turning a hobby into a fun side job. For example, if you enjoy home renovations, woodworking, painting, or do-it-yourself activities, you might be able to turn those hobbies into some extra money from your friends and neighbors. If you have a talent in stained glass, jewelry making, sewing, or knitting, you may be able to sell your unique goods to local craft stores or online using marketplaces like Etsy.
If you enjoy an expensive hobby like golf, you might consider exploring a cheaper alternative, such as biking, swimming, or tennis. You could take up chess or cards and join a local group, or you may want to try bird watching and nature walks, which usually don’t cost a thing. Whether you are retired or are just starting out your career, living on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have fun!
article courtesy of: https://blog.equifax.com/credit/stop-...
Single Mom Life Hacks That Can Save You Money
Luke 14:28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
I have said that “more money doesn’t equal more money” but more money can definitely come from spending less. No matter how much you make, the key is to find ways to spend less so you can give more, save more, and pay down debt. These tips are some of my favorites that you can use to help you spend less.
Scan Grocery Receipts for Cash Back
We all have to eat which means we need to go grocery shopping. What you may not know is that there are several smartphone apps that will give you cash back on your grocery store purchases, such as Ibotta and Checkout 51. If you use the app Checkout 51 you just sign up for the weekly updates. Offers are updated every Thursday. Then you just go shopping and buy the products from any store. You will then take a photo of your receipt to redeem your offer and once you reach $20 in savings, Checkout 51 will mail you a check. It is just that easy!
Zip Your Pants
If you have a son, I imagine you had to remind him at least once or twice to zip his pants. Just as important as making sure your pants are zipped when leaving the house is making sure they are zipped before washing them, especially jeans. Garments that have metal zippers are like miniature chainsaws, tearing up and ruining other expensive clothing in the washer and dryer. Take a few extra seconds to zip up before dropping your garment into the washer to help prolong the life of all your clothes.
Invest in Vinegar
Investing in vinegar is actually three tips in one! Tip #1. You can make an inexpensive, all-purpose household cleaner by loosely filling a heat-resistant glass container with leftover citrus peels (think lemons, oranges, limes or grapefruit) and adding equal parts boiling water and white vinegar. Cover the mixture and let it sit for a week before straining it into spray bottles. Tip#2. Trade your bleach for vinegar! Using distilled white vinegar whitens, freshens, and softens fabrics. All you need to do is to add 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to your washing machine along with your regular laundry detergent. I know what you are thinking, vinegar has a strong smell. Don’t worry about the vinegar scent- it will dissipate after drying. Additionally, instead of buying stain removers you can use vinegar on spot stains and collar and underarm stains. I learned this tip back in my old Army days! Tip#3. Replace your weed killer with vinegar. Not only will it be safer by having one less poisonous item around the house, but it is also much cheaper and just as effective at killing weeds. Vinegar is highly acidic and works much the same way as conventional weed killers work by destroying the roots of the weeds so they wither and die.
Choose Generic over Name Brand
Everyone knows that generic or store-brand products are cheaper than name brands, but you might now realize just how much cheaper. According to Consumer Reports, you can about 25 percent less when you buy store brands. For those who have kids that are picky eaters you can buy the name brand cereal and refill the box with generic once it’s eaten and I bet they won’t be able to taste the difference!
Get a Free Apple, Onion, or Potato
When buying pre-bagged produce — like a 10-pound bag of oranges or potatoes, always weigh the bags before selecting the one you want to purchase. The weight marked on the bag is the minimum required by law, and some bags will likely weigh more, even though they cost the same. If it’s free, it’s for me!
article courtesy of: https://thelifeofasinglemom.com/singl...
I have said that “more money doesn’t equal more money” but more money can definitely come from spending less. No matter how much you make, the key is to find ways to spend less so you can give more, save more, and pay down debt. These tips are some of my favorites that you can use to help you spend less.
Scan Grocery Receipts for Cash Back
We all have to eat which means we need to go grocery shopping. What you may not know is that there are several smartphone apps that will give you cash back on your grocery store purchases, such as Ibotta and Checkout 51. If you use the app Checkout 51 you just sign up for the weekly updates. Offers are updated every Thursday. Then you just go shopping and buy the products from any store. You will then take a photo of your receipt to redeem your offer and once you reach $20 in savings, Checkout 51 will mail you a check. It is just that easy!
Zip Your Pants
If you have a son, I imagine you had to remind him at least once or twice to zip his pants. Just as important as making sure your pants are zipped when leaving the house is making sure they are zipped before washing them, especially jeans. Garments that have metal zippers are like miniature chainsaws, tearing up and ruining other expensive clothing in the washer and dryer. Take a few extra seconds to zip up before dropping your garment into the washer to help prolong the life of all your clothes.
Invest in Vinegar
Investing in vinegar is actually three tips in one! Tip #1. You can make an inexpensive, all-purpose household cleaner by loosely filling a heat-resistant glass container with leftover citrus peels (think lemons, oranges, limes or grapefruit) and adding equal parts boiling water and white vinegar. Cover the mixture and let it sit for a week before straining it into spray bottles. Tip#2. Trade your bleach for vinegar! Using distilled white vinegar whitens, freshens, and softens fabrics. All you need to do is to add 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to your washing machine along with your regular laundry detergent. I know what you are thinking, vinegar has a strong smell. Don’t worry about the vinegar scent- it will dissipate after drying. Additionally, instead of buying stain removers you can use vinegar on spot stains and collar and underarm stains. I learned this tip back in my old Army days! Tip#3. Replace your weed killer with vinegar. Not only will it be safer by having one less poisonous item around the house, but it is also much cheaper and just as effective at killing weeds. Vinegar is highly acidic and works much the same way as conventional weed killers work by destroying the roots of the weeds so they wither and die.
Choose Generic over Name Brand
Everyone knows that generic or store-brand products are cheaper than name brands, but you might now realize just how much cheaper. According to Consumer Reports, you can about 25 percent less when you buy store brands. For those who have kids that are picky eaters you can buy the name brand cereal and refill the box with generic once it’s eaten and I bet they won’t be able to taste the difference!
Get a Free Apple, Onion, or Potato
When buying pre-bagged produce — like a 10-pound bag of oranges or potatoes, always weigh the bags before selecting the one you want to purchase. The weight marked on the bag is the minimum required by law, and some bags will likely weigh more, even though they cost the same. If it’s free, it’s for me!
article courtesy of: https://thelifeofasinglemom.com/singl...
4 Tips for Staying Grounded Through a Mid-Life Crisis
When you think of a mid-life crisis, you might picture a middle-aged man or woman buying a fancy red car or suddenly sporting a different significant other. In mid-life, it’s natural to go through a period of self-reflection, questioning if you are on the correct path. Mid-life has its dangers, including the ones that come from having more money. If you have it, it’s easy to blow it, and some people are just one bad financial decision away from losing it all.
I’ve seen some of my wealthbuilders come dangerously close to mid-life mistakes, and a handful make some catastrophic errors. I’m not a psychologist, but I can tell you that some emotionally driven moves have nasty financial consequences. I’ve written down a handful of ideas based on what I’ve seen that might help people stay on an even keel.
1. Love people, not things
A red sports car, 20-foot yacht or Harley will eventually start collecting dust. People who are prudent with their finances do not allow their emotions to cloud their judgement when they make big purchases. Though in the short term you may feel good driving that expensive new vehicle, you’ll likely pay a greater price for that decision in the long run. The happiest clients I know spent less money on things that could never love them back and more time with people who did.
2. Focus less on the outside and more on the inside
Botox, liposuction and face lifts are definitely good for the pocketbooks of plastic surgeons, but they can be a strain on yours. I am not saying that you shouldn’t be concerned with your outer beauty, but be more concerned with your inner beauty. Being polite, kind, honest, loving, patient, and self-controlled doesn’t cost you a dime. Easier said than done, right? But if you won’t listen to me, consider Albert Einstein’s advice: “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”
3. Stay married. If you split, keep it civil.
Sometimes there are good reasons for a divorce. But if you think the decision comes without a cost, think again. The average cost of a litigated divorce is around $15,000. Also keep in mind that the process of divorce not only carries a high financial cost, but an emotional cost. So, if the spark is gone, don’t do what comes naturally in our consumer society by upgrading to a newer edition. I’ve seen couples in my practice helped by counseling. Consider investing in professional help, either for yourself or as a couple. If you are not happy with yourself, a new partner can’t do it for you.
4. Volunteer more
The people who are the most joyous and satisfied with their lives are not always the people who have the most stuff. Often, they are the biggest volunteers. When I look around at my mid-life and later clients, I see that the happiest ones are those who give a lot of their time. It doesn’t have to be formal, either. The little things that you do in other peoples’ lives can make a big difference. Mow your neighbor’s lawn, serve lunch at your local soup kitchen, or visit a stranger at a retirement home. When you volunteer, you will become aware of others’ misfortune, which will help you stay focused on what’s truly important in your life. Even better are the positive feelings you will experience afterwards. Volunteering might stretch your comfort zone, but consider trying it, even for just one day.
article courtesy of: http://www.letsmakeaplan.org/blog/vie...
I’ve seen some of my wealthbuilders come dangerously close to mid-life mistakes, and a handful make some catastrophic errors. I’m not a psychologist, but I can tell you that some emotionally driven moves have nasty financial consequences. I’ve written down a handful of ideas based on what I’ve seen that might help people stay on an even keel.
1. Love people, not things
A red sports car, 20-foot yacht or Harley will eventually start collecting dust. People who are prudent with their finances do not allow their emotions to cloud their judgement when they make big purchases. Though in the short term you may feel good driving that expensive new vehicle, you’ll likely pay a greater price for that decision in the long run. The happiest clients I know spent less money on things that could never love them back and more time with people who did.
2. Focus less on the outside and more on the inside
Botox, liposuction and face lifts are definitely good for the pocketbooks of plastic surgeons, but they can be a strain on yours. I am not saying that you shouldn’t be concerned with your outer beauty, but be more concerned with your inner beauty. Being polite, kind, honest, loving, patient, and self-controlled doesn’t cost you a dime. Easier said than done, right? But if you won’t listen to me, consider Albert Einstein’s advice: “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”
3. Stay married. If you split, keep it civil.
Sometimes there are good reasons for a divorce. But if you think the decision comes without a cost, think again. The average cost of a litigated divorce is around $15,000. Also keep in mind that the process of divorce not only carries a high financial cost, but an emotional cost. So, if the spark is gone, don’t do what comes naturally in our consumer society by upgrading to a newer edition. I’ve seen couples in my practice helped by counseling. Consider investing in professional help, either for yourself or as a couple. If you are not happy with yourself, a new partner can’t do it for you.
4. Volunteer more
The people who are the most joyous and satisfied with their lives are not always the people who have the most stuff. Often, they are the biggest volunteers. When I look around at my mid-life and later clients, I see that the happiest ones are those who give a lot of their time. It doesn’t have to be formal, either. The little things that you do in other peoples’ lives can make a big difference. Mow your neighbor’s lawn, serve lunch at your local soup kitchen, or visit a stranger at a retirement home. When you volunteer, you will become aware of others’ misfortune, which will help you stay focused on what’s truly important in your life. Even better are the positive feelings you will experience afterwards. Volunteering might stretch your comfort zone, but consider trying it, even for just one day.
article courtesy of: http://www.letsmakeaplan.org/blog/vie...
