Finances
Wallet Based Values
What does your spending say about your values? Where do your dollars, euros, pounds or other currency go?
Make a list of where your money goes each month. Some common items can include:
- Mortgage or rent payment
- Food- groceries, snacks, restaurants
- Cars- loans, gas, maintenance
- Church, charities, organizations
- Medical & dental care
- Knick knacks, etc.
Now put an average dollars spent with each category. Which is your highest? Where can you cut costs if necessary? I hope it doesn’t show that your values are all about you. Invest in other both time and money. Someday you will need help from others. Ask yourself the question- If someone were to see my expenses without taking with me, would that reflect what I want them to think about me?
This can also reveal if you can manage your money (or moving deeper into debt). Do you have a plan to get out of debt? Here are a few things to looks at to reduce expenses, increase income and help with debt:
- Try to make a little more money at your job. Hourly wage earners ask to work a few more hours. Salary personnel should ask their supervisor how they can move up the ranks to earn more.
- Get a second job. Be careful with your time, don’t let this take away from your relationship and quality time with your family.
- What can you get rid of? Sell it on Ebay, Craigslist, at a yard sale. This generates a little income and can clear a little clutter in your house.
- How many cars do you need? Family of two adults and 2-3 kids; do you really need three cars? Sell the extra one to save on the monthly payment, insurance and maintenance.
- Wait for the movie to come out on video. Renting it ($4, someplaces $1) versus in the theatre with popcorn for two adults ($25-$30 plus babysitter).
- What about your favorite possession- TV. What channels do you normally watch? Can you get by with the basic package instead of the Digital Premium Pack? (I have a bunny ears antenna that I bought for $30 a couple of years ago. We get the main networks and thats all we need.) If you miss a show, now most of them are available for online viewing for free, at least for the major networks.
- Learn an in demand hobby or skill. Then sell your services as a freelancer locally or sites like Elance or Guru.com.
- Cook dinner at home more instead of going out to eat.
- What can you do without for a few months?
- Do you have any reoccurring monthly bills/charges that aren’t needed?
For more tips check out: http://www.danburrell.com/?p=502
Improve your finances and let it speak your real values,
Sam Carrara
Check This Out- Debt
Getting started you may be desperate to get traffic and get out of debt. Just a word of advice- "Be Real."
More can be found about being real at: http://www.mydebtfreegoal.com/2008/01/always-stand-behind-your-beliefs.html
Be Real,
Sam Carrara
Check This Out- Debt
Need a debt calculator for paying off your credit cards, check this out:
Get Out of Debt,
Sam Carrara
Debt Got You Down? Part 2
If you’re suffering under debt, stick close and learn. If you missed the last post read: http://www.samcarrara.com/marketing/debt-got-you-down/
Here we go… Part 2
Now that you’ve listed out your debt… You did do that right? Which debts do you pay off first? Here are two things to keep in mind:
- Pay off small debts- Pay off the smallest one and then move on to successive ones. This gives you a sense of accomplishment by being able to mark debts off your list. › Continue reading
Debt Got You Down?
Forget about the National Debt that is over $9 Trillion dollars! That’s over $30,000 per person.
What is your personal debt? Oh, not much. Let’s list a few areas out…
- Credit Cards
- Mortgage (1st, 2nd and 3rd loans)
- Installment Loans (Vaccuum cleaners, furniture, pets, etc.)
- School (College, Private School for kids, etc.)
- Wedding
- Travel/Vacations
Yes, once again Sam has a depressing post. (Some of those items above are real experiences & life lessons I’ve dealt with, or still dealing with.) Let’s be real, we all have debt. Does it control you? Are you a slave to it? › Continue reading
