Plan YOUR Work!

Work YOUR Plan!

Don't tell me where your priorities are.

Show me where you spend your money and I'll tell you what they are.

-James W. Frick

Showing posts with label Financial Literacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Financial Literacy. Show all posts

Thursday, December 1, 2011

49 Money Tips from Free Money Wisdom

Over at Free Wisdom, Jon the Saver reached out to some finance blogs to get their best advice on their #1 finance tip. Check out what they had to offer...

Sustainable PF- “Pay yourself first.  By saving 10% in an automated matter you can save for your retirement more easily.”
Money is the Root- ”Spend less than you earn, and you will never be broke!”
My Personal Finance Journey- “My top financial tip would be for college students to open up a Roth IRA and fund it if they have a job in college or during the summer between classes so that they can take advantage of compound interest to save for retirement.”
College Investor- ”Start investing your income from your first job to get ahead.  The power of compounding is amazing!”
Prairie EcoThrifter- “My best tip would be to make your own cleaning and personal care products. You can save a bundle and they are much healthier for you and your family.”
Net Worth Protect- “When developing a savings plan keep it simple.  As soon as you receive your paycheck allocate a percentage towards savings and immediately move the funds out of your spending account.  Out of sight, out of mind”
Funancials- ”Your child can easily get a loan for school, but you cannot get a loan for retirement. I think too many parents have the dream of paying for their child’s education (which is great) but they reduce their retirement savings to make it happen. Big no no.”
One Cent at a Time- “Do not prepare your buying list after clipping coupons rather, get your shopping list and find coupons for each of them.”
20′s Finances-  ”Start saving for your future today! Planning for retirement even in your 20′s can earn you lots of money in the long run and make life much easier.”
DollarVersity- “Failing to plan is planning to fail—you need a roadmap to achieving goals.  Paying off debt, building wealth, or running a successful business may be the goals, but you need to plan your course to reach those destinations.”
Free From Broke- “Don’t spend more money than you have.”
KrantCents- “Savings is the key to success.  I learned how to save early and it, more than anything, helped me achieve success.”
The Jenny Pincher- “Spend Less Than You Earn! It’s so simple yet so effective if we can get ourselves in that mindset!”
The Family CEO- “Be very intentional with your spending. Cut back on or eliminate the things that don’t bring you much value, so you can have in your life the things and experiences that do.”
101 Centavos- “Early is for go, late is for show.  If you want to be successful, get up early.  Getting to work while everyone else is either still asleep or just now brushing their teeth will give you a leg up on the competition.  Staying late is fine if you want to impress the boss, but your productivity decreases along with your energy levels.”
Millionaire Nurse Blog- “To prevent lifestyle creep, any raises, bonus money, and  gifts can be put into your emergency fund, or added to your retirement savings.  You will hit your savings goal faster and not increase your lifestyle costs, a twofer!”
Your Finances Simplified- “Limit your rent/mortgage payment to no more than 25% of your net income.  The reason why you want to do this is so that you are flexible when life happens or you have the opportunity to invest more money and generate wealth.  This tip alone has given me the income to invest in multiple income producing business that will have me retiring by 40 or sooner.”
The Frugal Toad- “Diversify among asset classes, re-balance quarterly, employ dollar cost averaging, and keep your hands off!”
20 and Engaged- “Don’t keep up with the Joneses. Live your own live beneath your means and you’ll prosper financially.”
Money Beagle- “When setting large goals, make sure to set smaller goals along the way.  Reaching the smaller goals (and giving yourself a small reward) will help you stay on track and minimize the chance of losing momentum and focus on the way toward your larger goals.”
Money QandA- “We spend our entire lives buying things and collecting things. Instead spend your money doing things, gaining experiences, and checking things off your bucket list. Not only is that the way to financial success, it will make your life more rewarding as well.”
Retire by 40- “My top tip is to start saving and investing as early as possible. If you start saving and investing as soon as you start making money, then you will have a lot of time to take advantage of compound interest. It will also give you more time to learn about investing and a lot of time to correct the many inevitable investing mistakes. ”
Wisebread- “Many rewards credit cards pay you a sign-up bonus only after you reach a minimum spending threshold. The best way to reach this minimum is to purchase gift cards for merchants you visit often, or even cash cards from Visa or American Express. Simply make the purchase before the deadline, and use the gift cards later. You can also buy gift cards at grocery stores in order to maximize bonus spending categories. For example, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card gives customers 6% cash back from supermarkets.”
Free Money Finance- “Spend less than you earn.”
Money Crashers- “It’s really important to focus on cutting expenses and implementing strict budgets to allow us to live our lives to the fullest while still saving for the future. But, beyond that, one of the most overlooked strategies is creating incremental income. For example, do you have a passion or expertise you could leverage into a business? Then consider some of the many side business ideas as an avenue for you to create some valuable passive income. And if you’re lucky, this could potentially turn into a full-time job that you’re truly passionate about each and every day!”
Afford Anything- “Spend lavishly on things you love and cut ruthlessly on things you don’t care about. Money is just a stand-in for your priorities.”
Financial Highway- “Start Investing EARLY! Even at $50/month you can benefit from the power of compounding, it is better to save $50 today then $100 a year from now. ”
Christian Dollar- “Spend less than you make, make more through hard work and patience, and give more than you want to. It’s really that simple.”
Financial Samurai- “To listen to people who are wealthier and older than you.”
GenXFinance- “Don’t sweat the small stuff. So you’ve cut out the daily Starbucks, dropped cable, and clip coupons to save a couple hundred bucks a month. Who cares. You will never become wealthy by worrying about how to save the next five bucks. It is a losing game because there is only so much that can be cut, and beyond the basics you end up sacrificing your quality of life for the sake of saving what amounts to essentially nothing. Instead of spending time dreaming up ways to cut things out of your life to save ten dollars, think about how to make an extra ten dollars. Or a hundred dollars. Or a thousand dollars. Unlike the limited upside by cutting expenses, the upside of potential income is limitless. Yes, you still want to be conscious of how you spend your money, but focusing your energy on earning more has the potential to make a much greater impact on your life.”
Bucksome Boomer- “Choose your life partner well.  Divorce sets you back decades in your net worth and financial health.”
Life and my Finances- “The best tip I could ever give anyone is “put on your blinders”. Your happiness in life does not depend on how shiny your car is or how many square feet you have in your house. Be thankful for what you have and ignore the Joneses.”
Financial Success Young Adults- “Stay on top of the markets! The Wall Street Journal and CNBC are great ways to keep up with the flow of information. The economy does impact your personal finances and keeping up with help you become familiar with the language of finance and help you better manage your money. ”
Narrow Bridge Finance- “My best money tip is to know when to buy and sell stocks. Technical and fundamental analysis sound complex, but once you know the difference you will know how to buy a stock for long run value over the trends of the moment.”
Debt Eye- ”Check your bank statements every month, and make sure there are no reoccuring charges that you’re not familiar with.  These can include: identity protection, credit monitoring, and or services you hardly use.”
Ultimate Smart Money- ”Think wisely before you act.  Make your purchasing decisions based on your need instead of what you want. Don’t allow your emotion to control your decision.”
Frugal Confessions- “Create an End-of-Year Windfall for Yourself: If you max out your Roth IRA every year ($5,000) by spreading out the payments, it would be around $416 per month. Instead, pay $500 per month for ten months and create a small windfall of cash for one of the most expensive times of the year: an extra $500 cash flow for November and for December. Remember to turn the automatic withdrawals back on after the holidays.”
Fat Guy Skinny Wallet- ”Whenever we are tempted to splurge on an item, or in some other way, spend money on an item for which we haven’t budgeted, we pay that money against our debt instead. For instance, if I get tempted to order a pizza and some wings on the way home from work, what helps me refrain from wasting my money is the thought of using that money to pay off debt instead. So we will not make the purchase and instead we will sign onto our bank’s website and make a payment against our credit card in the amount of the splurge ($20 for pizza in this case). This helps us to fight the urge to spend money frivolously, and it helps us to pay down our debt faster!”
Soldier of Finance- “Find a battle buddy that shares your financial goals to keep yourself accountable (like a workout partner) and help each other succeed.”
Good Financial Cents- “Incorporate the multiple bucket approach when saving for your retirement.  Do this by incorporating Roth IRA’s, Traditional IRA’s, 401k’s, and regular investment accounts to give you plenty of options for your retirement income needs.”
Budgeting in the Fun Stuff- “Keep track of your spending.  If you don’t know where your money is going, you can’t manage it for your present or future.”
Maximizing Money- ”Always make your money work hard for you, but remember to work even harder for your money.”
Roshan Watson- “The Real Golden Rule: He Who Has the Gold Makes the Rules”
ChristianPF- ”For me I think being content with all that we have is one of the smartest things we can do financially. We all know living below our means is a key to financial success, but for many being content with what we have is the first step to living below our means.”
Digerati Life- “My #1 personal finance tip is to prioritize where your money should go.  Many people don’t use a budget or think about where their money is being spent.  But if you take the time to sit down and do some planning (even just a little), by focusing on your financial priorities and on how you intend to parcel out your money (a limited resource), you may be surprised by what you find.  For example, if you’ve got debt, you may decide to prioritize this over saving for a much longer term goal, like a house purchase.  Either way, the exercise of thinking about your income and outgo can be a good first step in making sure your finances are in order.”
DQYDJ- ”Sweat the big stuff.  Automate your retirement contributions and savings and eventually you’ll thank me.”
Thirty Six Months- “My biggest financial tip to budget for everything and don’t buy on impulse. That’s how you get in trouble.”
Frugal Wiz- Financial Tip: “Establish an emergency savings account first before paying off your debt.”

All of these tip may not be right for you, but most will be. Choose wisely!

Persona Finance 4 The People is here to help!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Improving Your Credit Score

Your Credit Score is probably the most important number associated with you. More important than your Social Security number, even. How can this be?

Your Credit Score tells things about you like if you are responsible, if you are a good person to loan money to, what your interest rate will be, if you will be hired for that big job. Your Credit Score is suppose to be gauge for risk factor for anyone who is going to be loaning you money, or even hiring you. Of course, there are circumstances when your score may be out of your control, but those moments are what we call life.

There are many reasons your score may not reflect you in a positive way. Medical bills and unpaid bills are 2 of the biggest reasons I have found to be an issue for most people. That, along with a lack of credit. Yup, not having "enough credit" is a bad thing too. To find that "perfect" balance, here are some tips:

- Pay your bills on time. Paying bills on time, for my clients, is often an issue because if they had the money to pay their bills on time they wouldn't need me. Paying your bills on time is important because it builds a history of being financially responsible. Even if you are only paying the minimum amount due, make sure it's on time. If you can't pay a bill on time, call and let the company know. They will probably work with you.




- Having a credit card is important in your Credit Score. Having a credit card does a couple things for you. Part of your credit score is HOW LONG you have had that card, your HISTORY of paying revolving debt, and your CREDIT-TO-DEBT RATIO. Your credit-to-debt ratio is how much avaliable credit you have compared to how much debt you have. Use your credit card for small purchases and try to pay the balance off every month. Most people carry a balance, so make sure you are paying, at least, the minimum payment due each month.



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- Have an Emergency Fund. An emergency fund gives you room to live when life happens. An emergency fund stops the use of credit cards for emergencies. The emergency fund gives you room to breathe when something unexpected happens. A good rule is to start with a goal of $1,000 and work your way up to 6 months of BASIC expenses.





- Educate yourself. Learning the methods and tips of good financial habits is something most of us weren't taught growing up. There are too many personal finance blogs out there to use the excuse of not knowing better. There are too many people willing to help you learn the right things to do financially. You can only use the "I was never taught" excuse for so long before you have to teach yourself.





- Plan YOUR work! Work YOUR Plan! Sit down and develop a plan. Plan for things you want, for things you need, and for things you need to want. Have a plan A, B, C, even a plan Z if you need it.



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- Check you credit report. You get one free report from each of the 3 companies once a year from the government at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ . There are also other ways to keep an eye on your credit. Your bank might offer a service to monitor your credit, things like this usually come with a fee so keep that in mind.


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These are small but important things you can do to make sure your credit is where you need it to be. You have a life to live, don't let your lack of financial knowledge keep you from living the life you want.

If you need assistance, contact us by email, Facebook, Twitter, Phone.

@peoplesfinance
202-431-8008


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Be Careful! It's a Trap!

Pay Day Loans suck! They are a trap designed to hold you hostage for as long as possible. I would even say Pay Day Loans and those who run Pay Day Loan places are evil.

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They prey on those who need financial assistance and education the most. Offering money with high interest rates attached to it. They offer no financial advice and serve no real purpose, besides preying on the misfortune of others.

Pay Day Loans become a cycle. Once a loan is taken out, the interest makes it very hard to get out from under the loan. Next thing you know you are giving the loan place your whole pay check to pay for the loan, or loans, you have taken out. Then you have to take out more loans just to survive, until the next pay day when you use that check to pay off the loan you took out the pay day before. It's a trap!

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All you are doing is handing over YOUR hard earned money!


I know times get tough and we have to do what we have to do to make it to another day, but what good do Pay Day Loans do? They don't teach people about financial management. They don't offer a way out of debt. They do continue the cycle of poverty.

Look around and see where the Pay Day Loan places are. Who is their target? More often than not, you will find Pay Day Loans places in areas where the community is already in financial trouble. You find them in minority neighborhoods. You find them in cities close to rural areas. Why? Because those are the people who need financial education the most due to their low economic standing.

The New York Times had an article on Pay Day Loans awhile back and a few parts really stood out to me:

"While such lending is effectively banned in 11 states, including New York, through usury or other laws, it is flourishing in 39 others. The practice is unusually rampant and unregulated in New Mexico, where it has become a contentious political issue. The Center for Responsible Lending, a private consumer group based in Durham, N.C., calculates that nationally payday loans totaled at least $28 billion in 2005, doubling in five years.

The loans are quick and easy. Customers are usually required to leave a predated personal check that the lender can cash on the next payday, two or four weeks later. They must show a pay stub or proof of regular income, like Social Security, but there is no credit check, which leads to some defaults but, more often, continued extension of the loan, with repeated fees.

In many states, including New Mexico, lenders also make no effort to see if customers have borrowed elsewhere, which is how Mr. Milford could take out so many loans at once. If they repay on time, borrowers pay fees ranging from $15 per $100 borrowed in some states to, in New Mexico, often $20 or more per $100, which translates into an annualized interest rate, for a two-week loan, of 520 percent or more."

I can't place all the blame on Pay Day Loans. I can't place all the blame on the people who use them. I can't place all the blame on schools. I can't place all the blame on society for not properly educating about money. I can't fully blame society for the cycles of poverty; making Pay Day Loans appealing.

A piece of the blame should be shared. People have to do what they must to survive and Pay Day Loan place take advantage of this. The people who use Pay Day Loans need to develop an exit strategy, no matter how bad their current financial situation happens to be. Have a plan for getting out from under the loans and building a strong financial foundation. Find organizations or individuals that educate AND help you build this foundation. Take control of YOUR money!

As the old saying goes, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."

If you find yourself in Pay Day Loan hell or are considering using Pay Day Loans, let us help instead!

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Friday, October 21, 2011

PF4TP: We're Here to Help

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Personal Finance 4 The People (PF4TP) aims to reach out to those individuals who lack financial education including budgeting, saving, prioritizing, and debt reduction and management all while instilling the importance of being Financially Independent. Financial Independence occurs when an individual has control over their finances and has at least a basic understand of their cash flow allowing them more control over their daily lives. We realize this journey is a whole personal make-over and we provide support for those moments during the journey when all seems impossible and one step forward leads to two steps back. With a societal focus, PF4TP focuses on those types of behaviors that are often cyclical and universal to those who are minorities in the general society who are underemployed, unemployed, or disenfranchised by a system that is failing to meet its own expectations. We teach that controlling one’s Financial Independence allows for a sense of empowerment that alleviates stress, as they will have an Emergency Fund, debt management skills, an understanding of priorities, and even possess the knowledge to pass this information to their children so future generations will not be trapped in the negative cyclical patterns. Alleviating this stress from their lives will, in turn, alleviate stresses from their communities as the residents will provide newly increased tax revenue into their communities; resulting in a positive cyclical effect on the community as a whole.

With a background in Sociology, PF4TP sees the “big picture” of how these underserved groups are being disenfranchised by their lack of financial knowledge and the lack of financial education provided to them. Cycles of negative financial habits have been passed from generation to generation leaving these groups underserved and disenfranchised more and more each generation. PF4TP firmly believes with education and guidance those who want to be Financially Independent should be able to set financial and life goals and reach them.

What sets PF4TP apart from other financial type businesses is our focus on personal finance from a societal view point. Believing this understanding of the importance Financial Independence leads to individual and communities these groups represent – often times overlapping – becoming more productive and self-sustaining.

Aside from working with individuals, we intend to teach basic financial classes where the education will be accompanied by optional guidance just as one would receive if they were working with PF4TP on an individual basis. Ideally, we aim to work with community organizations, churches, and schools to teach financial education as an additional aspect of the services provided.

Becoming Financially Independent is not just an individual accomplishment, it is a community accomplishment!

Plan YOUR work! Work YOUR Plan!
Email: personalfinance4thepeople@gmail.com
Blog: http://personalfinance4thepeople.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @peoplesfinance
Phone: 202-431-8008

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Warren Buffett, Jay-Z, and Cartoons

Remember awhile back when I told you all about a meeting between 3 super rich guys got together to have milkshakes and discuss money?

Remember?
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Well, it seems as though 2 of those men, Warren Buffett and Jay-Z, are bringing their financial super powers together to educate kids about money.

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Buffett has started an online series aimed at teaching children about financial responsibility and the entrepreneurial spirit. The series, called the “Secret Millionaires Club” is set to air on the tv channel The Hub, a cartoon channel for kids, on October 23. And who else but Hova lends his voice and commercial appeal to this first televised episode.

Along with a tv series focused on teach financial literacy, the program will also features a “Learn and Earn” promotion to help get this important message out. The program is sponsored by CreditReport.com. Over 100,000 financial educational kits will be sent out to teachers across the country. The same day, the “Grow Your Own Business Challenge” debuts. The challenge is an online competition designed to stimulate kids’ entrepreneurial ambitions.

To view the 26 webisodes, visit http://www.smckids.com

I think this is an amazing idea! Educating about the right way to handle and value money is a passion of mine. I love that Buffett is sharing his financial genius with a group that will actually listen, kids, is great! Consider the fact that Buffett has been a major financial player for the better part of his 81 years and realize that MOST men in his position don’t want others to know what they know or have what they have.

This is a great idea that I hope to be able to implement in the near future with schools in the DC area. After all, today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders. With the way things are going for our country economically, we need a generation that knows how to value and handle money properly to get us out of this current mess we were left with are struggling with now.

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Yet another reason why I want to be like Warren Buffet when I grow up!