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Get This, Not That: A Guide to Proper Father’s Day Gifting

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While your dad might be one of the most important people in your life, he is undoubtedly also one of the hardest to buy for. When it comes to Father’s Day, the challenge of gifting your dad the quintessential gift can be a struggle. How do you get your dad something that conveys your appreciation, gratitude and love? More importantly, how do you get him something he will actually appreciate and hopefully not exchange? Here are some perfect gifts to make any dad feel like #1 on Father’s Day.

Techie Dad

If your first memories with your dad involve something like disassembling a radio just to see how it was put together, then your dad is probably techie. As with most tech fanatics, buying them a gift that will impress them is tough. They already own the computer, the SLR and every edition of PhotoShop. Due to their extreme devotion, they also own the brand new iPad, the MacBook Air and all the accoutrements. But, do they own the new Apple iWatch? While yes, this may be a little spendy (prices start at $399), you might consider amending the spend considering he put up with your teenage years. Just think about how incredible it will be to give your tech dad the one gift he wants, but won’t buy for himself. Yes, you’ll win best child of the year.

father and daughter in the park

father and daughter in the park

Grill Master

If you dad is less of a tech fan and more a fan of being outdoors with his grill, impress him with the Napa Jack’s Barbeque Blast Gourmet Gift Basket from FTD. This awesome collection includes sauces, rubs and BBQ-themed snacks and is certain to dazzle anyone who enjoys spending their time perfecting their grilling technique. With its grill case and reasonable price, this is a gift that makes an impact without hurting your wallet.

Golf Dad

Golf dads might seem like they’re easy to buy for: a box of golf balls, a new polo, a round at his favorite course. But step out of the box this year and get dad something a bit more creative. Pro or not, everyone loses golf balls. And dad would probably appreciate some help finding them. These golf ball locating glasses from Hammacher Schlemmer are less than $40 and offer the tech advantage that will get your dad extra excited to hit the greens.

Beer Lover

What dad isn’t a fan of beer? While every dad has his own set of discerning tastes, it is easy to get a smile out of your beer-loving dad with a case of his favorite, or even a selection of new beers from around the world. This year, try the unexpected with a gift that keeps on giving. Gift your dad a subscription to a beer of the month club for only $40 a month, not only will dad get to try a new beer every month, he will feel the love all year long. If your dad is more the hands-on type, try a beer making kit (starting at $70) that will allow him to create his very own distinct brand of brew.

5 Tips to Prepare for Retirement

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You may be young, but it’s never too early to prepare for retirement. According to a study via the National Retirement Risk Index (NRRI) and the Retirement readiness Rating, 43% to 52% of Americans are not going to live their retirement years in the standard they’d hoped, according to their current living standards?

So what’s the best way to be prepared for the life you want to lead when you retire?  Start planning now. Check out the following five tips to do so.

1.      Contribute to an IRA or Your Employers 401(k)

So you’ve started working for an employer who has a 401(k). You may feel you don’t have the money to spare to contribute, but you’re losing out on more by not contributing. For one, it’s an excellent tax deduction, reducing your taxable income. Also, most employers offering this plan offer some matching contribution. Don’t leave behind that free money on the table. These savings plans handcuff you from quickly accessing this money, so saving it up is a breeze.

2.      Save Up Automatically

Here is another way to start saving towards retirement. You can use this in combination with putting money into your IRA. Start saving money into a savings account by having it pulled automatically from your paycheck each pay period. Talk to your human resource or payroll department about taking a specific dollar amount or percentage, and deposit it into this designated account. This is a guaranteed way to get it in monthly.

3.      Live Healthy to Save More

It’s said living healthy is costly, especially if you eat organic foods. However, organic products aren’t the only road to good health. There are other things you can do such as regular exercise, cut down on your fat intake, and stop smoking. The results: you reduce the chances of developing cardiovascular or lung diseases and live longer. This helps you save by eliminating excess doctors’ visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and as a bonus you’ll also save on not purchasing excess, unhealthy items.

4.      Start Eliminating Debt

Getting rid of debt now will help you prepare drastically when you retire. Not having to worry about a mortgage, car note, or credit card bills help you have money for future lifestyle and vacation plans. The sooner you pay these off, the faster you can start saving for an emergency fund to use instead of your retirement savings for emergencies.

5.      Start a Side Business

In a study called Work in Retirement: Myths and Motivations, they studied 7,727 adults regarding their position on returning to work after retirement, 30% said they would go back to work. Instead of working for someone else, prepare now to work for yourself. This will help you enjoy your retirement years as you want, when you want.

Don’t feel it’s too late to prepare for retirement. Implement the above five tips now and keep on target for future goals.

How to Finance Your First Car

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How To Finance Your First Car The Free Financial AdvisorAccording to NADA’s Annual Financial Profile of America’s Franchised New-Car Dealerships, dealerships sold or leased more than 15.5 million new cars and trucks in 2013. That accounts for a 7.5 percent increase from the year before. As car sales grow and everyone you know seems to be driving around the newest model, it’s tempting to jump in, buy it and speed off the lot with the wind in your hair. Despite the relative ease of purchasing a vehicle, it’s important to know your options, find the best financing available and negotiate a price in your favor. Here are some tips to get started.

Set a Budget

It’s impossible to know how much car you can afford without a budget in place. Make a monthly budget and see if you can stick to it for a few months before diving into an auto loan or car purchase. Make a list of your fixed expenses with a generous amount left over for emergencies and recreation. Use an app like Mint to help keep track of your budget and alert you on when you’re overspending on set categories. Remember it’s not enough to just plan for your auto loan. Consider the cost of your tag fees, car insurance, fuel, ongoing maintenance and extras like getting your car detailed or replacing a flat tire. As a rule of thumb, don’t devote more than 15 percent of your household income to transportation.

Know Your Credit Rating

Get a free credit report from a site like Annual Credit Report to check your rating. Your score can directly impact your interest rate on an auto loan. Your credit report can also alert you to any erroneous information, credit fraud or mistakes. Your rating is calculated with a combination of factors from your credit history, outstanding debt and payment history. Your score ranges from 350 to 800. The higher the score, the better loan you can probably get.

Shop Around for Funding

The upside to securing funding through an auto dealer is taking care of your loan and financing in one place. The downside, car dealers are often paid a commission for it. Instead, consider a dealer like DriveTime where sales advisers aren’t paid on commission, making it easier to trust their advice. They also offer a 30-day limited warranty, 5-day return guarantee and auto check history report on all used cars they sell.

Going with the car dealer’s loan offer or big bank isn’t the only way to secure a car loan. A community credit union generally offers lower rates and is more sympathetic to borrowers with lackluster credit history. Credit unions are known for offering more intimate customer service. Since they’re funded by their customers, they work for their members and aren’t motivated to sell you anything for their own financial gain. Profits from credit unions go back into their services and member offerings.

Negotiate the Price

Regardless of how you pay for your first car, remember the price is negotiable. Consumer Reports suggests purchasing a New Car Price Report to find out what the dealer paid and using it as a springboard for negotiation. Be warned, dealers like to lump everything together from financing to trade-in you might be offering. It can be difficult to figure out the numbers once it’s lumped together. Negotiate one thing at a time and stick to the monthly amount you want to pay. Start with your rock-bottom price and let the dealer work you up slowly to a reasonable price you can drive away with.

Online Businesses: Lots and Lots of Benefits

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Today we’re pretty excited about owning online properties. I thought it’d be worthwhile to explore all of the benefits, especially for people reading this blog considering jumping into the fun!

Instead of hoping for a dream job and a big salary, owning your own online business can open many doors for you and buy you more benefits. On top of the perks many people talk about, like working from home and flexible hours, it also can keep costs down, helping you financially. Internet businesses normally operate at a fraction of the cost of brick and mortar stores. While with traditional businesses you would need to rent or purchase a building, Internet businesses are all online. Many programs such as Shopify simplify the process of starting up your business. It’s a smoother, easier glide path to profits. Compared to the thousands of dollars you’d spend in renting out space, you’d only have to dish out a couple hundred a month at most. Home Office Free Financial Advisor

General Benefits in Doing Business Online

  1. As popular website InternetBusinessJunkie mentions, you have the ability to reach more people if you do business online. Traditional businesses that have a set location don’t reach nearly as many countries as an online business does. Most online businesses have the ability to do national as well as international sales. This blog alone is read in over 35 different countries on a consistent basis!
  2. You can leverage the usage and growth of the internet. The best way to market your business is by networking and there are many free and low cost ways to market online.  Social media is a great free resource to do most of your networking.
  3. You are able to work wherever it’s convenient. As long as you have a laptop or tablet, you can work virtually anywhere with just a WiFi connection. This allows you to keep a more flexible schedule so you can work whenever you need to.
  4. No more commuting. This saves a ton of time and money, especially with gas prices these days. I wake up every day and walk over to my home office and begin working.
  5. Though you are responsible for your own taxes, as Smallbusiness mentions, this could work to your advantage. As long as you remember to, you are able to take out as much or as little as you please. By the end of the year, by paying in taxes as you go, you’re in control of how much you will receive back or if you’ll owe more all at the due date.
  6. It has been said that the Internet has created an economy all of its own. Since millions of people are doing business online, it is only a matter of time before many traditional businesses become a thing of the past. Dbwebdoctor states that in years to come, eCommerce will obtain its main growth from small and mid-sized businesses.

Be Set For Life Financially

Unlike traditional businesses, online businesses operate 24/7. This means that while you sleep, you’re still receiving orders from customers worldwide. This could take the guesswork out of figuring out the right hours to be open. Being the sole owner of your business also means that you set your own wages. You can determine what your products should be priced at instead of listening to the head of a corporate business telling you what to do.

Once you learn the ins and outs of selling online, you have what we refer to as “blue sky” potential. Sure, there are going to be some trial and error runs regarding what products you should sell, but once you know how to sell online, making money will follow. Building a business online also gives you the ability to work for something that you love to do, according to Lifehack. How many people out there can honestly say that they are working towards what they are passionate about and they love what they do?

Resources to help are also plentiful. There are pools of designers and programmers available to hire at places like eLance or Odesk, among others, if you need help building any aspect of your website. There are freelance writers who will write articles for your website and virtual assistants who can take care of tedious details concerning your business. This could take a lot of pressure off of your shoulders while you deal with your product line and customers. The Free Financial Advisor works with a programmer in Minnesota, a virtual assistant in Michigan and another in the Philippines, as an example.

If you have children and are currently paying for child care, this is another expense you can think about canceling. Since you have the ability to work from home, you won’t have the need to spend hundreds of dollars a week for a babysitter. Though you may want to hire a babysitter once or twice a week if it becomes too much of a distraction juggling all of your responsibilities, you won’t pay nearly as much as if you went back to a full time daycare.

Between saving money on everyday expenses and making money at your own leisure, if you are dedicated to your business, you will be able to make it work. There are many resources online that can help you through your journey to owning your own business.

Photo: Lisa Risager

5 Apps To Simplify Your Finances

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Online chartOnly 30 percent of Americans prepare a long-term financial plan including investment goals, states a poll by Gallup. That means 70 percent of people are figuring out their financial plans as they go and hoping the numbers add up somewhere along the way. If you want to be part of the 30 percent, there are ways to simplify the financial planning process from paying bills to knowing where to invest. Take the tedium out of creating a budget and savings plan by downloading a few apps to your smartphone to put you on the right track.

Mint

Simplify your banking and savings accounts, investments, credit cards and loans by having them all in one place. With Mint you can set up your accounts and get an easy-to-read, simplified graph to show how much you’re spending and where. Mint also lets you design a budget, and it will alert you when you’ve gone over or when you’re getting close. It is ideal for those working towards a financial goal like paying off a credit card or a trip abroad because it allows you to set a plan and watch your progress. Seeing how close you’re getting also can help motivate you to push harder towards your finish line.

LikeFolio

Don’t let the overwhelming amount of investment advice stop you from taking action. LikeFolio figures out which companies you and your friends like and talk about most so you can invest in them. The idea is that you should invest in companies you already know and love. LikeFolio pours through your social media status updates for any mentions of brands and products, and then helps give you more information for your potential investments.

Expensify

Expensify is for anyone who hates expense reports and wants to streamline the process. It’s free to upload or email an unlimited amount of receipts, and it allows you to quickly add cash expenses and import your credit and debit card transactions. You also can add mileage, time and other billable expenses as needed. Use their SmartScan process to help separate receipts and type out the following information on your behalf. It shows the merchant name, transaction date and amount. The first month is free, and $5 per month after that.

Check

Pay all your bills in one place with the free app called Check. Get instant alerts for upcoming bills, finance charges and other financial activity. It takes a little time to set-up all of your accounts, but once it’s set, Check does all the work for you. When bills are due, simply log in on your smartphone or other device and pay quickly and safely. The app promises bank-level security and real time alerts so you can monitor large expenses and deposits.

Wally

This highly intuitive app makes financial management easy with a 360 degree view of your money. Wally consistently gets rave reviews for its simple interface, which is both pleasant to look at and use. Get a glimpse of all your activity from spending to savings while Wally helps you figure out where your money is going. Like Expensify, Wally also has an InstaScan feature to scan a receipt for an expense report or your own records.

Get Your Family Out of Debt & Onto a Happier Financial Path

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CalculatingWith car payments, home loans, student loans and household expenses, it’s easy to snowball into debt. You may be overwhelmed by the amount of debt that has accumulated, but the debt snowball method may be a great first step toward financial freedom.

Snowballing 101

The debt snowball method pays off your smallest debts first and, once those are paid off, you move on to the larger debts. Start off by listing your debts in order from smallest to largest. You will attack the smallest debt first. While finishing off the smallest debt, you will be paying the minimum payment on the larger debts.

Here’s a quick example:

  • $1,000 medical bill (minimum payment $50)
  • $5,000 credit card ($75)
  • $10,000 car loan ($200)

If you have an extra $1,275 a month, you can pay off your medical bill in the first month while paying the minimum on your credit card and car loan. After that you can move toward crushing the credit card debt and then move on to that pesky car loan.

Benefits of Snowballing Out of Debt

Some of the benefits of using the snowball method are purely psychological. Using this method enables you to see results sooner. Once you finish paying off your first debt, you no longer have to worry about paying that creditor. That gives you a sense of accomplishment; no more emails or calls from debt collectors.

A study by the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern found that the snowball approach works. By relishing the small victories, debtors were more likely to continue to pay off their debts. The study used data from 6,000 people trying to eliminate credit debt and found this led to faster debt elimination.

Cons of the Debt Snowball Method

The debt snowball method does come with some controversy. Although you are paying off the debt with the highest balance, the debt snowball method fails to take interest into account. If your largest debt also happens to be the one you pay the highest interest on, you will end up paying a lot more in interest. Your interest payments may end up doubling after everything is said and done, so do your due diligence to see if this method will work for you.

Preparing to Pay Off Your Loans

Whether or not you choose to use the debt snowball method, you are going to have to prepare to pay off these loans. You may have to cut down on those iced soy lattes or find unique ways to generate cash flow.

There are several ways you can save some money to start paying off your debt now. If you receive periodic payments from a structured settlement or annuity, you could sell its future payments to a company like J.G Wentworth and use your lump sum to start paying off your debts.

When Gambling, Be Careful To Do So Responsibly

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Lots of investors are also top poker players. However, sometimes gambling can get out of hand.

Since their original format, online casinos have seen substantial development in recent years, they have made casino gambling much more accessible to many people who had never set foot into a casino. Also, it made it much easier to learn how to play certain games prior to having a casino outing. The growth of online casinos has been further spurred by advancements in technology that permit gambling on a broader range of devices. When gambling, most people opt for using real money in the hopes of winning some, given the high stakes it is important that gamblers learn to play in a responsible manner.

When gambling online, it is possible for time to get away from you. To gamble responsibly, set a time limit. Tell yourself that at a certain prearranged time, you’ll log off your device and end the session. Time is a precious commodity and with online casinos making gambling even easier to do, consumers have to protect themselves. Playing online, you are actually at an advantage in terms of keeping track of time – it is well-known that land-based casinos do not display clocks in order to let their patrons lose track of time. Along with setting a time limit, is setting a budget limit which would mean that you would determine how much money you can afford to lose during that particular gaming session. Once the money is gone or your time limit occurs, then the gambling session should conclude. Perhaps one of the most important tips is that you should learn all the nuances and definitions of gambling and how the casinos intend to win.

Another important thing to remember when gambling online is that you should take advantage of bonuses and incentives offered by the casinos. One of the most helpful these days is the ability to play for free, which is offered by sites such as www.gamingclub.com/au. These monetary rewards can further help you stretch out your gambling budget and responsible gamers make the best use of what resources they are offered when at an online casino. This means they enjoy it more, especially with more chances to play their favourite online casino games without having to dip into their own gambling bankroll. This can even be more favourable if they actually win more money with these bonuses.

Why are students using payday loans?

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 Money Elizabeth

Istockphoto

There appears to be a rising trend that shows that more and more students are taking out short term loans.  Research by the National Union of Students (NUS) shows that up to 46,000 undergraduates are using what they term high risk debt (which includes payday loans, cheque cashing and doorstep loans).  They suggest a number of reasons for this which relate, in the main, to funding their living costs and fees. .

Some highlights from their research show:

  • the weekly cost of student accommodation has nearly doubled in 10 years (£60 – £118);
  • 50% of students worry about meeting basic living expenses like rent and utility bills;
  • over third of students receive no family financial support.

These stats show it is not a typical student lifestyle being funded via a payday loan, but the essentials.

So worried are the NUS about the risk of spiralling debt problems in the student , that they are calling on a ban of all payday lenders from advertising in student magazines, student residences and on campuses.

Payday loan giant Wonga took the unprecedented step of not advertising to students last year and removed all pages from their website in 2012 that could have been construed as targeting students. This has not, however, currently stopped other companies trying to.

Students themselves, has also taken a novel approach and launched their own “payday loan” company specifically for the student market. Unlike normal lenders they have a number of interesting features:

  • no rollovers;
  • a 10 day grace period – in case of student loan problems;
  • a fixed cap of interest – you can never owe more than 50% of what you borrowed;
  • a lower rate of interest.

So even the students themselves see that there is a need for access to short term finance, and they feel they are able to offer a more competitive and student friendly service themselves.

What does the industry say?

The Consumer Finance Association, which represents some of the main payday providers, said students would need to be in regular employment to qualify for a loan from a reputable lender, and that simply banning advertising in campuses would not remove the issue.

The new financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has issued new regulations for payday lenders which came into force in July and include:

  • restrictions on the number of rollovers (ie.how many times a loan can be extended);
  • wealth warnings on ads;
  • more rigorous testing on affordability.

The aim is to remove the less than reputable loan providers from lending.

Other options for help

Students are being advised to think carefully before logging on and applying for a payday loan.  There are a number of alternatives students could look at first.

Some universities have access to learning funds where students can apply for funds if they are struggling to pay for their studies.

Other finance products such as an 0% credit card or 0% student overdraft may help cash strapped students in the short term and means they are not actually having to pay back interest on the borrowing.

Credit Unions are another source of low cost small term finance loans – more information is available here: http://www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk/home.

The Bank of Mum and Dad could be an option before turning to a payday loan for students. Or, those that live close enough can lean on them in other ways to help reduce their living costs.  Asking for a loan or moving back home to keep debt down is not a bad idea.

Summary

As you can see there are a number of reasons why students are turning to payday loans and why it is a worrying trend in some people’s eyes.  That said, payday finance is not the only option available to students who need a short term injection of cash.

About the author: Emily Green is a freelance personal finance writer living in Hong Kong. She loves travelling and is planning to relocate to New Zealand within the year.

Cash Flow Issues? Fix It Now and Forever

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Here’s a problem: you’re at the end of your money and there’s three days left before you’re paid. Where do you turn?

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Maybe you’ve been there…I was in this situation in my early days as a financial advisor. It was horrible. Here I was, telling people about how to manage their money, and I was sweating every meeting, just praying that they’d sign on the dotted line. One time I even ran out of gas on the way home and had to search frantically for money under my seats.

There are two solution levels: “Right now” and “Never Happen Again”. Let’s tackle both.

Take Care Of The Problem Right Now

Raid the cupboard – It’s time to get creative on your meal plan. In my “broke days,” if I could get through without buying any food, I was golden. That thing in the freezer that I wasn’t sure whether I could still eat it? Time to find out. Those crackers that are slightly stale in the back of the pantry? They’ll go great with the chicken broth I’m using to make a creative soup.

Find alternate transportation – Heading to work? If you live close enough, it’s time to walk or ride a bike. Walking is—of course—free. The bike? You made an investment in it at one time, but it’s good for your pocketbook and your wallet to dust it off. Live too far away? Explore ride sharing options. Hopefully, your new ride-mate will let you pay for gas on Friday….once you’ve been paid.

Explore Ways To Get Cash – God forbid I had an emergency….. if that happened, I’d attempt to borrow money from relatives for a few days, offering them a good interest rate. If nobody bought (near the end of my rope those people were exhausted from continuously loaning me money, although I always repaid them), I needed to find other ways to get cash. When I’d need cash, none of them were especially attractive, so that’s why I always thought about….

Making sure it “Never Happens Again”

The great part about making mistakes is that they allow you to learn. If you fall forward, it’s not quite so painful.

Build An Emergency Fund – On my personal blog, Stacking Benjamins, I talk about automating my savings as my big money “a-ha.” No matter how painful, putting a few dollars away for a rainy day fund is vital. You had to raid the fund? That’s what it’s there for! Now, go and rebuild.

Sell Your Junk – Clutter, whether it’s in your closet or your mind, creates confusion. If you’re going to focus on ways to earn more money, you’re going to need to clean the slate. Use eBay, a garage sale, or Craig’s List to dump as much access stuff as possible. Use that money to fund your rainy day account.

Build a Better Budget – Ask yourself “what went wrong” this time and fix your budget to avoid that the next time. You needed tires for your car? Why isn’t that built into your plan? Your furnace died? Why don’t have you a strategy for that? Sure, you won’t be able to fix every potential problem, but there are always ways to fix your plan so that you’re more prepared next time.

Ask For a Raise – Studies show that most workers could get a raise if they just asked their boss the right way for more money. You’ll need to come armed with statistics and you’ll also need to prove that you deserve it. What do you do if the boss says no? Look for new work. The quickest way to make it up the ladder is to find a new boss who’s willing to pay you what your worth. Often, that’s a much quicker way to more money than settling for little raises at your current job.

photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin

The 5 Dumbest New Year’s Resolutions of All Time

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New Years.

A time of overeating, watching football or old movies, and resolving to do better, maybe a week or two in the future…..

Are we at that point yet? Is anyone “doing better” yet?

Resolving and actually “doing” better are two totally different things, aren’t they? New Year’s resolutions are usually bound to fail….especially if you try any of these silly tactics:

5 Dumbest New Year’s Resolutions Phrases

1)   Losing weight “on your own”: Yeah, I know. You’re going to lose weight or build savings without any help from your friends. This resolution is like putting a bunch of French fries in front of you and saying you won’t eat them. Of course you’ll eat them….willpower is baloney. Don’t count on any goal that you’ll do “without help.”

Who needs to reinvent the wheel?

 

Better solution: find someone who’s done it before and ask them for help.

 

2)   Joining a gym so you’ll work out. Back when I belonged to a gym (before I began working out with friends), my least favorite time of year was the first two weeks of January. The gym was packed with people I’d never seen before….and wouldn’t see again the rest of the year.

Don’t convince yourself that by joining ANYTHING you’ll actually make the commitment to change. Instead, build systems to change. For workouts, force yourself out of bed at a certain time. Join chat groups on working out.  Read magazines. Track your progress.

Create goals that begin with “How can I learn about this now and then spend money when I prove I’ll stick with it?…..”

 

Better solution: create surround sound environment so you succeed in your goals….and spend money later, once you know you’re serious.

 

5 dumbest resolutions ever_FFA

3)   Deciding to save more every month by “writing a check.” Nobody….and I mean nobody…..writes a check toward their goals. If we want to get all 2010 about it, nobody even presses buttons to transfer money from one account to another. Do you know how the ballers do it? They save automatically. If you have to think for only a minute about your goals, you’re toast.


Better solution: Set up a system of saving that doesn’t require you to think.

 

4)   “I’ll try and…..” 

Best. Solution. Ever.: Repeat after Yoda. There is no try. Only do.

5)   I’ll cut back on smoking. Making a change halfway is a sign that you really aren’t commited to the goal. Want to achieve something? You can’t be half pregnant. Go for it. Don’t cut back on smoking: stop completely. Don’t save “a little more” toward your goals: find out what they cost and create a plan. Don’t try and budget this year: set up an account at Mint or Yodlee and track every penny automatically.

 

Better solution: Create automatic systems that will change your behavior completely.

Photo: Jeff_Golden