Category / Mind Over Money

My parents are divorced and remarried to others. When they got a divorce I chose to live with my mom. This led me to only see my dad every other weekend, if that. I never really got to be close with my dad, and I think I missed out on some great life lessons.

My Dad’s not perfect, and I need to realize that no dad is perfect. He’s always been there for me physically (ex. money) but not really emotionally with a heartfelt “I love you.” I think a lot of dads are like that, reserved in their emotions, and it’s a shame. Those three words can really mean the world to a son.

Now that me and him have grown older I’m trying to draw his emotions out more and more. And to hear him say I love you really makes me happy. And some more words that always bring a smile to my face are “I’m proud of you.”

I know today is called Father’s Day, but it should really be called Bond with your Father’s Day. It should celebrate the bond between a Father and his child(ren).

For this Bond with your Father’s Day go and throw a ball around, play a little basketball, or ask him to do something what you’ve always wanted to do with him.

So fathers out there tell your child(ren) that you love them, how proud of them you are, and give them a big hug. And child(ren) out there, give your father a big hug and tell them you love them too. You’re really going to regret not celebrating that bond when it’s gone.

Happy Bond with your Father’s Day

I’ll leave you with this heartfelt post @FrugalDad Raising a Frugal Dad: An Open Letter to My Son

I just want to give you a quick tip today that will affect your health as well as your wallet. Quit smoking.  Yeah, I said it, quit smoking.  It can add up to quite a bit of costs now as well as in your future.  Think about all of the money you spend each week, month, and year on smoking.  It is a lot of money that you could use toward debt or even vacation.  That would be pretty nice wouldn’t it?

And in the future when you are in the hospital because you need help breathing, its not going to feel too hot then will it.  Also it will cost you a huge chunk of change just to live.  So stop.

Smoking also affects your loved ones because they don’t want to see you on your death bed.  It is going to hurt them a lot when they see you suffering because you wanted to smoke. Next time you take a puff, think about your future loved ones or your loved ones now that are going to suffer because you wanted to relax a little; it just isn’t worth it.

If you do want to continue smoking, let me know in the comments below why you are making that decision and maybe we can converse back and forth a little.  You may change my mind or maybe I’ll change yours; we’ll just have to see.  This week’s quick tip, stop smoking.

The Economy is based on how much money is being spent. So why is nobody spending?

Fear!

The TV is filled with stories that the world is coming to an end. That would make me want to save my money (and I do). If I don’t spend money then businesses don’t make money. If the businesses don’t make money then they don’t hire people. If people don’t have jobs then they don’t have money to spend. It’s a deadly cycle.

If either people stopped reading the news and watching TV we would be in a lot better shape because we wouldn’t know about the bad and would think everything is hunky dory. Ignorance is truly bliss and would help our country a lot, as far as the economy. But since people aren’t going to stop watching TV then we’ll have to think about something else.

Ninja had a good spin on the economy saying 91% of the U.S. does have a job. So how about the 91% of us that do have a job, help those that don’t by spending money. That would cause the business to make money, which would cause them to hire more people, which would cause those people to spend their money.

Sure you may be in debt up to your eyeballs, or your house may be underwater but that didn’t stop you from spending before. How did those credit cards get that much money on them? That’s right, you spent. So keep living your life like nothing has happened, spend your money and get payday loans. Eventually everything will pan out.

It’s a simple solution to a complex problem but it makes sense, doesn’t it? And then the TV will stop running stories about how the economy sucks. So lets take action and spend your money. Your country is counting on it!!!

What do you think about my solution?

Every year people make new resolutions that they hope to accomplish for the next year. Most probably won’t keep it. There are many reasons why but it’s usually for lack of actually wanted to complete it. Here are 3 steps to make a resolution and how to keep it.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”

~William Hutchinson Murray

Stay in reality

“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”  ~Philip K. Dick

If the goal is to make a million dollars by the end of next year, it’s probably not going to happen unless you win the lottery. If you want that goal then by all means try it but make sure you complete the next step before you make it your final resolution.

It is good to push yourself so that you change but make it somewhat achievable. For instance you could say I want to make 20% more that I did this year or save 20% more. You could even say I want to make a budget and stick to it every month.

Make plans to succeed

“He who fails to plan, plans to fail”

~Proverb

How are you going to achieve your resolution? Saying what you want to accomplish is one thing, but planning how you’re going to do it is what will make or break your resolution. Break down your final goal into small monthly goals. That will help bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

For instance, If you want to make 20% more than you did last year, that could be $10,000. That equals $833 each month you would have to make extra. Then you brainstorm different things you could do for that amount. Perhaps a second job, or selling some items. Just come up with as many things, even unfeasible things, and then go through them and find what will work. That’s your plan and that will help you succeed.

Become accountable

“Accountability breeds response-ability.”

~Stephen R. Covey

You can do all that, but tell no one, so that way if you fail then no one will know. Yea that’s the easy way but that’s not going to change your life, tell someone what you’re going to do. Maybe they’ll even want to join you. But the point is to bring someone on that can hold you accountable for what you want for your life. A loved one or friend is preferable but if you don’t want to as them, then give me a try and sign up for my free monthly accountability emails, where’ I’ll keep you going month after month and we can motivate each other  to complete our resolutions.

The point of a resolution is to change something in your life because you’re not happy with what you’re currently doing in that area. Keep this resolution and you will have a new life you are happy with. It’s time to finally take a leap. JUMP!!

Are you going to take the leap this year?