Money – Page 2 – Personal Growth Cafe

May 28, 2019March 22, 2018

What to Do When You’re Facing Sudden Job Loss

In today’s economy, the thought of losing your job is a real possibility.

Perhaps you’re already in that situation.

But don’t despair, there are things you can do and places you can go to help you through this tough time.

The first place you must go is to your unemployment agency.

You may even be able to apply for benefits online.

Either way, contacting them is the first step you need to take.

The unemployment agency provides financial benefits to those who qualify and they’ll help you find another job.

Many states are now offering programs that extend unemployment benefits so you can go back to school and learn a new trade or skill.

Be sure to ask your local agent about any special programs they’re currently offering.

Although they can make a significant difference in the short-term, unemployment benefits are usually much lower than your normal salary.

However, there are many other sources you can also take advantage of to help you get by during this rough financial time.

Let’s look at some of your options:

1. Reduce monthly expenses. Take a serious look at some of the things you can live without for a while until you get back on your feet.

Go through all of your bills and expenses and cut out the things that aren’t necessities.

Be honest with yourself – just because you think you can’t live without your cable or cell phone, doesn’t mean it’s true.

Some of the first places to look include:

Television
Phones – both cell and land line
Cell texting or other data communications
Transportation
Eating out
Power usage
Air conditioning and heating

2. Save money by meal planning.

You can save over $100 (based on a family of 4 with bi-monthly pay periods) on each trip to the grocery store simply by planning meals ahead, using coupons and shopping your grocer’s weekly sales flyers.

Not only will you reduce how much you spend on food, but you’ll probably reduce some weight around your waistline as well.

Who couldn’t use that added benefit?

3. Waiting tables. One of the fastest ways to earn some quick cash is to wait tables.

This may not be glamorous, but it can bring in some immediate cash, and many restaurants beef up staff for the summer months.

4. Community agencies. If you’re in dire straits and need assistance right now, there are many local agencies you can turn to for aid.

The United Way and Salvation Army are located in most areas and offer a variety of programs that may be able to help you.

Your area may have different agencies, so check online or in the phone book for the ones in your community.

5. Government agencies.

Besides the unemployment agency, most areas have a Department of Human Resources, Social Services, or Health Department that can help or guide you to assistance.

6. Sell items on eBay. Take a good look around your home, shed, or garage.

How many boxes do you have lying around filled with stuff you never use?

You’ll be surprised at what people will pay for what you consider junk!

7. Have a yard sale. You can make a nice chunk of change by selling off furniture, clothing, and other household items you don’t use anymore.

8. Set up your own online or offline shop. If you can make arts and crafts, sell your items on eBay, Etsy or at local craft fairs.

With some communication, research, and creativity, you can take advantage of your time off to learn a new skill or start a new venture with skills and passions you already have.

Have some fun utilizing your creative ability while making the extra money you need to make ends meet.

These tough financial times don’t have to be devastating.

Use these tips to take advantage of the resources available to you to reduce the negative impact on your life.

You may even look back on this time as the lucky stroke that pushed you toward success in your new career!

What skills do you have that can help you get back on your feet after a job loss?

How can you maintain a positive attitude after encountering this challenge in life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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April 21, 2019March 13, 2018

How to Boost Your Income by Boosting Your Attitude

Far too often, we allow our actions to be ruled by our emotions.

It’s a fact: negative thoughts and feelings have a detrimental effect on every aspect of our lives, from family to our work and social lives.

What would things be like if we transformed negative thoughts into positive ones?

Changing how we feel about ourselves can truly change our direction in life!

Living in the present and having a positive outlook about our future can help us reach goals we once thought were impossible.

Having a brighter outlook on life can open our eyes to more possibilities and encourage us to move in new and exciting directions.

How can you attain a better outlook on life?

It all has to do with the way you see yourself.

Having a positive and outgoing attitude is the key to changing your self-concept, boosting your income, and improving your life.

Here are some techniques you can use to boost your attitude:

1. Get control. Figure out the things that make you unhappy and find ways to change them for the better.

A positive outlook can change everything in your life – you just need to believe in yourself first.

Loving yourself is the only way you’re going to allow others to see you in a positive light as well.

If you project negativity, you’ll be viewed as a negative person.

Realizing you can’t control how others think and feel about you is critical to getting control of yourself.

You have the power to work on ways to make yourself happy.

Avoid doing something for the sole purpose of making someone else happy.

It must be about you. This isn’t about being selfish; it’s about being true to you.

2. Change the way you think. Negative thoughts beget negative actions.

Make a conscious effort to change the way you react and deal with situations.

Look for the silver lining instead of focusing on the negative attributes of situations and people.

If you think positively, you’ll act positively.

Those positive thoughts and actions will keep many anxieties at bay.

Through positive thoughts and actions, anything can become a reality.

3. Be your own cheerleader. You’re your own best cheering section.

So many times in life, the things we do go unrecognized by others, whether it’s at home or work.

When this happens, step in and praise yourself!

Private affirmations can make you feel better about yourself when others fail to verbalize their gratitude.

By actively projecting a positive outlook of yourself, you will push yourself further to do better the next time.

Doing so will also bring you the confidence to explore more areas in life.

4. Dream it into reality. Misery loves company, and if you believe you’ll never achieve anything, you can create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Dream big and dream often!

Figure out what you want in life, and set your dreams into motion.

Want a better job? Take the necessary steps to make it happen.

You’re the biggest obstacle holding you back.

A positive attitude can change your job situation, relationships, and life.

If you feel better about yourself, other people will feel the good vibrations you’re giving off.

You’ll appear more confident and have a better chance of taking on whatever life throws at you.

If you believe in yourself, you can continue to accomplish bigger and better things.

Whether you’re working to advance yourself in your present job or starting an entirely new career, your self-confidence and positive attitude will increase your income.

Your fresh outlook will energize your work and stimulate your creativity.

As you continue to boost your attitude on a daily basis, you’ll see that your optimism will soon lead you to bigger and better income opportunities as well!

How important is having a good attitude despite the things we encounter in life?

How can being positive help make you feel better during hardships?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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April 11, 2019March 12, 2018

How to Save Money During a Recession

Whether you want to admit it or not, there’s a global recession happening, and it’s affecting millions of families.

People are being laid off, companies are going under, and even some state governments are completely broke.

Finding ways to cut back on your spending can help you during this difficult economic period.

Saving money is always good, but it’s a skill that becomes especially important during a recession.

How can you save money during a recession?

It’s all about planning, cutting frivolous costs, and changing the way you spend money.

Here are some handy tips you can use to help you save money:

1. Pay important bills first. The mortgage, electricity, water and heat have to be paid no matter what.

2. Save Money on groceries. Groceries are a huge, yet necessary, expense. After the bills are paid, most of the budget will fall into the groceries category.

Buy generic rather than name brands. They usually taste just as good but cost less.

Buy non-perishable foods in bulk. Many items can be bought in bulk such as rice, canned foods, and frozen foods.

Never shop on an empty stomach. Eat before grocery shopping; otherwise, you’ll wind up buying more junk and convenience foods because you’re hungry.

Make a list of what you need and stick to it. It really is that simple!

Cut and use coupons. 10 for $10 deals and sale items are your friends.

Combining coupons with sales can slash your grocery bill even more.

Avoid shopping at expensive stores, even if they’re closer to home.

Instead, go a few miles out of the way for the discount grocery stores.

Most items in the store are exactly the same thing, other than the price tag.

3. Rent movies instead of going out. Have a movie night once a week.

Sit down with some popcorn (the kind you pop on the stove) and watch a movie.

This is a great way to spend quality family time, without much expense.

4. Put the credit card down. Credit purchases may get your “stuff” now, but you’ll pay double for it later.

If you want something, save up and pay cash or wait.

5. Cook at home. If you go out to eat two or three times a week, cut back to once every two weeks or once a month. Instead, learn to cook at home.

If you plan ahead and cook in quantities, you’ll save time and money by popping the extra portions into the freezer.

6. Unplug. If there are things in your house plugged into the wall and you aren’t using them, unplug them.

Many items, like computers and phone chargers, draw electricity whether they’re on or not.

Plug it in when you need it, then unplug it when you’re done.

7. Lower your thermostat. Set your thermostat at a specific temperature and leave it there. 68 to 70 is an energy-saving setting in the winter.

If you get chilly, put on a sweater or grab a blanket. You’ll save more than you realize on your heating bills.

These are just some of the many ways to save money and stretch your dollar a bit further during these challenging times.

These tips require a change to your habits, which can take some getting used to.

In time, however, you’ll adjust and the money you save can make a big difference in your budget.

It’s important to stick with your plan to save money.

Making a change for a week won’t do the trick.

Committing to changing bad habits for good will reap the greatest benefits in the long run.

What money saving strategies are you currently doing?

How does budgeting well help you live happier?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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April 10, 2019March 12, 2018

How to Weather the Storm of the Economic Collapse

As you may well know, we are currently in the worst economic situation since the Great Depression.

What exactly does this mean and how can you survive until the economy gets back on its feet?

The first thing to do is stay current on what’s happening with the economy.

You need to have a basic understanding of it all and keep up with the changes that are happening as well.

Without this information, you may make decisions that could be detrimental to your financial future.

It’s far too easy to panic and make rash decisions when the future is uncertain and frightening, so don’t dwell on the latest news, just keep yourself in the loop.

Here are a few things to remember that can help you survive the economic collapse:

1. Markets. If you own stock invested in a long-term investment, leave it there.

The markets will fluctuate up and down, and sometimes it will happen sharply.

But over time, the market will recover; it’s a normal ebb and flow.

If you’re concerned about your investments, ask a professional for their advice.

Don’t pull it too soon in a knee-jerk reaction from a steep drop.

This is the nature of the stock market and you should be prepared for this type of thing happening.

2. Diversify. Simply put, don’t place all your eggs in one basket.

If all your investments are in one place, spread them out.

Look into CD’s, money markets and bonds.

These types of investments are slow and steady and the principal is protected.

3. Spend Less. This is pretty straightforward, but it’s an important reminder.

If you went out to dinner 3 times a week before the economy dipped, try 2 times a month now.

Put simply: if you don’t need to spend money on something, don’t.

The money you save can help pay your bills.

In this economy, survival requires sacrifice.

You’ll have to cook at home more or maybe rent a movie instead of going to the theater.

It could be worse, so make due with what you have!

4. Spend Wisely. Where do you normally shop?

If you answer high priced specialty stores, you may need to change your habits.

Start heading to discount supermarkets and dollar stores.

Believe it or not, dollar stores sell cleaning supplies for $1, as opposed to four or five dollars for the same thing in another store.

Skip the Starbucks stop on your way to work and bring your morning coffee from home instead.

These times are tough. Unemployment is on the rise, jobs are harder to find, and businesses are closing down faster than ever before.

Still, this is not something to fear. These things happen. It’s all part of a cycle and the economy will bounce back.

In the meantime, get creative and find new ways to make some extra money and save on expenses:

Search through your garage, attic and basement for things you own that you don’t need anymore and sell them online.

Look into home based Internet businesses and ways to generate passive income.

Affiliate marketing is great for this.

There are places all over the Internet with these types of programs.

The worst thing you can do in this economy is ignore the fact that there’s a problem or think it won’t affect you.

Consider everything expense you have and devise ways you can get it for less.

You can make this recessionary economy work to your benefit by negotiating cheaper rates.

You may have to look a little harder for opportunities, but they’re still there.

Take the skills you have, along with your passion, and find ways to generate some passive income from them.

When you do these things, you’ll be able to weather the storm and come out ahead!

How have you prepared for the drastic changes in the economy?

How can you better prepare starting today?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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February 14, 2019February 28, 2018

Five Ways to Make More Money Now

No matter what you do for a living, there’s always an incentive to make more money.

Maybe you’re trying to pay off credit card bills, save up for something special, or have a little cushion should something unexpected happen in your life.

It used to be that if you needed to make a bit of extra cash, you needed to pick up a second job, like bussing tables a few weekends a month or showing up early at the bakery to help with the ovens.

Now, thanks to the doors opened by the internet, and the ease of starting your own business, it’s gotten easier than ever to bring in some extra money without working yourself to death in the process.

Here are five ways you can make some extra cash in a pinch:

1. Sell your unused items. Do you have books you’ll never read again collecting dust on your bookshelf?

Is your closet full of outgrown or embarrassing clothes?

Are your old computers taking up too much space? Sell them!

Have a yard sale.

Sell your things to specialty shops like second hand clothing shops, used bookstores, used furniture stores, or even repair shops that need parts from what you have.

Use eBay. Lots of things without local markets have a national or global market, and there are people who’ll buy the oddest things on eBay.

In particular, if you’ve got some sort of fairly obscure electronic hardware, try selling it on eBay first.

Chances are someone wants it and is willing to pay a premium for it.

2. Ask for a raise at your current job.

There’s no doubt that asking for more money is difficult, especially during a recession, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Most people are too scared to ask for a raise, so you can use this to your advantage.

Assemble a list of the things you’ve accomplished at your work in the last nine months and make your case.

Another way you may be able to make more cash at your job is to ask your boss if there’s extra work you can do to gain more hours or get paid more for increased responsibilities.

3. Trade skills for cash.

Are you a skilled seamstress, writer, or graphic designer?

There are countless websites where you can use your expertise to earn extra money.

If you’re not sure how to get started, take a few minutes to do an Internet search.

Resources abound on the ‘net that can help you find buyers for your skills.

4. Get a work from home job.

There are lots of telephone based customer service jobs that you can do with just a computer and an Internet connection.

Some of them pay remarkably well and all of them have relaxed dress codes to boot!

5. Start your own part-time business.

Transform one of your hobbies or skills into a second business.

There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as turning your love for something into a business and making it profitable.

Many of these money-making ideas will work fairly quickly with little effort.

You can take it one step further and significantly boost your income by creating a business you can run from the comfort of home.

Take action and you can make more money!

What skills do you have that can be used to make some money?

What resources do you need to start that today?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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February 7, 2019February 28, 2018

Five Things You Need to Know About Debt

These days everyone is looking for ways to reduce debt and save money.

It is possible to wipe out your existing debt and learn how to live your life within your means.

Here are five tips that will help you on your way to debt free living:

1. Stop using credit cards. One of the leading factors in the current economic crisis is people buying things on credit they cannot afford.

The next thing they know, they find themselves unable to do anything more than make minimum monthly payments.

Minimum payments will keep you in debt because every month interest continues to accrue on your original balance.

A $1,000 balance on a typical credit card can take 22 years to pay off if you make only the minimum monthly payments!

Don’t fall into the trap of credit card debt. Instead, avoid the hassle and expense by paying cash for the things you buy.

If you want a big-ticket item, save the cash before you make the purchase. Only buy when you can afford to pay for the item in full before you bring it home.

2. Buy luxury items with cash. We all have extras and luxuries we want, but using credit to get them is a dangerous path to take.

You’ll get much greater enjoyment from the extras in your life when you pay cash, rather than ongoing monthly payments.

Nothing takes the excitement out of a new toy or nice vacation more than the large payments that strain your budget month after month.

3. Create a realistic budget that includes debt repayment. The first step in gaining control over your debt is creating a workable budget.

Rather than stifling you, a budget can bring you freedom!

You’ll know where your money goes and you’ll set a spending plan so you can continue buying the most important things in your life.

Your budget should take into consideration all facets of your lifestyle, including housing, food and household items, utilities, savings, recreation and debt repayment.

If your budget doesn’t include room for debt repayment, there will never be enough money to pay off your debt.

Take control of your financial reality by working with a realistic budget every month.

Before long, you’ll see your debt diminishing while your savings grow.

4. Seek the help of a professional credit counselor, accountant or financial planner.

The best way to be sure you’re making sound financial decisions is to seek out the help of a financial professional.

Credit counselors, financial planners and accountants are experts in the areas of savings, debt repayment, investments and tax deductions.

Implement each of these areas into your finances to eliminate financial strain and secure a stable financial future.

5. Negotiate better rates with the banks or credit card companies.

Many people assume they have no choice but to accept the interest and finance rates offered by their banks and credit card companies, but that isn’t always the case!

Talk to the people at your financial institutions. You may be surprised at how willing they are to budge.

If your credit is in good shape or you’ve made steady, progressive strides to improve it, you may be able to get lower interest rates on your debts.

You might also receive higher interest rates on your savings, giving you a double shot at eliminating your debt entirely and moving forward with your finances in a positive direction.

You can repair your debt problems and learn to avoid creating them in the future.

These five steps will point you in the right direction and get you started on a new path to financial freedom and prosperity!

How can being debt-free bring more joy in your life?

How do you keep yourself debt-free?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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January 9, 2019February 21, 2018

Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

December 18, 2018February 20, 2018

Money Saving Tips That Are Proven To Work

One thing the current economy has showcased to most Americans is the necessity of being frugal in nearly everything they do.

Frugality isn’t taught in schools, and it’s a lesson that most of us have to learn the hard way by falling short on some bills.

Even worse, we’re bombarded with misleading messages that tell us that “going into debt is fine…”

Debt is not fine, especially consumer debt. Debt is an addiction, and an expensive one.

If you’re learning this the hard way, it’s time to look at trimming expenses.

It’s even better to learn these lessons early, but better late than never.

The ultimate aim is to live on 80-90% of what you earn.

Starting out, you can bank the rest in an interest bearing account.

You don’t need to get into complex investment vehicles; a good bank account that pays interest in both checking and savings and has no fees is a head start.

First things first, tabulate your current expenses.

List three months of expenses and find out what you’re spending on restaurants, coffee, eating at home, going to movies, and everything else.

What you find may be painful, but it’s worth the effort writing out your expenses.

You’ll quickly notice that there are fixed expenses (like your mortgage and utility bills) and variable expenses (like food and entertainment).

You’ll discover lots of ways for money to vanish down rabbit holes by examining your variable expenses!

Now look for things to trim:

1. Do you regularly buy a latte on the way to work?

That’s costing you $20 a week or a bit over a thousand dollars a year.

Make a latte at home and drink it on the way to work and save the rest.

2. Do you smoke?

Kick the habit. It’s not just killing your lungs; it’s costing you anywhere from $100 to $200 a month or more.

That adds up to almost 2 grand per year.

3. Do you eat out at lunch?

Even a fast food meal is around six bucks.

If you figure you spend 240 days a year at work, and eat out for a hundred of them. Is that $600 you’d rather have back?

Get in the habit of spending Sunday afternoons packing a week’s worth of lunches.

You can make your favorite foods and freeze them or cook a little extra for dinner each night.

4. Unnecessary ‘convenience food’ costs you.

While you’re in the kitchen, look at how many pre-packaged meals you eat.

Every single one of them represents two to three dollars you’re paying someone to cook something for you.

It’s amazing how much money you can save by learning how to cook your own food!

The general rule is that for the same quantity of food, a pre-packaged meal costs twice to three times as much.

5. Make your own fast food.

Once you start cooking, you can look at other ways to be frugal, like cooking large batches and freezing the leftovers.

When you need food fast, grab something out of the freezer and just heat it up.

6. Drink water.

You pay a lot less for water from the tap than you do for soda or bottled water.

Buy a water filtration pitcher, and keep it filled.

Any time you feel the urge to grab a soda, drink an 8-ounce glass of water first.

Then see if you’re still thirsty. This will cut down your soda habit tremendously.

7. Use coupons.

Save even more money by using coupons when items are on sale.

You might end up paying only a few cents for an item you use all the time.

8. Follow the ‘wait 30 days’ rule before buying anything that costs more than $50 or so.

Being frugal and learning how to save money takes patience and practice, but the rewards are worth it when you find you’ve saved enough money to get out of debt, go on vacation, or buy a new car.

Make small changes every week to form new habits, and before you know it, you’ll have a whole new way of living and extra money in the bank.

How can small steps lead to bigger savings?

What can you do today to start saving more?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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November 30, 2018February 19, 2018

Creating a Budget You Can Live With

Your family has decided it’s time to create a budget.

Maybe you’re spending too much each month.

Or you may not even know where your money is going.

A budget can help solve both problems.

A budget can also help you get your finances under control so you can get out of debt and find the funds to pay for that new car, a much needed home renovation, or a down payment on a new home.

Once you’ve created your budget, here are some simple strategies to keep it in place:

1. Why did you create your budget? Keep in mind your reason for creating a budget in the first place.

Surely your intention wasn’t to create a budget so strict that there’s no wiggle room for entertainment or an occasional ice cream cone!

Your goal is to be wise about how you spend the money you receive each month.

True, this may mean that you’ve had to cut back on discretionary spending, but the ultimate pay off is being able to do the things you truly want to do.

2. Make it simple. If your budget is too difficult for even a financial genius to understand, you won’t stick with it.

Your budget should be simple enough to understand so you’ll be able to use it and adjust it when necessary.

The easier it is to use and manage, the more likely you’ll be to stick with it.

3. Be realistic. Is your budget realistic for you and your family?

If you’re planning to cut all your expenses at once, you may be trying to do too much too soon.

4. Start out making small changes to how you spend money, instead of broad, sweeping changes that are totally unreasonable.

Small budget changes are easier to maintain than large ones.

Remember, everything in moderation brings the best results.

5. Include short-term goals you can reach quickly. Short-term financial goals can make living with a budget easier.

Perhaps you have several low balance credit cards you’d like to pay off before tackling the higher balanced cards.

You could also work on paying off the credit card with the highest interest first.

Whichever way you choose to pay them off, you’ll need to find extra money each month by cutting down on other expenses.

Here’s an effective plan for paying off your credit cards using short-term goals:

Pay the minimum payment on all credit cards except the one you’re trying to pay off first.

Each month pay a little bit extra in principle for that card. Before long that card will be paid in full.

Contact your credit card company and negotiate better rates.

You’d be surprised to see how willing they may be to adjust the interest rates or payments.

Consider getting a personal loan or line of credit and pay off all high interest credit cards.

You’ll save a bundle in interest payments.

Include long-term goals to work toward. Do you have concrete, long-term goals within your budget?

Have you determined to pay off a high interest, high balance credit card before you go on a long dreamed of vacation?

Put posters or photographs of that destination where you can see them throughout the day.

This will help you stick to your budget when you want to spend money you maybe shouldn’t.

It’s possible to stick to your budget by following these simple strategies.

Remember, however, that once you get your finances under control, it’s not a reason to revert back to old habits.

Following a budget won’t always be easy and there may be times when you have an emergency that makes you deviate from your plan.

If that happens get back on track as soon as you can.

Before you know it, all your sacrifice will have been worth it when you realize your dreams really are within your reach!

What do you prioritize when creating a budget?

Why is it important for you to live within your budget?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 20, 2018February 15, 2018

Category: Money

What to Do When You’re Facing Sudden Job Loss

How to Boost Your Income by Boosting Your Attitude

How to Save Money During a Recession

How to Weather the Storm of the Economic Collapse

Five Ways to Make More Money Now

Five Things You Need to Know About Debt

Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Money Saving Tips That Are Proven To Work

Creating a Budget You Can Live With

Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle. – Ken Hakuta