"You mean more than any earthly thing...won't you rain on me again..."
Ask and it'll be given..(Matthew 7:7). When it comes to learning how to "budget" you money, I try to ask the Provider-Heavenly Father for "wisdom" as Solomon did in the Bible: Old Testament....
" 4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for both riches and honor so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." 15 Then Solomon awoke and he realized it had been a dream.
"-1 Kings 3
It is better to give than to receive, which you hear a lot! I've heard so many stories of people who got out of financial debts through giving. I do my best to take 10% of my weekly pay check and give it to my local church. Then 10% and up, I give it to some charitable church focus non-profit cause or ogranization...see 10% cause
I was raised in a family with financial challenges and I didn't want to go through the same trials when I got older. After seeking financial wisdom from God through his Word and others that He has put in my life, I'm proud to say I'm financially free from any debts (currently a co-signer for some credit companies for my brother and a friend of mine). I want to share my story with as many people as I can to help them get out of financial debts. Instead of hiding this knowledgleable resources, I want to share this with as many people as I can. Feel free to contact me on any of this or if you have any suggestions, feedback, questions, or even prayer requests....
After doing a budgent analysis 2 years ago, I was able to break down some categories where I put most of my money in. These are the following categories I got in order by month:
Q: Let me know what you think and feel free to reply with any feedback, personal suggestions-financial advice/tips, comments, etc...
-Washing Machine
*my mom's washing machine just broke down this morning (Saturday, November 24th of 2007), but we would end up finding a good deal during the holiday sale
White-on-white GE Appliances 3.2 cu. ft. Super Capacity Washer "Super Capacity washer with 8 wash cycles that offer convenient, preprogrammed settings for everyday wash loads. Bleach Dispenser automatically mixes bleach with wash water for proper bleaching action. Cycle selection is quick and easy with rotary electromechanical controls. Straight Vane-FlexCare� Agitator provides gentle, yet effective washing action.
3 water levels minimize water waste
2 spin speed combinations
Spin Only Option spin-dries wet clothes like beach towels and swimsuits
Quiet By Design sound insulation"
*below are some links I found after the Four Cornerstones Workshop I took through my work, which was also taught at Outfitters-Teaching on Financial. Great idea for current and future challenging "economic" (see GoodnewsEverybody: Economics times!
"Karp recommends first concentrating on three major areas: food, insurance, and telecommunication, or "F.I.T.:
"These are three areas of tremendous spending, about $14,000 a year an American family of four spends in just these three areas," he said. "And they're areas of repeat spending. So you'll be spending on these areas again and again your whole life."
CBN News followed Karp into a Yardley grocery store.
"The average American family of four spends about $8600 a year on food," he told us as we walked the aisles. "So it's a large expenditure for most families. And just little cuts can make a big difference."
Don't Buy What You Need -- Buy What's on Sale
Karp has one main principle:
"The big idea with grocery shopping is not to go buy what you need. Instead, go buy what's on sale and stock up," he explained. "That way, when you need something, you go to your own freezer, you go to your own pantry and you get the discounted item."
"Generally, sales go in 12-week cycles," Karp pointed out. "So you need about a three-month supply. So if you see a really good sale, stock up for three months. Because three months from now, it's going to be on sale again."
So remember: don't buy what you need; buy what's on sale.
As for coupons, Karp says the smartest way to use them is in combination with those store sales. You can cut prices in half and sometimes even gets items for free.
And you don't have to cut out every coupon in every flyer or packet. Karp recommends you write the date on the entire packet and set it aside.
"Then you can go online to this database at couponmom.com, and just look up there when you need a coupon," he explained. "It'll tell you which circular to go to and then you clip the coupon at that point."
As for the weekly store flyers, Karp says to concentrate on the front and back because that's where stores places loss leaders -- items they're willing to lose money on just to get you in the door.
Also, look for stores that will double your coupons -- that's double the savings.
And definitely go for those cheaper store brands over the big brand-names.
"We used to call them 'generics' derisively," Karp said. "But they're really good quality now-a-days. So you want to try the store brands. In fact, many of the store brands are made by the name brand manufacturers."
As for eating out, Karp recommends only doing it for special occasions, not because you're tired. And don't buy drinks or appetizers at restaurants. Those are huge extra costs you can forego. And you can probably do without dessert, too.
But if you really like having coffee and dessert at a restaurant, then make that another special occasion. Just go out for that another time....
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Diet, Foods, Groceries, Beverage-Drinks, etc...
"And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeConcordance and Hebrew/GreekList Available Commentaries
Images / MapsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids
And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt."-
Genesis 41
Bikes
*gas saver
Blue color Huffy 10 speed Bike (bought for $15 from a guy from Hoffman, MN) in May 23rd of 2007
"..People made money in the Bible basically the same way people make money today. In most cases, biblical era people made a living as servants or laborers, working for a single employer. Some went the business route, working for multiple customers. And others, to coin a phrase from Robert Allen, set up "multiple streams of income" and became extremely wealthy..."
Cell Phones
WARNING (can cause cancer!-Cell Phones Causes Radiation..., from Environment, Health and Safety Online)
*info sent by a good friend (Pon from Indonesia on Jan 07')
Don't get caught in this trap of being on debt! I remember back in college (when I turned 18), I was "sucked" into the free prize when you sign-up for a new credit card account. I ended up getting over 5 different cards and used all of them to help pay for this "get rick quick" business "opportunity". I sure learned my lesson the hard way!
Dave Ramsey rants on credit cards
"Dave Ramsey explains why credit cards are a scam for the middle class. "
What about Credit Cards? From my personal experiences, I think having 1-2 isn't too bad. It actually helps build your credit, which will help you when it comes to applying for a loan (e.g. car, house, etc..) in the future. However, they are very, very, very bad if you don't pay in time or don't budget. For example, I had 5 credit cards while I was in college after applying as many as I can to get FREE stuff. Well, they hurted me for awhile as I used these credit cards to pay off a business investment (Equinox International-similar to nowadays Amway-long story!) opportunity that went bankrupt.
Your name is listed in all these credit bureaus, which is why you get all that "junk" mail. To get your name off the list, you can contact the following. I personally called Equifax-Opt Out and left my name and address for them to mail me a 1 page sheet to sign to get my name off the list. I believe they say that you are off the list for a certain amount of time and you have to call them back again:
Others- Opt-Out (take your name off credit reporting agencies: Experian 1.888.397.3742
Equifax Options Trans Union Corporation 1.800.888.4213
Marketing Opt Out
1.888.5OPT-OUT (888.567.8688)
*Tip: The above following credit bureaus is obligated to send your personal credit report to you at least once a year if you ask them.
Debt? "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender-Proverbs 22:7
-VHS to CD Converting Your VHS Tapes to DVDs or CDs Converting Your VHS Tapes To Video CD or DVD, Part 1
By: Brien M. Posey "Now that you�re familiar with the hardware requirements, let�s review the necessary software. As I said earlier, you�ll need to be running the Windows XP operating system, but you�ll also need some software to do the video capturing and editing, as well as some software to burn your finished video onto a video CD or DVD.
Windows XP actually comes with a program called Windows Movie Maker, shown in Figure C. While this program will work, it only covers the basics. I recommend springing for some commercial grade video capture and editing software. I�ve personally had great luck with Sony�s Studio DV. It�s easy to use and is specifically designed to work with Sony camcorders." How to Transfer DV Camcorder Tapes Directly into DVD, from allformp3.com CNET How-To: Convert VHS to Ditigal "Most of us have videos of weddings, birthdays, and a plethora of other important personal events. But up until the last couple of years, we've had to capture them on analog tape (VHS, Beta, and so forth) that not only degrades with each playback, but with the passing of time, as well. Want to avoid the "every copy looks a little worse than the original" curse? There's only one solution: go digital."
" So, as i was reading an article about HYIPS on
http://business-reviews.com/business_opportunities/hyip.php , i came across another link to another type of investissment. Strangely, i'm kind of curious about this one. Actually, i've always been a adventurer, someone who likes betting on life and new ventures (otherwise, i wouldn't have left my job in NY and come in Morris in the first place to try something new).
I don't really know what to think of this http://www.mazu.com/offer.html"
stocks=> The best ways to buy gold, from moneycentral.msn.com "..Some of the most widely-held gold mining stocks include Newmont Mining (NEM, news, msgs), Placer Dome (PDG, news, msgs), Barrick Gold (ABX, news, msgs) and AngloGold Ashanti (AU, news, msgs)..."
-Advice: How to buy stocks, from CNN Money "Online brokers
Cost: At $9 to $15 a trade, it doesn't get any cheaper than this.
Names to choose from include Schwab, TD Ameritrade and Fidelity.
When trying to place a buy or sell order, you'll be faced with all sorts of questions: Market or limit order? "Day only" or "Good 'till cancelled." Here's the vocabulary you need to know to place a trade.
If you place a market order with your broker, then you are saying that you're willing to buy at whatever happens to be the prevailing price for the stock. If you have a specific price in mind, you can set a limit order specifying the price you're willing to pay. If the stock dips down to that level, your order will be automatically filled. Limit orders can be left open for a single day (a day order) or indefinitely (good until canceled).
After you've bought a stock, you can instruct your broker to sell it if the price drops to a level you specify (a stop loss order). That's a kind of insurance; it means that no matter what happens to a stock's price you'll never lose more than a specified amount.
In a volatile market, however, setting a stop-loss order at 10 or 20 percent below the purchase price will sometimes cause you to cash out of the stock on a momentary dip - thus locking in a loss even though the shares may immediately head back upward Penny Stocks to Buy Now, from the quarry.net "2. Expansion or merging � Investors love expansion or when companies merge and you should too."
The Cheapest Stock Around
By Rich Greifner February 5, 2008 (from fool.com) "The fact is many good stocks are cheap right now. eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) and Motorola (NYSE: MOT) recently hit 52-week lows. UPS (NYSE: UPS) is sporting its lowest price-to-earnings ratio since the company came public in 1999. Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) was nearly halved. And these are all strong companies with killer brands." Another Dirt Cheap Stock
By Richard Gibbons January 30, 2008 (from fool.com) "The company is big, but it's still growing. Over the past five years, Office Depot has been expanding its revenue by 6.5% and earnings by nearly 15%. Though the North American market may be nearing saturation, Office Depot plans to add 75 stores in 2008. This is still a growth story." 10 stocks under $10: A bargain hunt for your portfolio
Posted Nov 29th 2007 7:36AM by Beth Gaston Moon
Filed under: Personal finance, Bargain stocks, Stocks to Buy (bloggingstocks.com)
-10 Stocks Under $10: Ampal-American Israel (AMPL) "Still, AMPL is an outperforming name with a global presence that is worth watching." Top Stocks for 2008
-Best Stocks for 2008: Mining profits from International Royalty (ROY)
Posted Dec 30th 2007 6:00PM by Steven Halpern
-Best Stocks for 2008: Top stock picker picks Elbit Medical (EMITF)
Posted Dec 31st 2007 6:00PM by Steven H ""EMITF is a subsidiary of Europe Israel (M.M.S.) Ltd., which operates in the construction, operation, management and sale of shopping and entertainment centers in Israel, Central and Eastern Europe, and India."
-Best Stocks for 2008: Navigating gains at Tsakos Energy Navigation (TNP) "is my top pick for 2008 -- a stock for more conservative investors," says Neil Macneale, editor of 2-for-1, a newsletter that chooses its portfolio candidates exclusively from stocks that have just announced splits." Best Stocks for 2008: Nutritional value at NutraCea (NTRZ)
-
Posted Dec 23rd 2007 10:45AM by Steven Halpern ""Rice is the most consumed food on the planet and NutraCea has found a way to process rice bran -- 60 million tons of which comes off the rice kernel during the milling process worldwide -- into an extraordinarily nutritious food ingredient/nutraceutical that is also loaded with more than 100 antioxidants."
-Best Stocks for 2008: Dial abroad with iShares S&P Global Telecom (IXP) ""Telecoms have the hard-line capacity to take advantage of convergence of mobile and landline services. Many of the companies in this ETF basket have dividend yields of 6% or better. Overall, I consider this a good, solid core holding.""
-Best Stocks for 2008: Pipeline profits from Kinder Morgan Partners (KMP) ""But Kinder's pipeline network is helping to change that. The company has a new pipeline called the Rockies Express, one of the largest projects ever undertaken by any PTP. This $4.4 billion project will carry gas from the Rockies east to the Ohio-Pennsylvania border; the pipe will be completed in stages, with the first stage already complete and the second two phases scheduled for completion in 2008.
"This pipeline has already proven popular. Companies have already signed up for capacity even before the pipe is complete. As soon as gas starts moving, Kinder starts earning distributable cash.
"Kinder has a large slate of new projects scheduled to start up next year and throughout 2009. Already offering a tax-advantaged dividend yield nearing 7%, these new projects will power a distribution growth rate of around 8% annualized for at least the next five years."
-Best Stocks for 2008: China expert focuses on Focus Media (FMCN) ""The upcoming Beijing Olympic Games are an especially powerful driver for outdoor advertising awareness in China's major cities. Further, the Chinese government's push to expand the economy into more remote cities has opened new territory for the company to expand regionally."
"Five of our picks are growth companies in noncyclical industries, on the logic that in a slowing economy, investors will pay a hefty premium for superior profit improvement. These five aren't cheap - they trade at an average of 22 times 2008 profits vs. a price/earnings ratio of 14 for the S&P, according to Baseline - but they're worth it. Analysts expect their earnings to increase an average of 29% next year, vs. 6% for the S&P..." "(DKS)Indeed, in 2008, analysts expect a 19% increase in earnings per share. Says fund manager Thomas Ognar, who has 3% of his Wells Fargo Advantage Growth fund in Dick's: "People cut back on a lot of other things before not buying cleats for their kids."
Best Stock for 2008: General Electric
By Dan Caplinger December 31, 2007
16 Recommendations
Ring in the new year with more stocks for 2008. "Energy is a relatively small part of what GE currently does -- the company's energy arm had revenue of about $19 billion last year, representing about 11% of GE's total revenue. But the head of GE Energy believes revenue could grow to more than $30 billion by 2009, with renewable energy making up $5 billion to $6 billion of that total. The company expects strong growth from both the wind and solar energy segments. Best Stock for 2008: Best Buy
By Alex Dumortier, CFA December 31, 2007 " If it's growth you're interested in ...
Investors always want to know about growth (value guys know that growth is one of the components of value), so I'll tease out two different opportunities. First, in February 2009, television broadcasters in the U.S. will be giving analog the boot. Do you know what that means for you? If you don't, you're not alone. Whom will we all turn to? The largest -- and, arguably, most respected -- specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the U.S. might be the logical place to start.
Best Buy also has good potential for worldwide growth." Best Stock for 2008: McDonald's
By Mike Kasprzyk December 31, 2007 "Coffee, anyone?
In the next five years, the coffee market is expected to generate sales of $18.8 billion -- with a profit margin around 95% per cup! No wonder coffee giant"
"For the record, our past Investor's Guide selections have excelled. Our ten stock picks for 2006 returned an average of 26% that year, vs.13% for the S&P. And through Dec. 3, our ten stocks for 2007 have outpaced the S&P 14% to 6%." "Normally we wouldn't recommend a stock that has doubled since the start of '07. But as we said, in a slowing economy, you want to own companies that can demonstrate superior earnings growth regardless of what's happening around them. Jacobs Engineering is such an enterprise.
Jacobs (JEC, Fortune 500) is one of the fastest growers in an exploding industry: construction and engineering. The company is hired to design and build oil refineries, biodiesel plants, hospitals, bridges, and water-treatment centers. "
"..."What's the best way to profit from this unstoppable trend?" he asks. In his Asia Stock Alert, he answers: Cameco Corp. (NYSE: CCJ). "The biggest producer of uranium in the world should be a cornerstone of your natural resource portfolio..."
Ten Alternative Energy Speculations for 2008: Batteries, CHP, and Transmission Ten Alternative Energy Speculations for 2008: Geothermal, Wind and Wave, and Thin Film Hype "..In 2008, analysts expect revenues of approximately 4x the 2006 number, meaning they will need approximately 16% of new annual Tellurium supplies. PrimeStar Solar, a private company is using a recent infusion of capital from General Electric (NYSE:GE) to quickly begin production of their own CdTe modules. They do not disclose the timing of production "for competitive reasons," but their hiring and equipment orders speak of an aggressive schedule; I expect they will begin production in 2008...
If any play is for gamblers, this is it. But cards are stacking up against First Solar."
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant
nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their
hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."-1 Timothy 6:17
-Pine River, cheese, chocolates, and sausages from Wisconsin
*I just ordered (9/18/05) bacon cheese dip and cajun sausages from a co-worker, who was selling this for her daughter's school
-Schwans Fundraising ...
support the local
Morris Community Special Olympics Team (physically challenged) "
click on Start Shopping (near the right side of the screen) and you will be asked to enter a campaign ID# 1002615, click the start shopping button on the welcome page and begin placing your order. You will be asked to provide the name of an Athlete/Coach/Volunteer you are supporting upon checking out. (This is above the area where you will enter your credit card information.) I will get Credit for each order received from you!!
THE PRIZA CODE IS 11W"
-Sweet Treets by Karen
-UC Berkeley Fundraising Ideas
-Your Big Adventure, from Readers Digest (magazines, cd's, etc..)
*did this door to door with a teen I mentor (9/04)
*did this growing-up, which was only $1
...more on foods
Giving (e.g. tithes and offerings" "Better blessed to give..." (do it "cheefully"-2 Cor 9:7)
-Blessings in All Forms [e.g. food, (Proverbs 22:9), needs (Deuteronomy 15:11, strength to the weak (Psalm 41:1), kindness (Proverby 19:17), overall (1 John 3:17)
-Tithes and Offerings to Local Church/Missionary Support/etc (do it "secretly"-Matthew 6:1)... "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops"-Proverbs 3:9
Personal Testimony: I try to make sure when I get my pay check every other week, I automatically write a check of 10% of it to my local church (covers 2 weeks). Then the next week, I give part of another 5% to misisons, community service, or some other way to bless others. I have seen the fruits (don't expect this all the time!) of mine giving in return ("sow" & "reap"-2 Corinthians 9:6). For example, I remember moving to another house where my rent was going to quadruple ($45 to $200). I was invited to go on a mission trip (see Mexico Trip 01'), which I hesitantly joined "last minute" after receiving $200+ (Proverbs 11:24 "give..gains") just for helping a friend move. When I received this money, I wanted to use this to help cover my "new" next month's rent. I felt God gave this money for my first short-term mission trip, so I had to obey!
*my personal advice is to look for a good dentist around your area and then call them up. Ask them what are the best dental insurances that they take and then look it up on the internet (e.g. Dental Insurance-Get a Quote). Certain dentist takes certain insurance coverages.
-medical checks
-prescription medications/over the counter drugs
-Life: (Whhole-Life)
FAQ:
*Wikipedia Top things to know,from money.cnn.com "..Whole-life policies are built on assumptions.
The returns quoted by the agent are simply guesses - not reality. And some companies keep these guesses of future returns on the high side to attract more buyers... Which Life Insurance Is Best?, from Smart Money
Life Insurance 101
"Learn the basics about life insurance in a flash. Hear from a one of the nation's top insurance advisors who will explain why life insurance is so important, help demystify the life insurance process and quickly provide you with a good understanding of important insurance terms and concepts.
http://www.lifehappens.org/insurance-..."
Savings Account "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a
sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come
no collections will have to be made."-1 Corinthians 16:2
TIP: compare interest rates with each bank
Minnesota-Bremer Bank, Anchor Band, etc...are some examples of "good" interest rates accoring to a recent newspaper article.
"David (Dave) Ramsey address a group of service men on the topic and importance of saving."
-Videos Dave Ramsey - Buy Mutual Funds Not Stocks, from youtube.com "Dave explains why it is a better idea to buy Mutual Funds over stocks. "
"... is a life-changing program that teaches you how to make the right decisions with your money. You'll be empowered with the practical skills and confidence needed to achieve your financial goals and experience true financial peace! "
-Videos
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace: The Miracle of Giving
"For more information on the Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University for your church call 888-22-PEACE. This video is a great example of what happens when God's people, use God's guidelines to handle God's money." Financial Peace University Preview: part 1, from youtube.com "Have you ever wondered what Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is all about? This video will give you an overview of what the 13 lessons are going to be like. You will get to know Dave Ramsey and learn why he has a passion for teaching individuals about money. " Financial Peace University Preview: part 2, from youtube.com "Have you ever wondered what Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is all about? This video will give you an overview of what the 13 lessons are going to be like. You will get to know Dave Ramsey and learn why he has a passion for teaching individuals about money. "
Tax Deduction Tips & Advice : How to Simplify Filing Federal Income Tax Return, from youtube.com "Gathering all W2 and 1099 tax forms into one place at the end of the year is important to make filing taxes as simple as possible. File a quick and easy tax return with very little effort with tips from an experienced tax consultant in this free video on tax details and deductions. "
How to File Your Tax Return for Free - Free Tax Filing
"Did you know that the TurboTax Federal Free Edition online is an easy way to file your federal tax return? Plus, it's free! You get free tax prep, free filing of your federal income tax return, and free IRS efile.
To find out more info about TurboTax products, pricing, restrictions and guarantees, go to http://turbotax.intuit.com"
"is a statutory (state-regulated and state-audited) state disability program of the State of California for short-term disability income replacement. The program has been in effect since 1946.
"
"...is a United States payroll (or employment) tax[1] imposed by the federal government on both employees and employers to fund Social Security and Medicare�federal programs that provide benefits for retirees, the disabled, and children of deceased workers. Social Security benefits include old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI); Medicare provides hospital insurance benefits. The amount that one pays in payroll taxes throughout one's working career is directly tied to the social security benefits annuity that one receives as a retiree. This has led some to claim that the payroll tax is not a tax because its collection is directly tied to a benefit.[2].."
28 Best Travel Sites
Find the best deals online for plane tickets, hotel rooms, vacation packages and car rentals, domestic or abroad.
By Stacy Rapacon, Reporter, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
August 2009
The Best Time to Buy Everything, Deal of the Day by Kelli B. Grant (Author Archive)Published September 5, 2006 from smartmoney.com
"..Airplane Tickets
When to buy: On a Wednesday, 21 days (or a couple of days earlier) before your flight.
Why: Airlines make major pricing changes (and run fare sales) every week, typically on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings. About 21 days out from your flight, you'll see plenty of deals out there as airlines scramble to fill seats, says Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, a consumer travel advice Web site. Don't wait much longer, she cautions; prices jump significantly from 14 to seven days ahead of departure.... When is the best time to buy airline tickets?-
Do ticket prices cost more the closer you get to the date or lower?
* 2 years ago "I do 100% travel and the answer is not a simple yes or no. But typically yes they will cost more the closer you get. Although, sometimes when they feel they are undersold, they will lower the prices in hopes of filling the flight. The best thing you can do is use this site: http://www.farecompare.com
You can check specific dates and you can also see what is typical costs and what cost would be a good deal. You can also set up alerts and the website will email when the specific flight you want to watch is at a very cheap price compared to average. I love the site and use it all the time. You can get a great idea what it should cost and how the prices change based on how far ahead of time you book.
By the way, 2-5 months is not good adivce. If you want a good price and don't want to run the chance of loosing out then you should book as soon as possible. This would typically be around 320-330 days ahead. I booked a flight from NY to LA for $288 round trip for the day after Christmas about 7 months in advance. By the time it was 5 months away the flight costs $580. Just an example...the will vary.
"
What about Credit Cards? From my personal experiences, I think having 1-2 isn't too bad. It actually helps build your credit, which will help you when it comes to applying for a loan (e.g. car, house, etc..) in the future. However, they are very, very, very bad if you don't pay in time or don't budget. For example, I had 5 credit cards while I was in college after applying as many as I can to get FREE stuff. Well, they hurted me for awhile as I used these credit cards to pay off a business investment (Equinox International-similar to nowadays Amway-long story!) opportunity that went bankrupt.
Your name is listed in all these credit bureaus, which is why you get all that "junk" mail. To get your name off the list, you can contact the following. I personally called Equifax-Opt Out and left my name and address for them to mail me a 1 page sheet to sign to get my name off the list. I believe they say that you are off the list for a certain amount of time and you have to call them back again:
Others- Opt-Out (take your name off credit reporting agencies:
Experian 1.888.397.3742
Equifax Options
Trans Union Corporation 1.800.888.4213
Marketing Opt Out
1.888.5OPT-OUT (888.567.8688)
*Tip: The above following credit bureaus is obligated to send your personal credit report to you at least once a year if you ask them.
As you can see, most of my money goes to "materialistic things" that really don't benefit me long term-espeically eternity!
"We enter this world naked and we leave this world naked"-Job
more...
How do I manage my money?
-Teen Years
This is a question that is an on-going learning experience! It�s been over 4 years since I graduated from college and I�m still learning, so I�ll share what I�ve learned so far. First, you need to know what you are trying to work for? How are you going to spend the hard work money for? I started saving sometime before high school as I wanted to attend college. I got my first �real� job at age 12/13 delivering newspapers (see work experience), which was an experience that build my responsibility skills. Before this, I had some �odd� jobs-babysitting, helping my dad with maintenance work in his rental properties, and the typical weekly allowances from your parents by doing household duties. Each job, there was a different motivation for working for that �pay check�. When I was younger, I collected baseball cards, which motivated me to do the �odd� jobs mentioned above. Before, during, and after high school-I saved money to help pay for college.
-College Years
I was blessed many ways to pay for college-especially after coming to that personal relationship with the �Provider�-Heavenly Father! Before college, I was all worried on how I would be able to attend college because my parents (with jealousy and envy of others) didn�t start a �college savings� that some of my peers had. I applied for scholarships, which I was turned down with several of them; however, I got accepted with several others! My savings and scholarships still didn�t cover all my tuition! In order to cover the remaining cost, I took on 2 jobs during the summer vacations between each year in college. Despite the �busy� summer vacations with these 2 jobs, it gave me a clearer perspective on what I wanted to do after college. After each summer experience, my career objective became more clear! However, I wanted God to give me guidance, so I stayed in Morris after graduation for the Summer Institute of Ministry Training School!
-After College
Well, praise God-He provided all my needs to get through college. Now what? I wanted to serve God, but I didn�t know how? I ended up finding a job in-town to get me through the summer only while attending this ministry school. God provided a job working at a group home, which He touched my heart here and I�m still here! When college students get all worried wondering what they�re going to do with their lives, I laughed inside and tell them that �you need to take each day at a time and trust Him. He�ll take you to places that you never thought of doing, it�s like what Jesus said�
�Seek first the Kingdom and all these things will come�?
What comes? Everything you need (family, friends, finances, food, clothing, etc�) to get through life to accomplish His will for you (if you are faithful to His Word and His will in your life!), like how He got you and me through college! College was a preparation time or season, so you can look back and remember that He�ll �never forsake you�! Yes, I do still have thoughts wondering about what I�m doing is in God�s will or is it mine? I still ponder about this after 4 � years since I graduated from college in 1999! What I try do is take each day at a time spending time with Him seeking (though prayer, reading the Bible, fellowship, etc�) how I can do His will everyday.
Lord of Your Finances?
When I accepted Jesus to be �Lord� of my life, I really didn�t fully understand it in the Spring of 1996. However, I�m beginning to learn more what it means everyday! Recently, it became more clear in my mind and heart that God wants to take care of us if we let Him do so! We need to totally depend on Him and give everything you have to Him-that means your money too! I was watching some sermon on t.v. about this, and God really convicted me about how I haven�t really made Him-Lord of my finances. For example, when you get a paycheck, do you automatically give that 10% to Him or you just give him the �left overs� of what you have remaining from spending all your money (e.g. bills, groceries, etc�).
"
(WCCO) During these tough economic times, we all like to see how far we can make a dollar stretch. One local church proved that with a little determination and the generosity of others, you can make money grow.
Good Samaritan in Edina celebrates the Parable of the Talents. It's a biblical story about a master who gave his servants money, his only request being that they increase what he gave them. A Minnesotan family took the story literally. They loaned $40,000 to the church -- unsecured, with the hope of creating their own Parable.
On the morning of September 7, members of the congregation got a big surprise. For years they had been giving contributions to the church. But on that morning, the church gave to them.
"People opened up their envelopes and said, 'There is $100 in my there! There is $100 in my envelope!' That was the reaction on Sunday morning," laughed Reverend Becky Sechrist.
Each adult received $100 and each child received $20. It was up to them to figure out how to make their money back. Soon the talents were coming out. Rachel Hause used her money to make blankets that could be sponsored for troops overseas.
"I did embrace it at the end, but it was a bit of a journey for me," said Hause.
Young Alexandra Hagen used her money to make bracelets and then sold them, though she wishes she had more to work with.
"It wasn't fair that they got $100 and we only got $20," said Alexandra.
One woman made wine bottle covers. Another made hot fudge. One family threw two gourmet dinners. For every $100 church members spent, they made $180 back. It was enough to pay back the loan, and all the extra money went to those who need it most.
"We didn't know it was coming and it will tremendously support STEP's efforts, especially during the holiday season," said Jackie Olafson with the STEP food shelf.
Both STEP Food Shelf in St. Louis Park and VEAP Food Shelf in Bloomington received about $10,000 from the church.
STEP said that money will cover about 70 percent of the cost of food for their holiday program. "
"The dollar will get “utterly destroyed” and become “virtually worthless”, said Damon Vickers, chief investment officer of Nine Points Capital Partners. Due to the huge wage disparities between the United States and emerging markets like China, Vickers said that may resolve itself in some type of a global currency crisis.
“If the global currency crisis unfolds, then inevitably you get an alignment of a global world government. A new global currency and a new world order, so we may be moving towards that,” he said..."
CNBC - Dollar Will be Utterly Destroyed, Global Currency, New World Order
Gold price hits record high as dollar wanes
AFP
November 9, 2009 "Gold prices hit a record above 1,100 dollars on Monday with the dollar weakening after a pledge by G20 countries to keep economic recovery pumped up with easy money.
In morning trading here, gold struck an all-time peak of 1,109.50 dollars an ounce as the euro rose to 1.50 dollars for the first time in two weeks....
"
It’s the biggest mystery in global finance right now: Who conducted a sneak attack on the U.S. dollar this week?
It began with a thinly sourced but highly explosive report Monday in a British newspaper: Arab oil sheiks are conspiring with the Russians and Chinese to quit using the dollar to set the value of oil trades — a direct threat to the global supremacy of the greenback.
Is it true? Everyone from the head of the Saudi central bank to U.S. officials scrambled to undercut the story, but no matter.
With the U.S. economy on the ropes and America by far the world’s biggest debtor, investors aren’t feeling as secure about the dollar as they used to. And the notion of second-tier economies ganging up on Uncle Sam didn’t sound so far-fetched.
For American officials, the possibility of the dollar losing its long-term dominance in global commerce is a nightmare scenario because it would likely mean sharply higher interest rates at home and a declining ability to finance the U.S. debt. No one believes it could really happen right now, but stories like the British report this week make it seem incrementally more likely.
So the piece by Robert Fisk of the Independent shocked currency traders around the world and almost instantly sent the value of the U.S. dollar spiraling downward and the price of gold skyrocketing to an all-time high, as a hedge against a weakened dollar.
The website drudgereport.com quickly amplified the impact of the story with a headline atop the site: ARAB STATES LAUNCH SECRET MOVES WITH CHINA, RUSSIA, FRANCE TO STOP USING DOLLAR FOR OIL TRADING ...
“You read that story, and you do two things: You sell the hell out of dollars and you buy gold,” said Les Alperstein, president of the financial research firm Washington Analysis. “The story has a lot of credibility, with some caveats.”
So who wanted dollars diving and gold rising? In other words, who is Fisk’s source, and why did he or she want to tank the dollar? It’s the global currency version of the old Washington parlor game of speculating on the real identity of Deep Throat.
No one knows.
But one thing is for certain: With the price of gold jumping to $1,048.20 per ounce, traders who moved early enough stood to make millions.
So in government circles in Washington, speculation immediately centered on gold traders: With the skyrocketing price of gold, they’d be the biggest beneficiaries of the article.
Fisk’s story itself isn’t much help in solving the mystery — it is sourced vaguely to “Gulf Arab and Chinese banking sources in Hong Kong,” and it included one blind quote, attributed to “a prominent Hong Kong broker.” That doesn’t narrow down the pool very much.
The story doesn’t name any officials who had allegedly participated in the secret meetings involving the Arab states. It didn’t say where the meetings occurred or when. Other than saying the plan is to stop using the dollar by 2018, there was precious little detail to the account.
Around the world, traders turned to Wikipedia to find out more about Fisk himself. There, they learned that Fisk is a legendary British foreign correspondent who has been based in Beirut for more than 30 years and has won a slew of journalism awards. They also learned that he is one of only a few journalists to have interviewed Osama bin Laden (three times) and that he has expressed doubts that the United States has told the full story about the Sept. 11 attacks.
An analyst’s report from the Royal Bank of Scotland concluded, “Fisk is a veteran of the Middle East. ... he is also increasingly associated with more radical theories thus weakening the credibility of the story.”
Beyond the specifics of the story, the geopolitical implications of the report sent shudders from Riyadh to London to Washington: Has the long-dominant American economy been so humbled by the economic crisis that these nations would mount a frontal attack on the dollar, the underpinning of the world’s biggest economy?
That question is on the minds of global investors, who are keeping a skittish eye on the weakening dollar. And over the past several months there has been a steady drumbeat of Chinese, Russian and other officials who have talked openly about finding a replacement for the dollar as the global economy’s default currency. Any effort to do that would be fraught with difficulty. But however unlikely, the possibility represents a threat to the American economy, which has come to depend on the significant advantages it reaps from minting the currency most used around the world.
In another era, the dollar could shrug off such a vaguely sourced, thinly detailed story.
But not anymore.
The dollar is weak and vulnerable to rumor-mongering because many traders believe it will only get weaker. “The fundamental reason why this occurred is that after 9.8 percent unemployment on Friday, nobody can say with certainty that the recovery is sustainable,” said one analyst familiar with the situation.
“In years past, when the U.S. economic dominance was more pronounced and emerging markets were marginal players in the global economy,” noted an analyst’s report from HSBC, “the debate on pricing commodities in currencies other than the [U.S. dollar] typically came down to the lack of practicality. ... Today, emerging markets are clearly wielding much more influence in the global economy, and they want more, as will be borne out in this week’s IMF meetings.”
And that means U.S. officials whose job it is to defend the dollar may have their work cut out for them in the months to come.
*found this today (Thursday, Aug 30th of 2007) "Annette and Steve Economides, and their five children, ages 10 to 21, have mastered the art of living on the cheap. Their mission: to maintain a reputation they've proudly earned � or maybe saved � the old-fashioned way. The Arizona clan says it's proud to be America's cheapest family.
"We started out our marriage with so little money that we decided we were going to live within our means," said Annette Economides. "From day one, we were not going to accrue any kind of debt, of any kind."
The Economides say careful planning allowed them to pay off their first house in just nine years, even though their family income averaged just $33,000 a year. Their second home is nearly paid off as well.
Steve Economides, who calls himself the family's "cheap economizing officer," is a freelance graphic artist. He and his wife runs the family business, HomeEconomiser, a Web site and newsletter dedicated to helping people live within their means.
The Economides spend $350 a month on food and cleaning products, feeding seven mouths for 30 days.
Careful Planning
How do they do it?
Step one: Careful planning. The Economides make a grocery list and check it three times before heading to the store.
"These women that are at the grocery store every day, three times a week, are spending gobs of money on food that they don't need to be spending," said Annette Economides....
To receive a free sample issue of The HomeEconomiser Newsletter, go to www.HomeEconomiser.com.
To receive a printed version of their sample issue send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to HomeEconomiser, Sample Issue, PO Box 12603, Scottsdale, AZ 85267
"
5 Minutes Bible Study - What Should I Do? "...Do a checkup to be sure you're following God's priorities. Are you giving to Him and to others? (1 Cor. 16:2). Taking care of family needs? (1 Tim. 5:8). Not letting money control you? (Luke 16:13)...."
"This quick and simple, question and answer book is the perfect resource for equipping individuals with key information about everyday money matters. Questions and answers deal with 100+ of the most-asked questions from The Dave Ramsey Show-everything from budget planning to retirement planning or personal buying matters, to saving for college and charitable giving. This is Dave in his most popular format-ask a specific question, get a specific answer"
" LOS ANGELES - An unemployed man with an advanced finance degree who was despondent over his own financial problems shot and killed his wife, three children, mother-in-law and then himself in an upscale home in a gated community, police said Monday.
Officers found the bodies Monday morning after the wife failed to show up at a neighbor's home to go to work, Deputy Chief Michel Moore said. The deaths occurred sometime after Saturday evening.
A handgun that had been bought Sept. 16 was found near the father's body, Moore said. The father left two suicide notes � one for police and one for friends and relatives � and a will.
The notes attest to the man's financial difficulties, and he takes responsibility for killing his family members, Moore said.
The family members' names were not immediately released because police wanted to make sure the children's schools had time to make grief counselors available. The children were sons ages 19, 12 and 7.
The man had a master's of business administration in finance, formerly worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Sony Pictures, but had been unemployed for several months, Moore said.
Moore did not specify what financial trouble the man had been in. He noted that the family did not own the home.
PricewaterhouseCoopers spokesman Steven Silber had no immediate comment. Sony Pictures Entertainment spokesman Steve Elzer did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The gated community, called Sorrento Pointe, is among several developments along curving lanes and cul-de-sacs set on the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains in Porter Ranch, about 23 miles northwest of downtown.
Ryan Ransdell, who lives across the street, said the house had been occupied by the family for about a year.
"They didn't socialize too much," he said. "They kept pretty much to themselves."
___
Associated Press Writer Jacob Adelman contributed to this report."
*referred by my friend Eric on 9/9/08
line of credit
Other: Cut My Interest Now
Reviews:
Money Merge Account Mortgage Accelerator Clip ch
"Clip of Nationally Syndicated Consumer Advocate Clark Howard, Discussing Money Merge Account Equity Accelerator Mortgage Fraud. "
Debunking the Money Merge Account Scam (Games Lenders Play, Part 8)
By Dan Melson on March 20, 2008 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) (searchlightcrusade.net) "..These wasteful loans that waste a homeowner's money are fast becoming the current market's negative amortization loan as far as marketing goes. These things are being pushed hard, consumers are being led to expect far greater results from them than they are likely to achieve, with the results being that those consumers who sign up for them are wasting their money. If they're not as bad as negative amortization loans, that's still damning with faint praise if ever there was such a thing. Not as bad as the loan that encouraged people to buy a more expensive property than they could afford, put them more deeply into debt with every passing month, ruined their credit ratings, and caused them to lose the property they over-extended to buy, as well as setting the United States as a whole up for the worst financial crisis we've experienced in the past eighty years. Well, it is kind of a high bar for lenders to get over, and they haven't done it here - but that's not due to concern for consumers..." Money Merge Accounts: Just Say, No Thanks.
Date September 11, 2007 By Matthew Paulson "There has been a new trend in the financial world in the last year or so in which consumers pay-checks are direct deposited directly onto their mortgage, and then consumers pay their monthly expenses out of what is essentially a home equity line of credit, and any money that one does not spend is extra principal paid on to their mortgage. In essence, you�re forcing your self to send all of your extra money each month on your mortgage, which will cause your home to be paid off on a much quicker basis....
There are a number of other problems associated with money merge accounts. Often the mortgages that you will be refinanced into will have higher interest rates and variable interest rates. If you�re in a good fixed rate mortgage at 5% or 6%, you�ll end up paying a higher interest rate in the new mortgage that you are given.
Usually there�s a pretty hefty setup fee to get into a money merge account to begin with. There are many companies that are charging consumers upwards of $3,000 to start using a money-merge account. Considering that you can accomplish the exact same thing by paying off extra principal on your mortgage each month for literally nothing, $3,000 is tantamount to highway robbery.
Money merge accounts aren�t a scam, but that doesn�t mean they�re a great deal either. You�re putting your sole focus on your mortgage, which often should be secondary to other debts and obligations and paying a high cost to do so." [This topic is locked] Scam? United First Financial Money Merge Account "..I actually had someone approach me last week about this. It is somebody I know and trust. He is also well respected in the community. I would be surprised if he is caught up in a scam or pyramid scheme. He asked for copies of anything that I am in debt with. I gave him a copy of our mortage and two car loans. He is supposed to get back to me this weekend. He is entering my information into the program and will let me know if I really can pay off my mortgage in 13 years compared to the 28 years I have left.
I don't understand it 100% and am just looking into it. I would not do anything without 100% knowledge of the product and the approval of Fatwallet. He explained that i am opening up an interest only equity account and that I would be borrowing from it during the month, but also depositing money back into it. I will post more when I have received his results.
Dave Ramsey--Debt Free Revolution
"National best selling author and financial Dave Ramsey motivates millions to become debt free and financially free. More at daveramsey.com "
"From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."
Story of Stuff, Full Version; How Things Work, About Stuff
"On Christmas Eve 1946, George Bailey (James Stewart) is deeply depressed, even suicidal. Prayers for George Bailey are heard by angels appearing as stars in the night sky. Clarence Odbody, an Angel Second Class, is sent to Earth to save him—and thereby earn his wings. Joseph, the head angel, is told to review George's life with Clarence."
*saw the theatrical performance on Friday, December 11th of 2009
"Eating on a budget is hard, but eating healthy on a budget is even harder. Before you go and grab that hamburger from the dollar menu, consider these healthy, yet cheap, tips:
* Shop In The Outer Perimeter Of The Supermarket - Think of what’s there - product, dairy, meats and fish. The outer perimeter has less processed, unhealthy foods than the aisles, and usually at less cost.
* Use Smart Shopping Tactics - Use coupons. Write down a list. Don’t shop hungry. And check out these supermarket savings tips.
* Look For Older Food - Bruised fruit, foods close to expiration or end cuts of meat are usually cheaper, yet just as good.
* Avoid Shortcut Foods - Sure, it may just be easier to buy unbuttered microwave popcorn or bottled iced tea, but you’ll save a lot more money if you make your own from scratch.
* Buy In Bulk - Whether you use a warehouse club like Costco or your regular supermarket, you may be able to buy cheaper (and healthier) in bulk. Buying bulk is especially good for grains, legumes and other healthy foods that can be easily frozen.
* Look Beyond The Supermarket - You may find cheaper, healthy foods at farmers’ markets, ethnic food stores, co-ops, food stands and other specialty places.
* Cook More At Home - Eating out is expensive. Healthy eating out is even worse on your wallet. Start cooking more at home, and bag your lunch.
* Grow Your Own Food - One of the cheapest ways to eat healthy is to grow your own food, especially vegetables and herbs.
* Eat More Grains, Legumes, Fruits And Vegetables - They’re more filling and less expensive than meats and dairy. If you want to have meat or dairy, decrease the portion and add more of the above.
* Decrease Your Portions - Evaluate how much you eat. You may be able to nosh on less and still feel full. You’ll save money and be healthier.
"
"EVERYONE IN THE WORLD MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO. The Illuminati, a group of Super Rich that control the banks, media, and governments of the world are taking control of the EARTH by design to kill off 80% of humans on earth. Their plan is to take over the world and have the rich running everything and their slaves. This group follows satanic spiritual practices even doing fake sacrifices. This series is from the video "Zeitgeist" To see the whole video just go to EARTH, WORLD OF SLAVES -- Super Rich's Plan to kill us. "
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Military: World's Wars, Arms, Weapons, History, etc...
"Common Sense is a three episode series featuring the Greene family. It was produced for Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA, and was meant to supplement Dr. Tom Smiley's message series about finances. The Greene family is a formerly wealthy family which finds themselves on the other end of the financial spectrum. Not only have they lost their wealth, but they continue to make bad financial decisions with the little money they have left. This series is an obvious spoof of the popular television show "Arrested Development." It was produced as an homage to "Arrested Development" and as a learning tool of what NOT to do with money."
Money Don't Grow On Trees
"Comedic example of foolish money handeling."
*see Greedy
"ROMAN EMPIRE
The earliest taxes in Rome were customs duties on imports and exports called portoria.1
Caesar Augustus was consider by many to be the most brilliant tax strategist of the Roman Empire. During his reign as "First Citizen" the publicani were virtually eliminated as tax collectors for the central government. During this period cities were given the responsibility for collecting taxes. Caesar Augustus instituted an inheritance tax to provide retirement funds for the military. The tax was 5 percent on all inheritances except gifts to children and spouses. The English and Dutch referred to the inheritance tax of Augustus in developing their own inheritance taxes.
During the time of Julius Caesar a 1 percent sales tax was imposed. During the time of Caesar Augustus the sales tax was 4 percent for slaves and 1 percent for everything else.1
Saint Matthew was a publican (tax collector) from Capernaum during Caesar Augustus reign. He was not of the old publicani but hired by the local government to collect taxes.
In 60 A.D. Boadicea, queen of East Anglia led a revolt that can be attributed to corrupt tax collectors in the British Isles. Her revolt allegedly killed all Roman soldiers within 100 miles; seized London; and it is said that over 80,000 people were killed during the revolt. The Queen was able to raise an army of 230,000. The revolt was crushed by Emperor Nero and resulted in the appointment of new administrators for the British Isles.1
...
Computers, scroll to "Make Money" in Global section of GoodnewsUMM
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