Tag Archives: earn more

Budgeting for Family Vacation

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For most children, summer time heralds the beginning of two months of freedom, but for parents it can start a period of overspending and loss of budgetary control. If you’re a parent, you may want to ensure that your children enjoy their vacation, but it’s important not to spend more than you can afford on summer fun.

Ideally, you should have started planning for your vacation many months in advance. Just like any other expense in your budget, you would estimate the total cost of your holiday plans, divide this total by 12 (or by the number of months left for your planned vacation to start), and then save this figure each month to arrive at the amount you need to spend.

Finding the funds for fun

If vacation time is already here and you haven’t started saving for it yet, be very careful about taking on debt in order to finance your summer fun. Remember that September and back-to-school time is just around the corner, so you can’t afford to spend unwisely with these impending school expenses on the horizon. Continue reading Budgeting for Family Vacation →

A Fresh Financial Start

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“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for; we are the change that we seek.” US President Barack Obama

Many people experience a sense of desperation when they think about their finances; past failures and present frustrations leave them feeling powerless about their financial future. With expenses increasing steadily, salaries depreciating with the dollar, and debt spiralling out of control, it’s no wonder so many persons are in distress.

Even if you are unhappy with your money history, it is very possible to “wheel and come again” as we say in Jamaica. Getting a fresh start with your finances begins with admitting your dissatisfaction with your situation and accepting that you may have made mistakes over the years which cost you dearly.

Once you have examined your past and present concerns, you need to decide that it’s time for a new beginning. As the quote from President Obama declares, change starts within; there is no one else out there who is going to miraculously fix your problems for you. Changing old habits can be challenging, so you have to be committed to continue with the course until complete. Continue reading A Fresh Financial Start →

Going For Gold

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Jamaicans all across the world along with numerous friends of our nation are still celebrating the incredible success of our athletes at the recently concluded 2012 London Olympics. The infectious euphoria that was demonstrated by thousands of supporters from Half Way Tree, Jamaica, to Birmingham, England, was heartwarming to observe.

While we bask in the glory of winning 12 Olympic medals, we need to retain more than just a passing sense of pride from the achievements of our sports giants. There’s a lot that we can learn from their journey to the pinnacle of sporting competitions. Let’s look at how we can pattern their progress as we strive to attain our own personal and financial goals. Continue reading Going For Gold →

The Art and Science of Making Money

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Despite the developments in technology and differences in trends that emerge over time, there is one financial certainty that will probably remain constant. Most persons – regardless of age, gender, education, nationality, status or creed – will express the desire to have more money.

The ability to increase income levels far in excess of spending needs is desired by many, but discovered by very few. Could it be that some people are blessed with an inherent flair for making money that escapes the less talented majority? Or is there a scientific approach to money multiplication which can only be exploited after years of dedicated study?

The 2012 Money Manifesto, our 12-step guide to creating financial success, provides a recipe for increasing your income and putting your money to work for you. It is virtually impossible to budget successfully, save towards a nest egg, avoid debilitating debt, and plan for future goals, without having the means to boost your earning power. Continue reading The Art and Science of Making Money →