Twenty-Day Money Challenge

Goals, , , , , , ,

As the year winds down to a close, this is a good time to reflect on the items on your ‘must-do-in-2014’ list which you may not have accomplished as yet. Although we are heading into the busy holiday season, you still have a few weeks to try to clear up some of your important, unfinished business.

As you may have discovered, making plans and executing them are vastly different undertakings. It is easier to write down what you would like to get done, than to actually do the steps required to carry out your goals. Procrastination, doubt and indecision are usually the main causes of this failure to finish.

Instead of giving up and declaring that it’s too late, aim to make the last twenty days of the year really count. Let’s look at some strategies that can help you to refocus and re-energise yourself, and get moving on this year-end goal challenge which will allow you to head into 2015 on the right footing. Continue reading Twenty-Day Money Challenge →

Knock Until Doors Are Opened

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“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” – Matthew 7:8

Recently, in a crowded supermarket checkout lane, I viewed the trolley in front of me with dismay. It was loaded with groceries for someone’s month-end shopping trip. I didn’t look forward to being stuck for a long time in the supermarket; I was tired and ready to go home.

Although I had more than a handful of items in my own cart, I decided that I had nothing to lose by politely asking the lady in front if she would allow me to cash my goods ahead of her. I don’t normally like to inconvenience someone else who might be in a hurry to leave as well, but it was worth a try.

Happily, the lady was quite gracious in giving me her space. She even offered another person who was behind me the opportunity to exit faster as well. As I gratefully completed my transaction, I thought how often we miss opportunities to get ahead in life, simply because we fail to ask for what we need. Continue reading Knock Until Doors Are Opened →

Seek and You Will Find

Goals, Home Buying, , , , , ,

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7

Some persons think that if they have clear financial goals which they would like to accomplish, then they should not experience too many obstacles en route to success. They believe that if they come upon challenges which make the process difficult, then their goals were not destined to be realised.

There will be occasions when no matter how desperately you wish for your dream to come true, it will be highly unlikely to occur. This could be the case if you don’t convert your dream into a smart goal; with specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time-based objectives that you can apply.

For example, if every month when you pay your landlord, you declare, “One day I’m going to turn the key to my own door,” but you never put plans in place for this desire to become real, then don’t expect a miraculous event to eventually bestow you with the home of your dreams. Continue reading Seek and You Will Find →

Ask and You Will Receive

Goals, , , ,

Many of the obstacles which prevent people from accomplishing their goals and dreams are not complex issues; they can often be simple problems which are relatively easy to resolve. Sometimes persons create self-made barriers without recognising that they are sabotaging their own success.

When it comes to money, people will find all types of excuses to explain why they cannot break away from their financial pressures, and take steps that will lead them into a more secure financial position. Very often, one small step is all that’s required to get the momentum flowing in the desired direction.

Trying to find solutions to perplexing money problems can be confusing for the average person who doesn’t have any experience in financial matters. Too many people think that because they don’t know the answers, then they are forced to live with their challenges forever. Continue reading Ask and You Will Receive →

Getting Something for Nothing

Money Reflections, , , , , , , ,

Recently, I received an email advising me that an organisation had recovered funds that they believed had been diverted from my account. If I was willing to confirm my bank records, then I could benefit from the restitution of part of the over US$9 million in stolen assets that they claimed to have identified.

My first reaction to the outrageous email was to laugh heartily, as I wished that my net worth could justify my inclusion in their list of wealthy persons with diverted funds. Then, I thought that there had to be many people who would respond to the spurious message, knowing that they really didn’t qualify.

I believe that scam artists continue to create these fraudulent emails because there are lots of people who regularly fall victim to their improbable stories. If criminals had no success in trying to get persons to reveal their banking information, then they would have stopped trying this method a long time ago. Continue reading Getting Something for Nothing →

How to Change Your Financial ‘Panic’ Into a ‘Plan’

Money & Your Mind, , , , , , ,

You constantly feel sensations of dread and foreboding.
You have a pounding headache that is resistant to strong medication.
You get a stomach ache whenever you think about money.

You jump involuntarily whenever your phone rings from an unknown number.
You wake up suddenly in the middle of the night, or sleep eludes you for many restless hours.
You sometimes even find it hard to breathe as your heart races uncontrollably.

Many persons can identify with these indicators of chronic anxiety. With the incessant increases in inflation, regular reports of redundancies, and deepening dependence on debt, more people are becoming panicked about their financial condition and terrified about what may happen in the future.

It’s dangerous to live in a state of panic, as this can lead you to develop costly health challenges, which will only make your finances more precarious. If you’re tired of living in fear about money, here’s a simple strategy which you can utilise to transform your panic into a workable plan. Continue reading How to Change Your Financial ‘Panic’ Into a ‘Plan’ →

Self-Employed Spending Plan

Budgeting, Business Success, , , , , , , ,

Budgeting is an essential skill for successful money management and it should be practised by all persons, regardless of their income level. Without a clear idea of the real cost of your lifestyle, you may make improper spending decisions and jeopardise your future financial well-being.

Preparing a spending plan is even more critical if you are self-employed, especially if your income is generated sporadically and you cannot predict when your next dollar will be earned. While there is freedom in being your own boss, there are numerous challenges with not having a regular pay cheque.

If you carry out proper planning by utilising a comprehensive budget, it can help you to overcome some of the feelings of insecurity and apprehension that may be triggered by possible income instability. Here’s how creating a spending plan can be advantageous for self-employed persons. Continue reading Self-Employed Spending Plan →

Success Breeds Success

Income Creation, Money & Your Mind, , , , , , ,

Last week we discussed the importance of throwing aside your reservations when it comes to creating independent sources of income. As the saying goes, “Fortune favours the bold;” so if you need to earn more to pay bills and achieve your goals, you have to become courageous in trying to make money.

Many persons are fearful of taking action on their income creation ideas, as they wonder if they can really be successful in offering a product or service to other people. They worry that they will fail miserably in their efforts to sell, and prefer to live in financial distress rather than try something new.

If you have thoughts of failure when you consider your options to earn more money, then you have already set yourself up to be unsuccessful. Let’s look at how you can transform these feelings and develop a more success-centred approach that will help you to attain your financial desires. Continue reading Success Breeds Success →

Fortune Favours the Bold

Income Creation, , , , , , ,

Racquel was finally convinced that now was the right time for her to package her banana bread and try to market it commercially. If she had received J$100 every time she had heard, “Why don’t you sell this in the supermarkets? It tastes great!” she would be a wealthy woman today.

Apart from the fact that she was curious to know if her grand-aunt’s tasty recipe could make her some money, she knew that she needed to have a Plan B for creating income. Her employer’s business was struggling and she knew that it was only a matter of time before he started laying off staff.

Racquel had already registered a business name with the Companies Office and had hired a graphic artist to design a logo. She had made a list of potential outlets and had some ideas on how to market her product on social media. There was just one thing stopping her from proceeding – she was scared. Continue reading Fortune Favours the Bold →

How to Get Your Money Groove Back

Goals

Recently, a reader confided that she believed that she had lost her enthusiasm for her life goals and that she felt weary whenever she thought about all the tasks she had to complete to make her dreams come true. Somewhere along the way, it seems her get-up-and-go approach had deserted her.

Although she knew exactly what she wanted to achieve and was very clear about the strategies she needed to employ, several events had distracted her from her objectives. Like an old vinyl record that was stuck in a groove, she was just spinning around in circles and not making headway on her goals.

Despite her best efforts, she felt annoyed that she was unable to break free of the malaise that was hindering her progress. What sure-fire techniques could she utilise to get back on track? she wondered. How could she regain the confidence and vitality that would be required to accomplish her goals? Continue reading How to Get Your Money Groove Back →