Tag Archives: Jamaica

Money Mission: Get Real About Retirement

Retirement & Estate Planning, , , , , ,

There’s an epidemic poised to take over Jamaica that has the potential to devastate the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, and yet there is very little discussion about it in our country. Our airwaves and newspapers are chock-full of opinions on the latest scandal, yet no time or space is being devoted to this looming disaster.

This tragedy will not present itself in the form of a weather calamity that wreaks havoc on our physical infrastructure, nor will it be a medical emergency involving an infectious disease. However, this coming catastrophe will have the potential to bring financial adversity and deprivation on a scale hitherto unseen in our nation.

My apologies on sounding like an angel of doom, but this impending crisis prompts me to be a little melodramatic in my pronouncements. Continue reading Money Mission: Get Real About Retirement →

More Money: Hair is Big Business

Income Creation, , , , , ,

1 pack premium hair – J$1,400.00
1 bottle hair glue – J$105.00
1 pack stocking wave cap – J$80.00
1 lesson on how to make money with hair – priceless!

Based on my observation of the variety of hairstyles displayed by many of our stylish women, I had always believed that Jamaica’s hair industry was almost immune to the effects of the general recession.

However, it wasn’t until I decided to learn more about the world of hair design that I discovered exactly how lucrative this opportunity could be. Continue reading More Money: Hair is Big Business →

Getting Out of the Rat Race

Book Review, Wealth, , , ,

“Warning: Do not read this book unless you want to quit your job!”

With such a dramatic introduction to The 4-Hour Workweek, I was instantly hooked. The blurb on the back cover continued, “Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, this book is the blueprint.” I mentally placed a check against each of these desires.

As I started reading Timothy Ferriss’s debut Wall Street Journal best-seller, I realised that his cautionary advice was not merely a great marketing plug. The 4-hour Work Week is not a recommended resource for employees who value the perceived security of their jobs. If you really love working for other people, this book may be too disturbing or intimidating for you. Continue reading Getting Out of the Rat Race →

Avoiding the Rat Trap in your Finances

Goals, Income Creation, Investing, , , , , ,

“Rats close down Kingston high school.” This shocking headline continued into a revealing report of how rodents were running rampant at the 100-year-old institution. Despite their best efforts at pest control, the situation had deteriorated to the point where school officials were forced to temporarily suspend classes to effectively eradicate the problem.

As I read the unfortunate story of rats gone wild, my first thoughts were “How are these boys ever going to live this one down?” Knowing the fierce rivalry that exists among secondary schools in Jamaica, I had painful images of the merciless teasing and cruel rat references that were about to be unleashed upon the hapless students.

I thought no more about this incident until recently when I saw a television programme highlighting what the students had done to overcome their situation. Instead of being embarrassed by their rodent visitors, they had embraced them and practically turned them into school mascots. They had even created buttons with cute rat cartoon figures and were proudly wearing them. Continue reading Avoiding the Rat Trap in your Finances →

Money Mission: Become A Money Magnet

Money & Your Mind, Saving, , , , , , , ,

At the beginning of the year, many of us made firm resolutions to make 2012 the best ever. This was going to be the year, we declared, that we finally got our money act together. Reciting our 2012 Money Manifesto pledges, we vowed to make positive changes in 12 areas of our financial life.

If you had made these optimistic declarations to improve your finances, how would you rate your progress three months later? Have you been successful at implementing many of the habits that would allow you to achieve your objectives? Or have you given up on your plans and consoled yourself that next year will be better?

If you’re like most people and have already reneged on your resolutions, don’t despair. Decide to tackle your money problems in the same way you would approach a work or school assignment: assess the issue, research possible solutions, create an action plan and carry out the necessary activities.

Make it your mission to work on a specific money goal each month. Continue reading Money Mission: Become A Money Magnet →

More Money: Hitting Pay Dirt

Income Creation, , , , , ,

The question on everyone’s lips nowadays is: “How can I make more money?” Employees who run out of cash right after payday; school leavers or laid-off workers who can’t find a job; retirees who buckle under the pressures of inflation, everyone is looking for extra funds in these tough economic times.

A couple of years ago I wrote a series of articles looking at dozens of different methods of earning money part time. I believe that innovative thinkers and motivated go-getters will always find the ways and means of making money whether times are good or bad.

In fact, periods of severe financial crisis will often produce many thriving new enterprises and wealthy business owners.

I have always been fascinated by the interesting things that people do to make money in their spare time. Starting this week, I will take a deeper look at various entrepreneurial exploits, and give you the inside scoop on what it takes to be successful in these endeavours.

I hope that our ‘more money’ adventures will encourage you to search for your own ways to create extra income. Continue reading More Money: Hitting Pay Dirt →

A Cure For Your Money Sickness

Book Review, Money & Your Mind, , , ,

Sometime last year, I received an email from a public relations firm in California asking me if I would like to review a book on money that was about to be published. An interesting fact immediately caught my attention — the author, Hill Harper, was one of the stars on the popular television show, CSI:NY.

“Why on earth,” I thought to myself, “would this actor guy be writing a book about money?” Intrigued with the concept, I eagerly awaited my advance copy of Harper’s book, The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place to find out what new information and insights he could contribute to the arena of personal finance.

When I received the package, a release from the publisher revealed that Harper’s story was produced during a challenging period in his life. After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, he went on a cross-country train ride to come to terms with his illness. During the trip, he got a deeper understanding about the true meaning of life, and these revelations birthed The Wealth Cure.

Reading the author blurb on the jacket, I was quite impressed to discover that Harper was an established New York Times best-selling author, had acted in major films such as Spike Lee’s He Got Game, and attained two graduate degrees including one from Harvard Law School. But what could this perennial overachiever teach the world about money? Continue reading A Cure For Your Money Sickness →

Money Mission: Raise Money-Smart Kids

Kids & Money, , , , , , , ,

Many people, upon reaching their twilight years, will look back with regret at some of the choices they made in life. Remorseful memories of ‘youthful exuberance’ are often money-related; as the poor financial decisions that we made long ago have consequences that can negatively impact our fortunes forever.

Sometimes, I wish I could take a trip on a time machine so that I could change my past. One of the first things I would seek to rectify would be my imprudent actions regarding money. I would erase the careless spending and non-existent saving habits that characterised my early years, and replace them with sensible money practices.

If you’re like me, and you have a less-than-impressive history with money, don’t hold your breath waiting for that time machine to be invented! While we can still make smart decisions today that may eventually turn around our finances, life would have been definitely easier if we had learned and applied the right principles when we were young. Continue reading Money Mission: Raise Money-Smart Kids →

What’s Your Net Worth Really Worth?

Wealth, , , , , , , , , ,

As we strive to move up the ladder of success, one of the benchmarks that we can use to gauge our progress is our net worth. Your net worth is a measure of your financial value which is calculated by subtracting your total liabilities from the total value of your assets. In essence, it is the net value of all the things you own, less all the things you owe.

According to T Harv Eker, best-selling author of the Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, net worth is a fundamental measure of wealth. Eker reveals that persons who are determined to be rich will focus their efforts on increasing their net worth.

So if one of your money goals for this year is to build your wealth, you should be paying close attention to your net worth. Continue reading What’s Your Net Worth Really Worth? →