Posted by Miss Thrift on May 9, 2012 in
Managing Money |
∞ May 9, 2012 By camille
Forbes magazine published an article on the Top Five Money Mistakes Women Make. The first mistake given is being emotional about money. I believe that this trait ties back to the fact that money provides for our most basic needs of foods and shelter. After all, without this, we cannot even live for long.
It is interesting that physical money is actually paper, and paper has little value. Once we add those familiar “dollar green” graphics, that paper takes on a life of its own triggering emotions ranging from security to fear or greed.
One step to overcome the mistake of being emotional about money is to recognize and own the emotions you do have around money. Then see if you can figure out whether or not those emotions are valid. You may find they aren’t, but instead are based on ancestral money issues. If they are valid, however, they may be your intuition calling for you to take the actions you need to take that will allow those emotions to calm. These steps can be anything from getting paid market value for your work to committing to improving your financial education.
A second step to reduce the emotions tied to money is to think of money as a tool to get the things you want in life that money can buy. I call these things your money reasons. Like other tools that are used to bring about the end result we desire, money can be managed so that the result is, in fact, achieved.
The third step to reduce emotion around money is to create a plan, and then live that plan in your daily earning and spending habits. That overwhelming desire, or emotion which creeps in and grabs you when you pass the designer purse sale, when you really don’t need, or even truly want, another purse will vanish when you live from your plan and purpose.
These three steps can help replace fear and anxiety with harmony and security. Sometimes we can use our emotions as a guide to get the life we want. Turn your emotions around money into an asset instead of a liability on your personal balance sheet.
Camille Gaines is Founder and CEO of FinancialWoman.com. She provides simple solutions for busy women to help them create their own financial destiny, increase their wealth and get the life they want. To get Camille’s F.R.E.E. Money Flow chart with an accompanying audio, and weekly financially inspiring articles on growing your money so you can reach your financial goals, visit FinancialWoman.com.
Tags: Managing Money
Posted by Miss Thrift on April 25, 2012 in
Shoes |
∞ By Ann R Slifco
Whether you are a seasoned walker or just beginning a new fitness routine, you need to know how to buy the best walking shoes for your activities. Since there are so many different kinds of shoes on the market today, it’s important to be an informed buyer. Following these simple guidelines will help you make good choices.
First of all, decide what type of walker you are going to be. Shoes designed for walking vary depending on your walking preference. If you are a fitness walker, someone who walks at a pace of at least four to five miles per hour, you will be looking for a walking/running shoe. These shoes are lighter and more flexible allowing the fitness walker ease of movement and extra endurance. Those who are walking at a slightly slower pace, need to have walking shoes for this purpose. A thicker more stable sole offers the support needed for a less vigorous walker. No matter what type of walker you are, the shoes need to be comfortable.
The next step is to decide on what type of surface you intend to walk. If you will be walking on a track, street, or road, the tread on your shoes doesn’t need to be deep because the pavement is stable. Mall walking requires a non-slip tread since mall floors are often smooth and waxed. Trails and country roads may have uneven surfaces with dirt and shale coverings. For this type of surface, you need a shoe with deep tread. Look for a pair with nubs or zigzagged patterns to get the best grip. Uneven and natural surfaces can be very slippery and tricky especially for those seeking a fitness pace. Now that you know where you are walking, it’s time to go shopping!
Finally, the most important tip is to go shopping in the afternoon when your feet are the largest. It’s a fact that gravity plays a part in the size of your feet so plan to buy later in the day. Check out the shoe stores that specialize in selling athletic footwear. Have your feet sized for length and width. Make sure you are wearing the type of socks that are appropriate for your fitness activity, because cushioned socks are going to take up more room in the shoe. Next, try on different brands. Each brand fits differently. It may be that you will need up to a size larger that you normally wear, since you want plenty of room in the toe box. Walk around the store to ensure the shoes are comfortable. As you become familiar with the various brands and styles, there will be specific ones that fit you better. At this point, purchasing walking shoes will be easier and you will be able to find bargains at many locations. Now that you have the information for buying the best walking shoes, get out and get going!
This site has the best information about shoes on the internet.
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http://www.megashoebuys.com
Posted by Miss Thrift on April 11, 2012 in
Debt,
Managing Money |
∞ April 11, 2012 By camille
One of the most common questions in my financial courses is what should be done about debt. With the insight that comes from being a boomer woman, I have learned that our biggest life lessons usually follow our most painful experiences. As a result of the 2008 economic crisis, using debt wisely is no doubt one of the biggest and most common financial lessons of our lifetime.
Aside from the usual money strategies, such as paying down the highest interest rate debt first, emotional aspects of debt affect our money mindset. There are several steps that can help heal those money wounds caused the by shame and humiliation that often accompany piles of high interest credit card debt. The mindset has to be right before progress can be made to achieve financial health.
1. Know where you are. This is step two in the Financial Woman 5 Steps to Grow Your Money process. Make a list of all of your debt, the associated interest rate, and total it. Avoidance is always more stressful than acknowledgement and a plan to makes things better.
2. Separate good debt from bad debt on your list. Pay off the bad debt. Mentally accept that it’s alright that you have good debt; it may even be smart, especially by locking in low interest rates for appreciating assets.
3. Own responsibility for whatever that ugly bad debt number is. Under almost every circumstance, barring catastrophic illness, that debt exists because of the choices you made, and actions either took, or did not take.
4. Forgive yourself for your bad debt. This is a win-win; harm does not come from forgiveness, but all kinds powerful of healing does. Healing brings wellness, and from wellness springs proactive change and empowerment!
5. Focus on using your personal assets, such as your talents and expertise, to increase income so that you can reduce your bad debt. Reducing spending can only go so far, while increasing income is dynamic. Besides, it’s a lot more gratifying and overall beneficial through the personal growth that takes place when you increase your ability to earn money.
6. Embrace the lesson that you have gained from this experience; strive to actually have gratitude for what you have learned.
7. Recognize that debt is actually repayment of credit; someone entrusted you enough to loan money that you would repay in the future. Honor yourself for that repayment because this mindset shift is powerful.
Acceptance, forgiveness and acknowledgement; these are all powerful steps that will lead you to not only grow your money, but to live a rich life in so many ways.
Camille Gaines is Founder and CEO of FinancialWoman.com. She provides simple solutions for busy women to help them create their own financial destiny, increase their wealth and get the life they want. To get Camille’s F.R.E.E. Money Flow chart with an accompanying audio, and weekly financially inspiring articles on growing your money so you can reach your financial goals, visit FinancialWoman.com.
Posted by Miss Thrift on April 9, 2012 in
Online Services,
Shopping |
∞ By Jennifer Rybel
Online shopping offers greater convenience and better prices than any other shopping method. It’s no surprise that more and more people are starting to shop online. There is an old saying “every penny counts”. As in most cases, there is a lot of truth in this ancient wisdom. Who likes to work harder than they have to? It’s simple, the less you spend, the less you have to earn. It’s also great fun finding a bargain deal.
Follow the tips in this article to take advantage of great savings available to you online.
Tip #1: Always Use Coupon Codes
Coupons or Promo Codes save you money when shopping online. Have you noticed the area to enter something called a promotion, coupon or discount code at an online store’s checkout page? Did you wonder what that was? Did you think maybe it was just for some sort of paid members? Thin again! You get these codes for free all over the internet and they can save you loads of money. Simply visit a Coupon website to find the coupon code for the store that you are shopping at.
Tip #2: Get Cash Back On Your Purchases
Every time you make a purchase through a cash back shopping website, they pay you a cash back rebate. For every eligible purchase made, the website gets paid a sale commission from the store you bought the item from. They, in turn, share this sale commission with you in the form of a rebate that they call “cash back”. This means that you still buy the same product and from the same store for the same price, but this time you’re getting cash back for your order.
These online shopping tips can save you a lot of money over time. The best part is, it takes so little time to shop smart and, once you get the hang of it, it’s really simple.
Shop smart when you shop online with coupon codes and cash back shopping rebates. Anyone can and everyone should.
Posted by Miss Thrift on March 29, 2012 in
Uncategorized with Comments closed |
∞ March 28, 2012 By camille
One of my favorite areas to explore with clients is how to increase cash flow. The best solutions usually come in the form of increasing income rather than cutting expenses. Look around you at the people who changed their whole being when faced with a need to make more money, either because they had lost a job, or refused to continue to tolerate a job they disliked.
In Austin, there is an entrepreneur named David Ansel, known as the Soup Peddler. A few years back, David refused to stay in a corporate job he didn’t like. He tried a couple of different ideas that didn’t work, including yoga and massage school. Out of desperation, he decided to email a few friends to see if they would pay $10 for soup if he delivered it to them on his bike the next week; seventeen said yes.
David had never taken a cooking class. Nevertheless, he whipped up soup for his customers that week. For years, David could be seen delivering soup on his bike to his growing customer base. To demonstrate where the Soup Peddler is today, let me just say that he was featured in a eight page spread in Food and Wine magazine, has been on the Food Network, and on NPR’s The Splendid Table.
David’s inspiring story is full of revelations and good business sense.
He decided to become an expert; hang-ups about not being good enough didn’t hold David back. He chose to become a soup expert, and he became one.
He risked rejection when he called his friends, but he called them anyway.
He used what he had to make some money; a bike, a kitchen and some friends.
He went for what he really wanted, which was to get out of a corporate job he didn’t like.
He has fun; David dresses in superhero costumes and acts silly for fundraisers
He was creative and unique. There aren’t many businesses where the owner delivers homemade soup on a bike!
He used the brilliant concept of lean testing. David tried out his idea with as little effort and expense as possible.
Don’t you love this story? David created a unique business that nourishes his customers, puts money in the bank, and allowed him to do something he loves. Now that’s a rich life!
Camille Gaines is Founder and CEO of FinancialWoman.com. She provides simple solutions for busy women to help them create their own financial destiny, increase their wealth and get the life they want. To get Camille’s F.R.E.E. Money Flow chart with an accompanying audio, and weekly financially inspiring articles on growing your money so you can reach your financial goals, visit FinancialWoman.com.
Posted by Miss Thrift on March 21, 2012 in
Online Services,
Shopping with Comments closed |
∞ By Jennifer Rybel
We often here how online shopping is by far the better, smarter, more lucrative way to go about spending your money. Do we really know why this is so? There are several reasons for this. Here are just a few…
More stuff to choose from
Some brick and mortar stores may have the latest collections or a lot of things to choose from, but there’s no guarantee that they all do. Further, these stores may be far away.
Cheaper prices
Shopping online always has the advantage of price, as compared to a shopping offline. The costs of running an online store will certainly be lower than running a bricks and mortar store. What’s more, you can knock a significant amount off price of your purchase using online coupons or promotional codes (also called coupon codes). You can knock up to 80%(!) off the online price of an item in this way. When you consider how online prices can be so much cheaper than going to a store, you can see the incentive.
Better Shopping Experience
Some stores may not have what you are looking for. If you encountered this when shopping offline, you will have to search for another store in hopes of getting what you want. If you’re shopping online, however, all you need to do is search for another online store that has the item. Shopping multiple stores at the same time is possible and shouldn’t take you very long to find what you need
More Product Information, from many sources
One of the major advantages of online shopping is getting lots of information about the product you’re thinking of buying. Some items may even have a product description that is longer than what any salesperson would say. Others have customer reviews and ratings for the product. Of course, there’s always Google if none of the above are available.
Open for business 24/7
Most offline stores have opening and closing times, but online stores are normally open 24/7. This lets you buy what you want, even if it is 2AM.
These are just some of the major advantages of spending your shopping dollars online. There are several others, and lots and lots of online shoppers to vouch for them.
About The Author
Jennifer Rybel is a Marketing Associate at Pennyful.com. Pennyful.com is an online coupons & cash back shopping portal designed to simplify your shopping experience, maximize your savings, and make sure you have an exciting and comfortable experience every time you shop online. The whole process is simplified and made enjoyable, and it’s quite addictive really. Pennyful.com has great features that other such website do not have, and it’s surely worth a visit.
Always remember, shop smart when you’re shopping online. It’s the smart thing to do, and it’s easy. Your shopping journey is enjoyable at Pennyful.com
Posted by Miss Thrift on March 19, 2012 in
Appliances with Comments closed |
∞ By Vera Stone
There has been an increase in demand for consumer juice extractors in recent years as people become more aware of the many health benefits of juicing.
Eating foods naturally is necessary to balance your diet, but you can only eat so much in one meal. That’s why juicing is a great way to get the most healthy victims and nutrients out of your foods, because it allows you to absorb a lot more nutrients from fruits and vegetables than you could if you eat a solid produce.
You can get all the nutrients and minerals from one bag of carrot in a glass of juice. More nutrients get into your body drinking a glass of juice as it goes into your system very quickly. Natural juices also help cleanse the system and get rid of toxins in your body.
Many years ago I bought a Braun juicer and thought it was the hottest product at the time. I had no concept of the different types of juicers that can produce different results. That juicer I owned in the early days was a centrifugal juicer. It was inexpensive and got the job done.
Over the years, as juicing has become more and more popular, we see many more sophisticated designs for juicers.
Today, there are several types of juicers for juicing fruits and vegetables.
Centrifugal Juicers use a high-speed spinning action to extract juice. You put fruits and vegetable into the feeding chute and the high speed spinning basket extracts the juice by using centrifugal force. However, the high speed action creates a lot of oxygen bubbles and the resulting juice has a very short shelf life, which must be consumed quickly to minimize the loss of nutrients. But despite the short shelf life of juices produced from a centrifugal juicer, this type of juicer remains the most popular type of juicer because of its affordability.
Masticating Juicers use a single rotating grinder — also known as a single gear — to crush the fruits and vegetables against the wall of the container at a much slower speed. The idea behind this is that the lower speed allows more nutrients and minerals to remain in the juice because of the absence of oxygen bubbles. Masticating juicers are more expensive than centrifugal juicers, but they are well worth the extra cost.
Triturating Juicers — also known as Twin Gear Juicers — go one step further and use two rotating grinders to extract fruits and vegetables. The two interlocking grinders with their sharp blades can cut and squeeze nutrients out efficiently at a low speed. Triturating juicers are generally the most expensive type of juicer. They are for serious health enthusiasts who juice regularly and who have a more generous budget.
Choosing the best juicer for your needs will first depend on your budget. If you are on a budget or new to juicing, an affordable centrifugal juicer may be ideal for you. Just make sure you consume the fresh juice within 15 to 30 minutes. If you have a slighter higher budget, masticating juicer is most recommended. A masticating juicer has most of the advantages of a triturating juicer, but still reasonably priced.
You can find out more about the different juicer types at Best Juicers On The Market.
Posted by Miss Thrift on March 15, 2012 in
Shopping with Comments closed |
∞ The New York Times recently carried an article entitled “How Companies Learn Your Secrets.” The article is worth reading if you are concerned about who is tracking you as you shop and what is done with the information that is gathered about you.
Some of information that is collected on you include “your age, whether you are married and have kids, which part of town you live in, how long it takes you to drive to the store, your estimated salary, whether you’ve moved recently, what credit cards you carry in your wallet and what Web sites you visit.”
Unless you pay for everything with cash, you are leaving behind valuable information that retailers use to target you.
Take a look at the article here.
Posted by Miss Thrift on February 27, 2012 in
Money Making Ideas with Comments closed |
∞ REDBOOK had a recent article titled “5 Ways to Make Easy Money.” It listed some “secondary” jobs that mothers are engaged in that bring in extra income. Take a look at the article to see in any of the following part-time job is for you:
1. Pet Boarding
2. Virtual assisting
3. Waitressing
4. Online tutoring
5. Calligraphy
Full article
Posted by Miss Thrift on February 17, 2012 in
Taxes with Comments closed |
∞ CNNMoney recently published a very informative article about certain things that the IRS are looking out for. The article stated that “…the IRS is keeping an eye out for scam artists who steal identities, lie about charitable donations and hide income in offshore accounts, among other abuses.”
The article outlined 12 things that the IRS has identified as scams and ways that some people cheat the system:
1. Identity theft
2. Phishing
3. Sketchy tax preparers
4. Hiding income offshore
5. No such thing as “Free Money”
6. Inflating income and expenses
7. Filing false forms
8. Picking a bone with the IRS
9. Falsely claiming zero wages
10. Exaggerating charitable donations
11. Disguising corporate ownership
12. Misuse of trusts
Read the entire article here.