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Lawrence Jones

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Ten Ways to Minimize Stress by Getting Out of Debt

Posted Tuesday, November 10, 2009 (11 days 21 hours ago.) Viewed 140 times.

America has been in financial crisis since the Bush Era. Many books have been written, major networks have broad cast stories on how to get out debt, and so called experts have told us what to do and what not to do.

You hear financial advisers talk about budget and investing, but they never mention the stress that goes along with getting out of debt. The following scope of this article will give you some steps you can take to assist you in getting out of debt. I am not a financial adviser or a money guru. These steps are things I have learned through mere trial and error. I hope it helps some way.

1. Establish a budget -A Budgets gives you guidance and direction on how much you earning, what you are spending, and what you spending it on.

2. Put away 1 0% to 20% away -It is important to pay yourself first doesn't mater how many bills you have or what you make.

3. Eliminated waste -Write down what you spend your money on and stop spending money on things you don't need. Fore example, it not necessary to have the cable premium channels. You can't watch 300 channels at one time.

4. Take time to make attitude change -Sometimes the way we think keeps us in debt. For instance, we buy clothes from the mall. Yet we can get same quality apparel from a low end retail chain like Marshals .

5. Sell what you don't need or give it away

-As Americans we love to accumulate stuff. A lot of us have stuff we don't need and someone else can use. Sell it or give away to friend, family member, or charitable organization.

6. Leave some for the next generation

-The bibles tells us to store, wealth, for your children's, children's children simple save and invest for a life time of financial stability for the next generation.

7. Give some of it away

-Jesus teaches us to give to those less fortunate. There is valid reason for giving. It is a spiritual eternal benefits for your pocket book.

8. Be helpful to others through giving -It is about the human spirit. You gather strength through giving.

9. Hate yourself when you don't save

-Your future depends on you saving and living a comfortable life at 70 and beyond. Please don't count on Social Security. It may or may not be there, but for sure if you are blessed to live a long life you need money. You don't want to out live your money. You want your money to out live you.

10. Stick to your budget no matter what

-It is important to understand, discipline is necessary to stick to your budget. Remember your budget is your guide to building wealth, sound retirement, and helping the next generation get ahead. Need help on how to establish a budget read my article entitled Creating A Budget and Staying Out of Debt .

Lawrence Jones is author, poet and freelance writer. He deals with practical knowledge for every day living. Check out this column every week and see what is new for you to learn, apply, and live well.

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How to Stay Out of Debt, Ten Practical Ways

Posted Monday, November 09, 2009 (11 days 22 hours ago.) Viewed 13 times.

It is apparent that majority are in debt. America is at war with its credit cards , home loans , and auto loans . Well let's explore some ways you can stay out of debt and crawl, stumble , eventually; walk your way out of debt.

It is one of the most practical things wanting to be out of debt and staying out. The principles here will help anyone from any walk of life and with any budget. It is apart of ten article series

Staying out of debt the most important thing you can do. You should first set up an emergency fund to cover unforeseen expenses and see if there is a way of saving money for things you don't necessary need.

1. Take your time and don't buy on impulse. Impulse spending is probably 90% of why people get into debt.

Many times we walk in store and want the first thing we see without giving it some thought to why we want it and how we going to pay for it .

2. Know what you going to buy before you go into a store, on website, or at a garage sale.

-Make a list of the things you want to buy and take the time to see if it is what you need or want.

3. Go to websites that have customer comments about products you want to buy for example you can go to www.amazon.com , www.walmart.com , and www.staples.com .

-By reading the comments of others, will help you make an educated decion about the products, and if it will meet your needs

4. Seek out financial adviser at your local commercial branch or credit union.

-They have financial counselors to help you with you finances at no charge.

5. Use credit unions as your source of primary banking they have lower fees.

-Commercial banks charge fees for every transaction legally possible. They nickel and dime there customers, and still offer financial products to you to drain your savings. Therefore become a member of your local credit unions link to your job, school system, or community organization. Reason is credit union laws are different from commercial banks. Your dollar you save with the credit union I like owning a share of stock in a company.

6. Take time to learn all about fees, services, and personal you deal with at your financial institution

-It is import to be knowledgeable about your financial institution policies ie, procedures and fees. That way you plan ahead if your have to do transfers and withdrawals without incurring a fee.

7. Develop a skill and talent for picking good stocks if you like to invest in the stock market.

-Nothing is wrong with investing in the stock market. Just don't depend on it as your primary source of building a nest egg.

8. Read books like Susan Orman Plan 2009 by Susan Orman, Motley Fools News letters and their numerous others.

Self empowerment through learning how money works and what it can do is very important.

9. Use common sense when spending money, buy things you need and stay within your budget ( you can review my article on how to create a budget entitled Creating A Budget ).

-Redefine your self as being a educated investor verse a consumer. If you are educated investor, you are investing in the well being of your financial, physical, and mental health.

Whereas a consumer, to me is a very generic term that only allude to me being a brainless Neanderthal that can't think, and need someone to think for me. All I do is consume and never give thought to what I consume and why.

10. Take the time to plan on how you are going to manage your money and manage your debt.

-Set realistic goals for good financial management.

Lawrence Jones is author, poet, and freelance writer. He deals with practical knowledge for every day living. Check out his column every week and see what is new for you to learn, apply, and live well.

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- Creating a Budget-

Posted Monday, November 09, 2009 (11 days 23 hours ago.) Viewed 794 times.

Times are tough, and no one is talking about how to stay out of financial trouble and maintain what you have. We often don't think of money as being a life and death situation, but in reality it is. If we allow ourself the unfortunate event of out living our money, then we have not been good stewards over what was ours. God doesn't need money.

It is one of the most impossible things to do. Telling yourself that we don't have enough money to do what we want and get what we want. Creating a budget is like breaking a bad habit you don't want to stop, but you need to because your life depends on it.

It is imperative we learn how to budget as a nation and save as families. The nation of China owns significant amount of USA property because there capitol buying power as a nation is quite significant. They are a nation of savers not consumers. We should fall prey to the labels and manipulation that the media uses through words that suppose to define our actions or behavior towards spending. Each and every individual that aspired to be financial independence and stable should redefine him or herself when it comes to spending behavior and labeling.

The following passage will strategic map out, structure, and explain the anatomy of a budget. It sounds simple but it is not. Budgeting requires the number one D word Discipline. This is lacking in today's culture of instant-quick-fixes via credit cards, pay-day-loans, and casinos

First thing , make a list of needs and wants. The basics should be at the top of the list. food, clothing, and shelter. These things are essential for daily living. Clothing category is little different for some of us. All of us don't need new pair shoes every month or a new suit. Some jobs only require uniform .

Thirdly , write it down on paper and add it up. You should know how much you got coming in from every source: first job, second job, third job, spouse income (significant other), small business, and odd jobs around the neighborhood.

Secondly, take time to collect receipts for what you have spent. Always get a receipt. It does matter how small or large of a purchase. Get a receipt for all products and services. It will keep you mentally conscious of what you are spending. It is a good deter ant from over spending. Tracking your spending help you stay focused on living within your means.

Fourthly , I would hope people would take time to look at attitude towards spending money. Attitude is everything. We spend according to mood, fear, and need. Advertisers know this. We must control the buying button and seek to keep more money in our savings accounts and emergency funds.

Finally, Let me repeat that God doesn't need money. He needs people to have money so that his work get's done on Earth. For example, believers, Christians, need money to feed the hungry, clothe people, and help build shelters for the homeless. Americans should use the financial crisis we are as a wake up call to put money away for a rainy day, and do like grand mother told us "Don't put your eggs all in one basket." In addition, if you need some guidance on establishing a budget go to Creating A Budget.

Lawrence Jones is author, poet and freelance writer. He deals with practical knowledge for every day living. Check out his column every week and see what is new for you to learn, apply, and live well.

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This What Love is

Posted Saturday, October 24, 2009 (27 days 22 hours ago.) Viewed 28 times.

Love is the holding of a baby, if he/she doesn't get a hug of love he will die in an instant. When babies are born he or she needs to feel and sense the warmth of his/her mother. This bond is created in the womb. Yet, without the external stimuli of love after coming out, he or she will die.

Love is the prostitute that wasn't loved by her father, yet she finds it in empty promises of the clients she serves. Many women that fall prey to prostitution do because they had no real father figure to guide them, protect them, validate, and support them. They choose a underhanded, manipulative, unforgiving, and unyielding creature-name a Pimp. He steals their innocence and for some their soul. So fathers be good to your daughters, teach them , care for them, and above all love them.

Love is the joy of a day today day struggle that leads to triumph over tragedy. Jobs we hold these days come and go. You buy a new home, put your kids into college, and watch your saving grow. Then when you pull up into the parking lot in front of the building where you work and see a sign saying, "Closed-Gone Out of Business". Yet the manager just called a meeting the day before and informed you of how well the company is doing, stock prices are up, and every ones job is secure. Only love can hold you together. Love from family, friends, and neighbors can see you through.

Love is the force that will stop a country from dropping a bomb that would destroy millions. No weapons should be deployed without love taking precedence over disagreements and political agendas. Man kind is God creation not for him to take or destroy.

Love is it the most powerful force on Earth but used less by most. It's not costly, it does not require scarifice, nor pain. It is just simply energy of an emotion, a light, a promise, a hug , a kiss, a smile, a home, a chair, a piece of clothinq, some time to share, and listening ear. Whatever it takes to make another human being feel like life is worth living another day, and that he or she is meant to fly- That is love.

As we prepare to enter into the holiday season, let us focuse and give thanks to the ability to love and beloved. I promise if you open up your heart and let love fill the emptiness of any sadness, hurt, or pain, it will take you to a place of oneness with the one called Jesus.

Inspired John Legend song entitled So High

By

Lawrence Jones

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Do you get angry often?

Ten Ways to Minimize Stress by Getting Out of Debt

How to Stay Out of Debt, Ten Practical Ways

- Creating a Budget-

This What Love is

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