It's About Money Common Sense

Money Smarts is what it's all about...and money common sense. This past week, I've done several radio and TV interviews on my latest book, Money $marts: Personal Financial Success in 30 Days! A great majority of callers have asked questions about credit and credit card usage.

Monthly Bills will deliver higher Minimums--they will be increasing quite a bit shortly--expect your payments to double if you just do the bare amount each month.

If you are someone who pays on time, but carries a balance, get your credit cards out NOW and call the 800# on the back of the card for customer service. Ask/request that your interest rate be reduced--tell the card representative that you are getting multiple offers every week from other credit card companies to open an account with them and transfer the balance you have with the current company to a new one. What will they reduce your interested rate to, to keep your business? Believe, it's worth pursuing--80% will drop the rate on the phone.

With your new, reduced rate, the increased minimum will still be an increase, but the finance charges will drop--a very good thing.
You can get a copy of Money $marts: Personal Financial Success in 30 Days! through Amazon.com and BN.com--link below:


Buy Money $marts through Amazon.com

It's About Not Letting Holidays Break Your Bank Account

Celebrations don’t have to break your bank account. Below is an excerpt from my latest book--Money Smarts: Personal Financial Success in 30 Days! (Mile High Press)

To Think About: If you have kids, you know what the “gimmes” are. If you don’t have kids, and have friends and relatives who do, or you’ve ever been in a store, you have witnessed the gimmes. It’s a childhood disease that becomes epidemic when holidays and birthdays approach. And, no wonder. The media, through advertising, blitzes kids with every kind of conceivable toy and doo-dad. Kids have a hard time deciding what treasure they want. If the truth be told, they want them all. “Gimme this and gimme that!”

How about you? Do you get the adult gimmes? Do you go hog-wild during the holidays with gift buying for one and all? Do you expect gifts from all your friends and relatives?

Comedian George Carlin created a hilarious routine on “stuff.” Most people have plenty of stuff; some have way too much stuff. Before adding to your closets, shelves and garages, do a reality check. Maybe someone else could use some of the stuff you already have.

To Do: Call a family meeting before the pizzazz and excitement of holidays and birthdays hit. Tell them that you want to put together a spending plan for the next holiday season. Your spending plan could actually involve no money—time could be your currency.

• Everyone makes a list of potential gift recipients.

• Each family member decides what his or her money budget is.

• Determine what kind of gifts to be given: ideas include a store-bought present, homemade treats, time, money, even a donation in their name. Be open to possibilities that get generated from the “group think tank.”

• Consider adopting a cause and tell friends and other family members that you don’t want a gift given to you. Instead, tell them what or whom you would like a gift given to.

• Have each family member make a “wish” list. Family and friends can ask if there is anything specific someone wants. If budget and wishes fit, the days of returns will be eliminated.

• Large families routinely draw names and set a monetary limit to how much can be spent on a gift. Why not try it in yours to keep spending down?

Money $mart Tip It’s not unusual to get something you really don’t want. How about starting a tradition with family and friends with whom you exchange gifts and create Wish Lists? Kids that can’t write yet can clip pictures from catalogs. That way, no one gets “junk” and everyone is sure to receive something that they really want.

It's About Money

It's that time again...money, money, money goes out the door--so easy and so fast. Everyone and Every Store wants your money. In exchange, you are supposed to get that "special gift" for that "special someone" with a flash of a card.

Instead of waiting until January, maybe you should consider a Money Diet for December. Isn't it suppose to be about spending time with those you care for, good will, peace and all those wonderful things? Spending time could be gas in the car to get you there; good will is reaching out; and peace--resolve, don't create conflict.

I know, I know, tis always easier to say than do. But, heck, why not? I have a thing about giving--oh I give lots, but it's who I give to. One of my favorite's is the Salvation Army--so little of the moneys it brings in goes to administrative overhead--over 90% goes to the cause supported. The game I play every time I see one of the Bell Ringers is simply this: the biggest "bill" I have in my wallet goes into the bucket. Sometimes, it's big--like $50, other times, a $1. But to me, I know that I'm supporting a group who supports so many.

Our family has chosen to trim down this year. One daughter's job is ending in a few weeks. She's just had a new baby. They don't need to be spending money that isn't critical. My other daughter has a new home. Better yet to make her home comfortable than spend money on other family members right now. We all just about have everything we need anyway.

Our best gift is sharing and playing with our grandkids. What's yours?