Happy New Year to you!
Most of the things we are focused on right now is what we're all going to get right this year, would you agree? Lose weight, save more money, read more books, travel, etc. Have you ever thought about what you got right last year?
I recently read a post that made me think a little differently about things and where I am today. that post was written by a life coach who didn't feel authentic in her professional life because of where she was.
Through some of the life coach's list of things she was challenged by in 2009, it really became clear how much we think, or more exactly, how little we think of the past year. Let's face it, we all had some challenges in the last year or so and vowed never to go through another year like the past one again, right?
How about reflecting on how much you grew through the adversity you may have faced? You're here to read this, correct? Or, how you found out what was really, truly important when it came down to the wire when you needed to protect it?
You probably learned some new skills along the way to deal with a different kind of economy, too. Let's be honest enough to say to ourselves we had to live in different world, most of us, anyway, and we came through it with a new sense of who we are, what we can do and things we can do better than ever before!
While it may be your New Year plan for 2010 to focus on things we may not have accomplished in 2009, that last year of the decade was indeed a valuable year. For me, it changed a lot of things and got me more focused on growing my business, and, where I wanted to be on the planet. It gave me a deeper definition of who I want to be; now I have more understanding of who I am.
Let us not throw 2009 out so quickly without looking at the year of change you lived and the strength and resolve it will fuel this year. What valuable gifts and lessons we accumulated and, I for one, am deeply grateful to have received them.
I hope you are too!
To everyone - Live, Love and Laugh deeply!
Ta~Jax
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Keeping Your Options Open?
Life can be a very interesting journey and we all only get one go to get it right. Some may get a better start than others but still we pretty much get the same journey.
If you are one whose journey is not filled with rose petals when maybe it might have been a few years ago, all is not lost! It just means you have to learn new things or adjust some old habits. I believe we should always keep our options open for new opportunities to make our journey better, would you agree?
My thoughts are like this: if you have the chance to get new knowledge that would make your family's life better, which is more important - your loved ones or your ego?
One of the biggest fall-outs to the economic meltdown has been FICO scores. Where a score of 720 and above used to be a very good score, now credit-givers are looking for an 800 FICO. There are some factors which affect your score in ways you would never think it would and others make sense. While trying to help a gentleman and his wife work out a solution to their lowered credit availability and much lower household income, I found the husband was truly unwilling to accept that he needed assistance in making adjustments to his thinking as much as he did to his old spending habits. He clearly felt that what he knew about credit - which, by the way, was how it was treated pre-2007 - was superior. Using his logic, he kept doing the same things and these mistakes were killing his wife's FICO.
To get a basic idea of what could affect your score adversely, you can read this article I found on Yahoo! Finance: "Common Credit Card Mistakes". Using your cards can be a good thing; just be aware not paying back on time definitely is a score killer.
Even understanding that the "experts" may get things wrong, it still makes sense to adjust your thinking if your income changes to the extent you cannot have the lifestyle you had before the change.
Keep your mind open to new ideas and concepts; lifelong learning is what makes this journey so much more fun!
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." - Ben Franklin
I'm looking forward to a fantastic 2010 and hope to see you all there too!
Ta~Jax
If you are one whose journey is not filled with rose petals when maybe it might have been a few years ago, all is not lost! It just means you have to learn new things or adjust some old habits. I believe we should always keep our options open for new opportunities to make our journey better, would you agree?
My thoughts are like this: if you have the chance to get new knowledge that would make your family's life better, which is more important - your loved ones or your ego?
One of the biggest fall-outs to the economic meltdown has been FICO scores. Where a score of 720 and above used to be a very good score, now credit-givers are looking for an 800 FICO. There are some factors which affect your score in ways you would never think it would and others make sense. While trying to help a gentleman and his wife work out a solution to their lowered credit availability and much lower household income, I found the husband was truly unwilling to accept that he needed assistance in making adjustments to his thinking as much as he did to his old spending habits. He clearly felt that what he knew about credit - which, by the way, was how it was treated pre-2007 - was superior. Using his logic, he kept doing the same things and these mistakes were killing his wife's FICO.
To get a basic idea of what could affect your score adversely, you can read this article I found on Yahoo! Finance: "Common Credit Card Mistakes". Using your cards can be a good thing; just be aware not paying back on time definitely is a score killer.
Even understanding that the "experts" may get things wrong, it still makes sense to adjust your thinking if your income changes to the extent you cannot have the lifestyle you had before the change.
Keep your mind open to new ideas and concepts; lifelong learning is what makes this journey so much more fun!
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." - Ben Franklin
I'm looking forward to a fantastic 2010 and hope to see you all there too!
Ta~Jax
Friday, December 4, 2009
Holidays are for Making Happy Memories!
I absolutely love the holiday season and the happy memories I associate with it: baking, decorating, and family time!
And, there are the favorite movies and songs that you have to hear at least three times...who can resist Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Adam Sandler, Chevy Chase?
The one thing I don't want to remember, for certain, is spending more than I had when the envelopes come in January!
How you handle it today is going to be determined by the current situation of your finances and what you believe is in your future. SO, what happens when the envelope comes and your expectations are a little shorter cash-wise?
Your first inclination is to probably pay the minimums. I bet you put "getting out of debt" in your top three on your New Year's resolution for 2010, didn't you?
Well, here's a little something to help you with that resolution: "Ignore the Credit Card Minimum Payment".
I've shared a lot of the concepts in this article, over the years, with my clients, high school classrooms and community groups to help them put together a debt-freedom plan, so you know I use them in practice and not just repeating this!
If you don't know where to start, I have a recommendation to give you as well! In a partnership with Equifax, Primerica has designed a very easy, affordable and completely secure program for you to design and implement your own freedom card! This program is also including up to $25,000 of Identity Theft protection. Here's your link: DebtWatchers.
The DebtWatchers program allows you to monitor your credit report, check who's looking at your credit and improve your FICO.
From my family to yours, I wish you the best holiday season with the warmest and best memories yet!
We love comments so you can leave one here or email me at dfebtcure123@gmail.com.
Happy Holidays! ~ Jax
And, there are the favorite movies and songs that you have to hear at least three times...who can resist Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Adam Sandler, Chevy Chase?
The one thing I don't want to remember, for certain, is spending more than I had when the envelopes come in January!
How you handle it today is going to be determined by the current situation of your finances and what you believe is in your future. SO, what happens when the envelope comes and your expectations are a little shorter cash-wise?
Your first inclination is to probably pay the minimums. I bet you put "getting out of debt" in your top three on your New Year's resolution for 2010, didn't you?
Well, here's a little something to help you with that resolution: "Ignore the Credit Card Minimum Payment".
I've shared a lot of the concepts in this article, over the years, with my clients, high school classrooms and community groups to help them put together a debt-freedom plan, so you know I use them in practice and not just repeating this!
If you don't know where to start, I have a recommendation to give you as well! In a partnership with Equifax, Primerica has designed a very easy, affordable and completely secure program for you to design and implement your own freedom card! This program is also including up to $25,000 of Identity Theft protection. Here's your link: DebtWatchers.
The DebtWatchers program allows you to monitor your credit report, check who's looking at your credit and improve your FICO.
From my family to yours, I wish you the best holiday season with the warmest and best memories yet!
We love comments so you can leave one here or email me at dfebtcure123@gmail.com.
Happy Holidays! ~ Jax
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Tech Post from Techno-challenged User
Just saw this post and since it's holiday time and lots of people use computers for just about everything, I thought I'd say a little something.
I am admittedly a techno-idiot; what I can do on the computer is through the careful tutelage of my daughter, over the years, starting back to when she was in nursery school. So, if I know anything at all, it's because I've learned who to ask the right questions!
Now, with that said, I just read this about reliability of laptops and, of course, who doesn't want their money spent wisely? We want the best bang for the buck, so to speak, right?
It looks like Toshiba and Asus are head of the list on reliability, while some big names are very low on that list. Here's the article and I hope it helps someone make a great purchase and have an awesome experience: "1 in 3 laptops die in first three years".
Comments are always welcome and Happy Holidays!
Ta~Jax
I am admittedly a techno-idiot; what I can do on the computer is through the careful tutelage of my daughter, over the years, starting back to when she was in nursery school. So, if I know anything at all, it's because I've learned who to ask the right questions!
Now, with that said, I just read this about reliability of laptops and, of course, who doesn't want their money spent wisely? We want the best bang for the buck, so to speak, right?
It looks like Toshiba and Asus are head of the list on reliability, while some big names are very low on that list. Here's the article and I hope it helps someone make a great purchase and have an awesome experience: "1 in 3 laptops die in first three years".
Comments are always welcome and Happy Holidays!
Ta~Jax
Sunday, November 22, 2009
BUYER BEWARE!
Trick or Treat or is the Holiday Shopping Season?
Yes, it's that time of the year when we barely have the pool closed, the patio furniture stored away, the winter wear down from the attic and Christmas carols are playing in every mall.
With every budget affected in some way by current economic trends, just about every one of us is looking for the bargains to abound this holiday season, right? I know our family is looking to shop smart this year. We may forgo personal gifts and make donations to a couple of charities instead and do something for each other rather than buy an item to gift.
Well, I don't know if every family wants to change their gifting tradition but this year's Black Friday may become a bit more brutal than others. A new article suggests that holiday shoppers will basically get tricked into shopping in some stores. This is the trick: You get the ad for a fabulous price for that TV you've been eyeing and make plans to get up at 3 am to be on line Friday after Thanksgiving. What you didn't see was the fine print: "Quantities limited, only 3 per store, no rainchecks" .
If you are first on that line, you might get the treat, however, like the ads for kids' contests read "many will enter, only one will win."
For your reading pleasure, I've included the link in this post. Find out what people in the industry are saying about the dirty little secrets of "Black Friday Doorbusters".
As always, would love to hear any feedback anyone may have!
Wishing everyone, and their families, a truly fabulous Thanksgiving!
Ta~Jax
Yes, it's that time of the year when we barely have the pool closed, the patio furniture stored away, the winter wear down from the attic and Christmas carols are playing in every mall.
With every budget affected in some way by current economic trends, just about every one of us is looking for the bargains to abound this holiday season, right? I know our family is looking to shop smart this year. We may forgo personal gifts and make donations to a couple of charities instead and do something for each other rather than buy an item to gift.
Well, I don't know if every family wants to change their gifting tradition but this year's Black Friday may become a bit more brutal than others. A new article suggests that holiday shoppers will basically get tricked into shopping in some stores. This is the trick: You get the ad for a fabulous price for that TV you've been eyeing and make plans to get up at 3 am to be on line Friday after Thanksgiving. What you didn't see was the fine print: "Quantities limited, only 3 per store, no rainchecks" .
If you are first on that line, you might get the treat, however, like the ads for kids' contests read "many will enter, only one will win."
For your reading pleasure, I've included the link in this post. Find out what people in the industry are saying about the dirty little secrets of "Black Friday Doorbusters".
As always, would love to hear any feedback anyone may have!
Wishing everyone, and their families, a truly fabulous Thanksgiving!
Ta~Jax
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Relief from the $38 cup of Joe!
Consumers have spoken and have been heard!
Effective July 1, 2010 --- of course sooner would be better --- those annoying overdraft fees for small and unimportant purchases will not be covered by overdraft unless you "opt-in" to the overdraft program with your bank.
It's slightly better to have an option to decide whether you are prepared to pay an $30 extra for a $5 cup of coffee as opposed to being stuck paying that much when you thought you'd just simply be declined if the $5 wasn't available in your account!
Now, just remember, you are still accountable for your financial well-being, so if you do "opt-in" stay on top of your deposits and your payments. This new ruling DOES NOT cover important bills like car loan payments and mortgage payments.
I've given you the link here so you have the posted article for yourself: "Fed: banks need customer consent on overdraft fees"
As always, comments are welcome! Anything you'd like to say {Please be nice!} send it to debtcure123@gmail.com.
Ta~Jax
Effective July 1, 2010 --- of course sooner would be better --- those annoying overdraft fees for small and unimportant purchases will not be covered by overdraft unless you "opt-in" to the overdraft program with your bank.
It's slightly better to have an option to decide whether you are prepared to pay an $30 extra for a $5 cup of coffee as opposed to being stuck paying that much when you thought you'd just simply be declined if the $5 wasn't available in your account!
Now, just remember, you are still accountable for your financial well-being, so if you do "opt-in" stay on top of your deposits and your payments. This new ruling DOES NOT cover important bills like car loan payments and mortgage payments.
I've given you the link here so you have the posted article for yourself: "Fed: banks need customer consent on overdraft fees"
As always, comments are welcome! Anything you'd like to say {Please be nice!} send it to debtcure123@gmail.com.
Ta~Jax
Monday, November 2, 2009
Wow! What Will They Think Of Next?
Just read this little post of Yahoo! Finance and, boy oh boy! They keep finding new ways to stay in black while customers are still in the red!
Who is "they"? The banking industry...you know, the ones who are also charging debit card users and online banking users astronomical account fees to cover purchases and payment. Take a moment to read this article, if you please; I think it's important you know what's happening: "5 Evil Things Credit Card Companies Can Still Do".
This is what's happening - there is legislation that limits some of the fees and rates charges on existing balances, protections for new account holders and how often increases on rates can occur on older accounts. There are still late payment fees that will apply and any other action a bank may have to take on delinquent accounts.
But, in light of the legislation that has been signed into law, our friendly bankers will now be able to charge for not using your card in 12 months, for not carrying a minimum balance or even for not charging enough in a 12 month period!
This is outrageous! I think we don't really need the banks to tell us they want us broke anymore, do we? They have no interest in how you and I live as long as they can charge us for ridiculous and, in many ways, frivolous fees so they may make money.
Obviously, no amount of law-making is going to protect us from these guys so I think it's time we look to alternative ways to bank utilizing more local banks & credit unions since the top players are just going to keep abusing our relationship with them.
Let me know your feedback via email debtcure123@gmail.com
Who is "they"? The banking industry...you know, the ones who are also charging debit card users and online banking users astronomical account fees to cover purchases and payment. Take a moment to read this article, if you please; I think it's important you know what's happening: "5 Evil Things Credit Card Companies Can Still Do".
This is what's happening - there is legislation that limits some of the fees and rates charges on existing balances, protections for new account holders and how often increases on rates can occur on older accounts. There are still late payment fees that will apply and any other action a bank may have to take on delinquent accounts.
But, in light of the legislation that has been signed into law, our friendly bankers will now be able to charge for not using your card in 12 months, for not carrying a minimum balance or even for not charging enough in a 12 month period!
This is outrageous! I think we don't really need the banks to tell us they want us broke anymore, do we? They have no interest in how you and I live as long as they can charge us for ridiculous and, in many ways, frivolous fees so they may make money.
Obviously, no amount of law-making is going to protect us from these guys so I think it's time we look to alternative ways to bank utilizing more local banks & credit unions since the top players are just going to keep abusing our relationship with them.
Let me know your feedback via email debtcure123@gmail.com
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