“We should love people and use money, not the other way around” – Bob Proctor, author of “You Were Born Rich”
Overview:
It seems very timely that January would be named Financial Wellness Month. Particularily in light of the current economy, this new year brings an opportunity to get our financial affairs in check. Townson University in Maryland provides the following description of what it means to be financially well, “People with high financial well-being may have a lot of money or a little, but either way they are able to live within their means, not spending more money than they have. They are aware of where their money goes, and they have a budget that they stick to, as well as a long-range financial plan. They are aware of and meet their financial obligations and generally have a comfortable relationship with money.”
Do it now:
Try these two tips from FinancialWellness.blogspot.com
Go on a Money Diet
You've heard of going on a diet to lose weight and get back in shape...Have you ever considered going on a money diet? Not spending any money so you can get back in financial shape?
Try this: make a deal with yourself that you will not spend a dollar for one week. No eating out, no buying stuff on ebay, no downloading music or MP3's, no filling up the car, no buying groceries, no shopping at all. What changes do you need to make? Take your lunch to work with you, carpool, listen to your existing music library, eat stuff you have in your cupboards or fridge. Try it and see how much you can save. It's the little things that add up.
Visualize Your Way to Success
In Bob Proctor's book, You Were Born Rich he suggests that the images we hold in our mind create our reality. "Your entire life is governed by images. It necessarily follows then, that you should be acutely aware of the images you are building in your mind."It is rare if ever, that you hear successful people amazed of their own success - they are not only aware of the steps they took to become successful, but they've spent countless hours visualizing the process, the people involved, and seeing themselves achieving the highest levels possible.Therefore, it stands to reason, that if successful people visualize success, and success involves visualization...that you should spend time each day in quiet solitude seeing and visualizing in your minds eye - all that you hope to be, do and achieve.
It seems very timely that January would be named Financial Wellness Month. Particularily in light of the current economy, this new year brings an opportunity to get our financial affairs in check. Townson University in Maryland provides the following description of what it means to be financially well, “People with high financial well-being may have a lot of money or a little, but either way they are able to live within their means, not spending more money than they have. They are aware of where their money goes, and they have a budget that they stick to, as well as a long-range financial plan. They are aware of and meet their financial obligations and generally have a comfortable relationship with money.”
Do it now:
Try these two tips from FinancialWellness.blogspot.com
Go on a Money Diet
You've heard of going on a diet to lose weight and get back in shape...Have you ever considered going on a money diet? Not spending any money so you can get back in financial shape?
Try this: make a deal with yourself that you will not spend a dollar for one week. No eating out, no buying stuff on ebay, no downloading music or MP3's, no filling up the car, no buying groceries, no shopping at all. What changes do you need to make? Take your lunch to work with you, carpool, listen to your existing music library, eat stuff you have in your cupboards or fridge. Try it and see how much you can save. It's the little things that add up.
Visualize Your Way to Success
In Bob Proctor's book, You Were Born Rich he suggests that the images we hold in our mind create our reality. "Your entire life is governed by images. It necessarily follows then, that you should be acutely aware of the images you are building in your mind."It is rare if ever, that you hear successful people amazed of their own success - they are not only aware of the steps they took to become successful, but they've spent countless hours visualizing the process, the people involved, and seeing themselves achieving the highest levels possible.Therefore, it stands to reason, that if successful people visualize success, and success involves visualization...that you should spend time each day in quiet solitude seeing and visualizing in your minds eye - all that you hope to be, do and achieve.
More tips...
Get paid what you're worth
Managing the money you have is an obvious part of financial wellness, but what about increasing the money you earn through work? Salary negotiation can seem daunting for anyone, but you'll have a far greater chance of succeding if you can demonstrate your business impact to your employer. Rick Smith of executive search firm Spencer Stuart states that in your career planning, "Above all, figure out how to improve your value to the people you'll be working for (and with) along the way. "If you expand your value," Smith says, "sooner or later, the market will pay for you." He further states that compensation is a trailing indicator of success: that you don't get paid for what you're doing, you get paid for what you've already done. As a quick exercise, begin writing down your accomplishments with your current employer. You'll begin to see if you have the leverage to get the compensation you deserve, or at the very least see what you'll need to start doing to get there.
Frugal Friends
I have a few friends that have mastered the art of frugal living. They are my role models. Every time I get together with them, they indirectly help me resist the temptation of overconsumption. Surround yourself with people who will provide you with a positive influence to help you reach your goals, and redefine the meaning of “success”.
Tools
Financial Gadget
Worksheets for success
Spending plan
Financial Wellness Check-up
Spend Less Calculator
Web Resources
FinancialLiteracyMonth.com
Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services
InChargeCanada.ca
SimpleDebtFreeLiving.com
FrugalLiving.about.com
Reading
“You Were Born Rich” – by Bob Proctor (free e-Book)
Are you suffering from “affluenza”?
Is your online spending out of control?
Broke vs. Poor – what is the difference?
Tools
Financial Gadget
Worksheets for success
Spending plan
Financial Wellness Check-up
Spend Less Calculator
Web Resources
FinancialLiteracyMonth.com
Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services
InChargeCanada.ca
SimpleDebtFreeLiving.com
FrugalLiving.about.com
Reading
“You Were Born Rich” – by Bob Proctor (free e-Book)
Are you suffering from “affluenza”?
Is your online spending out of control?
Broke vs. Poor – what is the difference?
