Are You Being Productive or Wasting Time

Over the weekend my mom came to visit me. She had some type of conference to attend. When she got home she was doing a little bit of explaining to me about one particualar area that struck me bad, time management.

She pulled out this little sheet that basically was a chart that had little check marks for area's that need improvement. For example " exercising " you are suppose to check each day you actually exercise in a month. Then by looking at it at month end it either had a few check marks or a bunch. She also had another chart that broke down times of the day like morning, afternoon, evening ect.....

Honestly the thing looked amazingly overwhelming. I mean who wants to actually see how much time they waste in a day? NOT me lol. True indeed I work a full 40 hours a week and then another 15-20 at the salon, and when I come home I am either glued to my laptop actually just staring at it because half my brain is mush at that point, or sleeping. There are a TON of things that I could be getting done, even right now I could be separating my clothes to be washed BUT IM NOT!

Now I am not saying every minute of the day should be tracked like a wacky person but I think time management broken down would help me accomplish way more things than not having any at all would ever do. So starting this week I am going to get brave (I think) an start managing my time. On Monday I will list everything I think should get done each day and then mark what I do accomplish....

Do you think you waste a lot of time?

20 Quick and Easy Ways to Save $10 or more

1. Park in the boondocks. In many situations, you pay a premium for a premium parking spot. Next time you are heading somewhere where you pay to park, leave a few minutes early and opt for the farther—and cheaper—lot. The exercise you get hiking to your designation is a bonus.

2. Don’t be a package snob. There’s a funny commercial running right now promoting bag cereal that gently chides people for being box snobs. I like this commercial because I have to admit that I have chosen items simply based on their packaging. Focusing on the content, rather than the container, is a smart money move.

3. Practice patience. Love to go to the movies? If you can stand to wait a few weeks, your favorite flicks will be playing on the big screen at the discount theaters. If you can’t wait to watch your favorite flick, choose a less expensive matinee.

4. Dust off your negotiation skills. Most service providers are willing to negotiate on price, especially on slow business days. I recently got a great deal on a radio install simply because the shop had immediate openings.

5. Skip dessert. Or if you are a chocoholic, skip the appetizer. Skipping one course when dining out is a simple sacrifice that can benefit your wallet and your waistline.

6. Don’t leave without the leftovers. Portion sizes have become so huge that a restaurant dinner can easily double as the next day’s lunch. If you purchase a bottle of wine that goes unfinished, ask if you can take the rest home.

7. DIY. Need your car washed, your dog walked or your lawn mowed? Do it yourself! This also works for snow shoveling, house cleaning, doing laundry, and getting your nails done. (I will leave it up to you if you want to try and cut your own hair—I sure wouldn’t!)

8. Pack your lunch. This is a commonly offered financial tip for one reason—it makes perfect sense. Packing your lunch one or two days a week can quickly save you $10 or more. In addition to saving you money, bringing, rather than buying, your lunch saves you calories and time.

9. Try before you buy. Think twice before buying expensive equipment to support a hobby that may or may not hold your interest. Instead, borrow equipment from friends or family for a while and buy your own only when you are ready commit.

10. Cancel a costly card. Review the terms of your credit card agreements carefully and consider canceling the card with the highest cost of credit. The cost of credit includes the amount you pay in fees and interest.

11. Jump on the coupon bandwagon. Coupon clippers know that it is easy to save $10 during a trip to the grocery store. If you can’t commit to couponing, invest in an entertainment or “eBook” typically sold as school fundraisers. The eBook I just purchased for $10 has (among many other things) four $5 off coupons to my local grocery store.

12. Be late (or early). We all learned about supply and demand in school, yet most of us still tend to follow the pack. Instead, travel during off-peak months, dine at odd hours, and celebrate a holiday (Valentine's Day is right around the corner!) a day or week late to get the best deals.

13. Try free service before fee-for-service. A lot of software companies offer “basic” programs for low or no cost. The idea is to lure you into liking their products so much that you will be willing to pay for more features. But before you do, ask yourself if you really need more. You might find that the “basic” service adequately and affordability serves your needs.

14. Buy generic. Look for generic brands or store brands of items where it really doesn’t make a difference. For example, some products have the same taste and texture, regardless of whether it’s a name brand or the store brand. The difference in price, however, can amount to as much as a 50 percent.

15. Save your energy. A 50 percent increase in energy costs during the colder months is not uncommon, depending on how cold it actually gets. Setting your thermostat at a reasonable temperature, sealing leaky windows, and insulating your water heater can result in substantial savings.

16. Buy in bulk. Buying large sizes can often save money. Usually, the unit price is less for larger containers. It is also a good idea to stock up on items you will need when they are on sale. But before you buy in bulk, be sure you will actually use a bulk of the item.

17. Comparison shop. Do not assume that all supermarkets have the same prices. If you have a few chains in your area and you do not know which ones are least expensive, check them all out. Make a list of the ten or so products you buy most often, and do some comparison shopping. Often you will find a huge difference between chains, and, if you can save just five percent, it adds up to hundreds of dollars over the long run.

18. Shop at the thrift store. Before you head to the mall, stop by your local thrift store. This is especially smart for an item you need only once. For example, I found black dress pants my son needed for a school concert for $2.99 (they were J Crew and in perfect condition!)

19. Visit your local library. The library is a treasure trove of books, movies, games, and CDs. Borrowing books and other media can quickly and easily save $10 or more (just be sure to return items on time!) You might also consider turning in books you no longer want to second hand book store that gives you credit to read more.

20. Consider the cost of convenience. Limit or eliminate shopping at the corner convenience store for items that could be purchased less expensively on your weekly supermarket trips. Along those same lines, don’t assume that the grocery store is the best place to buy non-grocery items such as batteries and laundry detergent.

Working For The Man Every Night and Day!

Ike and Tina Turner



I have been so exausted over the last couple of weeks and working very hard to shake the feeling so I can carry on with life. Yesterday I was speaking to a good friend of mine who currently is attending college full time. She was telling me about how wonderful it is to not have to work full time and I am telling her how much work sucks typical right?

Then I went on to tell her how much money I make and her voice went 2 octaves up exclaiming "what!!" Umm geez yea its not really that much but I guess so when your income is pretty much zero. I went on to explain how while I am so thankful I have a "stable job" (only 2 lay off days a month aint bad), I do not intend to work a normal 9-5 for the rest of my life. I think this is ok for some people but not me.

I was over visiting Brads website Enemy of Debt and his blog post No More Mondays reminded me of something!! What was it? That I DON'T HAVE TO WORK A 9-5 EVER AGAIN ONCE IM DEBT FREE!! Mind you I don't plan on quitting my job the day after, but remember the reason I started my debt free journey is so that I could actually enjoy what I wanted to in life and not be tied down to one thing forever because of debt.

The economy is only as stable as you make it in my opinion. People start business every day that end up thriving over a period of time. I believe as long as you plan and work hard you will make it just fine. I don't knock people that enjoy working 9-5 at all and my job is the one thing allowing me to become debt free. I am so happy that I have been working on getting out of debt because it has allowed my dreams to be much more like reality which you just can't get at a 9-5.

My goals once I am debt free are as follows:

Travel extensively
Take Dave Ramseys counselor training - Like Brad
Become a full time landlord
Work at the hair salon part time and eventually open my own
Become a home buying counselor and get paid to do it!

What are some of your dreams? Do you think having to much debt keeps you from them at times?

I brought A house and Now I Want To Give It Back

As everyone knows Michigan is in one of the biggest housing slumps in all of the us of a. I purchased my home in August of 2007 right before everything took a turn. Fortunately I have been able to rent my home out and ride the wave but others well not so much....

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine about wanting to give up her home because it wasn't worth what it was 2 years ago. Umm excuse me? is anybodies home worth what they paid? That is honestly not a reason to let your house go into foreclosure and watch your credit score go up in smoke just because you don't want to pay. I don't profess to be the most moral person but I will own up to mistakes I have made and attempt to fix them.

I think anyone who believes its ok to let their house get foreclosed on really needs to check themselves. There are people out here than really can't afford to pay due to a job loss or an illness, but when none of those factors play a part in your decision it really urks me. I personally don't like having to pay knowing my house isn't worth what I paid but the fact is I do believe the economy is going to bounce back and even if it doesn't I won't worry about it.

I would like to know how many people out there are willing to just throw in the towel would you? Maybe I am missing something but I just think its so wrong. If anybody has any logical reasons for this please fill me in...

The Basics of Starting a Business

This article comes from the New York Times Enjoy!

You’ve made the huge decision to start a business. As you probably know, most efforts to start a business end in failure. Fortunately, there are things you can do to guard against wasting time and money and improve your odds. While every business is unique and comes with its own set of problems and opportunities, there are some basic steps — writing a business plan, proving the concept, raising capital, choosing a legal structure — to consider when getting started. Let’s take a look:

Quick Tips:

• Test your business idea by creating a list of potential customers — and then call them. Will they buy what you want to sell?

• Get a handle on your start-up costs and then find ways to lower them, as you can with online services like VistaPrint, craigslist, Web.com and Skype.

• Prove your concept by trying it out before you launch.

The Business Plan

Writing a business plan seems like a chore, but it’s critical. It doesn’t have to be formal or long — just a few pages is fine. But try to cover the basic sections, especially if you expect to make a pitch to investors or lenders. These sections should include an overview of the business, industry background, the product or service, the business model (how will you make money?), the strategy and the team. For guidance, take a look at Score’s business plan template.

Think of the process as a way to better understand the opportunity and the risks. It may even show you that the business is too tough. If that’s the case, you want to know it as soon as possible.

Try to answer the following in the business plan:

1) Who is the customer?

Try to focus on a defined market segment. In some cases, it should be easy. Perhaps you are aiming at lawyers. But if your product applies to virtually anybody, you need to narrow things. Look at Amazon. At first, the Web company focused on books. Once it built a strong business there, it moved into other categories.

So, where to start? Try to find the customer segment that is experiencing the most pain or is willing to bet on new ideas.

2) What’s happening with your market?

Immerse yourself in the market. What are the major trends? How will they help or hurt your venture? Along with doing Google searches, you should also check out trade publications and association Web sites.

If your business is in retail, look at ZoomProspector, which provides helpful information on local economic trends (population, income and demographics). Visit Yelp.com and see how many competing retail outlets you’ll be facing. Is the market too crowded?

Finally, make a list of your competitors and update it regularly.

3) What are the start-up costs?

Be realistic. Entrepreneurs often underestimate the time and expense of starting and operating a company. Put together a detailed start-up budget as well as a forecast (Score’s template offers a worksheet).

As you put things together, look for ways to minimize costs. Some ideas: shopping for used equipment on Craigslist, bartering your services, using free or inexpensive online applications like Skype (for free calling), Web.com (to setup a Web site) and VistaPrint (for printing business cards and brochures). Always ask for discounts.

At the same time, think of creative ways to increase revenue. Maybe you can mount an online marketing campaign through Google Adwords or use VerticalResponse for an e-mail newsletter.

O.K., you’ve got a plan.

Prove the Concept

Once you’re satisfied with the business plan, the next step is to test it. This means answering the question: Do customers really want to buy what you intend to sell?

It’s a brutal question, but you need to be realistic.

One idea is to talk to potential customers, but avoid your friends; instead, identify a list of likely customers and call them. The good news is that there are many free lists on the Internet. They include sites like CPAdirectory.com, Lawyers.com, Dentists.com and so on.

While the calling is not glamorous, you’ll eventually get a sense of whether there’s demand. You will also get new ideas to refine your product, and you will build valuable sales skills, which is critical for anyone starting a business.

Next, you can conduct a survey using an online service like Zoomerang, which has a panel of about two million people. You can designate groups with up to 500 attributes (industry, age, gender, income and so on). This is a quick way to get feedback on your business idea.

Or, you can set up a free Web site and try selling your product. This was the approach for Sneaky’s BBQ, which set up a blog at sneakysbbq.blogspot.com. Believing that there were few good places for authentic barbecue in San Francisco, Patrick Wachter started to cook up his recipes in his backyard and put out free ads on Craigslist. It was a hit as word-of-mouth spread, helped along by review sites like Yelp. “We can’t even eat our own barbecue anymore,” Mr. Wachter said. “It’s already spoken for by the time we pull it off the smoker.”

Here’s another example: Megan Calhoun saw that it was difficult to use online services to find other mothers. Deciding she wanted to “be fast, be cheap and see where it takes you,” she registered TwitterMoms.com, and instead of building a Web site, she used the free service Ning.com, which allows you to build your own social network. On the first night, four mothers joined, and from there, it grew and grew. Now she has 15,000 members and has attracted advertisers like Lands’ End, Children’s Place and even José Cuervo. The total cost to launch? Only $50.

Raising Capital

This is time-consuming and can distract your attention from the business. It can easily take six months to get your first investment. Investors are naturally hesitant and want to see proof that the business is viable.

That means you will probably need to bootstrap. This is not easy but it does have the advantage of allowing you to keep more control and a larger equity stake.

You can do things like: borrow against your 401(k), life insurance and house; use credit cards; and even do consulting projects.

Next, you can reach out to your friends, family and colleagues. Even though they may trust you, it’s important that you have a convincing business plan and investor contracts. To this end, check out Virgin Money. This online service provides the necessary legal documents, administers the loan payments and makes reports to credit agencies (which will help build a credit history for the business).

It’s tempting to seek financing from banks, angel groups and venture capitalists, but those sources usually look at more established businesses.

Choosing a Legal Structure

If you are bringing on investors or partners or signing contracts, it’s a good idea to set up a legal structure for your venture. Here are the main alternatives:

Sole Proprietorship: You are the sole owner. There is little red tape or expense. But there is a big downside: unlimited liability. If the business is the target of a lawsuit or owes a large debt, the owner’s personal assets are exposed to seizure.

A sole proprietorship is known as a “pass through” entity. This means that the income is taxed on your personal return.

Partnership: There is more than one owner. And as with the sole proprietorship, there is little paperwork involved and it is a pass-through entity for tax purposes. Unfortunately, partnerships also have unlimited liability exposure.

Corporation: The fees can easily range from $200 to $1,000. Even though you can use cost-effective online services to help out, such as LegalZoom, it’s still a good idea to have a lawyer review the documents and filings. You can find a qualified attorney by visiting sites like Avvo.

The main benefit is limited liability protection. This means that the business owner risks only the investment in the company.

Keep in mind that there are different flavors of corporations, which are often based on how taxes are paid. For example, a limited liability company (L.L.C.) and S-Corp are pass-through entities. On the other hand, a C-Corp is taxed — and so are the dividends. Before making a decision, consult a certified public accountant. It can be a big money saver.

Regardless of the legal structure, business owners should also think about the legal issues of the company name. It’s a good idea to find a name that is memorable and distinctive, but that is no easy task. Anders Heie, the founder of KaDonk said: “When thinking of a name, I hit my head against the wall and the sound it made was kadonk, kadonk, kadonk. Our lawyers loved it. It was unique, and had nothing to do with our product, so we grabbed all the domains and went with it.”

A lawyer can help with the process.

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Positive Reinforcement and Success with Money

So the preview class went better than I apparently have given myself credit for. I didn't think 5 people showing up was considered successful until my good friend reminded me that all this is a new process and it could have been zero!!

The past few days have been much like a roller coaster ride. I facilitated a home buying course for about 10 people which went super good and they have even requested a second session. I have had to make big relationship decisions in dealing with the opposite sex which was very hard to face, but I did non the less. I also ran into a couple road bumps at the salon which cause me to go into a short frenzy of some sort.

Sometimes its easy to go into a funk and over the last few days I have realized how much being in a good or no so good place can have an impact on my finances. I can think of 2 times where I felt like going out and blowing a couple hundred bucks to make myself feel better. Having been on a financial plan for the last two years have regulated much of my impulse but life always seems to happen. I have had to find other ways to deal with being overwhelmed and truth be told shopping is only a temporary fix and after the money is spend you actually still have an issue only your broker lol.

Its not easy to deal with problems head on but I have been learning that it gets easier the more you do it. Life doesn't seem so much like a crisis, and when it does it certainly doesn't last as long as it use to.

I want to be sucesful in my life and now more than ever I understand what it means to have balance and be well rounded. So my question is, has any of you ever felt your circumstances cause you to fail? Do you think spending money solves problems or help you cope better?
What methods have you used to deal with stress and being overwhelmed?

I guess when life gives you lemons you really should make lemonade!

Today Is The Day!!

Today is my preview class for Financial Peace University and I am super nervous!!!

Hopefully I can return with a super good update about how many people signed up!! wish me lucky!