How Much Money Means You Don’t Have to Worry?
.How Much Money Means You Don’t Have to Worry?
By Caragh Poh Mar. 11, 2019
Get That Money is an exploration of the many ways we think about our finances — what we earn, what we have, and what we want.
When I was a kid, I somehow became aware that some people could allegedly make $100,000 a year — more than both my parents combined some years, and the closest answer my father would give to my nosy questions about his income.
He always told me to never look down on people who do honest work for little pay, but, concerned I would tell other people, he also refused to tell me how much he made.
The lesson I drew from this has been a very Catholic-influenced do not ever make anyone feel ashamed, but please remember to allow shame to infiltrate your life at all times.
We were not a $100,000 family. I did not come from $100,000 stock. And so, obviously, making $100,000 became my one true path to happiness and feeling quietly better than everyone else. I could own a bigger house, with newer toys, and I could buy clothes that weren’t on sale at Walmart.
I could own every single Backstreet Boys and Brandy CD. CDs were so expensive! CDs were $19.99 each! I would never fight with people I love about money.
How Much Money Means You Don’t Have to Worry?
By Caragh Poh Mar. 11, 2019
Get That Money is an exploration of the many ways we think about our finances — what we earn, what we have, and what we want.
When I was a kid, I somehow became aware that some people could allegedly make $100,000 a year — more than both my parents combined some years, and the closest answer my father would give to my nosy questions about his income.
He always told me to never look down on people who do honest work for little pay, but, concerned I would tell other people, he also refused to tell me how much he made.
The lesson I drew from this has been a very Catholic-influenced do not ever make anyone feel ashamed, but please remember to allow shame to infiltrate your life at all times.
We were not a $100,000 family. I did not come from $100,000 stock. And so, obviously, making $100,000 became my one true path to happiness and feeling quietly better than everyone else. I could own a bigger house, with newer toys, and I could buy clothes that weren’t on sale at Walmart.
I could own every single Backstreet Boys and Brandy CD. CDs were so expensive! CDs were $19.99 each! I would never fight with people I love about money.
I would never let the hot water get shut off. I would never stand silently by a cashier at the head of a long line as they counted off pennies two-by-two 75 times.
Of course, we were not truly poor. We were immensely privileged compared to many, but my bubble was very small and the other people in it all had better stuff — they had American Dolls that looked like them, cable, pink Power Wheels.
Their living rooms had too-nice furniture I never quite felt comfortable or clean enough to sit on. And somehow it all matched, like a Good Homes magazine, like the pieces were bought at the same time, together, on purpose, from the same collection. Utterly alien.
But back then, I was ignorant enough to think we were poor, and I’m dumb enough now to sometimes forget where we stood compared to most.
How much is enough to keep two people happy?
My parents took out a mortgage for a raised ranch in 1996. We had a washer and dryer that almost always worked. We had shelter, we had bicycles, we eventually got a computer, and a bit later even got that cable.
My parents allowed me to stay at home for free while I went through college with loans somewhat offset by multiple jobs. I had my own bedroom.
Most of our material items came to us used, but we still had them. We were more or less comfortable, firmly stationed in our place in the lower-middle class. A whole family of Bruce Springsteen songs, baby.
It’s a place so many know well: You’re always in a hole, but you’re also always digging out of it, so it’s never really all that bad. A little struggle never really hurt anyone.
A little struggle never really hurt anyone, but too much struggle can strangle anything.
Even a 30-year relationship. My parents argued constantly about bills for the last 20 years of their relationship, maybe especially when the argument wasn’t about the bills.
I watched their marriage burn until it fizzled out into two adults who lived under the same roof and only communicated through their four kids.
It couldn’t have only been about the ever-growing debts, but I imagine it would’ve been a lot easier without them. More vacations, more material rewards to ease hard weeks, more time off from work, better health care, less worry, less math, fewer overdrafts, fewer debt collectors. The things people forget about when they try to tell you money can’t buy happiness.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.thecut.com/2019/03/how-much-money-means-you-dont-have-to-worry.html
Gold Has Outperformed The Stock Market Over The Last Year
.Gold Has Outperformed The Stock Market Over The Last Year
Notes From The Field By Simon Black
December 4, 2019 En route to Saint Lucia
For more than a year, I’ve been strongly encouraging readers to consider buying gold.
In fact, almost exactly one year ago to the day, I wrote that gold was cheap relative to just about every other asset class in the world.
Since then, gold has been one of the best performing investments in the world.
Over the last 12 months, the price of gold is up 21.1%, handily outperforming everything from the S&P 500 index in the US to stock markets in China, Europe, and Canada, plus bonds, real estate, and even major commodities like oil.
Gold has even outpaced the stock prices of many of the world’s most popular tech investments like Netflix, Tesla, Amazon, etc.
(One of the more interesting exceptions has been Bitcoin, which has more than doubled in value over the last 12 months. We’ll talk about that another time.)
Gold Has Outperformed The Stock Market Over The Last Year
Notes From The Field By Simon Black
December 4, 2019 En route to Saint Lucia
For more than a year, I’ve been strongly encouraging readers to consider buying gold.
In fact, almost exactly one year ago to the day, I wrote that gold was cheap relative to just about every other asset class in the world.
Since then, gold has been one of the best performing investments in the world.
Over the last 12 months, the price of gold is up 21.1%, handily outperforming everything from the S&P 500 index in the US to stock markets in China, Europe, and Canada, plus bonds, real estate, and even major commodities like oil.
Gold has even outpaced the stock prices of many of the world’s most popular tech investments like Netflix, Tesla, Amazon, etc.
(One of the more interesting exceptions has been Bitcoin, which has more than doubled in value over the last 12 months. We’ll talk about that another time.)
But while gold’s investment performance has been great, I want to tell you today why that doesn’t matter one bit to me.
According to data published by the World Gold Council (WGC), in the last quarter alone, both retail investors and a number of large hedge funds have been piling into gold.
That’s certainly been one factor driving prices higher. But to be frank, that sort of demand is extremely fickle.
The WGC data show that most small investors are buying into gold ETFs (which as I’ve explained previously is probably the dumbest way to own gold.)
Gold ETF buyers are NOT long-term investors. They’ll most likely sell the minute gold prices start to fall.
Hedge fund managers won’t hesitate to sell either, especially if they need to boost their quarterly returns.
So, long-term, gold prices won’t be driven higher by fickle investor demand.
The real demand that’s worth watching comes from foreign governments and central banks-- institutions with such a heavy appetite that they buy gold by the metric ton.
In the third quarter of this year, Turkey bought 71 metric tons of gold. Serbia bought 9 metric tons of gold in the month of October alone.
Poland doubled its gold reserves last year. And China has been gobbling up not only gold, but gold miners too.
It’s critical to understand that foreign governments and central banks tend to be buyers of gold. They’re rarely sellers.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.sovereignman.com/trends/gold-has-outperformed-the-stock-market-over-the-last-year-26760/
How to Get Your Friend Who Owes You Money to Finally Pay You Back
.How to Get Your Friend Who Owes You Money to Finally Pay You Back
By Anne Gaviola Dec 2 2019
We asked a bounty hunter how to track down and extract payment from your crappy ex-roommate.
Everyone has that friend, or family member, who owes them money and hasn’t paid it back for months. Or years.
This isn’t the friend that you have a forever tab with, where you go back and forth “owing” each other $40. This is for the friend who borrowed a month’s worth of rent money and has gone MIA.
Sure, you can cut your losses and consider it an expensive life lesson. Conventional wisdom suggests you shouldn’t lend anything to a friend that you’re not willing to kiss goodbye, at least not without ruining the relationship. But you could probably use that money right about now, and according to experts, if you’re willing to put in some time and effort, you can greatly increase your chances of getting repaid in this lifetime.
Locate The Target
Alex Hayes is a 28-year-old bounty hunter in Georgia. Her job is to find people who owe money, who don’t want to be found. She also runs a private investigation business with her boyfriend. According to her, the first thing you need to do is track down the friend who is avoiding or ghosting you.
How to Get Your Friend Who Owes You Money to Finally Pay You Back
By Anne Gaviola Dec 2 2019
We asked a bounty hunter how to track down and extract payment from your crappy ex-roommate.
Everyone has that friend, or family member, who owes them money and hasn’t paid it back for months. Or years.
This isn’t the friend that you have a forever tab with, where you go back and forth “owing” each other $40. This is for the friend who borrowed a month’s worth of rent money and has gone MIA.
Sure, you can cut your losses and consider it an expensive life lesson. Conventional wisdom suggests you shouldn’t lend anything to a friend that you’re not willing to kiss goodbye, at least not without ruining the relationship. But you could probably use that money right about now, and according to experts, if you’re willing to put in some time and effort, you can greatly increase your chances of getting repaid in this lifetime.
Locate The Target
Alex Hayes is a 28-year-old bounty hunter in Georgia. Her job is to find people who owe money, who don’t want to be found. She also runs a private investigation business with her boyfriend. According to her, the first thing you need to do is track down the friend who is avoiding or ghosting you.
“In 90 percent of my cases where I’m trying to locate someone, I start with a look at their social media. See if they have more than one account, maybe even under another name.
Basic Google searches are helpful too. People put a lot of information about themselves online—more than they realize,” she said.
This next step may seem obvious, but talking to friends and family who are close to them can help you figure out where they are and what their financial situation is like. You may have to travel to get access to people who are “in their orbit,” according to Hayes.
“When we work in the field, the best kind of information is human intel. Someone who has firsthand knowledge,” said Hayes. Understanding their schedule is very helpful.
Don’t Spook Them
Once you figure out where they are, or likely to be, your strategy for approaching them will dictate how successful you are in this mission. A private meeting usually works best.
“Don't show up in a setting where you might embarrass the person and make them defensive. The issue is between you and them. Don't involve other people,” suggests Hayes. It may be tempting to try a tough approach, but that won’t necessarily get you the results you want.
She says the best approach is a calm and rational one. “Treat it like a business deal, don’t personalize it. That’s hard because these situations can feel personal and emotional.” This kind of no-nonsense approach is disarming—which, in her line of work, is literally a life saver.
Know When To Abort The Mission
Even if you follow all of these steps, you still might not get your buddy to pay you. You may get more promises. Things can even get awkward—people aren’t rational when it comes to money matters. Hayes suggests pulling up stakes if that’s the case.
“If they refuse to pay you back at that point, get out of there! Don't stick around, the longer you're on scene, it's more likely things will go downhill,” she said. “We refer to this as ‘time on target’ and more time on target is bad.”
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
What to Do Right Away After Inheriting Money
.What to Do Right Away After Inheriting Money
By Rick Paulas
The first thing to do is absolutely nothing. Turns out, grandma was hoarding millions. Or grandpa. Or maybe your old ex who forgot to update their will, or your aunt who you had a close relationship with, or you’re a participant in any number of scenarios where huge inheritances suddenly come out of nowhere. Or, you won the lottery.
The point is, you’ve come into a “life-changing” amount of money—a specifically murky description, as it can mean something else for everything—and you had no idea it was coming. So, what do you do?
The first, and most important thing, is to do absolutely nothing.
"HOLD IT AND DON'T DO A THING FOR THREE MONTHS!!!” is what the finance blogger J. Money adamantly recommends. “Then once it soaks in and you've had time to let the feelings and ideas settle, start taking action.”
We’ve all seen stories of the instant-rich being bombarded with requests from every other third cousin or long-forgotten high school chums looking for interest-free loans or “investment capital” for their “back-scratcher with a mp3 player” idea or whatever.
What to Do Right Away After Inheriting Money
By Rick Paulas
The first thing to do is absolutely nothing. Turns out, grandma was hoarding millions. Or grandpa. Or maybe your old ex who forgot to update their will, or your aunt who you had a close relationship with, or you’re a participant in any number of scenarios where huge inheritances suddenly come out of nowhere. Or, you won the lottery.
The point is, you’ve come into a “life-changing” amount of money—a specifically murky description, as it can mean something else for everything—and you had no idea it was coming. So, what do you do?
The first, and most important thing, is to do absolutely nothing.
"HOLD IT AND DON'T DO A THING FOR THREE MONTHS!!!” is what the finance blogger J. Money adamantly recommends. “Then once it soaks in and you've had time to let the feelings and ideas settle, start taking action.”
We’ve all seen stories of the instant-rich being bombarded with requests from every other third cousin or long-forgotten high school chums looking for interest-free loans or “investment capital” for their “back-scratcher with a mp3 player” idea or whatever.
(There’s a famous “statistic” that 70% of lottery winners end up bankrupt in a few years; a statistic that is utter bullshit, but that doesn’t mean people with new windfalls don’t get harassed by friends and family for portions of said windfall.)
By putting a bold and strict moratorium on doing anything with your new money for a period of time, you can avoid this initial onslaught of leeches.
Why You Need To Be Extra Careful
But outside forces aren’t the only problems you have to ward off. There’s also that devil on your shoulder, pointing out that luxury car you’ve been pining over, or conjuring dreams of a boating trip around the world, or stupidly giving you the idea that trying a burger that’s been idiotically infused with gold flakes is necessary.
Getting a surprise inheritance can make you especially susceptible to doing something dumb with the cash. “It’s found money, so we think about it differently than money we earn,” says Paul Golden from the National Endowment for Financial Education, a non-profit that educates the public on financial decisions.
“It comes with a misconception that you’re never going to have to worry about money again. But it’s the opposite. You’re going to have to worry more than ever before because there’s a lot of decisions to make.”
You also need to be aware of how your emotions can cloud your judgment. “People have a really hard time going through the grief process and the emotional swings that come with managing this money,” Golden says. “There might be a dynamic in the family that is rough to manage. Resentment and anger come into play.”
What To Do After Doing Nothing
When you're ready to take some steps with the money, it helps to have a plan. If you're not sure what to do, a certified financial planner can help you compose your personal spending Wish List and figure out how far your inheritance can go to get you there. But you can also figure this out most of this on your own too.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/pavbgb/inherit-money-spend-save-plan
Woman Wins $188 Million Lotto Prize But Ends Up Losing Control Over Her Life
.Woman Wins $188 Million Lotto Prize But Ends Up Losing Control Over Her Life
Sukriti February 10, 2018 Shallotte, North Carolina
What a compelling invention it is; the whole concept of the lottery. Have you ever tried your luck in lottery tickets? We all know the probability of winning a lottery, its almost zero. Still, these lottery tickets attract us every now and then.
Some of us never buy these tempting tickets but everyone has wondered at least once about winning them. How incredibly it can change one’s life within a blink of eyes. But everything comes with a cost that most of us won’t understand what it might take unless we’ve experienced it.
A story of luck, fate, good, bad, consequences, threats and more. The story of Marie Holmes has all in it. Like most of us, her life too was filled with ups and downs. Sadly for her, life was mostly about hard times and very rarely she had good days in her life. But the way her life changed has always been a dream for millions of people.
Trying Hard
Marie Holmes, a 27-year-old single mother was on her daily job routine. Working hard to fulfill her four kids’ daily needs. She was trying to save as much as she can for their future. No matter how hard she tried to bring things in the right place, Marie was never able to cop up with the rapid speed life actually demanded out of her.
Woman Wins $188 Million Lotto Prize But Ends Up Losing Control Over Her Life
Sukriti February 10, 2018 Shallotte, North Carolina
What a compelling invention it is; the whole concept of the lottery. Have you ever tried your luck in lottery tickets? We all know the probability of winning a lottery, its almost zero. Still, these lottery tickets attract us every now and then.
Some of us never buy these tempting tickets but everyone has wondered at least once about winning them. How incredibly it can change one’s life within a blink of eyes. But everything comes with a cost that most of us won’t understand what it might take unless we’ve experienced it.
A story of luck, fate, good, bad, consequences, threats and more. The story of Marie Holmes has all in it. Like most of us, her life too was filled with ups and downs. Sadly for her, life was mostly about hard times and very rarely she had good days in her life. But the way her life changed has always been a dream for millions of people.
Trying Hard
Marie Holmes, a 27-year-old single mother was on her daily job routine. Working hard to fulfill her four kids’ daily needs. She was trying to save as much as she can for their future. No matter how hard she tried to bring things in the right place, Marie was never able to cop up with the rapid speed life actually demanded out of her.
At this time she was completely unaware of the fact that her life was about to change forever. Only time would tell how long Marie’s life is actually going to be on track.
In 2015, Marie’s life changed in no time when she won the North Carolina’s Powerball lottery. She didn’t win any ordinary amount rather a huge amount of $188 million. It wasn’t just a simple win and settled life from there on as this lottery took Marie to an episode of “Iyanla: Fix My Life.” What happened to her that after winning such a huge amount also she ended up on a show that is all about guiding people about their choices and mistakes?
The Win-Win
Marie was working at different jobs to earn. Although we all know the easier way to earn money is to give a lottery ticket a try. That day when she went to buy a ticket, she knew the chances were zero for her to win the lottery yet she went on to give it a try. Isn’t that the case with most of the people who spend money on the lottery tickets? Well, this one ticket that Marie bought one day was her biggest gift and nightmare to herself.
The Pastor
Marie is a strong believer in Christianity. She followed the words of pastor Kevin Matthews who worked as a leader of his community at Shallotte, North Carolina. Marie has been attending his meetings since childhood. Kevin has been giving Marie advice at every other stage of her life. He has always been a savior to Marie and the fact that whenever she was in trouble or a doubtful situation she ran to Kevin for help. But Marie’s winning of the lottery was the start of bitterness in their relationship.
Winning The Jackpot
![11_img[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5222a44813620001d89582/1575406492639-UOGJM3GTFIIMNFB44MZA/11_img%5B1%5D.jpg)
The day she bought this state lottery ticket from a nearby convenience store, she prayed before entering the shop. When the time to announce the winner was here, she patiently waited for the announcement of the winning numbers and try her luck on the state lottery.
When the lucky numbers were announced, Marie couldn’t believe the ticket she was holding in her hands read exact numbers as the anchor said. It was February of 2015 when she felt as if she’s at the top of the world. Who knew that the real challenges and criticization were still on the way.
Claiming The Money
![powerball[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5222a44813620001d89582/1575406554427-0RKC8XF7QESL9L42UI9P/powerball%5B1%5D.jpg)
Marie couldn’t really believe that she won the lottery and she stood there in shock, not saying one single word. All she knew that she had around 6 months for claiming the big amount of money. She had two different methods of claiming this money.
The first one was to get the $188 million in yearly installments for the next 30 years, ie, $530,000 each year, the second option was to get all at once but in that case, she’ll be getting $127 million all in all after deducting the taxes. Marie made the obvious choice.
Take It All
Marie made the choice of getting it all at once. She was assuming that this will make her and her kids’ lives better. Just as the grass always looks greener on the other side, Marie was looking on the other side as a doorway to the perfect future that she has been longing for throughout her life. Keeping her hopes high she was having all these great ideas of what she’ll be doing with this money.
Dressing The Part
![580a8fbf1a000071285bb150[1].jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5222a44813620001d89582/1575406600966-SQQR86XESJH3G875F6SJ/580a8fbf1a000071285bb150%5B1%5D.jpeg)
Marie, who lived in poverty since her birth was now one step away from becoming a millionaire. Life has been so tough on her that she knew what it was like living in a trailer, that was her home for the most of her life. Her excitement was on the ninth cloud and obviously, she couldn’t hide it anyway. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I saw the ticket and checked it,’’ she told how she felt that life was offering a second chance which rarely anyone gets.
Stay Anonymous
Mostly lotteries give an option to the winners to keep their names hidden as anonymous, however, telling everyone and becoming the center of everyone’s attention, who doesn’t want that? Not only this once the lottery winner starts spending the amount lavishly eventually everyone gets to know about it. So, why not tell it to them aloud? The winners don’t see what comes up with this overnight achievement and fame can easily get trapped under the dense clouds of danger.
What To Do With It All?
Well, most people think of what will they do of this money even when they are buying the ticket and as Marie won the lottery everyone wanted to know what was her plans. Although the most advisable thing to do is to get a financial planner as well as a lawyer who can save and prepare you for the unforeseen consequences of so much money.
Like almost every lottery winner Marie too wasn’t interested in doing any of this. This is normal to think that one can handle her money by herself and that she doesn’t need any help. Her first big mistake.
All For Them
Marie was so overwhelmed that she told in an interview, “everything is all for them…All the struggle that I ever went through, it was all for them. I want them to understand that money doesn’t change you, but it can help you. So they don’t have to worry about debt, none of that. They can go to college, all on me.”
Take Me To Church
Marie was about to climb the ladder of her dreams. Her first step was to donate a large amount to her community church. The church has been by her side in rough times. Especially Kevin Matthews, the savior who helped her both emotionally and financially at times.
It was in return of the community’s favor towards Marie and her family. According to Kevin, he would stand by her side no matter what. The pastor was actually about to bring her into the biggest problematic situation of her entire life.
Giving Back To The Community
![WelcomeShallotte1[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5222a44813620001d89582/1575406664279-S5GF90YO07Q4HO0SC8QG/WelcomeShallotte1%5B1%5D.jpg)
Marie discussed with Pastor Matthews about her willingness to give at least 10% of her total in hand amount. She wanted this money to go towards the building of a retreat. As per her, the agreement was of donating $1.5 million to the church which was quite a good amount to give. And being generous towards those who stood on her side is the best thing one can do, right?
Her Donation
This happens a lot where a lotto winner decides to donate a large amount of their prize to the place or community they believe in. However, Marie’s donation was one of the biggest ever given to a particular house of worship. Many people promised and gave huge amounts to monks, fathers or priests but Marie was appreciated everywhere for her work.
From Poor To Rich
Marie’s life is a perfect example of the statement, “more money more problems.” Marie was hoping it to be the biggest day but in reality, this money was about to cause her great troubles. She obviously never lived or felt what richness is like.
More Money, More Problems
http://healthzap.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/unnamed1.jpg
Marie settled on $1.5 million dollars to be given to the community in two installments. It was a direct verbal agreement with Kevin. Marie paid the first installment, ie, $700,000 on time soon after she won the lottery money. Meanwhile, Marie was preparing to give her second and final installment, pastor Kevin’s demand suddenly raise.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
Tips To Help Create Financial Peace
.The Best Money Management Tips To Help Create Financial Peace
Not everyone needs to be a financial wizard, but everyone should be armed with the best — and simplest — money management tips.
And these straightforward items do not require you to be a genius or some math connoisseur either.
Money Management TipsInstead, these tips about money are things anyone can apply and become quite comprehensive with.
These areas below are also what got me on track to eliminating $50,000 in debt and achieving a 65% savings rate without becoming extremely frugal or having a six-figure salary.
This doesn’t mean you won’t get confused at times or be unsure about something, but that’s part of the learning process of financial literacy!
However, the goal of these tips below is to help you feel less stressed and more at peace with your finances. Let’s dive in!
Don’t Get Lost In the Spreadsheets and Numbers
I’m the guy who really dislikes budgeting and staring at numbers daily to see what was spent. But, I still think it’s important to know how to budget and create one if you are truly just getting started.
The Best Money Management Tips To Help Create Financial Peace
Not everyone needs to be a financial wizard, but everyone should be armed with the best — and simplest — money management tips.
And these straightforward items do not require you to be a genius or some math connoisseur either.
Money Management TipsInstead, these tips about money are things anyone can apply and become quite comprehensive with.
These areas below are also what got me on track to eliminating $50,000 in debt and achieving a 65% savings rate without becoming extremely frugal or having a six-figure salary.
This doesn’t mean you won’t get confused at times or be unsure about something, but that’s part of the learning process of financial literacy!
However, the goal of these tips below is to help you feel less stressed and more at peace with your finances. Let’s dive in!
Don’t Get Lost In the Spreadsheets and Numbers
I’m the guy who really dislikes budgeting and staring at numbers daily to see what was spent. But, I still think it’s important to know how to budget and create one if you are truly just getting started.
The trick is to not get caught up in fancy spreadsheets and obsessing over the numbers daily. It can be a distraction from the real financial work and can cause you to get frustrated.
Create a simple budget (monthly expenses, monthly income), stick to it, put it away, review monthly or yearly, adjust, and repeat.
No need to complicate it or be obsessing over every cent.
Master Your Credit Score For Future Endeavors
Whether you know it or not, your credit scores play a huge role in your current and future finances.
This is especially true when you try to get a mortgage with low interest, applying for an apartment, getting approved for credit cards, etc.
Having a poor score can make your life more challenging (like getting approved for loans), so it’s good to start monitoring your scores for free, while correcting and improving your scores.
If you are looking to monitor your scores and get free recommendations, I’d recommend trying Credit Sesame or Credit Karma. It won’t harm your scores to check, and you can learn how to get the highest score possible.
Make Your Savings and “Life Happens” Funds Work For You
We all know the importance of saving money and having a “life happens” fund (you may call them emergency funds, but not everything is an emergency).
And although saving money is great, you also want to put that money to work for you a bit.
This doesn’t mean investing in stocks or index funds (you could later once you have a good buffer saved), but you should still collect some interest on that money.
That way, you’re building some extra cash while it is sitting in savings.
Most banks have pretty dismal interest rate these days, but there are many banks improving that. Some are high-yield online savings accounts, which can average higher than 2%.
It doesn’t sound like much, but most banks have fractional percent interest rates or maybe around 1%.
If you are looking to become a monthly saver and looking to get over great interest on your money, CIT Bank might be a great choice for you. They have some of the best ratings for online banking and is FDIC insured. Learn more and get started with a $100 minimum deposit.
Plan for Retirement ASAP (Even If You Can’t Contribute Much)
“I’ll worry about it later” is a classic excuse, especially for younger people just starting their professional careers.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
Creating a Holiday Budget: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
.Creating a Holiday Budget: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Ah, the holiday budget season always approaches so fast.
One minute you are sipping umbrella drinks in Summer at the beach — and then out of nowhere — you are creating a holiday shopping list, hoping not to overspend this year.
While the holidays are great for spending time with family, friends, and giving to others — it can also be stress-inducing when it comes to your bank account.
But there are ways to ensure you stick to your budget and keep your personal finances happy. Below are a few essential tips to ensure you don’t go into debt or overspend this holiday season.
Holiday Spending Statistics
t’s crazy to see stores and online ads for holiday shopping before November even starts. Sometimes it even begins before Halloween even has a chance to slow down.
Creating a Holiday Budget: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Ah, the holiday budget season always approaches so fast.
One minute you are sipping umbrella drinks in Summer at the beach — and then out of nowhere — you are creating a holiday shopping list, hoping not to overspend this year.
While the holidays are great for spending time with family, friends, and giving to others — it can also be stress-inducing when it comes to your bank account.
But there are ways to ensure you stick to your budget and keep your personal finances happy. Below are a few essential tips to ensure you don’t go into debt or overspend this holiday season.
Holiday Spending Statistics
It’s crazy to see stores and online ads for holiday shopping before November even starts. Sometimes it even begins before Halloween even has a chance to slow down.
Sigh.
But at the same time, many people (myself included) like to get a head start on planning and purchasing items before the mad seasonal rush begins.
I thought before we got into some holiday budget tips, I’d share some interesting statistics around holiday spending.
According to Cloudways:
Gen X wins the award for the highest holiday spending with an average of $782 in the USA and £425 in the U.K.
Millennials spend the second most during the holiday season with an average holiday spend of $609 in the USA and £416 in the UK.
Baby Boomers tend to spend the least during the holiday season with an average of $576 in the USA and £350 in the UK.
Today, the average consumer spends $1,226 on Holiday Gifts
And if you look back on any historical data, you’ll see these numbers continue to rise each year. Of course these are just some averages, so you might typically spend less or even more.
Additionally, 22% of Americans believe their Christmas spending will leave them in debt according to Fortunly. Yikes!
This is where creating a holiday budget will become critical to helping you avoid debt and not overspending based on impulsive buying.
How To Create A Holiday Budget
As you begin saving for the holiday season, you should create a budget to help you stay on the right financial path. Going into debt and overspending is not a great way to go through the holidays and start off the upcoming new year.
But remember, it’s not just gift giving that adds up either. It’s everything from parties, work functions, decorations, and food. All these things can wreak havoc on your financial goals and debt.
Here are some tips to creating a simple, but effective holiday budget.
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Banking Perks for the Rich That Will Make You Green With Envy
.Banking Perks for the Rich That Will Make You Green With Envy
By Destiny Lopez
Famous faces are known for getting mountains of free stuff and special treatment. And the bank is no exception. Forget cars, jewelry and runway fashions. For the ultra rich, the particular bank they use and the options available are the ultimate status symbols.
Bank branches have levels, or tiers, of service.
Making large deposits and keeping your stacks of cash in the bank has its perks. Your bank will make sure you are taken care of, as financial security (which means less stress), does a mind and body good.
From jumping the line at your local branch to private wine tastings with your banker, here are banking perks of the famous and ultra wealthy.
What is your daily ATM withdrawal limit? Maybe $300 or $500? Non-private banking branches with celebrity sightings may allow higher ATM withdrawal limits. A recent and sad example of this perk is Philip Seymour Hoffman, who withdrew $1,200 from a grocery store ATM the evening before his untimely passing.
Banking Perks for the Rich That Will Make You Green With Envy
By Destiny Lopez
Famous faces are known for getting mountains of free stuff and special treatment. And the bank is no exception. Forget cars, jewelry and runway fashions. For the ultra rich, the particular bank they use and the options available are the ultimate status symbols.
Bank branches have levels, or tiers, of service.
Making large deposits and keeping your stacks of cash in the bank has its perks. Your bank will make sure you are taken care of, as financial security (which means less stress), does a mind and body good.
From jumping the line at your local branch to private wine tastings with your banker, here are banking perks of the famous and ultra wealthy.
What is your daily ATM withdrawal limit? Maybe $300 or $500? Non-private banking branches with celebrity sightings may allow higher ATM withdrawal limits. A recent and sad example of this perk is Philip Seymour Hoffman, who withdrew $1,200 from a grocery store ATM the evening before his untimely passing.
Has your debit card ever been declined when making a large purchase? This is a standard security feature at most banks. The situation is handled with a quick phone call and your bank representative increases your POS or Point of Sale limit.
However, the well-off usually don’t have this issue. Celebrities are offered higher POS limits, a higher overdraft limit, and may even be able to use out-of-network ATMs for free.
24-Hour Access
The world of private banking can be so exclusive that even some celebrities don’t make the cut. The requirements, of course, vary. Some private banking branches require a minimum of $100,000 net worth. Other branches, mostly overseas branches, are by invite or reference only. However, when you become a client, one thing that remains constant is the unheard of access to your banker.
Its been reported from former tellers that private banking clients have direct access to their banker. And we’re not talking about an automated system where you are prompted to dial an extension. Clients have their bankers cell phone numbers and even home phone numbers.
In case you can’t reach your banker at the branch, any banker available will immediately assist you. There is a 24-hour phone line for after-hours banking needs.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.mybanktracker.com/news/2014/04/09/banking-perks-famous-ultra-wealthy/
"Patience is a Virtue"
."Patience is a Virtue"
by Dave the Differentiator - 11.28.19
The GCR is taking time to clear all of the obstacles being positioned by the Deep State! However, it is moving forward and it is coming soon! As Judy states so frequently “Patience is a Virtue. Having Virtue is a sign of a good moral being. Good moral beings have the power to overcome evil and change the world.”
A brief review of various facts allows us, the faithful, to discern the truth as we see it.
First, it is important to understand that the Deep State or Shadow Government is very large and was developed over a very long period of time. The Office of Personnel management in the Federal Government has over 4.5 Million people. Then, there is the Senior Executive Services organization of people.
Then, there is the Alphabet Agency’s (NSA, CIA, DOJ, FBI, NDIA and many more) personnel. While the exact budget of all of these government people is difficult to see as one big number, it is well over $100 Billion annually.
These Deep State people number well over 5 million in total and some have enormous financial rewards every year. This Deep State Group is dedicated to the Military Industrial Complex which requires there to be many different “wars” taking placed all over the world. The technology of death to all who get in the way is well documented.
There are several different aspects and facets to the Global Currency Reset. The Global Currency Revaluation is a multi-national world-wide event seeking to achieve global peace. The transition from war to peace has been very difficult. The government is working diligently to keep the world on the path of war.
"Patience is a Virtue"
by Dave the Differentiator - 11.28.19
The GCR is taking time to clear all of the obstacles being positioned by the Deep State! However, it is moving forward and it is coming soon! As Judy states so frequently “Patience is a Virtue. Having Virtue is a sign of a good moral being. Good moral beings have the power to overcome evil and change the world.”
A brief review of various facts allows us, the faithful, to discern the truth as we see it.
First, it is important to understand that the Deep State or Shadow Government is very large and was developed over a very long period of time. The Office of Personnel management in the Federal Government has over 4.5 Million people. Then, there is the Senior Executive Services organization of people.
Then, there is the Alphabet Agency’s (NSA, CIA, DOJ, FBI, NDIA and many more) personnel. While the exact budget of all of these government people is difficult to see as one big number, it is well over $100 Billion annually.
These Deep State people number well over 5 million in total and some have enormous financial rewards every year. This Deep State Group is dedicated to the Military Industrial Complex which requires there to be many different “wars” taking placed all over the world. The technology of death to all who get in the way is well documented.
There are several different aspects and facets to the Global Currency Reset. The Global Currency Revaluation is a multi-national world-wide event seeking to achieve global peace. The transition from war to peace has been very difficult. The government is working diligently to keep the world on the path of war.
So, the Global Currency Revaluation / Reset actually has two different aspects to achieve the transition from a war (“Guns”) based economy to a peaceful humanitarian (“Butter”) based economy.
Evaluating the progress and performance of President Trump is very difficult because of the complexity of the transition from a “guns” vs. “butter’ economy in the world. The Guns economy is the make war and kill to achieve control. We know this statement to be accurate because the Military Industrial Complex is very big and very powerful.
The historical time line of global progress can be measured in wars. The History of War has given names to these conflicts but has failed to adequately disclose the Dark Side of this violent world. The kill to maintain financial power and control is well documented even in recent times.
In Asia the rulers are referred to as War Lords. In Europe we have Kings and Queens who are the rulers. The one aspect of these rulers is that it took hundreds if not thousands of years to create these societies. BUT, rest assured that there is a societal structure (organization) to each and every culture.
The Global Currency Reset involves 209 Sovereign Nations with numerous religions, languages, customs, economic systems, educational systems, justice systems and other aspects that are all seeking to achieve a common denominator to accomplish lift-off so to speak.
President Trump is just one world leader in this effort of the GCR and GESARA. The corruption involved in these various fractions is difficult to imagine. The corruption in America is so great as to defy imagination. The driving force behind the corruption is usually money then followed by sex.
These two factors are well documented and the thirst for power is legend. The known disclosures about the FBI and DOJ are enough to destroy any confidence in these agencies or their leaders.
In this environment is where President Trump is operating and so progress appears to be slow. The cause of the slow progress is the need to keep peace during the transition. President Trump has done an amazing job guiding the process and has been forced to use many management techniques that the average person simply has no understanding of.
To keep a perspective as to the progress being achieved by President Trump and the “Good Guys” follow the X22 Report. This Report has a Financial side of the transition and a Geo-Political side of the transition.
Then there are the people involved in the transition. The top of this organization is not known to many people for good reason. Can any rational person actually believe that the Clintons had 56 close friends all commit suicide?
The “accidents” that have impacted the Clinton Crime Family are well documented and known. Both Bill and Hillary Clinton have told unconscionable lies to America. Bill Clinton standing in front of the cameras and stating he did not have sex with that young lady, Monica Lewinsky has been a bigger lie than the fixing of the Baseball World Series.
Hillary has so many lies in her past that it is difficult to understand how she cannot figure out why she lost to Trump. America has had it with Hillary and her lies. Hillary stating that the Benghazi Incident was the result of a video is another whooper of a lie!
President Trump has had to endure the “Resistance Movement” of Obama and Hillary. WHY? Good question! My opinion is that once the corruption in America’s government begins to get disclosed there will be many people who face death as their punishment. Obama and the Clintons are at the top of the current list of traitors who can look forward to death in the near term. George H. W. Bush and John McCain were ahead of them and they are gone.
America has so many “Whistle-Blowers” who have come forward to disclose the corruption I am amazed that anyone who is not aware of all of these problems and obstacles that President Trump has been dealing with every day. Then, there are the actual criminals who have been identified and arrested.
These people have converts who have come over to the good side and are now “Cooperating Witnesses” giving testimony and evidence against the “Deep State”. For example, Anthony Weiner, husband to Huma Abedin, assistant to Hillary Clinton. Anthony Weiner had a lap top computer that contained all of the missing Hillary emails which are now in the possession of the government.
Additionally, there was much more on this computer which is now evidence against Hillary. IMO some of this is Clinton Foundation financial records. There are two former Clinton Foundation employees who are said to be cooperating witnesses. IMO there is lots of evidence of the Joe Biden corruption in the Ukraine.
The trifecta of James Comey, John Brennan and James Clapper all being directed and commanded by President Obama at the time of the Spy-Gate Conspiracy which transitioned into an ACT OF SEDITION. The tres amigos of Comey, Brennan and Clapper will all hang together.
The Whistle Blowers include Admiral Mike Rogers, Robert David Steele, Dan Bongino, Kevin Shipp, Gary Byrne, Edwin Klein, and hundreds more who cannot be ignored. The evidence of the Spy-Gate Conspiracy is so over whelming that I find it difficult to understand how any rational person cannot see the Trump Train coming down the tracks. The light at the end of the tunnel is on the front of this train and the Depp State is about to be destroyed!
As the sleeper cells of the Deep State step forward the new evidence is well worth the wait and the arrest and elimination of these traitors is a necessary part of this transition toward the GCR!
All of the above disclosures have been reported on the Internet and are in the public domain for any interested party to read and evaluated. The Wayne Allen Root allegations of Obama’s sexual activities in Chicago are well known and documented. Is Michelle a man as claimed on the Internet – there is a long history to support this allegation. Is Obama a Muslim? He actually said he was in an Interview available on the Internet.
https://inteldinarchronicles.blogspot.com/2019/11/patience-is-virtue-by-dave.html
Thanksgiving, As How It Relates To The RV.
.Thanksgiving, As How It Relates To The RV.
By Muhammad Ali
Now, I bet that just by looking at the title, you were thinking of the mouth watering smell of a homemade Thanksgiving dinner with stove top stuffing and cranberry sauce, right? Well this article is far from that. ;)
However, that does sound very delicious. Alright! let's get back on track.
Just recently, one of my Dinarian group member passed away. His name was Hisham, he died of leukemia and his condition deteriorated the past couple of years and he finally could not hold on any longer.
He was a good friend and provided spiritual intel to my group. Hisham, you will be missed my brother. I attended the burial and visited with the family and I was reminded by the sense of thanksgiving.
What I mean by this, is that, we are all holding various currencies with the belief that their values will increase and we will become wealthy.
Thanksgiving, As How It Relates To The RV.
By Muhammad Ali
Now, I bet that just by looking at the title, you were thinking of the mouth watering smell of a homemade Thanksgiving dinner with stove top stuffing and cranberry sauce, right? Well this article is far from that. ;)
However, that does sound very delicious. Alright! let's get back on track.
Just recently, one of my Dinarian group member passed away. His name was Hisham, he died of leukemia and his condition deteriorated the past couple of years and he finally could not hold on any longer.
He was a good friend and provided spiritual intel to my group. Hisham, you will be missed my brother. I attended the burial and visited with the family and I was reminded by the sense of thanksgiving.
What I mean by this, is that, we are all holding various currencies with the belief that their values will increase and we will become wealthy.
However, for some, this will not be the case, as God has His own plans. For some, their 'Blessings' in this investment was only to hold or touch the currency but never to exchange it.
As in the case of my friend, Hisham, he was holding Dinar, but he will not be able to exchange it. His wife and children will, but he will not. I have had many cases in my group, several people that I know moved houses and some how, some where, their currencies got misplaced.
And then, there are those who due to financial stress had no choice but to sell off their currency just to survive. I have even had one of my group members lose his currency in a house fire.
He, inadvertently, left the iron on and some how that led to part of his house burning down and the part that did catch on fire housed a bookshelf, in which he kept his currency. The currency went up in smoke as it be. So whatever the reason might be, all of these people at one point had the currency in their hands, and that was their 'blessing', that was all God intended for them.
This is something that you should think about and reflect upon. We do not know what God has in stored for us tomorrow or down the road, maybe we may also become like those whose Dinar left their hands.
So in my article today, I wish to remind myself, and you all to give thanks to God and as we pray daily for the RV, not only pray that it will happen today but pray that you will be among those who will exchange their currencies.
I hope this article has helped you in some way as it was also meant to act as a tribute to my friend Hisham.
God bless us everyone and may we all be part of the exchange process and what comes afterwards. Amen.
Thank you and I wish you all the success in your currency exchange.
Muhammad Ali
Wealth Is All In Your Head
.Wealth Is All In Your Head
April 6, 2019 By Mr. Tako
When you think about it, money is a pretty funny thing. For a couple thousand years humans used precious things to represent this idea of “money” — ivory, colorful shells, precious gems, livestock, silver, and most notably gold. This worked well for humanity for a very long time… as long as the values were small.
The general inconvenience of physically carrying a whole bunch of “precious stuff” eventually gave way to paper certificates. Stand-ins for the real thing.
After-all, nobody wants to cart around a wheelbarrow full of silver just to buy a new car. You were liable to get mugged by Robin Hood on the way to the car dealership….
From the Recaps Archives posted on 4/30/2019
Wealth Is All In Your Head
April 6, 2019 By Mr. Tako
When you think about it, money is a pretty funny thing. For a couple thousand years humans used precious things to represent this idea of “money” — ivory, colorful shells, precious gems, livestock, silver, and most notably gold. This worked well for humanity for a very long time… as long as the values were small.
The general inconvenience of physically carrying a whole bunch of “precious stuff” eventually gave way to paper certificates. Stand-ins for the real thing.
After-all, nobody wants to cart around a wheelbarrow full of silver just to buy a new car. You were liable to get mugged by Robin Hood on the way to the car dealership….
Paper certificates were just so much easier and convenient. In the past, those paper certificates could be redeemed for the actual “precious stuff”.
I still have a few U.S. $1 bills somewhere from the 1950’s that are actual silver certificates. It used to be that a person could walk down to the nearest Federal Reserve and exchange those certificates for actual physical silver. Why anyone would want to do that? I have no idea, but it was possible all the way up into the 1960’s.
Some of my relatives were really into precious metals. I received a number of these “silver certificate” dollars as gifts when I was a kid.
Back then, it was mostly the belief that you owned a precious metal that supported a currency. The fact that you could still convert it into precious metals was sort of a “bonus feature” for the currency.
All this ended in 1971, when President Nixon officially took the U.S. off the gold standard. The dollar became what’s known as a fiat currency, and around the same time most of the G-10 economies moved to fiat currencies as well.
The only thing really supporting a currency now is belief. We believe that money has value and therefore it does. Nowadays, most of our money is simply ones and zeros in a bank database …. data that probably resides in a secure data center somewhere.
Today, hardly anyone I know still uses physical money. We’ve simply moved on to credit cards, bank transfers, and digital payments. Only a few of the crazier people I know still keep gold or piles of cash at home.
In essence, money is now simply digital bits (in just the right order), shuttled around with electrons. Money couldn’t be more ethereal.
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