Same As It Ever Was: Things That Never Change In a World That Never Stops Changing
.Same As It Ever Was: Things That Never Change In a World That Never Stops Changing
Jun 15, 2020 by Morgan Housel
“People spend too much time on the last 24 hours and not enough time on the last 6,000 years.” – Will Durant
This is a few short stories about things that never change in a world that never stops changing.
Things that never change are the most important things to pay attention to. Change gets most of the attention, because it’s exciting and surprising. But things that stay the same – how people behave, how they think, how they’re persuaded – is the real meat of history.
Voltaire’s quote that “History never repeats itself, but man always does,” sums it up. Predicting the future is hard. Few can do it. Understanding what’s going through people’s heads is easier, and almost as useful. The world in 2020 looks nothing like the world of 1920, which was a different universe compared to 1920 BC.
But how people’s heads work hasn’t changed. How they think about fear, greed, opportunity, scarcity, and tribal affiliations hasn’t changed. It won’t change in our lifetimes.
Same As It Ever Was: Things That Never Change In a World That Never Stops Changing
Jun 15, 2020 by Morgan Housel
“People spend too much time on the last 24 hours and not enough time on the last 6,000 years.” – Will Durant
This is a few short stories about things that never change in a world that never stops changing.
Things that never change are the most important things to pay attention to. Change gets most of the attention, because it’s exciting and surprising. But things that stay the same – how people behave, how they think, how they’re persuaded – is the real meat of history.
Voltaire’s quote that “History never repeats itself, but man always does,” sums it up. Predicting the future is hard. Few can do it. Understanding what’s going through people’s heads is easier, and almost as useful. The world in 2020 looks nothing like the world of 1920, which was a different universe compared to 1920 BC.
But how people’s heads work hasn’t changed. How they think about fear, greed, opportunity, scarcity, and tribal affiliations hasn’t changed. It won’t change in our lifetimes.
If, rather than trying to predict the future, you put all your weight into the handful of behaviors that show up constantly in history and played a role in all the big moments, you get about as close as you can come to seeing the future. You still have no idea what’s going to happen in the future.
But you become less surprised at whatever does happen, less confused about why it’s happening, and more confident about how people will react to it. There are dozens of these behaviors worth paying attention to. I want to talk about four.
The first is a story about nuclear bombs.
#1: Big risks happen when a bunch of small risks combine and compound. But small risks are easy to ignore, so people always underestimate the odds of big risks. The Soviets built a nuclear bomb 1,500 times stronger than the one dropped on Hiroshima.
Called Tsar Bomba (king of bombs), it was 10 times more powerful than every conventional bomb dropped during World War II combined. When tested in Russia its fireball was seen 600 miles away. Its mushroom cloud went 42 miles into the sky.
Historian John Lewis Gaddis wrote:
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
7 Mistakes Many of Us Are Making With Our Money During the Pandemic
.7 Mistakes Many of Us Are Making With Our Money During the Pandemic
By The Penny Hoarder Staff Updated June 15, 2020
A sign in front of a store says
Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners.
One way or another, we all make mistakes. It’s the human condition.
But right now, in the midst of a pandemic, one thing you don’t want to make mistakes with is with your money.
Sure, we’ve all let bad financial habits creep up on us. But in these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re not your own bank account’s worst enemy.
Here are seven mistakes people are making with their money during the pandemic, and what you can do instead.
7 Mistakes Many of Us Are Making With Our Money During the Pandemic
By The Penny Hoarder Staff Updated June 15, 2020
A sign in front of a store says
Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners.
One way or another, we all make mistakes. It’s the human condition.
But right now, in the midst of a pandemic, one thing you don’t want to make mistakes with is with your money.
Sure, we’ve all let bad financial habits creep up on us. But in these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re not your own bank account’s worst enemy.
Here are seven mistakes people are making with their money during the pandemic, and what you can do instead.
Mistake 1: Passing up $500 in Free Stocks
Yes, the stock market certainly is scary right now. Stock prices shoot up and down like a roller coaster ride, and it’s all just so unpredictable. But, what if you could get stock for free?
A company called Robinhood is doing just that by giving free shares of companies like Microsoft and Facebook.
Yeah, you’ve probably heard of Robinhood. Both investing beginners and pros love it because you can start investing with just $1. Plus, they don’t charge commission fees, and you can buy and sell stocks for free — no limits.
To get your free stock, download the app and fund your account with at least a few bucks (it takes no more than a few minutes), Robinhood drops a share of free stock into your account. It’s random, though, so that stock could be worth anywhere from $5 to $500 — a nice boost to help you build your investments.
Mistake 2: Putting Money in a Regular Savings Account
You’ve probably heard the best way to grow your money is to stick it in a savings account and leave it there for, well, ever. It’s bad advice.
But maybe you’re just looking for a place to safely stash it away — but still earn money. Under your mattress or in a safe will get you nothing. And a typical savings account won’t do you much better. (Ahem, .09% is nothing these days.)
But a debit card called Aspiration lets you earn up to 5% cash back and up to 11 times the average interest on the money in your account.
Not too shabby!
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
The No. 1 Mistake Parents Make When Teaching Kids About Money
.Warren Buffett: This is The No. 1 Mistake Parents Make When Teaching Kids About Money
Jul 30 2019 Tom Popomaronis, Contributor@TPOPOMARONIS
If there’s one person who understands the importance of teaching kids about financial responsibility, it’s Warren Buffett.
Before he became CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, the legendary investor started a handful of small businesses — starting at age six, when he purchased a six-pack of Coke for 25 cents and sold each can for a nickel. He also sold magazines and gum from door to door.
“My dad was my greatest inspiration,” Buffett said in an interview with CNBC back in 2013. “What I learned at an early age from him was to have the right habits early. Savings was an important lesson he taught me.”
When asked what he thinks is the biggest mistake parents make when teaching their kids about money, the billionaire said, “Sometimes parents wait until their kids are in their teens before they start talking about managing money — when they could be starting when their kids are in preschool.”
Warren Buffett: This is The No. 1 Mistake Parents Make When Teaching Kids About Money
Jul 30 2019 Tom Popomaronis, Contributor@TPOPOMARONIS
If there’s one person who understands the importance of teaching kids about financial responsibility, it’s Warren Buffett.
Before he became CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, the legendary investor started a handful of small businesses — starting at age six, when he purchased a six-pack of Coke for 25 cents and sold each can for a nickel. He also sold magazines and gum from door to door.
“My dad was my greatest inspiration,” Buffett said in an interview with CNBC back in 2013. “What I learned at an early age from him was to have the right habits early. Savings was an important lesson he taught me.”
When asked what he thinks is the biggest mistake parents make when teaching their kids about money, the billionaire said, “Sometimes parents wait until their kids are in their teens before they start talking about managing money — when they could be starting when their kids are in preschool.”
Time is a factor
Yes, you read that right: Preschool. To Buffett’s point, researchers have noted that 80% of our brain growth happens by age 3.
One study from Cambridge University found that kids are already able to grasp basic money concepts between the ages of 3 and 4. And by age 7, basic concepts relating to future financial behaviors will typically have developed.
“Most parents already know how important it is to teach their kids about money and how to manage it properly,” Buffett acknowledged. But there’s a difference between knowing and taking action.
According to a 2018 survey from T. Rowe Price, which gathered responses from 1,014 parents (of children between the ages of 8 to 14) and more than 1,000 young adults (ages 18 to 24), only 4% of parents said they started discussing financial topics with their kids before the age of 5.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
4 Things I Regret Wasting Money and Time on In My 20s
.4 Things I Regret Wasting Money and Time on In My 20s
61-Year-Old Self-Made Millionaire: 4 Things I Regret Wasting Money and Time on In My 20s
May 30 2019 Grant Cardone, Contributor@GRANTCARDONE
It’s been more than 40 years since I graduated high school — and a lot has changed since then. I’m older, wiser, wealthier and much more successful.
I’ve built a multimillion-dollar business and am the CEO of seven privately held companies. But there’s always room for improvement — even at age 61. In order to do that, it’s important to acknowledge past failures and learn from them.
Looking back at my 20s, there was so much I didn’t know about money. With what little I earned, I wasted on useless things that didn’t benefit me at all. Here are the top four things I regret spending my time and money on:
4 Things I Regret Wasting Money and Time on In My 20s
61-Year-Old Self-Made Millionaire: 4 Things I Regret Wasting Money and Time on In My 20s
May 30 2019 Grant Cardone, Contributor@GRANTCARDONE
It’s been more than 40 years since I graduated high school — and a lot has changed since then. I’m older, wiser, wealthier and much more successful.
I’ve built a multimillion-dollar business and am the CEO of seven privately held companies. But there’s always room for improvement — even at age 61. In order to do that, it’s important to acknowledge past failures and learn from them.
Looking back at my 20s, there was so much I didn’t know about money. With what little I earned, I wasted on useless things that didn’t benefit me at all. Here are the top four things I regret spending my time and money on:
1. Drugs and alcohol
If I could go back in time, I’d tell my younger self: “Your education doesn’t stop after college.”
After graduating high school, I became obsessed with all the wrong things. I spent money on drugs and alcohol — and even developed an addiction problem. I should have been spending that money on things that would help me develop new skills, gain knowledge and make powerful connections.
In the real world, your high school diploma is useless, and your college degree won’t get you very far if you don’t have the right skills to keep up with the marketplace. Investing in yourself will only make you more valuable and increase your earning potential.
I didn’t realize any of this until much later. At 25, I spent my last $3,000 on an audio program that taught me about sales and how to close deals. I can honestly say that the investment and commitment to go “all in” are the reasons for my success today.
2. Traveling
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
Strategie to Make Donating an Easy Part of Your Finances
.Give Back: Strategies To Make Donating An Easy Part Of Your Finances
Cash For Tacos – June 15 2020
Do you often think about giving back by making more charitable donations, but struggle to do so?
Maybe you find it hard to let go of the money you worked so hard for.
Maybe you find it difficult to trust that your money will be used the way you think it should be.
Or maybe you just can’t figure out how to balance making donations with all of your other money goals.
We all have our own reasons for wanting to give more, yet struggling to do so. I look up to the people who find it easy to give their money away. Because for me, it takes a bit more work. I hold on to my money tightly, and donating does not come naturally to me. At this point in my life, a point where I feel secure in my finances, I want to make giving back a more intentional part of my financial plans.
Give Back: Strategies To Make Donating An Easy Part Of Your Finances
Cash For Tacos – June 15 2020
Do you often think about giving back by making more charitable donations, but struggle to do so?
Maybe you find it hard to let go of the money you worked so hard for.
Maybe you find it difficult to trust that your money will be used the way you think it should be.
Or maybe you just can’t figure out how to balance making donations with all of your other money goals.
We all have our own reasons for wanting to give more, yet struggling to do so. I look up to the people who find it easy to give their money away. Because for me, it takes a bit more work. I hold on to my money tightly, and donating does not come naturally to me. At this point in my life, a point where I feel secure in my finances, I want to make giving back a more intentional part of my financial plans.
But because giving away my money doesn’t come naturally to me, I knew I would need some financial strategies, along with some self-reflection, to intentionally incorporate it into my life. So if you find it hard to donate your money, or simply want to find a way to donate more, here is a list of things you can do to create the necessary space in your financial plans for giving back. But first, it’s helpful to try and understand why it may be hard to give.
WHY IS IT HARD TO DONATE?
During our lives, we are not always in a position where we can give as much as we would like. There are times when we need to focus on building up our own financial security. But in times where we are in a position to give financially, why do some of us struggle to give away our money when deep down we know we want to?
SCARCITY MINDSET
When we feel like a resource is in limited supply, or that there will never be enough, it’s hard for us to use it. In the case of our money, a scarcity mindset causes us to cling to it because we fear there will never be enough. A scarcity mindset makes it difficult to give money away.
I would argue that a scarcity mindset isn’t always a bad thing, though. It helps us to be more intentional with our limited resources since, in fact, they are limited. But when a scarcity mindset prevents us from rational thinking, it’s time to acknowledge it and work through it.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.cashfortacos.com/strategies-to-make-donating-a-part-of-your-finances/
Ways To Build Generational Wealth
.Ways To Build Generational Wealth
By Brian @ My Millennial Guide
Generational wealth is usually referred to as financial wealth that is passed down from one generation to another even though it can take other forms like traditions or heirlooms.
I’m currently in a position where I am trying to build wealth so that I can pass it down wealth from generation to generation. I’ll get into ways to build generational wealth later in the article but first I wanted to get into defining generational wealth…
What Is Generational Wealth?
Generational wealth is acquired by building generational assets which can include real estate, stocks, businesses, and many other types of assets.
Ways To Build Generational Wealth
By Brian @ My Millennial Guide
Generational wealth is usually referred to as financial wealth that is passed down from one generation to another even though it can take other forms like traditions or heirlooms.
I’m currently in a position where I am trying to build wealth so that I can pass it down wealth from generation to generation. I’ll get into ways to build generational wealth later in the article but first I wanted to get into defining generational wealth…
What Is Generational Wealth?
Generational wealth is acquired by building generational assets which can include real estate, stocks, businesses, and many other types of assets.
In the aspect of financial planning, generational wealth is a term that is geared toward passing down stable, significant financial resources for future generations.
Okay, now that we covered generation wealth, how can one grow it?
How Can I Build Generational Wealth?
To build generational wealth, generally, you need to have an income, whether as a job, career or a business. Once you have set your earning capacity, then you can adjust your thinking to shift from an income-based mentality to an asset-based one which will help you to create wealth. I published another article recently about growing your wealth here that you may found beneficial.
Basically, you need to have the right mindset and the discipline to stick to your financial goals.
This is not a one-day activity and requires consistent and diligent action, and above all the belief in what you are trying to achieve. It goes without saying that you must spend less than you earn, or top savings skills, so as to have some excess funds for investments.
However, because you want the wealth you are accumulating to last beyond one generation, you also need to empower your children with financial literacy especially budgeting and good money habits and invest in their future by setting up trusts and funds in their names.
Ways You Can Build Generational Wealth
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
The 3 Muscle Groups Of Wealth Building
.The 3 Muscle Groups Of Wealth Building
April 18, 2019 FIRE By Mr. Bo Dangles
Welcome to the Gym of Wealth! I’m your trainer, Mr. Bo Dangles. It’s time to get to work.
It’s my job to give you the tools you need to build a nice, strong bank account that will give you all the confidence of a rhino, attract the envy and admiration of your peers, and give you the power and freedom to spend your days as you want. Everyone who goes to a real gym has their own reason for being there, but those reasons always boil down to one of three categories: They want to look better - They want to feel better - They want to do more
I know moms who exercise because want to be able to carry their kids around without feeling winded. They want to do more. I went to school with a bunch of frat guys who wanted to make their tee shirts look even tighter. They want to look better. I know a bunch of 20- and 30-somethings who are addicted to the neurochemicals, stress reduction, and better sleep that comes from exercise. They want to feel better.
Strangely enough, everyone who strives to accumulate wealth has their specific reason, but those reasons fall into the same few categories!
The 3 Muscle Groups Of Wealth Building
April 18, 2019 FIRE By Mr. Bo Dangles
Welcome to the Gym of Wealth! I’m your trainer, Mr. Bo Dangles. It’s time to get to work.
It’s my job to give you the tools you need to build a nice, strong bank account that will give you all the confidence of a rhino, attract the envy and admiration of your peers, and give you the power and freedom to spend your days as you want. Everyone who goes to a real gym has their own reason for being there, but those reasons always boil down to one of three categories: They want to look better - They want to feel better - They want to do more
I know moms who exercise because want to be able to carry their kids around without feeling winded. They want to do more. I went to school with a bunch of frat guys who wanted to make their tee shirts look even tighter. They want to look better. I know a bunch of 20- and 30-somethings who are addicted to the neurochemicals, stress reduction, and better sleep that comes from exercise. They want to feel better.
Strangely enough, everyone who strives to accumulate wealth has their specific reason, but those reasons fall into the same few categories!
If you want to build an emergency fund, layers upon layers of insurance, and to sleep better knowing that your family will be provided for even if something happens to you, you want to feel better. If you want to be able to flaunt some cash, a shiny new car, or a gold-plated toilet, you want to look better. If you want the freedom to choose how you spend your days, welcome to FIRE, and you want to do more.
Regardless of your “Why”, cement it in your brain and use that as the primary motivator to fuel your money workouts. Luckily, you don’t have to choose one of those things while leaving the others behind — strengthening your wealth muscles allow you to feel better, look better, and do more!
It’s EVERYTHING DAY in the Gym of Wealth and we’re hitting all three major muscle groups!
Upper Body – Earning - Core – Investing - Lower Body – Saving
Upper Body
When you work on your Upper Body, you’re working on increasing your EARNINGS.
Upper Body is sexy. Everyone likes to show it off. But if you only focus on Upper Body, you’ll be unbalanced. You’ll end up being shaped like a light bulb, which is definitely unsexy. Same with your finances. Most of America focuses on building their Earning muscles, because it’s all they know. You want more money? Make more money! That’s how they think. That includes everyone from the impoverished (who actually would see the most benefit by strengthening these muscles) to the C-level employees who bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
They all pick one of the “Why’s” above — Look Better, Feel Better, or Do More — and they immediately think that the only way to get to that Why is to earn more money.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://danglingthecarrot.com/blog/3-muscle-groups-of-wealth-building/
Momentum: Once an Object Gains Momentum It Tends to Stay In Motion
.Momentum: Once an Object Gains Momentum It Tends to Stay In Motion
Financial Planning Justin / June 18, 2020
If you look up inertia in the dictionary you will find its definition to be (emphasis is mine) “the resistance of any physical object to change its velocity. This includes changes to the object’s speed or direction of motion.“ Inertia is the glue preventing too many individuals from chasing their dreams, from finding and living their purpose, and from living a fulfilled life. It’s easy to want to make a change. It’s hard to make change happen.
Too often, whether it be with weight loss goals, savings goals, or career goals, individuals set an ambitious, but attainable, goal only to give up shortly after starting due to some type of set back.
They get off to a great start but life brings an unexpected challenge and they never manage to get back on track—the goal they are chasing seems too far away—and fall back into the rut they so desperately want to escape. Inertia grabs ahold again.
Momentum: Once an Object Gains Momentum It Tends to Stay In Motion
Financial Planning Justin / June 18, 2020
If you look up inertia in the dictionary you will find its definition to be (emphasis is mine) “the resistance of any physical object to change its velocity. This includes changes to the object’s speed or direction of motion.“ Inertia is the glue preventing too many individuals from chasing their dreams, from finding and living their purpose, and from living a fulfilled life. It’s easy to want to make a change. It’s hard to make change happen.
Too often, whether it be with weight loss goals, savings goals, or career goals, individuals set an ambitious, but attainable, goal only to give up shortly after starting due to some type of set back.
They get off to a great start but life brings an unexpected challenge and they never manage to get back on track—the goal they are chasing seems too far away—and fall back into the rut they so desperately want to escape. Inertia grabs ahold again.
If inertia keeps us stuck on the same path, then we must look to create momentum to break through the inertia and reach our desired path. Momentum refers to an object’s tendency to stay in motion—meaning once an object gains momentum it tends to stay in motion; inertia prevents an object from gaining momentum. They aren’t quite opposites in definition, but I consider them opposing forces.
When chasing your goals, build momentum, and build it as fast as possible—avoid inertia’s pull to keep you in place.
Stacking Wins
Building momentum can be accomplished by setting smaller, micro, goals on your way to your ultimate goal. You don’t set out to run a marathon by heading out of the house and running 26 miles on Day One of training. You’d fail. You’d get discouraged and ultimately quit, never reaching your goal. Instead, you plan, train, and build up to 26.1 miles. You start small—build your confidence, your endurance, and achieve micro-goals along the way. 1 mile, 5 miles, 10 miles…all the way up to your marathon.
Each milestone is a mini-celebration and keeps you progressing toward your goal. I can’t believe I chose a running example as my first example given my disdain for running.
Accumulating $100,000 (or $500,000, or $1million, or $50,000…pick your number), like running a marathon, doesn’t happen overnight either. Planning on going from $0 to $100,000 is setting yourself up for disappointment and ultimately, failure.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://allaboutyourbenjamins.com/financial-planning/momentum/
A father’s letter to his kid: The 9 Money and Life Lessons Most People Learn Too Late In Life
.A father’s letter to his kid: The 9 Money and Life Lessons Most People Learn Too Late In Life
Published Fri, Jun 19 2020 Morgan Housel, Contributor@MORGANHOUSEL
On June 3, 2019, my wife and I welcomed our daughter into the world. She’s barely old enough to walk, so her job (mostly eating and sleeping) hasn’t changed much. But, one day, she’ll need some money and life advice. As a father who has spent much of his career studying and writing about money, behavioral finance and business, this is what I’ll tell her:
1. Don’t underestimate the role of chance in life.
It’s easy to assume that wealth and poverty are caused by the choices we make, but it’s even easier to underestimate the role of chance in life. The families, values, countries and generations we’re born into, as well as the people we happen to meet along the way, all play a bigger role in our outcomes than most people want to admit.
While you should believe in the values and rewards of hard work, it’s also important to understand that not all success is a result of hard work, and that not all poverty is due to laziness. Keep this in mind when forming opinions about others, including yourself.
A father’s letter to his kid: The 9 Money and Life Lessons Most People Learn Too Late In Life
Jun 19 2020 By Morgan Housel, Contributor@MORGANHOUSEL
On June 3, 2019, my wife and I welcomed our daughter into the world. She’s barely old enough to walk, so her job (mostly eating and sleeping) hasn’t changed much. But, one day, she’ll need some money and life advice. As a father who has spent much of his career studying and writing about money, behavioral finance and business, this is what I’ll tell her:
1. Don’t underestimate the role of chance in life.
It’s easy to assume that wealth and poverty are caused by the choices we make, but it’s even easier to underestimate the role of chance in life. The families, values, countries and generations we’re born into, as well as the people we happen to meet along the way, all play a bigger role in our outcomes than most people want to admit.
While you should believe in the values and rewards of hard work, it’s also important to understand that not all success is a result of hard work, and that not all poverty is due to laziness. Keep this in mind when forming opinions about others, including yourself.
2. The highest dividend money pays is the ability to control time.
Being able to do what you want, when you want, where you want, with who you want and for as long as you want provides a lasting level of happiness that no amount of “fancy stuff” can ever offer.
The thrill of having fancy stuff wears off quickly. But a job with flexible hours and a short commute will never get old. Having enough savings to give you time and options during an emergency will never get old. Being able to retire when you want to will never get old. Achieving independence is our ultimate goal in life. But independence isn’t an “all-or-nothing” — every dollar you save is like owning a slice of your future that might otherwise be managed by someone else, based on their priorities.
3. Don’t count on getting spoiled.
No one can grasp the value of a dollar without experiencing its scarcity, so while your mother and I will always do our best to support you, we’re not going to spoil you. Learning that you can’t have everything you want is the only way to understand needs versus desires. This in turn will teach you about budgeting, saving, and valuing what you already have.
Knowing how to be frugal — without it hurting you — is an essential life skill that will come in handy during life’s inevitable ups and downs.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
The Awesome Dad Cheat Sheet: 18 Fatherhood Tips They Should’ve Handed Out at the Delivery Room
.The Awesome Dad Cheat Sheet: 18 Fatherhood Tips They Should’ve Handed Out at the Delivery Room
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Leo Babauta of Zen Habits, a father of six children.
Being a father can be a wonderful thing, once you get past all the gross stuff, all the stressful events, the loss of privacy, and the bewildering numbers of ways you can screw it up.
But other than those few things, fatherhood is wonderful.
Every dad has fears that he won’t be a great dad, that he’ll mess up, that he’ll be a failure. It comes with the job. Unfortunately, what doesn’t come with the job is a simple set of instructions. As guys, we often will skip the manual, figuring we can wing it … but when things go wrong, it’s nice to have that manual to go back to. Fatherhood needs that manual.
And while, as the father of six children, you might say that I’m qualified to write such a manual, it’s not true — I’m winging it like everyone else. However, I’ve been a father for more than 15 years, and with six kids I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t, what’s important and what you can safely ignore (unlike that odd grating sound coming from your engine).
The Awesome Dad Cheat Sheet: 18 Fatherhood Tips They Should’ve Handed Out at the Delivery Room
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Leo Babauta of Zen Habits, a father of six children.
Being a father can be a wonderful thing, once you get past all the gross stuff, all the stressful events, the loss of privacy, and the bewildering numbers of ways you can screw it up.
But other than those few things, fatherhood is wonderful.
Every dad has fears that he won’t be a great dad, that he’ll mess up, that he’ll be a failure. It comes with the job. Unfortunately, what doesn’t come with the job is a simple set of instructions. As guys, we often will skip the manual, figuring we can wing it … but when things go wrong, it’s nice to have that manual to go back to. Fatherhood needs that manual.
And while, as the father of six children, you might say that I’m qualified to write such a manual, it’s not true — I’m winging it like everyone else. However, I’ve been a father for more than 15 years, and with six kids I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t, what’s important and what you can safely ignore (unlike that odd grating sound coming from your engine).
What follows are the fatherhood tips I wish they’d passed out to me upon the delivery of my first child. It would have helped a ton. I hope they’ll help you become an even more awesome dad than you already are — feel free to refer back to them as a cheat sheet, anytime you need some help.
Cherish your time with them. One thing that will amaze you is how quickly the years will fly. My oldest daughter is 15, which means I have three short years with her before she leaves the nest.
That’s not enough time! The time you have with them is short and precious — make the most of it. Spend as much time as you can with them, and make it quality, loving time. Try to be present as much as possible while you’re with them too — don’t let your mind drift away, as they can sense that.
It gets easier. Others may have different experiences, but I’ve always found the first couple of months the most difficult, when the baby is brand new and wants to feed at all hours of the night and you often have sleepless nights and walk around all day like zombies. It gets easier, as they get a regular sleeping pattern.
The first couple of years are also a lot more demanding than later years, and as they hit middle school they become almost functioning, independent adults. It gets easier, trust me.
Don’t look at anything as “mom” duties — share responsibilities. While there are a lot of good things from our grandparents’ day that we should bring back, the traditional dad/mom split of parenting duties isn’t one of them. Some men still look at certain duties as “mom” duties, but don’t be one of those dads.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/18-tips-for-being-a-great-dad/
7 Important Ways You Should Not Follow the Crowd Financially
.7 Important Ways You Should Not Follow the Crowd Financially
By Marc | Apr 18, 2019 | Personal Finance
Many Americans are in pretty bad shape financially. In fact, the statistics can be pretty shocking.
“Nearly half of all working-age families have zero retirement account savings,” and the median family has only $5,000 saved for retirement
57% of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts
The average household owes nearly $7,000 in credit card debt
Despite the fact that most Americans are not on the right path financially, many are still following the crowd and making decisions based on what other people are doing.
If you want something better, you need to do something different.
7 Important Ways You Should Not Follow the Crowd Financially
By Marc Personal Finance
Many Americans are in pretty bad shape financially. In fact, the statistics can be pretty shocking.
“Nearly half of all working-age families have zero retirement account savings,” and the median family has only $5,000 saved for retirement (source).
57% of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts (source).The average household owes nearly $7,000 in credit card debt (source).
Despite the fact that most Americans are not on the right path financially, many are still following the crowd and making decisions based on what other people are doing.
If you want something better, you need to do something different.
Rather than simply following what you see other people doing, you need to make decisions and take the actions that will get you to a better place financially.
Here are 7 ways that you should not be following the crowd if you want a better financial future.
1. Spending Without Purpose
Many people have no real plan or purpose for how they spend their money. Buying decisions are often made based on emotions, and emotions can be easily swayed or influenced. Emotional buying also tends to involve quick decisions.
You can see the evidence of this all around us in terms of the marketing and advertising that we’re eposed to on a daily basis. Advertisements often appeal to emotions and desires, because that type of advertising works. Companies want to convince you that you need their product or service and that you deserve it.
Bad spending habits lead to spending without purpose. Effective money management doesn’t require you to deprive yourself of nice things, but it does require you to spend your money with purpose.
What you should do instead: We all have different priorities, and purposeful spending will allow you to have money for the things that matter the most to you. Spending with purpose means that you know your priorities and that you avoid unnecessary spending on things that really aren’t important to you, leaving you with money to use in ways that matter more.
Take the time to identify your own priorities, and also think about the things that really don’t matter that much to you. Next, create a budget that minimizes expenses in the unimportant areas, and allows for enough money on the things that do matter.
2. Saving Whatever is Left
To continue reading, please go to the original article here: