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New Year Resolutions – Five Strategies That Work

.New Year Resolutions – Five Strategies That Work

December 12, 2020 Personal Development

New Year's resolutions

When it comes to New Year resolutions, so many people fail at keeping them that it’s a surprise that anyone still bothers to make them in the first place. According to research, 80% of people give up on their New Year resolutions by February. That’s right, four out of five people will drop their grand aspirations for a better life just 30 days into the year.

What’s even more striking is the fact that only 8% of people end up accomplishing the goals they’ve set out for themselves in January. Depressing stats, aren’t they? Almost worse than the odds of England ever winning the World Cup again.

But what if there was a better way? A way to improve the odds of actually getting to the finish line? To break out of the vicious cycle of “set-fail-give-up” that seems to hound most people? And to actually have fun along the journey instead of feeling like a total loser? As it turns out, there is. And surprisingly, the primary component in the secret sauce is actually taking it easier on yourself. So if you are looking to make 2021 the year when you finally buck the trend, read on.

New Year Resolutions – Five Strategies That Work

December 12, 2020 Personal Development

When it comes to New Year resolutions, so many people fail at keeping them that it’s a surprise that anyone still bothers to make them in the first place.  According to research, 80% of people give up on their New Year resolutions by February.  That’s right, four out of five people will drop their grand aspirations for a better life just 30 days into the year.

What’s even more striking is the fact that only 8% of people end up accomplishing the goals they’ve set out for themselves in January.  Depressing stats, aren’t they?  Almost worse than the odds of England ever winning the World Cup again. 

But what if there was a better way?   A way to improve the odds of actually getting to the finish line?  To break out of the vicious cycle of “set-fail-give-up” that seems to hound most people?   And to actually have fun along the journey instead of feeling like a total loser?  As it turns out, there is.  And surprisingly, the primary component in the secret sauce is actually taking it easier on yourself.  So if you are looking to make 2021 the year when you finally buck the trend, read on.

How To Finally Hack Your New Year Resolutions

Strategy #1: Stage Them

Over the years, I’ve come to understand one important thing about resolutions (and life more generally).

If you try to do everything at the same time, you will most likely fail.  

After all, if you had to run a 10k race, would you just go for it right off the bat?   Or would you stretch, warm up, and break into a slow jog first before finding your stride?   New Year resolutions are no different.  Yet for some mysterious reason, January 1st will see millions of people wake up and attempt to make a drastic U-turn in their lifestyle.

In doing so, they are setting themselves up for an inevitable disappointment.  Life simply doesn’t work this way.

Next year, try something different.  Let’s say your three resolutions are to start going to the gym four days a week, to lose 10 pounds, and to stop smoking.  Sorry to break the bad news, but if you try to go for it guns blazing on January 1st, you will fail.   You can have the willpower of a Tibetan monk and you still won’t get there.   Instead, try something different.   Pick one resolution – just one – and focus 100% of your energy and efforts on it for the first three months.

That’s right.  Forget about trying to lose weight.  Keep on smoking as much as your heart desires.  But whatever you do, make sure to stick to your gym routine as if your life depended on it.

 

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://bankeronfire.com/new-year-resolutions?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-year-resolutions

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Teach Your Kids About Money with the Bank of Mom and Dad

.Teach Your Kids About Money with the Bank of Mom and Dad

By The Physician Philosopher 12-12-20

Editor: Have you taught about money yet? It can be a bit confusing where to start. Leif gives you all of the steps that you need to know to teach your kids what they need to know. Keep on reading to learn how to show your kids the ways of money. This post was originally published on Physician on FIRE.

Teach Your Kids About Money with the Bank of Mom and Dad

How do you teach your kids about money?

It’s a great question. We all want the best for our children, and that includes not making the same money mistakes we’ve made in our own lives. I don’t have all the answers, but I feel we’re doing a few things right. We’ve been parents for eleven years now, and we’ve got about nine years left with at least one child at home with us. I can’t believe these years are more than halfway over. I’d like to share some of the tactics we’ve used to teach our kids about money, and that includes “The Bank of Mom and Dad.” We use the term in a different way than most, and it’s been an effective tool in our household.

Teach Your Kids About Money with the Bank of Mom and Dad

By The Physician Philosopher  12-12-20

Editor: Have you taught about money yet? It can be a bit confusing where to start. Leif gives you all of the steps that you need to know to teach your kids what they need to know. Keep on reading to learn how to show your kids the ways of money. This post was originally published on Physician on FIRE.

Teach Your Kids About Money with the Bank of Mom and Dad

How do you teach your kids about money?

It’s a great question. We all want the best for our children, and that includes not making the same money mistakes we’ve made in our own lives.   I don’t have all the answers, but I feel we’re doing a few things right. We’ve been parents for eleven years now, and we’ve got about nine years left with at least one child at home with us. I can’t believe these years are more than halfway over.  I’d like to share some of the tactics we’ve used to teach our kids about money, and that includes “The Bank of Mom and Dad.” We use the term in a different way than most, and it’s been an effective tool in our household.

Let’s Talk About Sex Money, Baby!

What are the two most taboo topics at the family dinner table? Sex and money, right?

There really does need to be some discussion of both, but the birds and the bees talk is probably best reserved for a more private setting in which the details would not result in a loss of appetite and an untouched dinner plate.

Money, on the other hand, should be a part of everyday conversation, including at the dinner table. Dollars and cents shouldn’t dominate the conversation — you don’t want money to be a primary family focus — but as money is a part of everyday life, it should not be ignored.

Talk about earning money.

Your kids should know that you work hard so that you can live a good life both now and later. It was not unusual for me to be paged away from the dinner table for the first of several after-clinic surgical add-ons when I was on call.

While I didn’t like having to leave, we made sure our kids understood that I was well compensated for being at the hospital’s beck and call for anywhere from 24 to 120 hours at a time.

When your kids are old enough to have some concept of the value of a dollar, consider discussing specifics in terms of hourly pay or annual salary. If you’re worried about them telling their friends, and their friends telling their parents, talk in general terms. You can look up the average salary of your profession with them on a site that anyone can access like glass door, for example.

Talk about spending money.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://thephysicianphilosopher.com/teach-your-kids-about-money-with-the-bank-of-mom-and-dad/

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9 Things More Important Than Money

.9 Things More Important Than Money

By Jim Rohn Building Wealth, Personal Development

We all know the value of having plenty of money, especially as entrepreneurs. But we also know there are people who started enterprises with no money, who went on to make fortunes. So how did they do it? Jim Rohn believes there are nine things that are more valuable than capital, things that can lead straight to your success:

1. Time

Time is a treasure—the time you set aside not to be wasted, not to be given away. The time you set aside to be invested in something that brings value to the marketplace with the hope of making a profit, that’s capital time.

How valuable is time? Time properly invested is worth a fortune; time wasted can be devastation. Time invested can perform miracles—so invest yours.

9 Things More Important Than Money

By Jim Rohn Building Wealth, Personal Development

We all know the value of having plenty of money, especially as entrepreneurs. But we also know there are people who started enterprises with no money, who went on to make fortunes. So how did they do it? Jim Rohn believes there are nine things that are more valuable than capital, things that can lead straight to your success:

1. Time

Time is a treasure—the time you set aside not to be wasted, not to be given away. The time you set aside to be invested in something that brings value to the marketplace with the hope of making a profit, that’s capital time.

How valuable is time? Time properly invested is worth a fortune; time wasted can be devastation. Time invested can perform miracles—so invest yours.

2. Desperation

My friend and mentor Bill Bailey went to Chicago as a teenager after he got out of high school. And the first job he got was as a night janitor. Someone said, “Bill, why would you settle for night janitor?” He said, “Malnutrition.” His first job might have been night janitor, but he went on to receive the Horatio Alger award and become rich and powerful—one of the great examples of lifestyle that I know.

Desperation can be a powerful incentive when you say I must. You work at whatever you can possibly get when you get hungry. You go to work somewhere—it doesn’t matter where.

3. Determination

I have another friend, Lydia, whose first major investment in her new enterprise was also desperation. She needed to feed her kids—so she invested $1 in something she believed in. That $1 was used to buy a few flyers so she could make a sale at retail, collect the money and then buy the product wholesale to deliver back to the customer.

First Lydia said, “I must find a customer”—desperation. Second she said, “I will find someone before this first day is over”—determination. And sure enough, she found someone. Determination says I will.


To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.jimrohn.com/9-things-more-important-than-money/

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A Few Things I’m Pretty Sure About

.A Few Things I’m Pretty Sure About

Dec 9, 2020 by Morgan Housel

If something is impossible to know you are better off not being very smart, because smart people fool themselves into thinking they know while average people are more likely to say, “I don’t know” and end up closer to reality.

Most professions would benefit from at least one a day month where you did nothing but think. No meetings, no calls, no deliverables. Just a seat on the couch thinking about what’s working, what’s not, and what to do about it. One day a week is necessary for some fields. But it’s rare, because sitting on the couch doesn’t look like work, so managers raise an eyebrow – even if it’s obvious that if your job involves thinking you should be given time to think.

You shouldn’t be shocked when people who think about the world in unique ways you like also think about the world in unique ways you don’t like. People with crazy good ideas tend to have crazy bad ideas too, because crazy thinking doesn’t always discriminate on truth, collateral damage, or legality.

A Few Things I’m Pretty Sure About

Dec 9, 2020 by Morgan Housel

If something is impossible to know you are better off not being very smart, because smart people fool themselves into thinking they know while average people are more likely to say, “I don’t know” and end up closer to reality.

Most professions would benefit from at least one a day month where you did nothing but think. No meetings, no calls, no deliverables. Just a seat on the couch thinking about what’s working, what’s not, and what to do about it. One day a week is necessary for some fields. But it’s rare, because sitting on the couch doesn’t look like work, so managers raise an eyebrow – even if it’s obvious that if your job involves thinking you should be given time to think.

You shouldn’t be shocked when people who think about the world in unique ways you like also think about the world in unique ways you don’t like. People with crazy good ideas tend to have crazy bad ideas too, because crazy thinking doesn’t always discriminate on truth, collateral damage, or legality.

Once-in-a-century events happen all the time because lots of unrelated things could go wrong. If, in any given year, there’s a 1% chance of a new disastrous pandemic, a 1% chance of a crippling depression, a 1% chance of a catastrophic flood, a 1% chance of political collapse, and on and on, then the odds that something bad will happen next year – or any year – are … pretty good. It’s why Arnold Toynbee says history is “just one damn thing after another.”

Daniel Kahneman says a key to investing is having “a well-calibrated sense of your future regret,” which might actually be the key to understanding all forms of risk. You know exactly how much risk to take if you know exactly when you will cry Uncle when things don’t work out.

Risk is what you can’t see, think only happens to other people, aren’t paying attention to, are willfully ignoring, and isn’t in the news. A little surprise usually does more damage than something big that’s been in the news for months.

 

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/sure/

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31 Dumb Things That Are Keeping You From Becoming Wealthy

.31 Dumb Things That Are Keeping You From Becoming Wealthy

By Barb Nefer November 25, 2020

These small financial mistakes chip away at your wealth.

Everyone would like to know how to become rich, yet many people make financial mistakes every day that keep them from becoming wealthy — or at least from building up a nice nest egg. What are the dumb things that get between you and wealth? These warnings from experts will help you correct your financial mistakes and watch your bank account grow.

Not Having a Planned Budget

Budgeting is a no-brainer. But failing to create a budget is one of the most common financial mistakes people make. It sounds simple, but people play fast and loose with their money, then wonder why they never discover the secret of how to become rich. “Without a budget, it’s impossible to have control over your money and know where you are spending the majority of it,” said finance expert Kelan Kline of The Savvy Couple. “Without a budget, your money has no plan and will prevent you from building your finances up indefinitely.”

31 Dumb Things That Are Keeping You From Becoming Wealthy

By Barb Nefer November 25, 2020

These small financial mistakes chip away at your wealth.

Everyone would like to know how to become rich, yet many people make financial mistakes every day that keep them from becoming wealthy — or at least from building up a nice nest egg. What are the dumb things that get between you and wealth? These warnings from experts will help you correct your financial mistakes and watch your bank account grow.

Not Having a Planned Budget

Budgeting is a no-brainer. But failing to create a budget is one of the most common financial mistakes people make. It sounds simple, but people play fast and loose with their money, then wonder why they never discover the secret of how to become rich.  “Without a budget, it’s impossible to have control over your money and know where you are spending the majority of it,” said finance expert Kelan Kline of The Savvy Couple. “Without a budget, your money has no plan and will prevent you from building your finances up indefinitely.”

Being Reactive Instead of Proactive

When you handle money reactively rather than proactively, you’re likely to make mistakes. If you want to know how to become rich, handle your money with a sense of purpose and make it work for you rather than spending indiscriminately.

“One thing that keeps people from becoming wealthy is living reactively rather than intentionally,” according to financial behavior coach Derek Hagen of Money Health Solutions. “Going through life without knowing what money’s purpose is for you will make it more likely that you will spend money in areas that aren’t important to you.”

Staying In a Dead-End Job

The saying “a body at rest tends to stay at rest” applies to many things, including jobs. Most people avoid the time and trouble of a job search if they’re already in a decent position, but that’s a big financial mistake.

“While it can be difficult to look for a new job when money is tight, considering ways to improve your career should be an ever-present thought,” said Tom Blake, owner of This Online World, a personal finance blog for young adults.

“If you are working at a company that limits opportunity, you may be missing out on a chance to increase your salary and professional development over time,” he said. “If you feel as if the company you work for will never allow you to progress, it may be worthwhile to start a job search on the side and to look for an alternative option with more financial opportunity.”


To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/wealth/dumb-things-that-keep-you-from-becoming-wealthy/?utm_campaign=1023649&utm_source=yahoo.com&utm_content=2

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5 Money Principles You Need to Know

.5 Money Principles You Need to Know

by Jim Rohn

Although finances shouldn’t be the highest priority in our lives, I will say money plays a major role and we need to see it for what it is: a tool. As my good friend Zig Ziglar says, “Money isn’t everything, but it ranks right up there with oxygen!”

Money is a tool that, depending on how we use it, can bring much joy to our lives or it can bring destruction. We need to be aware of all the possibilities it offers as well as the pitfalls. Some of the most amazing things have been done because people had the financial resources to fund them—businesses have been built, schools started and philanthropic charities founded that have accomplished much good. On the other hand, friendships have been ruined, illicit gains profited and lives destroyed—all over money.

5 Money Principles You Need to Know

by Jim Rohn

Although finances shouldn’t be the highest priority in our lives, I will say money plays a major role and we need to see it for what it is: a tool. As my good friend Zig Ziglar says, “Money isn’t everything, but it ranks right up there with oxygen!”

Money is a tool that, depending on how we use it, can bring much joy to our lives or it can bring destruction. We need to be aware of all the possibilities it offers as well as the pitfalls. Some of the most amazing things have been done because people had the financial resources to fund them—businesses have been built, schools started and philanthropic charities founded that have accomplished much good. On the other hand, friendships have been ruined, illicit gains profited and lives destroyed—all over money.

So today, I want to focus on applying some simple financial principles, but I also want to teach the underlying philosophies that govern what good people can do and what tremendous accomplishments can be made when we see money for what it is: a tool to improve our lives and the lives of others.

John Wesley said, “Earn all you can, save all you can and give all you can.” A person who sees the powerful force for good that money can be will more likely keep their own life in balance by pursuing the disciplines of earning, saving and giving, which, together, create the perfect tension and balance.

But we must also remember that money has a seductive side and tells you it will solve all of your problems, but it won’t. It is great to have money—lots of it—as long as your life is in balance and you keep the proper perspective. It is important that we own our money and not the other way around.

The first way to make sure money doesn’t own us is to deal with the issue of debt.

Americans, along with most of the world, have more debt than ever. We would do well to remember the old proverb, “The borrower is the servant to the lender.”

 

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.jimrohn.com/money-principles/

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Dave Ramsey Says Beware These 10 Major Money 'Don'ts'

.Dave Ramsey Says Beware These 10 Major Money 'Don'ts'

Sarah Cunnane Tue, December 8, 2020,

Talk-radio host Dave Ramsey says you can solve your money troubles just as soon as you stop causing them.

The money management guru has been doling out his signature blend of tough-love financial advice and Biblical wisdom since 1992. He learned it all the hard way: In his 20s, Ramsey built a million-dollar fortune flipping houses but lost it all when banks started calling in his debts. He had to buckle down to build back up from bankruptcy.

Now his radio show is syndicated on more than 600 stations, and he’s the author of several books. He teaches Americans how to save more money and avoid wallowing in debt — even during the current financial crisis.

Dave Ramsey Says Beware These 10 Major Money 'Don'ts'

Sarah Cunnane  Tue, December 8, 2020,

Talk-radio host Dave Ramsey says you can solve your money troubles just as soon as you stop causing them.

The money management guru has been doling out his signature blend of tough-love financial advice and Biblical wisdom since 1992. He learned it all the hard way: In his 20s, Ramsey built a million-dollar fortune flipping houses but lost it all when banks started calling in his debts. He had to buckle down to build back up from bankruptcy.

Now his radio show is syndicated on more than 600 stations, and he’s the author of several books. He teaches Americans how to save more money and avoid wallowing in debt — even during the current financial crisis.

Here are 10 of Dave Ramsey's biggest money "don'ts."

1. Don’t Try To Tackle Your Biggest Debts First

When you’re deep in debt with multiple loans, freeing yourself can seem impossible. That’s why Ramsey suggests the “debt snowball method.”  Rather than start with the loan with the highest interest rate, Ramsey says to pay off the loan with the lowest balance first, making only minimum payments on the rest. The idea is that each small victory inspires you to tackle bigger challenges.

“It’s more about behavior change than numbers. Once your income is freed up, you can finally use it to make progress toward your savings goals,” Ramsey explains on his website. The snowball method is one of Ramsey's most common pieces of advice but it's also controversial. If your credit score is hurting, it may be better to use an online service that can help you determine which bills to pay off first to get your score back up.

2. Don’t Try To Justify Frivolous Purchases

If you want to become financially independent, you’ll have to figure out where you can cut corners. That means no more lattes or new jeans.

 

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dave-ramsey-says-avoid-10-182600922.html

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3 Money Habits That Separate the Rich From the Poor

.3 Money Habits That Separate the Rich From the Poor

by Jim Rohn

Here is an exciting thought! Why not work full time on your job and part time on your fortune? And what a feeling you’ll have when you can honestly say, “I’m working to become wealthy. I’m not just working to pay my bills.” When you have a wealth plan, you’ll be so motivated that you’ll have a hard time going to bed at night. So if you will indulge me, I would like to share a simple formula for creating wealth. Here’s my thought on how money should be allocated.

The 70/30 Rule

After you pay your fair share of taxes, learn to live on 70 percent of your after-tax income. These are the necessities and luxuries you spend money on. Then, it’s important to look at how you allocate your remaining 30 percent. Let’s allocate it in the following ways:

3 Money Habits That Separate the Rich From the Poor

by Jim Rohn

Here is an exciting thought! Why not work full time on your job and part time on your fortune? And what a feeling you’ll have when you can honestly say, “I’m working to become wealthy. I’m not just working to pay my bills.” When you have a wealth plan, you’ll be so motivated that you’ll have a hard time going to bed at night.  So if you will indulge me, I would like to share a simple formula for creating wealth. Here’s my thought on how money should be allocated.

The 70/30 Rule

After you pay your fair share of taxes, learn to live on 70 percent of your after-tax income. These are the necessities and luxuries you spend money on. Then, it’s important to look at how you allocate your remaining 30 percent. Let’s allocate it in the following ways:

Charity

Of the 30 percent not spent, one-third should go to charity. Charity is the act of giving back to the community and helping those who need assistance. I believe that contributing 10 percent of your after-tax income is a good amount to strive for.

The act of giving should be taught early, when the amounts are small. It’s pretty easy to take a dime out of a dollar. But it’s considerably harder to give away a $100,000 out of $1 million. You say, “Oh, if I had $1 million, I’d have no trouble giving $100,000.” I’m not so sure. $100,000 is a lot of money. Start early so you’ll develop the habit before the big money comes your way.

 

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.jimrohn.com/3-money-habits-separate-rich-poor/?mpweb=574-9130050-743137220

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My Personal Story From The Collapse Of The Soviet Union

.My Personal Story From The Collapse Of The Soviet Union

Notes From the Field By Simon Black December 9, 2020 Santiago, Chile

[Editor’s note: Marat K, one of our team members who grew up during the collapse of the Soviet Union, tells the story of his own experiences during that period.]

When I was a kid growing up in the Soviet Union, it was essentially forbidden to make a better life for yourself. You couldn’t just decide to go back to school, start a business, or switch careers to a thriving new industry. And it didn’t matter how hard you worked-- you were most likely NEVER going to be promoted. All the top jobs in the Soviet Union were reserved for party loyalists. The government removed EVERY possible economic incentive to achieve more… which is why service was pitiful, technology was lagging, and the Soviet economy was consistently in the dumps.

Now, on occasion, the government would decide that they wanted to populate certain rural areas of Russia, such as remote parts of Siberia. Quite often families were simply ordered to pick up and move, as was famously the case under Stalin.

My Personal Story From The Collapse Of The Soviet Union

Notes From the Field By Simon Black December 9, 2020   Santiago, Chile

[Editor’s note: Marat K, one of our team members who grew up during the collapse of the Soviet Union, tells the story of his own experiences during that period.]

When I was a kid growing up in the Soviet Union, it was essentially forbidden to make a better life for yourself. You couldn’t just decide to go back to school, start a business, or switch careers to a thriving new industry. And it didn’t matter how hard you worked-- you were most likely NEVER going to be promoted. All the top jobs in the Soviet Union were reserved for party loyalists. The government removed EVERY possible economic incentive to achieve more… which is why service was pitiful, technology was lagging, and the Soviet economy was consistently in the dumps.

Now, on occasion, the government would decide that they wanted to populate certain rural areas of Russia, such as remote parts of Siberia. Quite often families were simply ordered to pick up and move, as was famously the case under Stalin.

But by the 1970s, the government would provide a small financial incentive for families-- if you moved to Siberia, you could earn a slightly higher salary. This became literally the ONLY way that anyone could (legally) make more money in the Soviet Union. And that’s how my parents and I ended up moving to a cold, little town in western Siberia in 1985.

The plan was to stay there for a few years, save money, and then move back to a nicer, bigger city in Russia with a better climate.

The fact that our new Siberian town didn’t have a single restaurant, cinema, or even an ice-cream place, made the ‘saving money’ part really easy.

My parents followed through on their plan. And by the early 1990s they had saved enough money to buy a decent house, plus a car, and still have some savings left over.

But then, the unimaginable happened-- the Soviet Union collapsed. And the economy crashed.

Inflation, then hyperinflation, followed, as the government started printing money like crazy in an effort to continue making interest payments on its debt.

Prices skyrocketed.

At some point, stores stopped displaying price signs. Why bother, if they were doubling every other week or so?

Salaries and pensions did not keep up with inflation; almost everyone became more poor with each passing day.

Most people, including my parents, were caught completely unprepared.

The general level of financial literacy at the time was pitiful; most Russians didn’t know the first thing about money, finance, or economics, so no one knew how to react to the hyperinflation that was unfolding in front of our very eyes.

It was as if everyone was frozen in disbelief, including my parents.

By 1990, before the crisis, my parents had saved 50,000 rubles. At the time, that would have been enough to buy a house and a car.

After a few years of crisis, my parents still had the same 50,000 rubles. But by then, all they could afford to buy with it was a pair of winter boots for my mother.

Their entire nest egg had been completely inflated away in a few short years.

But not everyone had lost during that time.

Those who successfully navigated the financial Wild West of the 1990s in Russia turned this crisis into the opportunity of their lifetimes.

For example, I remember seeing ads in a newspaper offering to exchange a flat in Moscow for a poor-quality Soviet car.

It was an unbelievable trade when you think about it; the guy with the apartment was probably panicking and trying to leave the country, so he thought it would be a good idea to trade his apartment for a car.

But ten years later, the car was a worthless pile of scrap. Meanwhile the owner of the flat still held a valuable asset that had appreciated significantly in value and kept up with inflation.

And naturally the savviest people were able to buy extremely high quality assets on the cheap-- like real estate and businesses, including shares of newly-privatized oil companies.

Investing in Gazprom in the early 1990s was like buying bitcoin in 2010.

Later these people became known as Russian oligarchs.

Now, I’m not writing this to suggest that the same financial catastrophe will take place in the US or Europe.

After all, the ruble didn’t enjoy the status of being the world’s reserve currency in the early 90s. And the economy of the late Soviet Union was already in terrible shape.

Still, this very recent history should serve as a reminder: idiotic economic policies almost always have consequences.

When a government goes out of its way to destroy economic incentives, through higher taxes or abusive regulations, bad things usually happen.

When a government accumulates a mountain of debt that is impossible to pay, bad things usually happen.

When a central bank conjures trillions of dollars out of thin air, bad things usually happen.

And I can tell you from personal experience that when a society actively embraces a Communist ideology, bad things usually happen.

And all of these issues in North America and Europe certainly could create consequences for the dollar and euro some day.

This isn’t a dire prediction, it’s just common sense… something that most politicians seem to be lacking these days.

It’s important to think about risks and consequences and prepare for them in advance; I watched my parents lose their entire nest egg and become victims of other people’s stupidity, because they were unprepared.

But today we have access to so much more information and education. We can learn about how gold and silver have maintained their value against inflation for thousands of years.

We can learn about other assets, whether productive land, cryptocurrency, or profitable business ventures, that can do well, even in times of crisis.

And we can make a Plan B… just in case the unthinkable happens. Because if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that absolutely anything is possible.

On another note… We think gold could DOUBLE and silver could increase by up to 5 TIMES in the next few years.

That's why we published a new, 50-page long  Ultimate Guide on Gold & Silver that you can download here. ​This 50-page report is brand new and absolutely free.

 

To your freedom and prosperity, Simon Black, Founder, SovereignMan.com

https://www.sovereignman.com/trends/my-personal-story-from-the-collapse-of-the-soviet-union-29663/

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Advice, Personal Finance DINARRECAPS8 Advice, Personal Finance DINARRECAPS8

S.M.A.R.T. Fall Resolutions That Can Change Your Life

.S.M.A.R.T. Fall Resolutions That Can Change Your Life

By Mad Money Monster

Despite many people not being aware of it, there are actually two times each year that we are most likely to commit to lifestyle changes. Those times are, predictably, January, and as you may have guessed, fall. Think about it, when does the new school year start? And how many of us grew up marking our years by school years? I’m going to go out on a limb and say most of us. With that in mind, let’s all rejoice in the fact that the kiddos are back in school, the leaves are starting their transformation, pumpkin spice is atop all the edible things, and it’s time to engage in another lifestyle change you have been contemplating for some time.

Summer Fades, Leaves Undergo A Colorful Execution, And You Make A New Fall Resolution!

When I was a kid I used to vow to be a stellar student at the start of each new school year. I would always be equipped with the latest school trends and fresh, new supplies to mark the commencement. Sadly, my early fall resolutions didn’t amount to much success. I would typically start off strong and then fade into familiar routines a few weeks into the new school year. As I got older, this changed. I was able to set my sights on certain achievements for my academic career, and eventually achieve them! These achievements have continued throughout my adulthood by making smarter resolutions.

S.M.A.R.T. Fall Resolutions That Can Change Your Life

By Mad Money Monster

Despite many people not being aware of it, there are actually two times each year that we are most likely to commit to lifestyle changes. Those times are, predictably, January, and as you may have guessed, fall. Think about it, when does the new school year start? And how many of us grew up marking our years by school years? I’m going to go out on a limb and say most of us. With that in mind, let’s all rejoice in the fact that the kiddos are back in school, the leaves are starting their transformation, pumpkin spice is atop all the edible things, and it’s time to engage in another lifestyle change you have been contemplating for some time.

Summer Fades, Leaves Undergo A Colorful Execution, And You Make A New Fall Resolution!

 When I was a kid I used to vow to be a stellar student at the start of each new school year. I would always be equipped with the latest school trends and fresh, new supplies to mark the commencement. Sadly, my early fall resolutions didn’t amount to much success. I would typically start off strong and then fade into familiar routines a few weeks into the new school year. As I got older, this changed. I was able to set my sights on certain achievements for my academic career, and eventually achieve them! These achievements have continued throughout my adulthood by making smarter resolutions.

Fall Is A Time For Change

 Obviously, January is the time of year that most people sit down and make resolutions to improve their lives, whether it be emotional, physical, or financial. Interestingly, it has been proven that there is a second time of year when people do the exact same thing. And that time of year is upon us. There is nothing stopping you from making a fall resolution except, well, you.

Around these parts we truly do worship the change of seasons. And the season we worship most of all is fall. There’s nothing quite like experiencing crisp temperatures, the brilliant colors that adorn the landscape, and pumpkin spice on everything nice. But we don’t just enjoy fall fluff, we also treat fall as a time for change in our own lives. We make fall resolutions to improve our lifestyle. This fall we plan on making several resolutions relating to our future goal of financial independence. But this time, we’re making making resolutions with a twist. We’re not just going to make resolutions willy-nilly. This time, we’re making S.M.A.R.T. fall resolutions. Not sure what that is? Well, read on my frugal friends.

S.M.A.R.T. Fall Resolutions

 I’ve learned many things during my time spent in the corporate world. One of which is the importance of making smart goals – or more appropriately, S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Smart Is An Acronym That Stands For:  Specific   Measurable   Achievable   Results-focused   Time-bound

 

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://madmoneymonster.com/2018/09/10/smart-fall-resolutions-that-can-change-your-life/

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Advice, Personal Finance DINARRECAPS8 Advice, Personal Finance DINARRECAPS8

Growing Wealth: The Simple Way

.Growing Wealth: The Simple Way

By Billy B | Mind, Money

I stalked through the forest as quietly as I could. I was on a deer hunting way up north. I stepped over logs and rocks, and I looked for deer watching me through the tree branches. I was alone, exploring my thoughts, and searching for the secret to growing wealth.

I felt submerged in the overgrowth as I walked beneath the tree tops in my blaze orange hunting jacket. I realized money and status didn’t mean anything out here. The qualities that made you a wealthy were the quality of your thoughts running through your mind. Growing wealth, I realized, starts here.

The first step to growing wealth, is growing the thoughts in your mind, I thought. So what’s the next step?

Growing Wealth: The Simple Way

By Billy B | Mind, Money

I stalked through the forest as quietly as I could.  I was on a deer hunting way up north. I stepped over logs and rocks, and I looked for deer watching me through the tree branches.  I was alone, exploring my thoughts, and searching for the secret to growing wealth.

I felt submerged in the overgrowth as I walked beneath the tree tops in my blaze orange hunting jacket.  I realized money and status didn’t mean anything out here.  The qualities that made you a wealthy were the quality of your thoughts running through your mind.  Growing wealth, I realized, starts here.   

The first step to growing wealth, is growing the thoughts in your mind, I thought.  So what’s the next step?  

I stopped for a second and I listened to the woods.  Birds flew in the sky. Dead leaves hung on the trees.  They rustled like whistling ghosts as the wind blew through the branches.

A rainbow of new thoughts glimmered in my mind as I walked.  Ideas I hadn’t explored before bubbled up from the abyss of my subconscious into my conscious view.

Wealth, is ultimately an existence where you have the time to explore the thoughts beyond your daily needs of survival.  When you have the time to seek the answers your soul dreams about, you have found your path to growing wealth, I thought.

I pushed away a pine-tree branch away from my face.  That’s really what I’m after with this blog, I realized.  We don’t need piles of money and things to feel wealthy.  We need more time to find purpose and execute our unique missions of being alive.  That is the true path to growing wealth and happiness, I thought.

Bam.  A deer jumped up out of the brush and ran deeper into the forest ahead of me.  I tried to get a look at it, but it was gone by the time I looked around the trees.   

My heart pounded as the vision of the deer faded.  Adrenaline raced through my blood like a natural form of speed.  The colors in fall leaves looked like a psychedelic painting as fresh blood oozed into my brain.  I had traveled so deeply inside my thoughts on growing wealth, I had missed the deer standing right in front of me.    

 

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.wealthwelldone.com/growing-wealth-simple-way/

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