Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

GoddessWoman — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:01:04 GMT

Another great and enviro friendly option is cotton reuseable menstrual pads ... they are more comfy, non-toxic (if you get the organic ones), more absorbent, cheaper over the course of 5 years (their average life span) and are good for the environment!

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

Mad_203 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:01:00 GMT

Keebler808, I wish I could give you more than one point on a thumbs up! You are so right about our criminal financial institutions and complicit government.

One thing I forgot to mention in my laundry list is saving money by not buying a teevee or subscribing to cable or satellite. We had three children before we ever owned a television set---and that was only because my in-laws couldn't stand the thought of their grandchildren being deprived any longer and bought it for us! sheesh! I admit I did enjoy watching the BBC production of War & Peace and my husband did enjoy the Olympics that year. :) He resubscribes every two years for the Olympics and I am happy when they are over and the damn thing goes into hibernation once again except for watching DVDs.

Off topic: I am particularly incensed about China hosting the Olympics. Their blatant human rights abuses should have eliminated them from consideration. Yes, I know that no nation is entirely innocent, but China gets the Olympic Brass-plated Turd for their atrocities! Of course the MSM is going to ignore all that and sugar coat everything.

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

Mad_203 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:40:47 GMT

The more stuff you have, the more time you waste acquiring, paying off, cleaning (or moving to clean), maintaining, repairing, storing, and finally getting rid off the junk! The fewer things I have, the more enjoyable life becomes.

My husband and I are not very savvy when it comes to financial markets, but on the other hand we can be very frugal without sacrificing quality of life. I haven't checked all the links above, so I don't know if these tips were mentioned, but these are some of the things we have done to save money:

* Pay extra towards principle on each mortgage payment. Using online banking I included an extra $100 with the monthly mortgage payment. We came to think of that $100/mo as being part of the contracted payment so it was not seen as "extra" and not dipped into.

* Return movies and other rental items on time. This is a no-brainer, but I know people who forget on a regular basis. Those late return fees add up.

* Take advantage of state and national park systems for family vacations. Our kids grew up thinking that camping & hiking were simply what families do on vacation. Disneyland was a special one time event (actually twice, since our four children are spread out in age).

* Get together with like-minded folks to form a food ordering co-op. Our children were fed high-quality natural foods on a limited budget. (50 pounds of organic rolled oats is cheaper and healthier than the equivalent in boxed breakfast cereals.)

* Use a solar oven and/or eat more raw foods. I love setting the table with food that is either raw or cooked by the sun. Non-renewable energy use = 0 (including NOT having the AC work overtime if you have one, which we don't.)

I wish I could say that we have always been smart with money, but alas that is not true (and in fact have done some downright stupid things...). At least we have never had a devastating financial debacle and in our retirement years are debt-free.

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

Keebler808 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:24:40 GMT

As long as the Federal Reserve is in control of our currency, as long as we pay interest through our illegal income taxes to the Federal Reserve on counterfeit money created out of thin air, as long as banks are allowed to create money out of thin air through the fractional banking system (i.e. derivatives), as long as speculators are allowed to determine the prices of our food and energy supplies, and as long as government agencies such as the SEC and DOJ fail to enforce securities laws, the economy will never be safe and your dollar will continue to fall in value. The US economy has been at the mercy of bankers and Corporations for over a century now and it is painfully obvious that they care nothing about the average person; only profit and power.

Yes, I will acknowledge that Westerners, and Americans in particular, have grown extremely irresponsible with their financial habits and need to follow many of the guidelines and recommendations listed above. But unless the core problems of the economic/financial system are fixed, you money will never be safe, your retirements will dwindle in value, and everything will continue to grow in cost. Contact your Congressmen and Senators and demand that the control of the US currency be returned to the US Treasury, that the illegal 16th Amendment and Income Tax be eliminated, that a flat-rate national sales tax be implemented, and stricter banking laws implemented to protect consumers.

Turn off the TV and radio. Put down the newspapers and magazines. Avoid all forms of mass, mainstream propoganda meant to turn you into a consumer. Stay away from malls and stores as much as possible. Get active in your community and support local initiatives. Get outdoors and enjoy the environment. Find a healthy, physical activity you enjoy doing regularly. And eat healthy, locally-grown organic produce. Do ANYTHING that prevents you from spending money or being bored (which usually leads to spending money, especially watching TV).

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

Amieech — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:41:49 GMT

Just thought I would add a couple more tips for those out there who have babies! Using cloth diapers is not only better for the environment, but can also save a couple thousand dollars per child up until they are potty trained. Plus, there are tons of new diaper systems out there that do not require pins (just do a Google search for cloth diapers and see what comes up!) Also, I make my own baby food and freeze it in recycled glass baby food jars--it takes me less than 2 hours to puree enough vegetables to feed my 7-month-old for over a month and use some veggies I grow in my own garden.

Recycling your trash can also save you money--we have the option of having our trash service pick up our garbage every week or bimonthly (bimonthly is obviously cheaper), so by recycling we have reduced our waste so that we only need it picked up every other week.

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

Arizona — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:15:19 GMT

My mother and father came from very little. In fact my mother had to leave home at the age of 13 because of an alcoholic father. They were blue collar workers that put 3 of us through college. My brother went on to medical school. They paid cash for their newly built home ( a 3 bedroom ranch) in 1967. They taught me valuable lessons for living within your financial means. Sometimes they overdid it, but as a result I grew up by example.

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

Green Tea — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:58:37 GMT

Thankyou Dr. M for such a wealth of info. May I add a book or two to your list? Catherine Ponder has written some great books on abundance: "Open Your Mind to Receive" and "The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity".

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

pinkskittles — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:15:47 GMT

This is a great list, thanks!

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

Katie B — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:33:16 GMT

I clicked on the Christmas gifts for under ten dollars, and most of the ideas are pretty common sense (but then, so few Americans have it), and some of them totally blow (excuse my language), like the yoga mat (I would be thoroughly ticked off if someone gave me that as a gift, not because it's doesn't cost very much money, but because I don't have any interest in yoga) and giving a back massage (unless you've been schooled in massage therapy, it's not going to be a very beneficial experience to the receiver).

The cheap but great dates list however, was very informative.

re: Hundreds of Tips for Turning Your Financial Life Around

Islander — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:45:48 GMT

Rule #1: Live Within Your Means.

I'm going to paraphrase Dickens...
Income $50,000, outgo $45,000: happiness.
Income $50,000, outgo $60,000: misery.