It can be hard to raise your head above the rising waters of a drowning economy and the chaos of misguided, misinformed and miserable media, but here's an article well worth perusing. Remember that the greatest periods of average individual economic growth have happened in the decades after severe economic downturns.
Keep a level head and a keen eye: opportunities abound and while others are whining, wailing and winging it, you can find a solid future in the turbulent present.
Know what you're getting into, thinking about it creatively and being disciplined about it and you can make credit cards excellent tools to manage your money. Especially now.
'During the last century, consumers have been pushed more and more toward controlling their personal finances but have not been given the knowledge to be successful.'"
Hurray, Oregon!
A great idea, especially now. It's never too early or too late to do this: Start now.
Following The Giant Pool of Money, also highlighted in Jenius Jots, comes a show that actually deserves a sensationalist title. Look, sometimes the sky is falling, but forewarned is forearmed. In other words, listen to this and be prepared.
"Why does the school system require classes like math, English and science but not basic personal finance? We force students to learn trigonometry and the like, yet how many of us ever use it again after graduation? In contrast, how many transactions involving money will we each conduct on a daily basis for the rest of our lives?"
I don't agree with the remark about trigonometry (it teaches thinking skills), but teaching financial skills is a failing that needs correcting immediately. In fact, if these skills had been taught over the past few decades, We most likely wouldn't be in the mess We're in now.
Maybe that answers My unspoken question right there.
This isn't newsworthy, but the irony is so thick, so freaking heavy what with the collapse of financial institutions lately that pointing it out makes a ton of sense. And you might learn something, too, for it has a "Control Your Credit" game.
Look, We know times are tough. But the only money matters you can really take care of are your own. So here's a dead simple list of mistakes We often make (yes, I'm definitely included in that Jenial "We") that undermine our personal financial strength and potential for growth. Go and sin no more.
Yup. This whole thing sucks. You aim for cash transactions, save yourself the usurious rates banks charge you for using your money to make more money and wisely keep ahead of the con game run by the consumer society, only to find that the stupid masses, the dithering, blubbering spendthrifts who live way beyond their means, are getting breaks left and right, with government officials practically falling over their empty nutsacks to bail the scum-brained suckers out.
Yup. It sucks big-time. But being right has a way of staying right. So stay right on track if you are, and if you aren't, well, comeuppance is simply a matter of time.
Here, I'll give you the skinny:
1. You can't have everything you want.
2. Financial institutions are not your friends.
3. Nobody is going to teach you personal finance.
4. You are your own worst enemy.
5. You need to stop watching TV.
6. Personal finance is easy.
Now go read the article for even more interesting tips.
I've gone from "No credit cards ever" to "One, for emergencies" and can see the value in using credit wisely to extend one's financial power. The operative word is "wisely." Read up on how to start down that path of credit card wisdom.
"Easy terms" means "easy spending" which means "easy overconsumption" which means "easy debts" which means "easy interest piling onto easy debts" which means "easy path to financial distress". Speed up the "need" for "easy overconsumption" and We get an economic crisis that's just starting down the easy path to a deepening recession.
Ah, Disney keeping the vestiges of the ol' go.com alive and churnin'...
Bad credit means you're at the mercy of the industry that spawns credit, the "consumerist" industry. (My phrase, I think. If not, Mine to use here.) Now you can have good credit by playing the game within the rules, i.e., buying and paying more than you should... or you can have "good credit" by not paying useless fees and interest and saving money so you can afford to get what you need when you need it.
What did you expect? A magic money tree?
Folks, you know printer ink (especially inkjet ink) is more expensive than gold. So how about a one-stop shop for saving money on supplies and repair bills when it comes to your printers?
Here it is: fixyourownprinter.com
Have fun saving money!
The Jenius can attest to the power of this little exercise, for I was under the impression that I knew exactly where every penny went. Turns out I was off in My "knowledge" by 35%! That means I was spending 35% more than I thought, not exactly a fast-track to improved personal finances.
Do the log and learn something about yourself that you can immediately put into practice--to your great benefit.
Be financially smart, avoid excessive debt, save money...and watch as the government steps in to save idiots who do the exact opposite while your money gets shaved away like polar ice caps.
Makes you wonder, don't it?
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