Guest posts Archives - Page 6 of 9

Admit it. You’re jealous.

February 23, 2012 by Jana 18 Comments

Today’s post is a guest post from my friend S who blogs at American Debt Project. American Debt Project is a blog about paying off debt and understanding the patterns and behaviors that get Americans into debt in the first place. She also blogs about income inequality, investing and the fascinating dynamics of living in Los Angeles and Southern California.

At the risk of sounding like a Cosmo magazine rip-off, a girl’s gotta have friends that she can talk to about anything. I consider myself lucky to have friends with whom I can discuss all manner of embarrassing, intimate and psychologically harrowing topics.

There’s been one topic burning a red hole in my mind lately: Jealousy. I found myself feeling completely jealous after seeing the website of someone who is a friend of a friend who just happens to be a professional surfer. When I saw her recent trips to Kauai, Bali and the Caribbean, I think I experienced some mild heartburn mixed with tangible anxiety as to why my life didn’t include exotic trips to warm, sunny beaches and photoshoots of me posing on said beaches. To make it worse, this girl is beautiful, much younger than me and probably makes quite a nice annual income before even graduating high school. I don’t begrudge her success because surfing is one of the toughest sports out there and she RIPS. After two years, I can still only ride the smallest of waves with my funboard. I know she’s talented and deserves success, but I was still thinking about it all day and wanting my own life to be filled with plane rides, free clothes from sponsors and lots of fun down time to hang out friends and post pictures to Instagram. I got even more worked up because it is simply too late for me to become a professional athlete at 28. “Why is this jealousy consuming me?!”

I knew exactly which of my friend/therapists I needed to discuss this with, and we were headed out to dinner that night. As soon as I got in the car with her, I asked her: “Have you…like…ever felt jealous of anyone?” She looked at me like I might have suffered a concussion earlier that day. “Uh yeah, all the time!” She mentioned that some of her friends from college had found serious success with some multi-level marketing company they had started (which is the only way to make money from a MLM) and were always posting photos on Facebook of their newfound wealth. But she had a simple solution: “I just started defriending them. I think the last picture I saw was his orange Lamborghini and after that I just deleted him. I don’t need to see that every day.”

That, my friends, is the definition of a good friend. I realized how awesome this girl is who can be so honest with me and herself and give such simple but useful advice as don’t pore over photos of people who make you jealous. It wasn’t getting me anywhere to look at photos of rainbows over the Islands of Aloha which made me want to bang my head against my cubicle wall. And what’s worse, I was mad at myself for having a normal reaction of jealousy.

I have a confession: I am a little bit holier than thou. I think that I never ever feel jealous or envious, when the truth is that for the most part, I don’t feel jealous of other people’s lives because their goals are not my goals. I don’t lust for an orange Lamborghini, that picture would have probably just made me laugh. I don’t want a high-powered corporate job because I’ve had the 70-80/hr week corporate job and I’m not sure I could handle that kind of stress long-term (at least not working for someone else). I don’t want a Louis Vuitton handbag. So I can look at people’s lives and think, “Well, good for them. I’m glad they’re happy.” But when I saw someone living out a life that seems to me like absolute perfection, I did get jealous. I want the freedom to do those things too, without going into debt for it.

It’s OK to feel jealous sometimes. You don’t have to pretend like you are completely Zen and happy for everyone and 100% satisfied with your own life. In fact, if you’re reading a personal finance blog, you are probably looking to improve your life in at least a few aspects. But just remember not to dwell on that envy for too long, or spend an hour on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram feeding your mind with images of someone else’s happiness. I may not have a perfect life, but I still wouldn’t trade for anyone else’s life, no matter how many cheetah-print bikinis and double rainbows are involved.

Economize Your Finances

February 16, 2012 by Jana 9 Comments

This is a guest post written by Suzanne Cramer, a certified credit counselor and a Social Media Specialist for Care One Debt Relief Services. Suzanne writes for Divorce, Debt and Finances andA Straight Talk on Debt. Follow Suzanne on Twitter @ADivorcedMom and @AskCareOne where she stares her insights on divorce and managing your finances.

Recent economic forecasts show signs of improvement but with the state of the economy over the past few years, preparedness is the best way to ensure you and your family is safe from economic harm.

Everyday we hear about layoffs corporate downsizing, foreclosures, and bankruptcies filed by those who just couldn’t keep up.

So while the economy is said to be on the rebound what steps can you take to safeguard your financial future and survive the economic roller coaster?

Pay off debt

Paying off debt is the first step to financial freedom regardless of where the economy is headed. So your first priority should be to pay off any unsecured debt such as credit cards as quickly as possible. While easier said than done there are several options when it comes to tackling your debt and putting yourself ahead of the game.

Emergency savings

We hear about the importance of having an emergency fund all the time. Why is it so important? Life is unexpected and just as unpredictable as our economy. Having an emergency fund can keep you afloat during tough times and see you through a lay off or medical emergency. If you don’t have an emergency fund yet, open a new savings account, and start making regular deposits. Even if you can only afford to save small amounts, your money will add up over time.

Become indispensable & stay up to date

As unemployment rates are still unstable, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure your income. If you’re currently employed but uncertain about the future, try to make yourself indispensable at work by increasing your visibility, taking on new responsibilities, and continually honing your skills with job training or advanced education.

If you’re unemployed, update your résumé, re-connect with your contacts, and expand your network

Give it up

Many of us are living a lifestyle we can’t afford. If this is you, the easiest way to ready yourself is to spend less than you earn. So if weekly manicures, daily lattes, and expensive cell service don’t fit into your budget-make the cuts. Giving up luxuries improves your bottom line and will make the difference if things don’t go as planned.

Use good shopping sense

Bargain hunt, compare prices, and pass on items you don’t really need. To determine whether a potential purchase is a necessity, ask yourself if you can truly afford the item, and do a cost-benefit analysis. You may find that some goods are just too valuable to pass up, while others are a waste of money.

Keep Everything in Perspective

According to experts, many Americans are experiencing acute stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness as the result of job losses, foreclosures, and other economic uncertainties. And these symptoms not only take emotional toll; they can increase your risk for serious physical conditions, such as obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse, and heart disease. For this reason, it’s important to keep a positive attitude, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and remember this to shall pass.

Although you can’t change the economy, you can help yourself by being prepared.

To find out if you’re truly prepared, take this quiz, “Are Your Finances Recession-Proof?” And see how you stack up!

Be food wise when traveling

February 10, 2012 by Jana 12 Comments

This post is part of Yakezie blog swap #17. Aloysa is a creator of My Broken Coin, a personal finance blog, where she openly admits that she has a serious spending problem. She is not a frugal person. She is not a disciplined saver. Find out more about her by visiting her blog. While you’re there, you can also check out my post, The best travel secret ever? Off-peak travel.

I don’t consider myself the world’s most seasoned traveler but I‘ve been around the block a few times. I have traveled quite a bit in my life.I also consider myself a spoiled traveler. I am not a backpacker who carries everything they need on their back with youthful adventure and limitless enthusiasm. Maybe in my early twenties I could have traveled the world with my backpack and infinite endurance. But I am in my late thirties, and I like to travel comfortably.I don’t like hostels because I never did feel safe enough there. (a side note: by no means am I influenced by the horror movie Hostel.) Somehow I am not able to have a good nights rest in any hostel. I feel exposed and vulnerable. Also, a nice bed, a private bathroom, and a clean shower should not be considered a luxury during my travels. Those are necessities.Comfortable travel also means spending money on things that I enjoy: sightseeing, shows and shopping.

When I travel I don’t try to save money on sightseeing. I will pay whatever I have to in order to see the sights that I have always dreamed about. The Great Wall anyone?

I will try to get cheaper tickets to a show at the Moulin Rouge, but if I have to pay the full price, I won’t fret over it. How often do you get to go to the Moulin Rouge after all?

Shopping is just too much fun to go cheap because the shopping experience in different countries is just unforgettable. At least for spenders like me.

Food, however, is a different story. Food should not be your biggest expense during your travels. You can save quite a bit on food if you know one simple trick. I’ve learned it over the years of travel and this trick has never failed me.

Eat where the locals eat… because they eat in places that travel books will never mention.

Finding those places will require a lot of walking. It also means walking away from the high-tourism areas, and venturing out into the side streets, and sometimes even to the outskirts of towns.

It might not sound exciting and even frightening. I completely agree that unknown places can be scary. Depending on the location, you will have to exercise some caution, of course. Venturing into the unknown is one of my favorite adventures.

It never hinders:

– To discover local eateries (some of them can truly be gems)
– To eat much better food (you might be surprise how well some local chefs can cook)
– To pay much lower prices (sometimes half price!) than in any touristy area
– To get directions to other similar good eateries
– To find out about local events
– To support local businesses
– To have fun

It is unavoidable to stumble upon something that you will not like. Or something that will look scary or unsanitary. It has happened to me plenty of times! Don’t be afraid and don’t give up. Keep looking!

Travel is all about experiencing local cultures. That means food!

Little things add up

February 9, 2012 by Jana 3 Comments

This is a guest post from Ashley over at Money Talks. Her passion in life is to help you get control of your money. If you like this article stop by her site, or better yet, subscribe to her feed so you don’t miss a thing.

I worked at Toys R Us when I was in high school. During my time there I was often tasked with being a cashier. I rang up everything from swing sets to action figures, but nothing caught people by surprise more than those customers who had a basket full of stuff from the birthday party supply aisle.

It never failed. I’d ring up all the paper plates, colorful cups, matching napkins, streamers, balloons, and gift bag goodies and come up with a total that was a complete shock to the customer.

“What!” they’d exclaim, “That can’t be right!” They would pull open the bag I had just filled up and do some mental math.

“Sigh, that sure adds up quick!”

It does. Each item in their bag only cost a few dollars but when added up it was more than they expected.

It’s the same with life. A few dollars here, a few dollars there, and before you know it your whole budget is blown. The larger items you can plan for. You know how much your house and car cost. But do you know how much you spend on maintenance for those items? Do you know how much you spend on school lunches for your kids or on hair products for yourself.

It’s good to know because it all adds up. Most people’s financial problems don’t come from the big stuff in their budget. Usually their big items are in line with their income because they were paying attention to those things. In most cases it’s the small things that sink the budget. Paying attention and counting those little things can make or break the budget. That’s why tracking your spending and living on a budget helps you get control of your money. It forces you to spend time thinking about the little things.

Just like my Toys R Us customers, no one ever gasped at the cost of a new basket ball hoop or expensive bike. No. What caught people off guard was when they filled their cart with $2 items. Individually, those things weren’t worth the time to think about, but as whole they added up to some serious bucks.

How do you feel about watching the small things in your budget? Do you have a system that works for you? Does it feel overwhelming to have to watch every dollar?

Guest Post: How Culture Affects Money Habits

January 23, 2012 by Jana 5 Comments

Since I’m on vacation this week (today is my last day), I thought I’d use the time to showcase some guest bloggers. Today’s blogger is Dannielle, a new personal finance blogger from Barbados. Her blog Odd Cents is a mixture of personal finance and lifestyle, featuring exciting articles, tips and suggestions.

How do you view money? Do you see it as something which is meant to be spent here and now, and as soon as it is received? Or is it a commodity that is meant to be enjoyed, but can be passed down from generation to generation hence creating wealth for those to come after you? Personally, I think it’s a bit of both. Money is relevant “now”, but can be of value in the future.

The way that you view money can be influenced by your culture. An old teacher once described culture as the way of life of a people which is usually passed down from generation to generation. In many cases, the way that you are socialized can determine your attitudes towards money. My parents do not spend wildly – they are very level headed and cautious when it comes to money, and I have those same traits. Their parents also lived by these rules and now they have been passed on to me.

A couple weeks ago I watched a documentary which compared the money habits between the western world and the eastern world. One of the points I noted was that the Chinese saved approximately 20-40% of their income as compared to us in the west, who save only 5%.

For example, let’s assume that your salary is $1000. The documentary is basically saying that the western world saves between $200 and $400, whilst those in the eastern world, save a mere $50. I’m not sure what statistics would have been used to come up with such figures, but that’s a pretty big difference.

One possible reason for this difference in saving habits was perhaps alluded to in an article written by Xin Lu, which is a perfect example of how culture affects money habits. She explains how her Chinese culture influences her attitude towards money. Her principles were based on age old Chinese traditions of frugality, saving, paying for items with cash and looking for a bargain.

Unfortunately, not all of us have positive cultural influences which affect how we view money. But, there are some people, who have chosen to turn that into a positive effect and create their own cultures which encourage good money habits. I’ve read many stories where people admit that their parents and guardians were horrible with money and are in dire financial situations. They in turn use the mistakes as life lessons on what not to do.

How does your culture affect your money habits?