Month: July 2020

Non-financial decisions can have a huge impact on your money situation. You might be surprised at how much influence your choices have over your debt, future earning potential, and retirement.

Those that are financially successful tend to consider the potential impact of all decisions, including those that have nothing to do with money.

Discover the 3 non-financial decisions that have the greatest impact on your financial life:

1. Marriage can have a significant effect on your finances. You might be a great investor. You have your retirement all planned and you stick to your budget 100% of the time. But a divorce can cost you half of your assets and potentially have you making payments to your ex for the rest of your life.
   • Marrying a suitable partner is one of the most important factors in determining your financial situation later in life. Think about all the ways your spouse could alter your finances. It’s important to choose wisely.
   • Staying married doesn’t necessarily result in financial success either. Before getting married, consider your potential spouse’s spending habits and current debt.
   • There are other factors to consider, too. Do you both want children? Are you both planning to work? What type of income is your potential spouse likely to generate?
     
     
2. Your educational decisions are extremely important. Attending medical school is likely to result in a better income than majoring in English. Higher education isn’t necessarily a fitting choice for everyone, but it’s something to consider.
   • Reflect on what you love to do, but avoid ignoring the economic implications. Think about how much your education will cost in terms of money and time. Also, consider the demand for workers in your chosen field. There’s plenty of salary information available. Do some research.
   • The cost of making a poor choice can be considerable. You may be miserable with your job and then discover that you need to go back to graduate school to stay competitive.
   • Your educational choices can affect your income, employment, and overall happiness.
     
     
3. Children greatly impact your money situation. Children are incredibly expensive. Having one or more children can potentially mean the loss of income for several years. Financial priorities can also change when you have kids.
   • There’s less opportunity to save and invest. Think about the food, clothes, medical bills, and all other expenses associated with children. That’s money that could’ve been put towards your retirement.
   • The cost of higher education continues to rise. How much will a degree cost in the future? What about if you have three children? Avoid waiting until your kids are in high school to make the necessary financial adjustments.

Many decisions have financial implications, even if they may seem unrelated. Marriage, education, and children can potentially change your financial future in significant ways. Think about the effects these choices can have on your financial well-being.

Sometimes success isn’t about making the perfect choice, but rather about refraining from making a poor choice. Take the time to make informed decisions. Your financial future depends on it!

The Law of Attraction works, but there are several ways you might be reducing its positive influence. If you’re not getting the results you desire, there’s an excellent chance that you’re making one or more mistakes.

A slight tune-up might be all that’s necessary to get the most from your efforts.

The Law of Attraction is like a recipe. If you skip an ingredient, or use the wrong amount, you won’t be pleased with the outcome.

Make the Law of Attraction work for you with these strategies:

1. Be consistent. It’s important to apply the Law of Attraction on a daily basis. Think of it as exercise. You won’t get good results from an exercise program if you only exercise once. Daily effort is important if you want to see results.
   
   
2. Be action oriented. One of the most common errors in applying the Law of Attraction is the belief that you don’t have to take any action to create results. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Whatever it is that you desire won’t just materialize out of thin air.
   • Instead, believe that the Law of Attraction is bringing opportunities to you. It’s your job to recognize them and make the most of them. Take action when opportunities present themselves.
     
     
3. Be 100% comfortable with what you want to attract. You must be 100% comfortable with the thing, person, or situation that you are trying to attract into your life. If you have any reservations, you’ll be unsuccessful.
   • Visualize being successful in your efforts and notice how you feel. Do you have any reservations? If so, that’s a sign that you need to work on the resistance you feel.
   • Visualize doing what needs to be done in order to be successful. How does that feel? Are you 100% comfortable with the steps you must take? If not, you have some work to do.
     
     
4. Make use of the time right before falling asleep and immediately after waking up. These are the two most effective times to program your subconscious and reach out to the universe.
   • Create a habit of visualizing success at these times. Keep it 100% positive and focus on feeling happy, excited, and proud of yourself.
     
     
5. Avoid worrying about how you’ll accomplish something. Be focused and clear on what you desire. Avoid stressing over how you’ll make it happen. There are many ways to achieve something. You don’t have to worry about it. The right opportunity will present itself when the time is right.
   • Worrying about how you’ll accomplish something shows doubt. It’s a negative outlook. This doesn’t work well with the Law of Attraction.
     
     
6. Be grateful for what you already have. It’s possible to strive for more and still be grateful for what you have. Allow yourself to feel gratitude each and every day. Make a list each morning and evening. It can be a mental list or a written list. See how many things you can come up with.
   
   
7. Follow your intuition. Your intuition is part of the process. If you have a sudden urge to call someone, pick up the phone. Do you feel the need to turn left instead of right on the way home? Do it. You’re much wiser than you realize. Give your wisdom the benefit of the doubt.

The Law of Attraction works well if you do your part. Some of the biggest mistakes are a failure to take action when an opportunity presents itself, consistency, and comfort with the desired outcome. Remember that you can’t attract what you’re not attracted to. You also can’t attract anything except chaos if you’re not willing to do any work.

It can be a struggle to save money to put a deposit down on a house. It can take years of saving to come up with enough for a deposit for a home. Shorten the time it takes you to save up by using these tips each day.

Turn these tips into daily habits and see your savings grow more quickly:

1. Set up a standing order. Rather than relying on your own good intentions to save money each month, set up a standing order at your bank or with your employer to ensure money is put into an account every month without you even having to think about it.
   
   
2. Try to cut back on buying frivolous things. Do you really need that Netflix subscription? What about the number of meals you eat out each month – could they be cut back?
   • Once you take control of your finances by sitting down and looking at your bank statements, you will see how much money you spend on purchases that you don’t even get much enjoyment from.
     
     
3. Find a new savings account. If you’ve had the same savings account for several years, you may find that you’re not getting as much interest on your savings as you would in a different account. It’s worth shopping around to see what accounts are available.
   
   
4. Set goals for your savings. To save a large amount of money, it helps to break it down into more manageable amounts. This will help keep you motivated as the savings are realistic and tangible. These small goals will add up to something much more substantial over time.
   
   
5. Sell your unwanted items. Your rubbish may be someone else’s treasure, so it is worth setting aside some time to sort out your current home and to sell any unwanted items. Start off with one room at a time. When you’re done, add the money that you get from selling the items to your savings account.
   
   
6. Save money by buying in bulk. Consider buying certain items in bulk. If you have storage space, you can save a lot of money. Consider using generic items as well, as these are often less expensive than more popular brands.
   
   
7. Rent somewhere cheaper. Saving money for a deposit may require drastic action, such as moving into a less expensive rental property.
   
   
8. Lower your expectations. Perhaps you can begin home ownership with a smaller property, rather than your dream home. Once you are on the property ladder, it’s often easier to save for a larger property.
   
   
9. Stick to a budget. When you plan your expenses for the month, you’ll know how much you are able to save. It will show how much money you need to pay those bills, plus how much disposable income you have. You can set your disposable money aside for the deposit.
   
   
10. Consider a lodger. Do you have a spare room in your property? If you do, then you could ask your landlord if they would allow you to rent this room to a new tenant. This will help subsidize the cost of your own rent and allow you to save money.

Using these tips will help you to save money for a house deposit. It may take quite a few months or even years but taking measures to save more quickly will be worth it if your dream is to own your own home.

Self-care habits are among the most important. They show the world that you care about yourself. More importantly, they show you that you care about yourself.

It’s important to take care of yourself. No one is more interested in your care than you are. Maybe your mother cares more, but she’s not available 24/7 like you are.

Too many of us are too focused on helping others and not focused enough on our own care. You can’t do much for others if you’re not taking good care of yourself. Make yourself a priority, and you’ll be more useful to those in your life.

Care for yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally with these activities:

1. Grooming. This can be a good gauge of your mental health. Those with significant mental health issues often neglect their grooming. It’s important to look and feel your best each day. It’s amazing how much a good shower, shave, and flossing can do for your mood and attitude.
   
   
2. Healthy diet. It’s hard to rise above the quality of food you put into your body. Even with conflicting diets and advice out there, you have a good idea of what foods are healthy and which aren’t. Experiment with different diets and take note of their effects on your mood, sleep, energy, and focus.
   
   
3. Exercise. Exercise has a positive effect on your mind and body. Exercise enhances your ability to sleep, uplifts your mood, and can increase your longevity. The current recommendation from the medical community is to engage in at least 2.5 hours of exercise per week.
   
   
4. Practice gratitude. Gratitude is good for your soul. It creates hope and contentment even in trying circumstances. It’s easy to forget how much you already have if you’re not practicing gratitude each day.
   
   
5. Practice forgiveness. Forgiving others has a powerful effect on your physical and emotional health. It also frees your mind from negative recurring thoughts and allows you to make more progress in your life. You’re only stealing time from yourself when you hold on to negative feelings toward others.
   
   
6. Sleep. Set up a regular schedule for sleeping and stick to it. It’s not too hard to convince yourself of the importance of sleep. All you have to do is skip one night to experience the powerful impact of sleep on your wellbeing.
   
   
7. Spend time with others. You can’t spend all of your time alone and remain emotionally healthy. It’s necessary to interact with others. How much human contact is needed varies greatly from one person to another. No matter how much of a loner you might be, though, spending time with others matters.
   
   
8. Spend quality time alone. Spending time with others is important, but it’s important to spend some time alone, too. Everyone needs to get away and be alone once in a while. Again, how much time you need to spend alone is an individual preference. Make time for this important self-care practice.

Have you ever noticed that your self-care suffers when you’re down in the dumps? Have you ever noticed how much better your self-care is when you’re feeling positive and healthy? The quality of your self-care is a great barometer of your overall wellbeing.

Good self-care practices are also an effective way of keeping yourself firing on all cylinders.

If you’re feeling down and out, give extra attention to your self-care. You deserve the time and attention.

How you view the world can affect the opportunities you see, your expectations, and ultimately your results. You can choose to see the world as a place of abundance or a place of scarcity. One is certainly more optimistic than the other! Your view of the world is very different if you choose one over the other.

An abundance mindset is hopeful, positive, and expects the best. It is also more altruistic, since you believe that you’ll receive what you need. It frees you up to do more for others.

A scarcity mindset, on the other hand, leads to negativity and selfishness. You feel the need to look out for yourself, even at the expense of others.

Viewing the world from a position of abundance has several positive effects on your life:

1. An abundance mindset believes that there is plenty to go around. You believe there is plenty of money in the world, plenty of potential partners, and plenty of opportunities in general.
   • A scarcity mindset believes there is a limited supply of everything, and that someone else must lose in order for you to win.
     
     
2. Life is easier with an abundance mindset. You believe that anything is possible. With that attitude, you’re willing to try and you expect things will eventually go your way.
   • If you have a scarcity mindset, you believe that life is difficult. You see success as being harder than it really is. You expect the worst and might convince yourself that it’s pointless to even try. It’s much more challenging to be successful with a scarcity mindset.
     
     
3. Opportunities are easier to see when you expect to find them. An abundance mindset makes opportunities more visible. Seek and ye shall find. Your expectations are often met in life.
   • If you believe opportunities are scarce, you’ll struggle to find them. This is true even if they’re right in front of your face.
     
     
4. You take more risks with an abundance mindset. You believe the likelihood of success is greater, so you take more risks. The more you risk, the more you stand to gain. You also potentially have more to lose, but that’s part of the game. Those that are bold tend to outperform those that are timid.
   • You’re more likely to play it safe if you view the world from a position of scarcity. You’re more afraid of losing what you have since you believe it will be difficult to get it back.
     
     
5. Those with an abundance mindset are more relaxed. When you believe the world has everything you need, you can relax and enjoy life. You view the possibilities as endless. Your overall viewpoint of your life is more positive.
   • A scarcity mindset results in fear and pessimism. You believe you have to fight the world to get what you want and need. You have to protect what you have from loss. Your life is viewed negatively.

Do you think your view of the world is one of abundance or scarcity? If you hold a scarcity mindset, it’s worth trying another viewpoint on for size.

One of the best ways to start viewing the world with abundance is to give more. You can give money, your time, or give away a few of your possessions. Giving will enforce the idea that there is always enough to go around.

Abundance will flow into your life if you allow it. After holding an abundance mindset for a few months, contrast that with your previous experience with scarcity. Choose the one that works for you.

Just as some people are destined to be physically strong, it’s probably fair to say that some people are naturally mentally strong. However, even if you’re not one of those fortunate people, you can certainly learn to be much mentally stronger than you’ve been demonstrating.

Good mental habits and a positive view of life allow mental strength to develop. You can become much stronger than you think you can.

There are some things that mentally strong people just don’t do, such as:

1. Engaging in negative self-talk. Negative self-talk is where your undoing begins. It drains your spirit and your confidence. Imagine having someone that followed you around all day and whispered negative things into your ear incessantly. It would drive you crazy. Negative self-talk drives you crazy, too.
   • Work on keeping your mind in one of two modes: You’re either concentrating on your current task, or your mind is quiet. It takes practice. Start practicing.
     
     
2. Repeating mistakes. Mistakes quickly become habits. You have a friend that keeps dating the wrong guys. You have another friend that always procrastinates until the last minute and repeatedly suffers for it.
   • Review your mistakes each day and vow not to repeat them. You’ve already figured out that your method didn’t work. Be smart and try something else next time.
     
     
3. Giving up when faced with discomfort. Mentally weak people give in to discomfort quicker than those that are mentally strong. Dealing with discomfort can prevent you from spending money you shouldn’t. It can stop you from binging on ice cream and ruining your diet.
   • Real success is hiding behind some discomfort. The more you can tolerate, the more successful you can become.
     
     
4. Focusing on anything outside of their control. What’s the point of fretting over things you can’t control? It’s a waste of time, energy, and focus. Recognize what you can and can’t control.
   • You have nothing to worry about. If you can control it, then control it and don’t worry. If you can’t, there’s no point in worrying anyway.
     
     
5. Ruminating on the past. Maybe you should’ve chosen a better college major, or a different spouse, or asked that high school crush to prom. It’s over, and you’re not doing any good focusing on your regret.
   • Today is a new day. Make the most of it. If you can learn something from the past, do it. However, once you’ve learned your lesson, move on.
     
     
6. Avoiding the truth. Mentally strong people can handle the truth, and they seek the truth. Mentally weak people avoid the truth. Instead, they seek comfort. You can’t improve yourself or make good decisions without having a good understanding of the truth.
   • Examine your flaws and tendencies. Examine your life and overall situation. Be as objective as you can.
     
     
7. Avoiding responsibility. Mentally strong want to take responsibility for their results in life. If you’re responsible, you can make it better. If it’s someone else’s fault, you’re just a victim and less likely to take productive action.
   • Have a policy for taking responsibility for your challenges and your life in general. Sure, your partner might be a narcissistic, pathological, lying, psychopath. However, you chose them. It’s also your responsibility to find a solution.

A lack of mental strength is a significant obstacle to overcome if you want to be highly successful. Mental strength can be developed. It’s also just as important not to do any of the things that undermine mental strength. Take responsibility for your life, avoid repeating your mistakes, and avoid negative self-talk like the plague.

You can grow your mental strength just as you can grow your physical strength – one day at a time.

Of course, everyone wants to “have it all,” but is that even possible? There are a lot of opinions on the topic. Some people believe it’s entirely possible. Others insist that you can’t even some close.

Like many things in life, the most reasonable answer is, “It depends.” You can certainly have a lot if you’re willing to make enough of a sacrifice.

Consider these aspects:

1. Decide what having it all means to you. Everyone says they want to “have it all,” but what does that mean to you? Make a list of everything that you would have to have and experience in your life on a regular basis to be 100% satisfied with your life. Take all the time you need. Keep these categories in mind:
   • Relationships
   • Health and physical goals
   • Possessions
   • Hobbies
   • Career
   • Community
     
     
2. Notice the items that are under your control and those that are not. Review your list. Divide your list into two columns: Those things you can control and those you cannot.
   • You can’t control your spouse’s level of patience, tolerance, or their waistline.
   • You can’t control every aspect of your children.
   • You don’t have complete control over your career.
   • You’ll quickly find there’s not a lot that you can control in your life beyond your focus, effort, and attitude. Worrying about other things is an exercise in futility.
     
     
3. You can’t have everything. Time, money, and energy are limitations. Consider the items below:
   • Committed spouse
   • Active community members
   • Committed parent
   • Excellent friend
   • Great employee
   • Great boss
   • Mentor
   • Perfect neighbor
   • Big house
   • Luxury car
   • And the list goes on
   • Just reading this list can be enough to start an ulcer. How well could you accomplish all of those things and still enjoy your life?
     
     
4. With your idea of having it all, will you still be relaxed and happy? A simple life leads to higher levels of satisfaction and happiness. The more complicated your life, the less satisfied you’re likely to feel over the long term.
   
   
5. Life is about priorities. You can’t have everything, but you can have a lot. The more you want, the more it’s going to cost you. The more you want, the more complicated your life will become. The more complicated it is, the more scattered your energy and focus become.
   • What are your priorities in life?
   • Based on those priorities, re-answer the first item on this list.
   • The more things you ultimately want in your life, the lower your performance level will have to be in one or more areas.

“Can I have it all?” is an ambiguous question. Can you have it all if having it all means having a spouse, children, a home, a pleasant career, and a circle of friends? Sure. Can you have it all if you want to perform at the highest possible level in multiple categories in your life? Doubtful.

Having it all is limited by your definition of having it all.

There’s only so much time in a day. There’s a limit to how much anyone can do. Look at the most successful people in the world. Some other aspect of their life is usually a complete mess. It’s almost a universal truth. Excelling at one area requires making a sacrifice in others. It’s up to you to determine how much you’re willing to sacrifice.

So, you can have it all, provided that what you want is reasonable, and you’re committed.

You have at least one incredible talent that lies completely beyond your awareness. You might even have more than one. There are so many things you’ve never tried, or even considered, that it’s practically guaranteed that you don’t even know what your greatest talent might be.

Imagine how much fuller your life could be if you were able to find a few of these hidden talents. You don’t know what you’re missing!

Discover your talents and learn more about yourself with these strategies:

1. Follow your interests. There’s one approach to life that is built on the belief that your interests will lead you to find your talents and purpose. All you have to do is get off the couch and pursue these interests and see where they take you.
   • Whether you have a nagging urge to learn computer programming or a fascination with jazz piano, follow those breadcrumbs and see where they lead.
   • Make a list of all the interests you’ve never actually tried. Start with those that have been long-time interests and make plans to finally do them. Just pick one and do it. See what happens.
     
     
2. List your strengths. What are you good at? What can you naturally do that others seem to struggle at? What are strengths you’ve developed over the years? Given all of those strengths, what else do you think you’d be good at? This can be an effective way to identify talents you’ve never considered.
   
   
3. Ask for advice. Your friends and family know plenty of things about you that you don’t know about yourself. Ask them what they believe your strengths are. Ask them what they believe your talents are and how you could best use them. Most of your friends and family would be happy to do this for you.
   
   
4. What do you like to talk about? What do you like to talk about with your friends? Is there a topic that you always seem to mention every time you hang out? Do you like to share the latest scientific news with your friends? Are you always telling them how you’d like to visit Egypt someday?
   
   
5. What talents do you most admire in others? For example, if you are a huge fan of art, determine if you have a hidden artistic talent. Do you love good writing? Try your hand at some short stories.
   
   
6. Take an aptitude test. An intelligence test measures intelligence. An achievement test measures how much you know. An aptitude test determines what you would be good at. In a sense, it’s a test that will reveal your talents.
   • There are plenty of aptitude tests you can take online. Take one and see what you discover.
     
     
7. Review your movie, book, and music collection. What kinds of movies do you like? Where do your reading interests lie? What type of music inspires you? Is there one idea that ties your media collection together? How can you leverage this interest?
   
   
8. Keep an open mind. Most of us made up our minds about ourselves a long time ago. Be open to discovering talents you never knew you had. It’s hard to discover anything with a closed mind.

How many talents do you currently know that you possess? What if you don’t even know about half of them? What if there are several amazing talents you don’t know about?

Given how limited everyone’s experience is, there’s no possible way you’ve found all your talents!

Have you ever been surfing? Tried playing the tuba? Tried making Baked Alaska? Tried your hand at oil painting? Attempted to write a horror novel? Maybe it’s time to finally follow your interests and see where they lead you.

Some people equate financial success with abundance. Having enough money is a significant part of abundance, but there’s much more to it.

Abundance is a mindset and a belief system. It’s a way of viewing the world, the people in it, and yourself. It’s making the decision to believe that the universe will provide, as long as you hold up your end of the bargain.

You can be wealthy and be alone. You can have money and be in poor health. You can be financially successful and be miserable. You can be the wealthiest person in the world and still not experience abundance.

Consider these ideas and experience abundance in your life:

1. Abundance is an attitude. Money is money, but abundance is a mindset. It’s a decision to believe that you can have whatever you need, in the quantities you need it. It’s the belief that there is always enough.
   
   
2. Abundance is having an excess of important resources. True abundance isn’t just money. It’s also about having enough of the other necessary resources in your life. This can include things like free time, love, and happiness. Money is important, but there’s much more to abundance than money.
   
   
3. Abundance is the belief that there is enough for everyone. Those obsessed with wealth are often competitive and believe that there’s only a finite amount of wealth to be divided among everyone. Abundance is the belief that there’s enough for everyone.
   
   
4. Abundance has a greater impact on happiness than wealth. Abundance greatly increases the likelihood of happiness. Great wealth is no more likely to make you happy than a decent middle-class income. There’s research to support this idea. You can’t make yourself happier by accumulating great wealth.
   
   
5. Abundance avoids attachment. Abundance lacks attachment. There’s no reason to hold on tightly to what you have if you believe there will always be enough in the future. With an abundance mindset, you feel comfortable allowing everything to flow into and out of your life.
   
   
6. Abundance allows you to dream bigger. Abundance allows for the biggest of dreams to become a possibility in your mind. Money provides opportunities, but only for those things you can afford. Abundance takes the possibilities in your life to another level.
   
   
7. Abundance avoids resentment. With abundance, there’s no reason to be jealous or resentful of someone else’s success. The success of one person can’t negatively impact the success of someone else.
   
   
8. Those with an abundant mindset are grateful. Gratitude is part of abundance. You can’t experience abundance unless you’re grateful for what you have. Gratitude creates the possibility of receiving even more in the future. How grateful are you right now?
   
   
9. Abundance leads to positive expectations. When you believe in abundance, you are positive about the future. You expect good things to happen and to continue happening.

How much abundance do you have in your life? How would you measure abundance? What does abundance mean to you? You can’t acquire what you don’t identify.

Resist the urge to believe that all of your challenges will be solved with money. Once your money issues are solved, you have a whole new set of problems to deal with. You just couldn’t see them before.

For example, you don’t care too much about your unreliable car if you’re in the process of drowning in the lake. You don’t see your loneliness as a problem if you’re struggling to buy food each month. Money solves certain challenges, but there are more challenges waiting for you.

Abundance can solve far more challenges than money. Seek abundance in all forms. This is much more powerful than just a large bank account.