Organize Kaos

Power of A Push

2009-11-13T11:03:00.000-05:00

The Sower's Daily Devotional for November 13, 2009

Read Joshua 1:9 TLB

A man said to his guests, “I admire courage. It made me a billionaire.”
Pointing to a swimming pool, filled with alligators, he said, “I’ll give you anything, if you’ll jump in and swim to the other side.”

Suddenly he heard a splash. He saw a man swimming for his life. He made it to the other side unharmed.

“What do you want?” asked the billionaire.

“Just one thing." said the breathless man. "To know who pushed me into the pool!”

Moses died. He needed a successor. God gave Joshua a push, saying, “Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua became obedient to the Lord. He united a people, and his memory bears no stain.

Prayer: Father, we accept Thy divine leading with courage and confidence. Strengthen and sustain us with Thy counsel and companionship: through Christ. Amen.
-Michael Guido

Its Ok To Quit!

2009-10-18T15:25:00.003-04:00

I would like to thank Diamond Diva from The Diva Spot for this great blog post. Enjoy!

Motivational Speaker - Veraunda Jackson

1. Quit arguing with people about the same old foolishness! Respect their position and keep it moving!

2. Quit telling people your secrets when you know they are not going to keep them! And if you keep telling them, then quit getting mad when they tell your secrets!

3. Quit trying to pull people on your journey who don't want to travel with you. Either they believe in you and value you...or they don't!

4. Quit complaining about things you can't and won't change!

5. Quit gossiping about other people! Minding our own business should be a full time job!

6. Quit blaming each other for things that in the big picture aren't going to matter three weeks from now! Talk solutions...and then implement them!

7. Quit eating things you know are not good for you! If you can't quit...eat smaller portions!

8. Quit buying things when we know we can't afford them! If you don't have self control, then quit going to the stores! Quit charging things, especially when you don't NEED them!

9. Quit staying in unhealthy relationships! It is not okay for people to verbally or physically abuse you! So quit lying to yourself! It is not okay to stay in the marriage for the children! Ask them and they will tell you that they really would prefer to see you happy and that the misery you and your spouse/partner are living with is affecting them!

10. Quit letting family members rope you into the drama! -Start telling them you don't want to hear it! Quit spreading the drama! Quit calling other relatives and telling them about your cousin or aunt! Go back to #5 minding your own business should be enough to keep you busy!

11. Quit trying to change people! IT DOESN'T WORK! Quit cussing people out when you know that they are just being the miserable and jealous people that they are!

12. Quit the job you hate! Start pursuing your passion. Find the job that fuels your passion BEFORE you quit!

13. Quit volunteering for things that you aren't getting any personal fulfillment from anymore! Quit volunteering for things and then failing to follow through with your commitment!

14. Quit listening to the naysayers! Quit watching the depressing news if you are going to live in the doom and gloom of it all!

15. Quit making excuses about why you are where you are or why you can't do what you want to do!

16. Quit waiting on others to give you the answers...and start finding the answers for yourself! If what you are doing isn't working for you...then quit it!

17. Quit settling and start making your dreams a reality!- Quit being afraid and START LIVING YOUR LIFE! CREATE THE LIFE YOU WANT! If you want something different than what you have had in the past...you must quit doing what you have done before and DO something different! JUST QUIT IT ...... and START DOING something to create the experience you want!

Motivational Speaker - Veraunda Jackson Tags:

Food For Thought

2009-09-23T15:59:00.001-04:00

That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly."
-- Thomas Paine

Naturally Beautiful

2009-09-20T16:42:00.005-04:00

Hi Ok readers! Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, Life has been really busy. I just embarked on this new journey of wearing my hair in its natural state, or also known as "going natural". This term describe wearing my hair in it's God given texture without permanently altering it with chemicals such as perms or texturizers. I decided to go natural because my hair was over processed, unhealthy, and damaged. I wanted a new beginning, a fresh start! I decided enough was enough and it was time to purge my head of this mangled mess. I did the Big Chop (BC) on September 5, 2009 and I love it. To take control of my hair and cut the damage away was painful at first but very liberating once complete. The pain was derived from not wanting to let go of my hair, the unknown state of my "natural hair", and the concern about how my hair was going to be perceived. As an African American female I was taught that nappy hair was "bad hair" and straight hair was "good hair". I've learned that "good hair" is healthy hair no matter the texture. Once I built the courage to proceed with cutting I felt a sense of control and I was no longer going to continue bad hair habits and be consumed about what others think. I'd accepted that my Kinky Healthy Hair was Good Happy Hair.

This journey of going natural went beyond my hair and our textured tresses can be symbolic of deeper life issues. In life we develop bad habits that ruin us mentally, physically, and spiritually. We make bad decision that are harmful but continue because we want to be accepted, or its what we're accustomed to doing.

We have allow toxic relationships to ruin our self-esteem and stunt our growth. We don't take care of our bodies, become inactive, and develop unhealthy eating habits that lead to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Unhealthy spending leads to debt that tear apart families. Immorality draws us away from God and leaves an unfulfilled void in our hearts.

Well just like my damaged, unhealthy hair, its time to cut away bad habits that are harmful and unfruitful. Its time to cut off toxic relationships that prevent you from growing as a person. And stir free from immorality that separates us from God and prevent us from living our full Potential.

Natural beauty comes from the inside out. As we address the innermost depths of our being true beauty will be reflective on the outside. Life isn't always going to be easy, but we must remain diligently focus on healthy productive relationships and habits in order to grow and be successful. Whatever is hindering your growth, Start today, Cut it off, and be free!

Be Bold!

2009-09-04T13:23:00.000-04:00

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow
.--George Bernard Shaw

Monday Motivator-Are you striving for Excellence

2009-08-24T06:44:00.003-04:00

Psychology professor Jon Johnston points out the difference between success and excellence:

"Success bases our worth on a comparison with others, excellence measures us against our own potential. Success grants its rewards to the few but is the dream of the multitudes. Excellence is available to all living beings, but is accepted only by the few."

source:Daily Devotion-The Word For You Today.

Passing the Purple Hat to You: In Honor of Women's History Month

2009-08-22T06:00:00.002-04:00

IN honor of woman's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer. Pass this on to five women that you want watched over. If you don't know five women to pass this on to, one will do just fine.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute…look at it and really see it … live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Happiness leads to greater success

2009-08-05T09:17:00.001-04:00

Shawn Achor, a Harvard-trained positive psychologist, says the same chemicals, dopamine and serotonin, that allow humans to experience the giddiness of love, also activate the learning centers of our brains. Achor continues, "Your happy and relaxed brain has more intellectual capacity than your brain under stress.” "Being positive actually helps us learn more."

Tips for Positive Thinking

Happy people tend to perform better on the job, have higher sales, cope with difficulties better, and avoid burnout. The great news about these various studies is that negative thinking can be learned, but so can positive thinking. Since our brains are flexible, take a look at the following tips you can try right now that will train your brain and start putting you on your path to positive thinking, happiness, and success.

1. Express three “gratitudes”
Are you thankful for a steady job? Your family? Your friends? Your health? By all means, express it. Write down your gratitude and/or say it out loud. Say them aloud to your significant other.

2. Keep a journal
Writing in a journal instills positive thinking. Just carry a small notepad or journal with you wherever you go.

3. Get physical
Exercise. Studies have shown that exercise reduced the relapse rate for depression by 9% for the study participants.

4. Meditate
Calm the brain by daily meditation - think about nothing, free up your mind of the usual clutter. If you focus on your breathing just five minutes a day, this will help you, even if you are not meditating.

5. Random acts of kindness
Think how you felt when someone gave you a random act of kindness. Just think how great the person must have felt. When was the last time you did something thoughtful for another person? When you did, how did you feel?

Create a happiness habit

Remember, the key to creating happiness is to train your brain. The research shows we can do it, so now it is up to you to get started.

Sources: Jennifer Openshaw, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and financial commentator, is author of " The Millionaire Zone ." Through SuperFutures.org , she offers a youth leadership program at the United Nations. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter @jopenshaw or email at jennifer@familyfn.com; Fredrickson, B. L. (2003). The value of positive emotions. American Scientist, 91, 330-335.

Monday Motivator-Budget Your Money!

2009-07-13T11:10:00.002-04:00

Budgeting is TELLING your money where to go instead of you WORRYING where it went!
-john maxwell

The rich rule over the poor, the borrower is slave to the lender
-proverbs 22:7

TGIF-Recipe for Detox Bath

2009-07-10T11:04:00.002-04:00

Baths are wonderfully healing, and it is easy to make your own homemade, detox baths.
Hot water draws toxins out of the body to the skin’s surface, and while the water cools it pulls toxins from the skin, according to Naturopath Dr. Hazel Parcells. Epsom salts augment this detoxification by causing you to sweat. Other salts—all highly alkaline and cleansing—used in baths include sea salt, baking soda, clay, and Dead Sea salts.
Basic Salt Soak Bath Formula
Minerals and salts make the bath water feel silky and leave your skin cleansed and soft.

1 cup sea salts
2 cups baking soda
1 cup Epsom salts
1 to 2 tablespoons glycerin per bath

Combine the sea salts, baking soda, and Epsom salts in a bowl. Stir to blend. Pour 1/4 cup or so into the bath while the tub is filling. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons glycerin to keep your skin from drying out (more for dry skin, less for oily skin) and essential oils of choice.
Why it Works
According to The Epsom Salt Council, Epsom Salt is a pure mineral compound (magnesium sulfate) in crystal form that gently exfoliates skin and smoothes rough patches. Mixed with your favorite deep conditioner, Epsom Salt helps to add body to hair. Dissolved in a bath, Epsom Salt is absorbed through the skin to replenish the body's levels of magnesium. Studies indicate this may help to relieve stress in a number of ways, including:
Raising the body's level of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.

Offsetting excess levels of adrenaline generated by pressure and stress; magnesium ions relax and reduce irritability by lowering the affects of adrenaline.

Helping to regulate the electrical functions that spark through miles of nerves.

Lowering blood pressure.

Researchers have found that magnesium also increases energy and stamina by encouraging the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy packets made in the cells. Experts recommend soaking with Epsom Salt at least three times a week to look better, feel better, and have more energy.

Leadership Tips

2009-07-06T10:52:00.002-04:00

Seven Enduring Truths about Leadership During Crisis

In these uncertain times when the foundations of our global economic system are being challenged, we need to look beyond the pessimistic predictions, the fads, and the simplistic solutions to what's proven and what's real. It's critically important to remind ourselves of what the evidence tells about how leaders get extraordinary things done. We also need to understand the vital role credible leaders play in restoring confidence and in revitalizing organizations.

1. Challenge is the greatest opportunity for greatness! In these challenging and difficult times, we are likely to see some of the best leadership we've seen in the last two decades. The greatest leaders throughout history are remembered for how they dealt with change and adversity.

2. The most important leader role models are YOU, not "them". Thousands of young people and working professionals, in two separate surveys, were asked who the most important role models for leadership were. In both categories, most people chose family members, teachers, coaches, and community and business leaders. Very few choose politicians, entertainers, and athletes, the ones who seem to dominate our headlines. The leaders who have the most influence are the ones who are closest to us.

3. The one attribute that is the foundation of all leadership - something that has remained the same for that last 25 years and is not likely to change for the next 25 years - is credibility. That is, doing what you say you're going to do, walking the talk, keeping commitments, honesty, and trustworthiness.

4. Start learning how to look ahead, to be forward looking. Being forward-looking was selected as the one quality that most differentiated leaders from team members. It's also the most difficult aspect of leadership to learn and put into practice. So if you're an executive or aspiring leader, this needs to be the focus for your development

5. You can't change people's behaviors by telling them - you have to show them. The leadership quality that has the biggest impact on people's performance is modeling the way - setting a good example.

6. Personal values drive commitment. Helping leaders and employees get clarity on their own values - even if unclear on organizational values - have the greatest impact on commitment. We often put a lot of effort into defining organizational values, yet this has little impact on employee commitment.

7. The secret to success is to stay in love. U.S. Army Major General John H. Stanford was asked about how one becomes a leader. "When anyone asks me that question, I tell them I have the secret to success in life. The secret to success is to stay in love. Staying in love gives you the fire to really ignite other people, to see inside other people, to have greater desire to get things done than other people. A person who is not in love doesn't really feel the kind of excitement that helps him to get ahead and lead others and to achieve.”

Source: Jim Kouzes, co-author of The Leadership Challenge

Monday Motivator-Adversity!

2009-07-06T10:50:00.002-04:00

"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents whcih in prosperious circumstances would have lain dormant."

-Homer

2009-07-04T09:23:00.001-04:00

Comments by ZingerBug.com

Money Matters-Feed The Pig!

2009-06-25T10:40:00.003-04:00

So you can’t save money? It’s easy as pie! Brown bag your lunch instead of going out. 6 dollars saved times five days a week times ten years is 21,000 bucks!

I just found a really neat website, Feed The Pig that I want to share with you. The site helps people like you and me feed our piggy banks and save money, by understanding where and why we spend it.

Over the past several decades, Americans 25–34 years old experienced significant declines in net worth while increasing their debt. For every dollar worth of assets owned, this group carries 70 cents worth of debt.

The Feed The Pig campaign aims to reverse this trend by empowering younger Americans to take charge of their personal finances by living within their means and saving for long-term financial security.

Statistics demonstrate that this group’s financial behaviors, while less established, tend toward debt accumulation, and this is happening during a period of milestone events such as getting married, having children and caring for aging parents. But there is hope: more working time before retirement means that their current financial decisions have a greater impact (positive or negative) on their long-term financial security. With this campaign, AICPA and Ad Council hope to get younger Americans to establish better spending and saving habits.
The campaign draws upon a traditional savings symbol, the piggy bank, to encourage 25-34 year olds to find the benefits of saving for every stage of life.

Feed The Pig has lots of cool features—you can set up your own personality profile and make a savings plan customized to your day-to-day reality. You can project what you will save over time if you sock away up to 5% of your salary. You can get tons of tips, reminders, or even swap ideas with other savers to make Feeding the Pig easier.

Check it out!

Source: www.adcoucil.org & www.feedthepig.org

Professional and Personal Etiquette Tips

2009-06-23T10:17:00.009-04:00

A first impression is essential for professional and personal success. Its often the only opportunity you have to sell yourself to a potential employer or business partner. Here are a few tips to ensure that your first impression is your best impressions:

Appearance- No chewing gum in formal settings, good posture, and positive body language. Always be prepared to look and sound your best.

Business introduction- is based on rank not gender. Person with “higher” position is introduced to person in subordinate position. Only use first name when given permission.

Handshakes- Always give a firm handshake and make eye contact. When meeting a person of celebrity status (politicians, entertainers) you should never offer your hand first.

Attending meetings- Be punctual, well briefed on subject matter. You may not leave until senior executive has left a meeting or event. When traveling with other professionals always remember the LIFO (last-in, first-out) rule. The senior person enters the car last so they will be the first to exit.

Interviews- Dress to impress, smile, make eye contact, be on time, and do research on would-be employer.

Invited to an event- Respond. RSVP is a French term which means, please reply.

Business cards- When exchanging cards, its polite to look at the receiving business card and make comment to show acknowledgement.

Professional Etiquette when Dining

Knowing proper table manners is extremely important for job interviews and social occasions that you attend with a supervisor, client, or business associate. Knowledge of proper dining etiquette will help you avoid embarrassment and the possibility of offending someone. Here are some general tips for professional manners when dining:

Being Seated
Men precede women to the table.
Remain standing until the host or hostess has been seated.
When being seated, enter your chair from the left and rise from the right.

Napkins
Napkins are place in your lap when seated; large napkins are folded in half with crease toward you and small napkin is completely unfolded.
If you leave the table, place napkin in chair
At the end of meal, place napkin to the left of your place setting, NEVER on your plate.

Table Setting
At fancy restaurants you may be presented with an array of silverware. As a rule-of- thumb, always use your utensils outside-in.

Wine Ritual & Beverages
Traditionally speaking, red wine is served with red meat and white wine with white meats.
If you are with a host/hostess who orders wine, it is proper for him/her to sample a small amount of wine, and either approve or disapprove of the wine. If approved, the waiter/waitress will then pour wine for the remainder of guest at the table.

Initial presentation- Take a quick glance to ensure it’s the wine that you ordered, simply look at name and vintage and nod.

Cork presentation- Waiter will hand you the cork to examine (improperly stored wines will allow the cork to dry out, resulting in an air-breach will cause the wine to turn to vinegar). Do a quick sniff and hand it back.

The sip test- At this point the waiter will place a small tasting amount o wine in wine glass and step back. Simply swirl the wine in your mouth to release its natural aroma and stick your nose into glass while inhaling deeply. Next, take a small sip, swishing wine evenly across your tongue. Then turn to waiter and nod for approval.

Grasp glasses by the stem, using thumb and first two fingers.
Coffee is consider an after dinner drink

Sit up straight
Don’t talk with food in your mouth
Don’t place elbows on table
Pass to the right.
Don’t automatically salt and pepper food. Take a small taste and then season.
Wait until all are served before eating
Eat in small bites slowly
When finish place utensils across the plate

Tips on Tipping!
Maitre d’- $5 for seating two (doubles for 5-star restaurants)
Waiter/waitress-15-20% of bill
Wine Steward-10% of wine bill
Bartender-15% of bill
Hat/Coat Check- $1 per coat
Door attendant-$1-2 for cabs
Parking Valet-$1-2 per use.

Source: University of Wisconsin-River Falls Career Services

Lemon-pepper nonsense

2009-06-16T17:07:00.000-04:00

One day, I was watching “Divorce Court” and a lady was complaining about her husband because she felt they were too different. One complaint that stood out in my mind was the way he cooked his eggs. She was upset because he liked to season his scrambled eggs with lemon-pepper. Anyone with sense knows that divorcing someone because of the way they cook makes no sense at all. Yet, so many people divorce because of irreconcilable differences.

A lot of us go into relationships with unrealistic expectations. This happens in friendships as well as marriages. People fail to realize that if you want someone to change it begins with you. Have you ever heard of leading by example? If you want to see improvements in your relationships try looking in the mirror first. You might be the main one who needs to change. You know who I’m talking about-the loud talking woman; the man who has to be in control of everything. Now, I’m not ignorant to the fact that there are special cases where the other person really does need to change. In many cases, these tend to be abusive relationships. That’s another blog for another day.

None of us are perfect, but what makes relationships last is when we try to be better people and are willing to accept that we are different. Here’s something to think about: Who are you trying to change? What could you change about yourself? If you are willing to take an honest, unadulterated look at yourself, you may be surprised at what you find.

Monday Motivator-Excellence

2009-06-15T14:14:00.001-04:00

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

Aristotle

Rx Response Preparedness Plan

2009-06-05T11:40:00.003-04:00

In addition to having a hurricane emergency plan, it is critical that in time of crisis that family members have access to essential medication-insulin, heart medication, allergy medication, etc. Rx Response, a free public service that works with the American Red Cross, the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security and state officials, provides information to help support the continuing provision of medicines to patients during a severe public health emergency.

Click on the following link to fill out and print a wallet sized medication card that contains information about prescriptions, emergency contacts for physicians, pharmacies, hospital of choice and other pertinent information.

Get Your Medication Card

It's Hurricane Season; Be Prepared!

2009-06-04T09:16:00.007-04:00

June 1st marks the first day of hurricane season. Officials from the National Hurricane Center urges you to take action and start getting prepared.

Below is a list of ways for you to be ready for this hurricane season:

Have a family disaster plan:

- Locate the safest areas in your house or community for each hurricane hazard
- Draw out an evacuation route
- Have an out-of-state Friend as a family contact so your family members have a single point of contact
- Have a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate
- Post emergency numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911
- Check your homeowners insurance to see what damages are covered
- Stock up on non-perishable emergency supplies and disaster supply kit-
Use a NOAA weather radio for weather updates (remember to replace the batteries every 6 months so it will work during an emergency)

Create a disaster supply kit:

- Water- at least one gallon daily per person for three to seven days

- Food

- at least enough for three to seven days
o Non-perishable packaged or canned food and juice or Food for infants or the elderly
o Non-electric can opener
o Fuel
- Blankets and pillows
- Clothing- Seasonal, rain gear, and sturdy shoes
- First aid kit, medicines, and prescription drugs
- Flashlight and batteries
- Radio
- Cash and credit cards- Banks and ATM’s may not be available
- Toys, books, games
- Important documents in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag (Insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, social security card, etc)
- Pet care items- proper identification, immunization records, medications, food and water, carrier, muzzle and leash

Secure your home:

- Secure gabled roofs- if you have a gabled roof, fasten eight-foot long braces to the bottom chord of the gable truss and the adjacent trusses with 16-penny nails. The braces should be perpendicular to the truss, spaced at a maximum of four feet on center. In addition, be sure to tie back the gable truss with at least one eight-foot long brace, along the ridge of the roof, to several of the interior trusses.
- To increase the wind resistance of your shingles, have a qualified person inspect several shingle tabs to see if the adhesive has engaged. If not, use a quick-setting asphalt cement to bond them together. To cement the shingle tabs to the underlying shingles, place two spots of quick-setting asphalt cement about the size of a quarter under each tab with a putty knife or caulking gun. Press the tab into the adhesive. Be sure to cement all the tabs throughout the roof, being careful not to bend them farther than necessary when applying the adhesive. Replace any damaged shingles immediately.
- Install impact resistance shutters over all large windows and glass doors

Info provided by NOAA

Our Small Steps to Financial Freedom

2009-05-29T01:12:00.002-04:00

Recently, my husband and I decided to come up with a new plan to get out of debt a little faster. When something works well for you I think you should share it with others. Here is a piece of the article we posted to our blog. Hope you all find it helpful.

...Our plan is to 1. write down all bills, 2. write down all expenses (groceries, eating out, gas, etc.), 3. pinpoint unnecessary expenses, 4. take the extra money from unnecessary expenses and have an automatic draft into another account. The goal is to minimize spending & maximize saving and investing. We've done steps 1, 2, & 3. Boy could we eat out less. If we stick to our plan maybe one day we'll be on the Dave Ramsey show yelling into the phone, "We're debt free!!!" (shalandarian.blogspot.com)

The key to achieving anything is to write it down and begin envisioning yourself reaching that goal. Seeing your goals on paper does something mentally. It helps goals seem more real and helps you keep your focus.

Challenge: Take a goal, any goal, and write it down. Outline steps for reaching that goal and come up with a realistic timeline.

2009-05-25T17:05:00.001-04:00

Monday Motivator!

2009-05-12T13:22:00.000-04:00

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities disguised as impossible situations."
~Charles Swindoll

Six Tips to Put Your Financial House in Order

2009-05-12T11:06:00.002-04:00

Six Tips to Put Your Financial House in Order
By Kim Lankford, Monster Contributing Writer

If you want to spend less time worrying about your money, then it’s time to get your financial act together. These six strategies can help improve your financial situation and simplify your life at the same time.

1. Put Your Savings on Autopilot

If you haven’t maxed out your 401k or other retirement plan at work, add an extra $50 or $100 every month. Increasing your contributions just a little can make a huge difference over time. By adding $100 per month when you’re 25, you’ll have an extra $330,000 in your 401k by the time you’re 65 if your investments return 8 percent annually, which is below the average long-term return for stocks. Since the investments are pretax, your $100 monthly investment will lower your paycheck by $75 if you’re in the 25 percent bracket. If your employer matches your contribution, you’ll get free money to help you save even more. And it’s the easiest way to save, since the money is automatically invested before you can touch it. If you’ve maxed out your 401k, invest $333 automatically every month in an IRA. Ask your IRA administrator to set up automatic payments.

2. Stop Worrying About Your Investments

Instead of poring over your investment options and wondering when -- and what -- you should buy and sell, have the experts do it for you. Most mutual fund companies, and quite a few 401k plans, now offer target funds that match your investments to your savings time frame. If you’re in your mid-30s, for example, you can invest your retirement money in a 2040 target date fund. This fund invests aggressively when you have more than a decade to go before retirement, then gradually gets more conservative as you approach retirement. These funds are diversified, so you don’t need to invest your retirement money anywhere else.

3. Pay Bills Automatically

Signing up to have your bills paid automatically from your bank account saves you monthly check-writing hassles and mail-delivery worries; it also protects you from costly missed deadlines. After one late payment, some credit-card companies boost interest rates beyond 31 percent and charge late fees of nearly $40. And some card companies raise your rate if you miss a deadline on another card, even if you have a spotless record with them.

4. Streamline Your Files

Go through your financial files and toss what you don’t need. In general, you should keep your tax returns forever, but you can get rid of supporting documents after three years (six years if you have self-employment income). You can also get rid of monthly investment statements after everything matches with your year-end summaries and ATM receipts as soon as the transactions appear on your monthly bank statement.

5. Protect Your Identity the Simple Way

Instead of signing up for expensive services that monitor your credit records for identity theft, do it yourself for free. You can now get a free copy of your credit reports from each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) every 12 months (www.annualcreditreport.com). Stagger your requests so you get one report every four months. Review each one carefully for errors or unauthorized charges.

6. Get Out of Debt

The best thing you can do to improve your financial health is eliminate high-interest debt. Try to use any bonus, raise or tax refund to pay off credit cards in full. Even adding a few hundred dollars to your payments can make a huge difference, especially if you can get your credit card company to lower your rate. If your minimum payment is 4 percent of your debt, a $5,000 balance with an 18 percent interest rate would start with a $200 monthly payment, which would take 32 months to pay off and cost $1,314 in interest. If you pay $500 per month on a 5 percent card, you’ll cut your interest charges to $118 and pay off the balance in just 11 months.

How does this simplify your life? Once you’re out of debt, you won’t have to juggle minimum payments, and you’ll save a ton in interest, which frees up extra cash to reach the rest of your financial goals.

National Women's Health WeeK

2009-05-12T09:56:00.000-04:00

Phenomenal Woman-Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-08T07:58:00.000-04:00

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou