August 27, 2008
Goal Begin: ~$2,500 in savings on July 7, 2008 (25%)
Goal Target: $10,000 in savings by October 31, 2008
Current Status (Aug. 27, 2008): $5,605.07 (56%)
It’s been awhile since my last update on this goal but things are going pretty well. This was an aggressive target for us to regain that much savings but it looks like it should be done with time to spare. If that is the case, I’ll quickly jump on paying the rest of my car debt down.
One of the nice contributions to this one was finally receiving the $1,200 economic stimulus check. We put it right to the savings. (However we did technically spend it already months ago when we bought new couches out of the savings. - Either way, it was good to put it in there.)
Just a quick update today, I’ll have more soon. How are your financial goals going?
July 23, 2008
“The urge to give up is always the greatest when you’re about to succeed.” -Unknown
Seth Godin would call this The Dip and he filled a whole book about it. It is important to be able to differentiate between whether you are going through the dip or if it is really time to close shop and move on to another idea.
I can’t remember where i found this one but if anyone knows the source, please post in the comments and I’ll put it in here.
July 22, 2008
Photo Credit: PSD
I believe mind set is one of the most important things when you are looking to accomplish goals. This is especially true if your goal would end up changing your life. Want to be an entrepreneur? Want to be a millionaire? An accomplished writer? Blogger?
You are who you hang around with.
I’m sure you’ve heard this before but it does run pretty deep. What if you want to be a millionaire but there aren’t any for you to hang around with in your town. (That you know of anyways.) The next best thing is by listening to a few of them. Find blogs and podcasts made by people that are successful doing what you like to do. Like personal development? Try Steve Pavlina. Like marketing? Try Seth Godin. (He has a wonderful free blog.)
Be The Gatekeeper to Your Mind
If you want to learn about becoming a millionaire, look at what millionaires expose themselves to. What do they read, watch, do, invest in? Start exposing yourself to free podcasts, blogs, CNBC, great books and more. Stop watching I Love Money… lol
Your Whole Dynamic Will Change
The way you think about things will change and new opportunities my now be visible where they might not have been before. Sometimes you have to become a future self to realize a goal. Think - who or what kind of person would the me be that obtains this goal? Then start being that person - now.
July 21, 2008
“Bob would fail if he did average work for average editors just to make a living. But by turning down the average stuff and insisting on standing for something on the edge, he profits. By challenging his clients to run stuff that makes them nervous (and then having them discover that it’s great), he profits.
This is scary. It’s really scary to turn down most (the average) of what comes your way and hold out for the remarkable opportunities. Scary to quit your job at an average company doing average work just because you know that if you stay, you’ll end up just like them. Scary to go way out on an edge and intentionally make what you do unattractive to some.
Which is why it’s such a great opportunity.
- Seth Godin”
I love this one..
July 20, 2008
Thank you to the people who let me know the comments weren’t working without logging in. I wouldn’t expect people to sign up at every blog they come across. I found the setting and fixed it. Comment away! 
July 20, 2008
This is a life hack that I do to learn more without putting aside extra time just for listening/reading. I love books and audio books but there is hardly ever time to sit down and read a book or simply listen to the audio book.
5 Ways To Listen To An Audiobook (or 2) Each Month Without Putting Aside Extra Time
1. Listen while driving to and from work. (Even if your commute is 20 minutes. That is (40 minutes per day) x (5 days) = (3.33 hours per week or 13.33 hours per month)
2. Listen while mowing the lawn (Say 1 HR per week for a smaller lawn = 4 HRs per month) - Mowing the lawn is boring anyways. This is a great opportunity to learn something new and have your mind actually doing something.
3. Listen while doing chores (This could be 1-3 hours each day)
4. Listen while running/jogging/walking (This could be a 1/2 hour - 1HR every day) - Or every couple days if you are like me 
5. Listen at the gym (Again, depends on how much you exercise but it could be a good place to get your learn on as well.)
Tip: If you aren’t getting your audiobooks on MP3 yet, check it out because they are much cheaper in electronic form. Great places to get audio books are via Audible.
Listening to the right books helps with your mind set. Having the right mind set is half the challenge!
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July 14, 2008
My recent goal post is included in the Carnival of Debt Reduction. You can find the most recent carnival listed over at Not The Jet Set. Thanks for the add!
July 14, 2008
Did you learn how to manage your finances, make smart financial decisions and save for your retirement IN HIGH SCHOOL? I know I didn’t.. Please post a comment if you did because I would love to hear that some schools are teaching practical financial knowledge. 
Doesn’t it seem like there is a big gap there? They teach you just about anything in high school but they don’t leave you with the financial background to make smart decisions the rest of your life. They let you leave and pick out your colleges, student loans and credit cards but don’t teach you about them.
This all appears to trickle down into our society which seems to have become a debt culture. Everyone loads up on debt and when a financial stiff breeze comes by, (ie: Mortgage rate increases, Gas Price Increases, ect.) they can’t handle it. It is tough times for sure but everyone needs to take it upon themselves to get a good financial intelligence.
[end rant] - Sorry about that
There are so many great resources available and the online, on bookshelves, in podcasts and in audiobook form. I’ll teach you an audio book trick soon that allows you to “read” an audio book or two a month without putting aside any extra time in your life. (Because I know you are just as bogged down as I am!)
Photo Credit: OrrGroup - Ironic that it is a firm that helps with financial education. Go OrrGroup! Fill that gap!
July 12, 2008
You have heard it before and I will repeat it hear since it is one of the best tips to help anyone save money faster. Paying yourself first is the easiest way to save lots of money.
To make it even easier is to take your future decisions out of the savings equation. Have a fixed percentage taken out of your pay and once you learn to live without it, you may never miss it. 10% is a nice percentage to start at and can be raised up or down as needed. Time flies by as you are saving and when you go to check your balance, you will be pleasantly surprised.
You can also put your funds into a high yield savings account such as HSBC Direct who is currently offering 3.5% to get a return on your investment without the risk of the ups and downs of the stock market.
July 11, 2008
“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.”
- George Bernard Shaw
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