Articles Comments

Cheap Living Tips » Author Archive

Professional Resume Writing


Professional Resume Writing

By Jessica Levis

A candidate must have an effective professional resume that will make direct impression on the targeted employer. In fact, if you want to be called for an interview, your resume works as an advertisement. A well written professional resume is enough to attract the hiring manager’s attention and should convince the manager to believe in your eligibilities.

Most of the candidates are rejected by the renowned employers, because they fail to present themselves in an impressive professional manner. Hence, some common fundamentals should be followed while writing your resumes. These fundamentals are:

* The professional resume should contain candidate’s recent photograph. A photograph presents you more than your words. Hence, you must add your recent photograph with professional attire at the right top of your resume.

* Give priority to your degrees when you mention your qualifications, then mention other certificate courses and diplomas.

* Mention your current employment and highlight the relevant areas of the post for which you are applying. You can use bold letters to highlight certain aspects of your responsibility in your current job that will impress the hiring manger.

* Mention the extra curricular activities, and don’t elaborate them unless they are relevant to the job you are applying.

* At the end of the resume, you can also mention your unique strength that shows why you should be given the opportunity to serve in that company.

* Some professional resume writers suggest that you must keep the resume brief for its purpose. Your resume should present the specific details of your profile that an employer is looking for.

* You also need to be careful about the language and grammar while writing a resume. Avoid overuse of superlatives and cliches in your resume. Over using the superlatives will show your arrogant attitude in writing.

Writing an effective professional resume is difficult, but you can achieve your dream job by making a good resume by consulting resume writers. Reviewing your resume before sending to an employer will help you to avoid minor mistakes and make present an impressive resume.

Jessica has been a good professional writer for business letters, professional resume sample, career search and resume templates. She has mastered in writing resume that helped lots of new job seekers in getting their desired job. Numbers of candidates are benefiting from best resume suggestions and career guidance by bestsampleresume.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Levis
http://EzineArticles.com/?Professional-Resume-Writing&id=3434150

Filed under: job search

I Was Fired By The Airlines. This Guide Is My Revenge!


I was a hard-working travel agent for 16 years at a major airline corporation..


Until they decided to fire me one morning over a completely bogus reason!  Here’s my way of saying “no thank you” when they offered me a new contract earlier this year. With my extensive insider knowledge, I’m bringing forth this mind-blowing informational guide on how you can save a truckload of money on traveling — the secrets that only the ones in this industry would ever be familiar with.

I promise you the secrets I’ll expose here will exceed your wildest of expectations .  Here is just a tiny sneak peek of the kind of beyond-belief information you can expect to discover in my guide:

  • How to knock $100 right off of your next ticket!
  • Airlines’ booking statistics that they’ve been tight-lipped about for decades
  • I’ll expose every truth there is about buying tickets online.  Be warned: this truth might literally scare you!
  • Information will work with any airline, worldwide!

” It’s so easy for me to fly for less, it’s like taking candy from a helpless baby! I spend almost next to nothing on all my travels, and my jaw drops every time as I watch what others just like you are paying for your tickets. At last, the shocking truth will be revealed in my explosive guide on how to travel for less – the same guide that my ex-boss is having nightmares about every day!”

Technorati Tags: , ,

Filed under: cheaper living

Enjoy the Same Things the Rich Do!


By Michael B Bowman

Just because you don’t make as much as someone else doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to enjoy the same things they do. Things like education, home furnishings, and the gym can still be enjoyed by you regardless of your income. You just have to be creative.

Here are some ideas.

Home furnishings: They buy art masterpieces. You buy clearance framed art work from a furniture store going out of business. You all have artwork hanging in your home.

Education: They go to Ivy League schools. You go to the community college and get a grant. You all received a college education.

Internet: They have high speed wireless internet in their home. You get online at the library. You all have the same access to the wealth of knowledge and answers that can be found online.

Books: They have all the latest books mailed to them through their book club. You borrow all the latest books at the library. You all read the latest books, magazines, and newspapers.

Gym: They go to the swankiest gym in town. You get all the same exercises done using your body weight and objects at home or the park. You all get a workout.

Cars: They buy a brand new corvette. You buy a 10 year old Camero. You both drive a sports car.

Food: They buy organic vegetables and fruit at a specialty grocery store. You plant a garden in your back yard. You both eat healthy, organic food.

Specialty clothing: They buy a $300 football jersey at the teams signature store. You buy an exact replica at an online auction for $40. You both wear a high quality new football jersey.

Entertainment: They go to the newest casino. You organize a poker game with your friends at your home. You both enjoyed a night of gambling.

Television: They buy a 42″ flat screen TV for $900. You buy a 27″ box TV from Wal-Mart for $188. You both get to watch the Steelers game!

Landscaping: They hire a crew to cut the grass, trim the hedges, fertilize the yard, and plant new flowers for $2,000. You do all the same things for $200.00 on your own this weekend with materials you bought on sale. You both have a good looking front yard with curb appeal.

Clothing: They buy the newest summer fashions in June and the winter fashions in September at full retail price. You plan ahead for next year and buy this years summer fashions right after Labor Day and this years winter fashions right before Easter at 75% off. You both wear new, fashionable clothing.

Movies: They buy a new release movie each week on Blu-Ray or DVD for $25.00 each. You rent movies online for $2 (about $8 a month) and get unlimited access to thousands of new and older movies. You both see new releases each week.

Home accessories: They buy cooking utensils, candle sticks, vases, and other miscellaneous household accessories at the mall or specialty shops. You make those same purchases at the dollar store. You both have equipped and decorated homes.

Decorations: They buy their new Christmas decorations in November at full retail. You buy your new Christmas decorations marked for clearance on December 26. You both have a stockpile of beautiful Christmas decorations in your home.

Alcohol: They pay $2-$3 a beer at the bar. You pay 75 cents for every beer you bought at the distributor. You both are drinking, but you can buy beer for two of your visiting friends as well for the same amount the other guy is paying at the bar for just himself.

Lunch: They go out to a restaurant for lunch everyday at work. You go out to lunch as well; you take a packed lunch to the park. You both went out for lunch.

New car look: They achieve the new car look by purchasing a new car. You spend the afternoon washing, waxing, sweeping, scrubbing, shining, and detailing your car. You both have glistening cars sitting in the parking lot at work.

Baby clothes: They buy brand new baby clothes every three months for their infants. You use hand me downs from friends, co-workers, and “them”. Both of you have babies in cute clothes.

What else can you think of? If you see someone doing or purchasing something that you believe would bring enjoyment or value to your family’s life ask yourself how you can replicate the same result within your own means. When you think outside the box, explore, research, and ask questions you will be pleasantly surprised at just how many things you can have and do as well without going into debt!

Learn more ideas at BowmansMoneyCollege.com

Mike Bowman

BowmansMoneyCollege.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_B_Bowman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Enjoy-the-Same-Things-the-Rich-Do!&id=2782402

Technorati Tags: ,

Filed under: living on less

Comparing Our Current Economic Crisis to the Great Depression


By Rebecca Maxwell

A new Depression?It comes up during our everyday conversations. It is the topic of local and national news programs almost daily. Not one person has been left unaffected by it. Our current recession has been hailed as the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Statistics are coming out constantly to show how this economic recession is deepening. Yet, how does this latest economic downfall compare to the Great Depression?
Creative Commons License photo credit: futureatlas.com

Causes

It is difficult to pin down just one answer to the causes of economic crises as there is usually a multitude of factors involved. Disaster in one section of the economy can cause a ripple effect throughout. Many factors combined to bring about the Great Depression. In the 1920’s, business was growing and people were eager to get rich quickly. However, this postwar boom encouraged industries to make more products than they could sell, and World War I left many countries reeling from large debts and taxes.

One similar factor that can be seen in contributing to the Great Depression and our current economic crisis is that of credit. Before the Depression, credit was extremely easy to obtain and large numbers of people built up debt. People invested in the stock market by using profits or by borrowing and therefore, turned it into a gambling operation. People bought stocks at high prices in hopes of selling at even higher prices. Stock prices were soon beyond their real value. This economic balloon kept expanding. When it burst, stock holders rushed to sell and the stock market crashed.

Similar circumstances can be seen in the financial markets of the last few years, especially in real estate. People investing in real estate drove up the prices, and in turn, homes prices became overinflated. Lending practices of banks added to the mess, in which many people were approved for loans they would not be able to pay back. As a consequence, major financial institutions, like Fannie Mae and Citigroup have lost incredible amounts of money due to these practices. When this real estate balloon burst, every section of the economy has been hit hard since then.

Statistics

After the stock market crash in 1929, the Gross National Product of $87 billion shrank to $41 billion four years later. The number of people unemployed in 1930 numbered 7 million. By 1931, the number was 12 million. The largest numbers of unemployment came in 1932, when 15 million people were jobless. The unemployment rate in 1932 was at roughly %25, meaning that one out of every four Americans had no income on which to survive.

The most current numbers for our latest economic crisis report that more than 5 million people are unemployed. The unemployment rate is at now at 8.1 percent, according to a report released March 6, 2009. This is the highest unemployment rate since 1983. Just in January of 2009, employers cut nearly 600,000 jobs, the biggest lost since 1974. Also, the Dow Jones industrial average took a large hit just a few days ago on March 2, falling below 7,000, for the first time since 1997.

Effects

Presidential elections have proven to be explicitly affected by economic crisis. In 1932, President Herbert Hoover ran for re-election against Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt overwhelmingly won the presidency, since most Americans blamed Hoover for the Great Depression. Americans felt he had not done enough to alleviate the affects of the decline.

The economic crisis and each candidate’s response to it became the defining issue of contest between Barak Obama and John McCain in 2008. Obviously, John McCain did not learn from history as he stuck with conventional Republican wisdom stating that the fundamentals of the economy were strong and that the economy would fix itself. What started as a close race ended with a resolving win for Obama.

Hard economic downfalls have also affected and undermined political stability. The Great Depression era saw tremendous political unrest. The decade of the 1930’s saw the rise of fascism and Nazism in Europe. Dennis Blair, Obama’s intelligence chief, claimed recently that the current economic crisis could pose the greatest threat to global security. In a growing atmosphere of fear, distrust, and insecurity, it is not difficult to see why.

Conclusion

There is much debate over whether the country is heading into another Great Depression like what was seen in the 1930’s. While today’s global economic crisis has yet to reach the staggering numbers of the Great Depression, most experts predict that the recession will deepen before it gets better as companies have more layoffs over the next few months.

Sources

“Why Your Bank is Broke” by Stephen Gandel. Time. time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1874702,00.html

“Is the Economic Crisis a Security Threat, Too?” Bruce Crumley and Tony Karon. Time. time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1881492,00.html

The Great Depression and World War I. Gerald D. Nash. St. Martin’s Press; New York: 1979.

The Great Depression: An Eyewitness History. David F. Burg. Facts on File; New York; 1996.

Brother, Can You Spare Me a Dime? Milton Meltzer. Alfred A. Knapp; New York; 1969.

Rebecca M. is a self-proclaimed history buff who has been interested in U.S. history for over ten years. She is also the author of a history blog called My Adventures in History. This blog is found at http://myadventuresinhistory.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Maxwell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Comparing-Our-Current-Economic-Crisis-to-the-Great-Depression&id=2137451

Filed under: economy

Want to Save More With Grocery Coupons? Ask the Right Questions


By Karen Lynch

Money from Freefoto.comIf you are like many of us these days you are concerned with saving money. Learning how to shop for sales, using coupons and taking advantage of all of the savings that are possible is definitely worth your time in these uncertain economic times.

We all shop for food and groceries, including personal products like shampoo and soap and cleaning products like laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid. It is easy to find coupons for many of these items and learning how to use them best to capitalize on the savings is to your benefit.

One key is taking the rules and breaking them. Not without permission of course, but if you don’t ask the question you’ll never know and if you do ask the question you might end up happily surprised and the worst that can happen is they say “no”. Here are a few useful questions that you can ask the managers where you shop that may end up saving you quite a bit of money.

Ask if the store offers its own coupons. You can check the stores website but if by chance the store does not have a website you can always ask the manager when you get there. If they do have them they will be happy to give them to you if you ask and if they don’t have them you just gave them a great idea to bring in business.

Ask if you can use the coupons on sale or clearance items. Many times a store will not let you use coupons on sale items and it will be spelled right out on the coupon but occasionally you will find a store that will allow you to use a coupon on sale priced items and that will save you a bundle.

Ask if they will accept competitor’s coupons. Many stores offer a price guarantee that says if you find a competitors ad with a lower price they will honor the lower price but few people actually ask if they will take the other stores coupons and usually they will say yes as it is in their best interest to do so.

Ask if you can use multiple coupons or if you can combine manufacturers coupons with the store coupons. Many times they will allow you to combine coupons and when you do you double up your savings. You can also ask if they will accept expired coupons. They may say “no” but they may say “yes” and you never know until you ask.

When it comes to saving money for your family you need to pull out all the stops. See what kind of deals you can work out with the stores and take advantage of every bit of savings that you can.

Karen Lynch is a freelance writer who is passionate about saving money for her family. She uses Grocery Coupons, sales and rebates to maximize her savings. She shares her tips and techniques for the family budget.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Lynch
http://EzineArticles.com/?Want-to-Save-More-With-Grocery-Coupons?-Ask-the-Right-Questions&id=2337220

Photo courtesy of Freefoto.com

Technorati Tags: , ,

Filed under: cheaper living, frugal living

Frugal Hedonist – Make Your Own Gourmet Coffee in Minutes and Save Thousands


By Rosey Dow

Rosey DownDo you have a coffee habit demanding to be fed every morning around 7:30 a.m.? Does your car automatically turn into the parking lot of your local convenience store or coffee bar? Here’s some great news. You can keep your coffee habit and still save thousands.

Step 1

Figure out how much your coffee stop is currently costing you. If you are a latte lover, a low estimate is $5.00 per fix. Say, you stop for latte 3 times a week. That’s $15/week times 52 weeks a year for an amazing total of $780/year.

Or maybe you go for the more ordinary cuppa java for $2.00 per morning 5 days a week. Holding that labeled cup in your hand as you walk into the office does give you a kind of status. Besides, you enjoy drinking your brew in the car on the way to work. At $2.00/day, 5 times a week, your yearly total comes out to a mere $520.

Step 2

Take the total per year and use it like a savings account.

What kind of amazing coffee maker would make you feel pampered? What features would it have? Fresh grind? Timed start? Steamed milk? Let your imagination run wild. This coffeemaker will be the pinnacle of your kitchen purchases, so make it worthwhile. I found a coffee maker with the grind and brew option that also has a timer for auto-start in the morning. It costs $99. You can probably do better by shopping around online or checking eBay.

If you loved frothy steamed milk, you can pick up a latte frother with a stand for under $30. It makes the milk frothy right in your cup in 20 seconds.

Now you’ve spent less than $130. You still have $650 left from your yearly latte account.

What about the sprinkles and the syrups and the whipped cream? All are available online or from your local coffee shop.

How much gourmet coffee, flavorings, and cans of whipped cream can you buy for $650? Probably enough to cover the next 3-4 years. You can even splurge on a name brand hot cup to carry in your car. Next year you can subtract the price of the equipment and save even more.

Step 3

Stock up on the equipment and supplies. Take 5 minutes to get the pot ready before bedtime and come down to a luscious aroma. Froth your milk in less than a minute, pour in the brew from fresh ground beans and add all the doo-dads you like.

Enjoy your mug at the kitchen breakfast bar, at your desk, or on your commute. Best of all, you’re not missing anything except the strain on your wallet.

And now I’d like to invite you to http://PainlessPennyPinching.com a place filled with budgeting advice, up-to-the-second sales feeds, and in open invitation to an online shopping site where you can get cash back for shopping at Wal-Mart, Target and 800 other stores.

Rosey Dow is CEO of ExpertsinFocus.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosey_Dow
http://EzineArticles.com/?Frugal-Hedonist—Make-Your-Own-Gourmet-Coffee-in-Minutes-and-Save-Thousands&id=2198180

Technorati Tags:

Filed under: cheaper living, frugal living

What is Holding You Back From Being Financially Free?


What is Holding You Back From Being Financially Free?
By Jeff Earlywine

Photo by FallenAngel of DreamstimeFor many people, growing your net worth and becoming financially free is a desperate sought after desire. However, something seems to get in the way. It is almost as if when things begin going really good, something bad happens. In other word, you take one step forward, but slide back two. For instance, you are beginning to save on a regular basis and then the car breaks down draining all that savings. Sound familiar?

Below are few reasons why many people get held back financially.

Not PLANNING for the storms to come

We also know it will rain again some someday, both in the natural and in our financial life too. Even in ancient Bible writing we see this – the story of Joseph. The story goes something like this. Joseph was in prison, but was requested to attend a meeting with the ruler of the land. The ruler asked him to interpret a dream – a very odd request. Joseph told the ruler that for next several years things would be great, but after that famine would hit the land hard. He must have been convincing, because the ruler took him out of prison, made him second in command, and followed Joseph’s plan – a plan to save all they could for the next seven years.

In our lives we need to follow this same advice. You do this be having a plan to live by when things are good, preparing for when things take a turn for the worse. To do this you develop:

1) A savings plan

2) A spending plan

3) A sharing plan – allowing you to give more when you have it

You also must live within your means (not your neighbor’s).

Not PREPARING to take advantage of every opportunity

Being able to take advantage of sale prices can help the family’s budget tremendously. When should you take advantage of the ½ price sale? Great question – when you have the extra money, and would need to buy the item anyway. When shouldn’t you by that sale item? Another great question. When you don’t have the extra money, and it is a true “want” not a need for you and/or your family.

PAYING too much of… the list could go on and on, but here a few.

1) Interest – We all know that debt is too easy to get. Credit cards often charge over 20% interest, and the “Buying now, and paying later philosophy” is common in our culture

2) Taxes – The average family pays 25-50% of what they bring home in taxes. Something that can help you reduce this is to start a small home-based business.

3) Depreciation – especially on automobiles. Example… You buy a nice, new care for $25,000, you drive it for 2-3 years and decide to trade it in on another nice, new car. You really negotiate with the car salesman to get the best price possible – and you feel so good about it, then you mention your trade in. The salesman happily agrees to have your car looked at. He comes back to tell you that they will give you $12,000 for your car [he would word this that they will take another $12k off the sales price of your new car]. You invested $25,000 2-3 years ago, and now your investment is worth $12,000.

http://www.helpmybusinesstoday.com is a website design to help you grow your business and to help you to reach your potential. http://www.findingfinancialfreedom.com is a program to: Partnering With You To Find Financial Freedom, Equipping You To Stay Financially Free

Check them out today and receive free information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Earlywine
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-Holding-You-Back-From-Being-Financially-Free?&id=2012750

Technorati Tags: , ,

Filed under: budgeting, job search

You Can Save More Money Than You Think When You Shop


You Can Save More Money Than You Think When You Shop
By Aydan Corkern

Photo by Anatoly TiplyashinWhen you go shopping, there are a few way to save some money. Looking at prices is a way to save on clothes, shoes, and many other things. You can go online to buy things and some things are much cheaper than they are in local stores. Do not buy expensive clothes because you will just be wasting your money and it will not be worth it. Buy cheaper food like rice, beans, chicken, and many other foods that you can afford without breaking the bank. They also will last you a long time. Make a list when you go shopping or any time you go get food.

If you want to save money, look in the paper before you go to the store so you know where it is cheaper. This will help you save a lot of money every week or every month. If you stock up on food that will last you weeks or the whole month, it will save you money. It is a good idea to basic cooking staples on hand like noodles, rice, oil, and flour so it is easier to prepare meals at home. Go to the store on the weekends because sometimes the sales are better and you get a lot more.

Another way to save money is to cut out coupons so you can get what you need cheaper than what it normally is. Coupons can help you get more things and it can help you stock up. Did you know that if you go to the store a lot, you spend more money than going once a month? It is true. When you pay for things here and there, you spend more money than you, but if you go once a month, you will spend one price and no more. Go to different stores, and never just shop at one store because other stores will have different prices that will save you money on your food budget. Stop buying so much junk food and this will definitely save you some cash. Buying in larger quantities or bulk is always cheaper too.

Going to the store once a month will also save you on gas, which will also help you save money. If you are shopping for clothes, you can look for things on clearance. Clothes always get cheaper when the season changes, so all you have to do is to wait for new merchandise to come out and the older clothing will usually go on sale.

Visit Aydan Corkern’s

cash in one hour and No Fax One Hour Payday Loan sites for fast help.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aydan_Corkern
http://EzineArticles.com/?You-Can-Save-More-Money-Than-You-Think-When-You-Shop&id=2025764

Filed under: cheaper living

Getting More Cows is Not the Answer


Getting More Cows is Not the Answer
By Donald Fishgrab

A wealthy Eastern family bought a large ranch in Wyoming. One of the family members moved to the ranch to manage it. After several years, he told my brother he needed to get more cattle, as he wasn’t making it with what he had.

Terry, a career cattleman, was managing a ranch for a large company, which owns several ranches, asked what he meant. Joe,(not his real name)explained that he only had about 500 head and had lost about $25,000 the previous year. If he could up his herd to around 1,000, he’d make some profit.

Terry pointed out that he had lost $50 per cow and asked how much would he have lost if he had 1000 cows. Joe stared at him for minute, as he realized he would have lost more. “If a bigger herd would only have increased my losses,” he asked, “How can you make money in this business?” He went on to explain that in their primary business, increasing sales increased profits.

Terry pointed out that in that business, they could cut production costs per unit by increasing production in the same facility. Making more money on the ranch required reducing production costs also. Merely increasing the number of cows would not automatically reduce production costs, because the cost of feed would remain the same for each cow.

In order to make a profit, one must be more efficient in his use of time and money to increase yield for his investment. For example, if 2 pounds of alfalfa hay will produce 1 pound of beef, but 4 pounds of grass hay are required, then alfalfa hay at twice the price is cheaper because it takes less effort to feed and store.

Selling cattle earlier, before they have reached maximum weight may make more profit because you may be able sell them before it is necessary to begin feeding, saving a significant amount. Selling calves in the fall rather than wintering them and selling as finished cattle may make more money for the same reason. Simply increasing volume, will not increase profits if there is not a profit for each unit.

During the last recession finance companie discovered that they could package debt and sell the packages, called derivatives, to investors for around 115% of the package value. Because the jump in interest rates and penalties for late payments made them very attractive, they sold quickly. The Bank could then lend that 115% and repeat the profit. Banks lowered their lending standards in order to increase their number of loans. Eventually, too many people were unable to make their payments, and the derivatives became unprofitable, making them impossible to sell. This ultimately led to the present credit crisis.

One of the current suggestions for resolving the credit is for the federal government to buy the bad derivatives. This will cause new demand for derivatives, putting us back to where we were 6 years ago, with readily available credit.

Unfortunately, This is very much like Joe’s idea that getting more cows will automatically make a profit. Unless the program is changed, it is inevitable that we will get the same results. Increasing the demand for derivatives will give a temporary increase in available loans, but will ultimately increase the losses in the long term. Sooner or later we will come to another crisis, with much larger losses.

Following the same path can only lead to the same result. Doing it more vigorously only increases the amount of the results, it does not change what they are. That can only be changed by doing something different.

Don Fishgrab is owner of http://www.DebtManagement.DoBetterToday.com, a source of information about debt, and publisher of BeingChristianToday.com, a blog about Christian living.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Fishgrab
http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-More-Cows-is-Not-the-Answer&id=1991192

Filed under: cheaper living, economy

Jump Start Your Year With A Written Financial Plan


Jump Start Your Year With A Written Financial Plan
By Edna Ferman

Would you like to have more money in your pocket?

Would you like to know how to do it?

It is not hard; it is all a matter of organizing your finances.

Everyone has expenses, some have large expenses and some have smaller expenses. It doesn’t really matter how much you earn – expenses are the results of our: wants and needs.

For managing your expenses you have to manage your wants and your needs and control them in order to be in control of your expenses.

Your needs are usually your living expenses like rent, mortgage payment, electricity, tel, etc.

You have to control your needs in a way that they will be controllable. Not every need we really need. We consider many of our needs as a must but the reality is that we can do without them or we can economize, a good example is the cell phone; once you have a cell phone you can not do without it but you can control the cell’s bill; You are in control of how much you talk on the phone.

Many times we think that we must have all our needs but if we will stop for one moment and ask ourselves the most important question: Do I want it OR do I need it? And think for a moment – we will identify for ourselves if we just want this item or we really need it.

The same question should be asked when we spend money on our “WANTS”: Do I want it OR do I need it?

Everyone can manage and reduce their expenses; it is all a matter of”wants”.

We are living in a society of abundance, we have much more than we need. Actually we don’t need too much, there is a saying that says: you can’t seat on two chairs. But we still acquire much n access of what we need in every area of our lives.

The best way to manage your money is to have a written financial plan.

A starting point for a financial plan is preparing a plan for the next month. Start with one month at a time.

A financial plan shouldn’t be a complicated thing. You can do it with paper/pencil, a word document or spreadsheet, the main point is to get it down in writing.

The first financial plan will take a bit longer, just to get all the information of all the expenses but the next ones will be quicker. The ideal is to plan your finances every month or two.

The two main columns in the financial plan are: Income and Expenses
The income column should have all the different incomes: wages, salary, commissions, and other income.

The expenses column should have all expenses listed in categories and sub-categories:

Housing expenses (mortgage payment, rent etc), everyday living expenses (electricity, gas, internet, phone, credit card etc.), medical expenses, transport expenses (car loan/lease, gasoline, repairs, bus/train fare, parking etc), insurance expenses, children expenses, clothing expenses, pet expenses, taxes, entertainment (movies, videos, books, gym etc.), grooming (haircuts, manicure, cosmetics etc.), holiday expenses, savings and unexpected expenses ( gifts, dentist etc.).

To assemble all your expenses amounts you should check all your bills, all amounts that are charged on your credit card and all receipts you might find.

As a tip for a good housekeeping : collect all your receipts for goods paid for with cash or items which are paid by credit card, in order to know exactly your expenses.

The next stage is to compare the two amounts: the total of the monthly earnings and the total of the monthly expenses. When you have the two amounts displayed, it is displayed to you and you can see if you live above your means or below your means.

If your income is greater than your expenses – you live above your means.

If your expenses are greater than your income – you live below your means.

That is the point where you can see each of your expenses and decide which expense is necessary, which expense is only a want and the most important is how to plan your finances.

You are on the right way to your financial freedom…

Edna Ferman
http://www.theekgmethod.com

Edna Ferman – Expert and Coach and the creator of The EKG Money Method. EKG stands for Earn it, Keep it and Grow it. It is a method and a system to manage your finances and to get you on the way to your financial freedom.

For more information and tips about managing your finances, get an instant pay raise, put more money in your pocket, plan a practical budget, live your dreams at your GOLDEN AGE and achieve your financial freedom.

Listen to my free audio at The EKG Money Method:

http://www.theekgmethod.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edna_Ferman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Jump-Start-Your-Year-With-A-Written-Financial-Plan&id=1950882

Filed under: budgeting, cheapliving

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes