This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
TEN STEPS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS

Set a goal: Ask yourself what finan- cial independence means to you and determine your “enough” point. If you’ve already reached it and con- tinue to work long hours to buy more stuff, it may be time to re-evaluate your priorities.

Keep good records: Balance your

checkbook every month and use that account only for ready cash and bills (the rest goes into savings). Create a bill file and pay them on time. Know- ing how much money is coming in and out is critical to relieving anxiety and will save on fees and fines.

Save: Every woman needs a safety net in the form of her own savings account. Remember that on average, half of all marriages end in divorce, women tend to outlive their hus- bands and other relationships often end. Ultimately, you should have liv- ing expenses for six to eight months saved. Put something in the account each month, even if it means mak- ing a lower payment on a household credit card.

Get out of debt: Pay off the highest

interest rate credit card first; once it’s at a zero balance, shift all that money to another one. To avoid racking up debt again, envision what you would do if you didn’t have that monthly payment and put a picture depicting it on your refrigerator or stick a Post- it note describing it on your credit card as a reminder.

Spend thoughtfully: Consider

money spent as “life energy.” Every time you spend, ask yourself: Is it worth the life energy (or time spent working) it will take to earn this amount back?

Open a retirement account early:

As with savings, many women tend to leave the couple’s retirement ac- count up to their husband, but you

36 Collier/Lee Counties

need your own. Start today by sock- ing away a reasonable portion of your income each month. Depending on the investments you choose and what the market does in coming decades, that could amount to a nice nest egg by retirement age.

Invest wisely: Be prudent, but not too prudent. If you’re young, invest the bulk of your retirement in stocks, which tend to outperform bonds. If you are closer to retirement, shift to stable-value funds.

Consider joining or starting an invest- ment club. These meet regularly, pool $25 to $100 per member per month, discuss investment strategies and col- lectively choose stocks to invest in as a group. Of the 8,600 clubs in the United States, about one-quarter are women- only, according to the nonprofit Better Investing. Learn more at BetterInvesting.

org or ChicksLayingNestEggs.com.

Think in thirds: Think of your

money in three segments: “past, present and fu- ture.” Spend some of it paying for the past (get- ting out of debt), use some to treat your- self in the present (to keep yourself from feeling deprived) and invest some for the future.

Show

gratitude:

It is inter- esting what begins to

happen when you start to say “Thank-you,” to

people, observes financial

swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com

advisor and workshop leader Rose- mary Williams. Your employees work harder. Your banker might waive a fee or make a courtesy call to let you know an overdraft is pending. More importantly, it forces you to take stock of what you do have right now—and appreciate it.

Trust your instincts: If it doesn’t feel right, whether it’s an investment or a new business partnership, don’t do it. If it does feel right, do your home- work first before making a decision.

Sources: Your Money or Your Life,

by Vicki Robin, Women and Money, by Suze Orman, and Rosemary Williams, author of The Women’s

Book of Money & Spiritual Vision Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com