Practical Money Skills:

Do you need a financial motivator....something in the nature of a daily money tutor? Then click here and give "Practical Money Skills" a look. It's free and it's there whenever you need a financial pick me up!

Purchases Should Enrich Our Future:

On the way into work this morning, I was listening to my favorite morning zoo guys, and they reminded me of a question we should all ask ourselves before we make a last minute purchase: "Will this purchase truly enrich my life?" Alright, it might sound like an odd question, but think about it, for more than one minute. "Do I really NEED this $35 T-shirt, or would putting $35 into my savings account that earns 4.5% make me feel stronger and more secure in my day-to-day life? Like most things in life, I find myself making several snap purchases each week without really thinking too much about each of them. If I thought for more than a few seconds, I would probably have more in my retirement account, or I would travel and enjoy seeing the world and experience other cultures. Like the morning zoo guys I agree that we should all have more life experiences; learning and growing as a person, laughing and sharing, and seeing the world for ourselves are good things to invest in. So, with this in mind, here are my questions for each of you. Find the question that fits where you are today and then make a promise to yourself to take care of your future beginning this week: 1) Do you have a retirement account? 2) Have you opened up a second mutual fund (so as to diversify your holdings and spread your risk)? 3)Have you begun your retirement account? 4) Have you thought about beginning a mutual find? 4) Would you like to travel, or jump out of a plane, or learn to fly one? 5) Would you like to take a college class, just for the sheer pleasure of it? 6) Would you like to raft down the Grand Canyon, go to a play in NYC, or spend a week in Vancouver next to the ocean? 7) Would you rather have that expensive pair of sneakers (necklace, car, $1800 flat screen TV).....Or would you rather enjoy life, make the purchases you really want which will enrich your life, and maybe retire at an

Here is my advice - don't wait another day, week, or month, and don't put off saving for an emergency and for retirement...begin this week. Make a call to someone who knows 'how to save' - or call a financial advisor and make an appointment - make several appointments - JUST TO GO AND TALK. This is how I began, and this is how everyone begins...by asking questions and learning. Then choose an advisor (whether it is a family member, a friend in the know, or a professional); begin saving today....put aside $10, $100, or $250 to begin with. Whatever you can afford - you don't have to be rich to open a mutual fund. The trick is to simply BEGIN. This is about baby steps - no one begins all at once with all the knowledge they need. This is one of those times when paying for advice can be a really good thing!