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Becoming Wise - Wild & Free - Writing A Successful Business Plan - Part 2 - Do It In Steps
So you've decided to write your own business plan because you know the value that the experience will give you. With the books and software that are out there today you can probably sit down and complete the plan in a day or so, right? Plug in...
Birds of a Feather May Be Turkeys
Birds of a feather do flock together. It's true. Given a choice, most of us will seek out people who think like we do, people with whom we feel comfortable, those we won't quarrel with. Visit any company cafeteria and you will notice that the...
Does Money Make Money?
If it is your goal to accumulate wealth, believing the fallacy that money makes money, will hinder your progress to no end. This belief stifles many to a life of failure, and misery. The goal setting theory of motivation means that you need to...
Let The Market Choose Your Price?
Setting the correct price is hard for any on-line business, and there are plenty courses and manuals dedicated to this delicate subject. You want to have a price that will make you a profit, obviously. But you also want to have happy customers...
The 11 Best Money Saving Ideas of All Time - Part 4
At any time in history, no matter what the current state of the economy, no matter what the current trends, no matter what the unemployment rate is or where interest rates lurk, some money-saving ideas stay true.
Some of you may have heard...
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"Will That Be Cash Or Credit?"
From Bangkok to Edmonton, credit card statements stuff mail and email boxes with payment deadlines. Every bill reminds the giver that gifts given freely do not come free. Giving and buying often exceed generosity and need as a brittle piece of plastic becomes an avaricious spoiler of hopes and dreams.
During this week, two families emailed me about credit card debt. One family lugs $12,000, and $50,000 shackles the other. Each family wants relief; however, debt accumulation comes easily while debt relief sucker punches emotions and wallets.
Consumer debt burdens the workers of all economies. Highways jam with the doldrums, "I owe...I owe...It's off to work I go". . Truly, as an ancient proverb reminds us, "The debtor is servant to the lender".
Nearly every government graphs consumer debt. The U.S. Federal Reserve's January report set U.S. consumer debt at 2 trillion dollars; the highest level in U.S. history. Canadians report an all time low savings rate (when debt goes up, savings goes down). Thailand consumers pushed debt levels up 25% last year. United Kingdom families might be forced to reduce their spending or sell their homes if interest rates ratchet up just 1%.
Debt management resources can guide consumers to the high ground of debt relief as many credit management companies discover the need for debtor assistance and education. However, consider these steps before doling out more money to a credit assistance agency.
1. Manage your feelings. Take some time journaling your emotions about money by asking yourself where you learned personal definitions for fear and greed. Have some fun taking the innovative surveys found at Emode.com.
2. Push-off the weights of procrastination. Take action; do it now. This work requires sweat and concentration, but the rewards assure you of freedom and achievement.
3. If you learned to spend, you can master saving (ultimately, it's all about saving). However, before spending more money on reducing your debt and increasing your savings, educate yourself. Go to Myvesta.org, a non-profit consumer financial education organization. You will find "how
to" books, such as "How to Eliminate Your Debt Like a Pro" along with many other self-help resources. Don't let someone else do for you what you can do for yourself. Working through your debt as a fascinating experience allows you to own your choices by changing your viewpoint.
"Creditors have better memories than debtors." - Benjamin Franklin
4. Myvesta may not suit all your needs, therefore add the Alexa.com toolbar to research other similar sites.
5. If married, discuss credit card management with your spouse. Two issues undermine romance: money and...well, you know the other one.
6. Don't take a consolidation loan whether personal or home equity unless you find this the very last alternative. If you accept a loan, "shop...shop...shop 'till you drop" the interest rate.
7. If behind on payments, call credit card companies NOW...today...this minute. Find the right person for you to discuss your circumstance. If greeted with putdowns and parental tones, end the conversation, wait awhile and try another person. When you must, request a supervisor. Be gracious, professional and persistent with a plan of action.
Most Americans carry 5 or more credit cards around. Take four of them and bury them in the backyard. Keep one for emergencies. Diligent efforts now will guide you toward financial freedoms in the future. Best wishes; if you act on this or similar recommendations, you will stand in a small crowd. Best wishes; if you act on this or similar recommendations, you will stand tall in a small crowd.
Ray Randall serves clients as a registered investment advisor with his firm, Ethos Advisory Services, Essex, Massachusetts http://www.ethosadvisory.com . He has wide experience within the financial services industry, writes a weekly newsletter for Ethos Advisory Services, and coordinates the developments at Echievements . Ray holds a Masters Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, MA. You may email him or call (877-895-3756).
rayrandall@echievements.com
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Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers ... |
Online shopping from the earth's biggest selection of books, magazines, music, DVDs, videos, electronics, computers, software, apparel & accessories, shoes, ... |
www.amazon.com |
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Amazon.com Books: New & used textbooks, biographies, children's ... |
Online shopping for millions of new & used books on thousands of topics at everyday low prices. |
www.amazon.com |
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Google Book Search |
Google digitizes many books from library collections. If an Old English edition, translation, or study is out of print or hard to locate, one can search for ... |
books.google.com |
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Books - The New York Times Book Review |
Reviews, features, author interviews and book excerpts from the national daily and the Sunday book review. Registration required. |
www.nytimes.com |
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The Online Books Page |
Features over 10000 online books free to the public. |
onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu |
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Barnes & Noble.com - Books, Used & Out of Print, Textbooks ... |
Barnes & Noble.com is the Web's premier destination for Books, DVD, Music, PC & Video Games, Children's titles, Toys & Games, Gift Cards, and more. |
www.barnesandnoble.com |
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The Online Books Page |
Listing over 25000 free books on the Web - Updated December 5, 2006 ... New on online books -- Google Library revs up, and other milestones -- Latest Book ... |
digital.library.upenn.edu |
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Amazon.co.uk: low prices in Electronics, Books, Music, DVDs & more |
UK branch of the online bookseller features large searchable selection of books. |
www.amazon.co.uk |
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AbeBooks: New & Used Books, Textbooks, Rare & Out of Print Books |
Abebooks - Over 80 million new, used, and rare books. |
www.abebooks.com |
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Guardian Unlimited Books |
Extensive site includes news and reviews, critics, authors, first chapters, Top 10s, bestsellers, talk board and games. Offers special sections by genre and ... |
books.guardian.co.uk |
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Books - Salon |
The literary section of Salon features book reviews, interviews, columnists and publishing news. |
dir.salon.com |
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Globe and Mail: Book News |
Presents book reviews and columnist along with best-seller lists and Book Briefs emailed newsletter. Canada. |
www.theglobeandmail.com |
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calendarlive.com - BOOKS & TALKS |
Reviews, features and event listings from the West Coast daily newspaper. |
www.calendarlive.com |
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Book - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
A book is also a literary work or a main division of such a work. ... Books, especially heavy ones, need the support of surrounding volumes to maintain ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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Books - reviews and literary news from The Times and The Sunday Times |
Book reviews, literary news, literary competitions, weblogs, book quizzes and literature features from The Times and The Sunday Times. |
www.timesonline.co.uk |
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Book World - washingtonpost.com |
The Sunday book review of the national daily newspaper features criticism, columns and an online book club. |
www.washingtonpost.com |
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Internet Public Library: Books |
Books. Rather than continuing to maintain its own index of online texts, the IPL is now pleased to recommend a number of other worthwhile resources for this ... |
www.ipl.org |
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oreilly.com -- Welcome to O'Reilly Media, Inc. |
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly has been a ... |
www.oreilly.com |
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SF Gate: Entertainment: Books |
Chronicle reviewers pick the best books of the season for the readers on ... Jessica Mitford's children recall the woman they called Decca in a new book. ... |
www.sfgate.com |
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Life - Entertainment News - USATODAY.com |
The latest in entertainment news with movie, TV, book, music and theater reviews, travel tips and tools and original content from USATODAY.com - updated ... |
www.usatoday.com |
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