Kids and Credit

You know as Parents today we really need to be teaching our kids more about what to do with money earned, like saving it or investing it or at least spending it wisely. There are way too many Parents that give and give and give to their kids and there is no lesson to be learned. Then when they become young adults they don't really know how to manage their finances, let alone know what the meaning of finances are. I've tried the allowance thing the reward for doing a job or chore and these have not made an impact on my boys at all. My oldest works full time now and he has finally gotten the hang of "how" to manage his money for the first time ever, he is only 23 but I feel accomplished in this area since I had a lot to do with it. My younger Son just does not have the drive, he will be 16 on Valentines Day, to work to earn the money the regular way. He likes more odd type jobs and not a whole lot of work. Which confuses me since he has watched me struggle to take care of he and his Brother I figured he'd be more like, "hey, I wanna get out in the world and make a difference." He seems to be somewhat confused anyway about his purpose in life, aren't most teens? So I try everyday to show him how money can be earned and spent and why it is important to save.
Someday I hope they both will be on their own and enjoying what life has to offer.

Remember: Follow your dreams and be all you can be

Cleanse for life

Ahh it is now a "new" year and we are able to make positive changes for ourselves. Have you ever looked around your house to realize just how much stuff you have accumulated and you don't ever use? That's what I have been doing now for several weeks. You don't really see it. I have found out that I can sell my stuff in the various ways we have now and earn a few bucks and rid, "cleanse" my house, my "space" for a more Feng Shui feel. Now you don't have to sell your stuff, you can donate to many charities or give to someone who can use. However it is a great way to put a little extra cash in your hands and you learn a lot of new experiences. So try it, look around your garage, closets are a great hiding place for stuff, drawers, kids rooms, attics, basements, you will surprise and amaze yourself.
Please email with any questions, ideas or comments. I am always open to them. So get busy and make some change, literally.

Remember:
Change is good

Holidays

Merry Christmas to all! What a great time of the year for my family and I hope you and your family are experiencing a great time together as well. We have all gathered up the best possible gifts for our friends and family and are now enjoying time together and getting ready to "break bread" together too. What a wonderful time of the year.

This is a good time to think of the great opportunities ahead of us for 2008. We need to think smart and try to prepare ourselves for any and all emergencies. During the Holiday rush we sure don't mind spending money like we have it forever. I happen to have what I considered a catastrophe, last Friday I bought my family a brand new main water line as the one in the ground had burst. I was distraught. Not sure how to handle this. I don't have a husband to help with these things. My oldest son had just arrived home from his night job and I, of course, was at my job. He was able to work with the plumbers for me while I talked to them and we were able to scrape just enough money to pay for it. Of course I was very concerned about my boys Christmas. It was interrupted, however I feel that our Christmas holiday is sort of a divine intervention for my family to see. My new water line cost $1,000., which was all I had. My plan was to get my boys some nice things and have enough money until payday and to keep me current. It just so happened that I came into a nice $1,000. bonus the day before the catastrophe along with grocery and gas gift cards along with none other than a WII game system. WOW to my surprise how things in our lives work out. The power of the life paths are so intriguing to me and always will be. I feel very blessed and very grateful.

This whole experience has made me realize that saving more money NOW is so important. So I am on a mission to increase my savings to $200. mo. and I will just do it. It is so important, you don't know how scared and alone for a split moment I felt. If I had not been so blessed to have received that money, I do not know how I would have paid for my family to have water and just in time for Christmas. So now is the time to re-evaluate our spending and saving habits.

Have a wonderful Christmas and safe and Happy New Year!


Remember: Always pay yourself first!

The power of information

Everyday we need information and we give information in all aspects of our life. We need to make sure we have all the information and that it's correct. When you talk to a Loan Officer about a home loan there are specific and basic pieces of information you will need. If you go prepared the loan application process will be so much smoother. You will need your ID, drivers license, passport or equivalent, and social security card. Your most recent pay stubs covering a one month period and past 2 yrs W2's. If self employed you need your past 2 yrs tax returns with all schedules. Most recent 2 months of bank statements, if you don't have a bank account now, you need to go open one up. Your money for closing costs, down payment and reserves needs to be documented as to where it came from, so get an account opened today. If you have a 401K through work bring the most recent statement or any life insurance policy with a cash value will also be good. If you have CD's, money market or a trust be sure to have all that information for the LO to be able to verify with a verification of deposit, VOD. If you pay or receive child support bring the divorce decree or child support order. Landlord information or if you live with family you will need those names and addresses. You will also need to bring a check for your credit report as the LO will pull your credit while you are there and be sure to review the whole report to be sure all credit good or bad is yours. If you have paid collections or tax liens or judgments in the past they may very well still show up on your CR as those places say they will report the payment to the credit bureaus and they rarely do, so also keep all your documentation and information of paying these things for the future.
Yes a lot of information is needed to buy a home, but the end result of home ownership a very rewarding feeling. So be prepared and the whole mortgage loan application will not be as painful as you have heard.

Remember: Information is knowledge

Discipline

Most of us think discipline is something you do to your kids. You never realize it is something we need to do in our everyday lives. Discipline is what more adults need. It will help you achieve everything you want out of life. Too many people live in the fast lane all the time and do not discipline themselves as far as pleasure in life. Sure we all deserve to enjoy ourselves and do what we want, but we will stay in the hole forever unless we discipline ourselves to not getting everything we always think of.
For instance I know people that go out and buy whatever they think they should have, not "need", but want. One in particular gets a new cell phone every month, week, whenever and new computers, TV's, yet cannot keep up with the everyday living expenses and was a homeowner but let the house go. This is a prime example of someone who lacks discipline. She will now have to spend the next 3-5 yrs fixing her credit. This will require discipline and without it she will never gain credit again. This is what we do to ourselves.
So start today with discipline in your budget, spending and dealing with everyday life.

Remember: Discipline is not just for kids