It is Time to Become N.I.C.E. With Money!

The truth is people would not be suffering quite as badly financially if they actually lived paycheck-to-paycheck. That is really not the case! Most of us spend more money than we earn, and enter into amount-specific expense contracts without any guarantee that the money to pay the obligation will exist. Consider the facts:
Less than 30 percent of the nation's families use a written monthly budget to manage their finances. According to Ned Davis Research, Inc. Total debt as a percentage of personal income in this country is 106.76%. A Wall Street Journal report alleged that: "The average US family took on $1,400 in new debt during the first six months of the latest recession that began in March 2001. So no, most people do not live paycheck-to-paycheck. Living that way would mean, for example, if my paycheck totaled $356.35 and I was paid every 14 days, I would spend no more than $25.45 per day. That rate of daily expenditure would mean my money would last exactly 14 days until my next paycheck. Of course, that's not possible since we've obligated ourselves to numerous lump sum payments, aka "bills," that mean we almost always run out of money before the next check arrives. No, most of us live, not paycheck to paycheck, but deficit to deficit.

You know the problem because more likely than not you're living it. You and millions of others need answers. I suggest that the answers are found in the acronym N.I.C.E. It stands for new, innovative, creative and enthusiastic thinking. Again, let us face the facts! Most Americans are financially illiterate. We don't know how money works because no one ever taught us how money works. Consider this quick pop quiz, for example. In relationship to money, what is the Rule of 72? In developing a debt attack strategy what does the term "margin" refer to? Is there a way for a mortgage acceleration clause to benefit the homebuyer? Here's another question. If I'm not doing very well financially, should I try to qualify for an educational loan so I can return to school and learn a new skill, trade or profession, or should I enroll in a financial literacy course?

I suggest the latter. Let's define financial literacy. According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, financial literacy is the ability of individuals to make appropriate decisions in managing their personal finances. The lack of financial literacy constitutes a worldwide problem that contributes to the potential for financial disaster. Therefore, scores of government agencies around the world have launched financial literacy education programs, including the US.

This link takes you to the Office of Financial Education in the US Department of the Treasury where you will find excellent information. Check it out.

Researching information like this will help you to shift from old to new thinking about money and your management of it. Still,you need more. For example, you need to understand some of the financial principles that Robert Kiyosaki teaches, particularly an understanding of the Cash Flow Quadrant.

As you can see, from the accompanying icon, financially we all fit in one of the positions on the cash flow quadrant. Most of us have a job, which I refer to as an acronym that stands for just over broke. In other words, most employers try to pay you just enough to keep you returning, while you work just hard enough to prevent being fired. To apply new thinking to your job, consider this question: how can I bring home more money each pay period, and use it wisely to get out of the financial pit I am in? Here's a very simple and effective answer. Launch a homebased business as a Content Producer with AssociatedContent.com. I will not take the time or space here to explain all the advantages of moving from the left to the right side of the cash flow quadrant, from employee to business owner, but vist my website or contact me directly for details.

Consider, though, a few advantages. For example, when you launch a business, as the IRS terms it, in pursuit of profit, you receive access to a wide variety of tax advantages you do not have as an employee. No, I'm not talking about quitting your job. Add your business to your job, and first of all, bring home more money in your weekly, bi-weekly or monthly paycheck. Here is a link that introduces you to the increased income and other tax advantages of a homebased business

At some point, you will need to buy some financial management tools. There's a literal ton of software available that will help you keep financial records and learn more about financial planning. You also should have access to professional financial planners who can help you, for example, turn your debt into a wealth-building tool. Can you afford a team of financial planners? Yes you can! I don't have the space or the time to explain how here, but you can. Trust me! You can.

That's an introduction to "new" thinking--learn to become financially literate and launch a homebased business.

That brings us to innovative thinking. I suggest that one of the easiest and most effective businesses to launch these days is to become an AC Content Producer. First, you do not need an immediate investment, other than time. What is there to write about? Anything that you know about, but you will probably have to think about your topic(s) differently. For example, a friend of mine recently launched her homebased business as an AC Content Producer, writing about the challenges of being the caretaker of an aging aunt. So as much of a cliche as it is, you write about what you know about.

I know, you are not a professional writer. Hire a writing coach, and propose a long term commitment where you pay your coach a percentage of your AC revenue as you develop as a writer. That's innovative thinking.

Creative thinking means simply to focus your mind on more and more ways to earn money as a homebased business owner. Here's an idea. Every year billions of dollars in court judgments remain uncollected because the courts are not required to force plaintiffs to pay. The laws include powerful legal tools a judgment recovery specialist could use to collect these judgments. All it takes is time and patience. So what ifyou visited local firms in your community and began collecting uncollected judgments, and set your commission at 50% of what you were able to recover?

Now we come to the toughest part of this process--learning to think enthuiastically! Most of us are so enslaved to depression, oppression, worriation and similar illls that the idea of approaching life's challenges with enthusiasm appears impossible. The Greek language root of the word "enthuse" means simply--God within, and I "see" the last four letters--iasm as an acronym meaning: I am sold myself. Therein lies the key to enthusiastic thinking, You must be sold yourself on the idea of being financially literate, living an abundant life and helping others to do the same.

Economist Paul Zane Pilzer summarized this point in his 1995 book--God wants you to be rich. He wrote: "Most people believe they should achieve wealth primarily for their own material comfort or that of their families. This is far too narrow a view. God does want each of us to be rich in every possible way--health, love, and peace of mind, as well as material possessions. God wants this, however, not just for our own sake, but for the sake of all humankind." One of my favorite teachers--Zig Ziglar--summarizes the same point this way: "You can have everything you need and want in life if you will just help enough people have what they need and want."

New, innovative, creative and enthusiastic thinking provides a strategy to free each of us from the financial doldrums, to free us from our enslavement to debt, and to put us on the high road to wealth.

See you at success!