Barter, verb: to exchange in trade, as one commodity for another.
When we were kids, we all did it without a second thought. We would trade our marbles or pencils or troll dolls. We’d trade our sandwich for his cookies. We’d offer up those things we didn’t want or value as much for those that we did. But then we grew up, got allowances and then jobs, and we started trading our cash for everything we wanted instead of our devalued stuff. [Read more →]
This can be a tough question. After all, most people just “pay the bills” and get on with it. But what about those times when money is tight or you’ve got an especially large bill that’s going to affect your monthly finances more than usual? Does food rank above entertainment in your spending plan? Does transportation come before recreation? Do shelter and utility payments get made before you pay on any credit cards? Are you properly prioritizing your spending, or is your money spent in whatever category is yelling today?
At the top of your list, as your highest priority, should be your rent or mortgage payment, followed by the various utilities that keep your shelter comfortable, and then food. [Read more →]
I’ve heard before that you should photocopy everything in your wallet as a “backup” technique should it be stolen. Of course, there are privacy issues with photocopies made on copiers that have hard drives, and legal constraints on whether or not you can create color copies at 100% of certain types of ID. Here’s what I recommend: [Read more →]
The mantra of the “green” folk (those who are focused on a sustainable world) is “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. I’ve seen and heard these three words for more than 20 years. And in various ways, I’ve made them a part of my life. The concept here is to first reduce, then reuse, then recycle. This helps to break the cycle whereby we produce lots of disposable goods that are ultimately destined for the landfill. So let’s look at this three-word philosophy word by word. [Read more →]
Pull out a piece of paper and write down the three most important things in your life right now. Seriously. It shouldn’t take you but a few minutes to identify what you value most. Is it your children? Being fit and healthy? Expanding your knowledge? Having a home that’s uniquely yours? Building your business? Write down your answers. No one has to see them but you.
Now, think back over the last month or so. Where did you spend your time and money? [Read more →]