We might live in a world of credit and instant gratification, but as this country’s recent economic troubles have shown us, owing isn't owning, and being able to live within a budget is a lot more important than creditors would like you to believe. Budgets, are in fact, one of the greatest tools you can use to achieve your financial goals, live within your means, and save up money for the fun things in life.

Here's how it works: you assess the flow of money in your household, namely where it comes from and where it goes. Draw out your budget (in a spreadsheet, on a graph, with crayons- whatever works for you.) Then, you evaluate that. Are you spending too much money on something you don't need? Are there areas where you'd like to save money? How much money can you afford to save each month? If you are currently in debt, look for ways to make the largest payments possible until you're in the clear. Next, draw up the budget you would like to be keeping, being realistic about living expenses. If you have long term financial goals, draw those out on a timeline so that you can see how they can and will be achieved.

Finally, you'll want to find a program or bookkeeping method that will allow you to easily track your earnings and spending. After that, you just start living your new budget. It might take a month or two before you can fully transition to your new budget, but don't give up. Then, continue to refine your budget as you go. It will be a lot easier to save up for your dream vacation if you know where the savings can come from!



Maybe you've had to cut back on visits to your therapist or life coach, but self-improvement doesn't have to stop just because you're low on cash. There are plenty of cheap and free ways to continue making positive changes in your life. 

Exercise. It burns calories, not money. Developing an at-home workout routine is free--as is going to the park, or simply jogging around your neighborhood. You'd be surprised at how much 30 minutes of walking can improve your overall health, focus, and attitude. There are also some really cheap gym memberships out there, if you can spare $10 - $15 a month. 

Explore. Go to local parks, museums, historical sites, and landmarks that you can visit for free. Try to walk to these places if they're close enough. This is a great way to spend time alone, with a friend, or get to know someone.  

Have a conversation. Engaging in meaningful discussion is a great way to pass the time, save money, and work on yourself and your relationships. Talk to a trusted friend. Not all conversations have to be serious and profound; make time for the healing power of laughter. 

Read. It's free to borrow library books, as long as you return them on time. Most libraries have a great selection of books, audio books, and even music and movies. You can even browse the Internet for free at the library.

Develop skills and talents. Cultivate something you've always wanted to do, or started doing long ago but gave up. Pull that tennis racket out of the back of your closet, write that collection of short stories you've been thinking about for years, plant that garden you've been talking about, or go sit down at that piano and practice!

Introspect. Do some journaling, poetry writing, meditation, or make a list of goals for yourself. Take this time to figure out how who you are now lines up with who you want to be.

Volunteer. This can be a very fulfilling way to pass time while interacting with a variety of people in your community. You're actively spending time improving the quality of someone's life, while absorbing joy and gratification from the experience.

Socially Responsible Investing, or Green Investing, is a unique approach to investing that makes up nearly 10% of the U.S. investment marketplace today. So what is it all about?

Conscientious investing, takes into account the investor's financial needs and the investment’s impact on society or the environment. These investors speak with their dollars; pushing corporations to enhance their practices on important issues.

How do Investors use Socially Responsible Investing? There are a few common approaches:

1. Screening evaluates investment portfolios or mutual funds based on predetermined, objective social, environmental, and corporate governance criteria. Screening may include different criteria, depending on the investor or firm doing the screening. Normally, corporate social responsibility (CSR) factors are incorporated into the process of investment analysis and management.

2. The most rapidly growing social investment method today is community investing, which supports communities that are under-served by traditional financial institutions by directing capital from investors and lenders to these communities – giving access to credit, equity, capital, and basic banking services that these communities would not otherwise have. In the US and around the world, community investing makes it possible for local organizations to provide financial services to low-income individuals and to supply capital for small businesses and vital community services, such as affordable housing, child care, and healthcare.

3. Shareholder advocacy, which is perhaps atypical of other corporations, involves investors who take their shareholding seriously by playing an active role as an owner in a corporation. This may include filing Shareholder resolutions, or discussing relevant and important topics with the corporate leadership. Issues range from political contributions, corporate governance, discrimination, labor practices, environmental impact and climate change, pollution, etc.

If you are looking to make solid investments in companies that are responsible, giving back to the community, and motivated to do their part in eradicating many of the issues we face, look into Socially Responsible Investing. Socially Responsible Investing performs competitively with conventional investments over time. Now that Green Industries are expected to boom, thanks to new spending reforms and initiatives, there has never been a better time to invest in our conscience.

Some might think it unfathomable to be considering ways to become wealthy in the midst of a recession, but there is never a bad time to try to leverage your talents and resources in an effort to boost your net worth.  Even in the face of market volatility, and even if you don't foresee a salary increase in the next few years, there are some things you can do to build upon your wealth, most of which start with simply changing your way of thinking. 

First and foremost, try and think of your wealth as the sum total of your decisions to date.  Think about that long and hard.  No one but you is responsible for your wealth - or lack thereof.  Where you find yourself today is the total of your efforts and decisions since you were equipped with the brainpower to execute such things.  Get excited and make some new decisions today.  Decide to build up a massive desire for that which you want most for your life.  Your desire for happiness will bring you happiness, just as your desire for wealth will bring you wealth.  Once your mind is made up, the desire will translate into a tremendous amount of extra energy and brainpower, which will be needed to accomplish your desired outcome.

It may help to narrow your focus and simplify your strategies by breaking your ultimate goal down into a number of smaller goals.  Map out a path to that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Maintain your focus, and make a conscious decision to dominate anything that best exploits your skills and talents.  You might find that it helps to study the decision-making processes of your mentors, and other folks you admire for their success.  Find out 
why they make their decisions the way they do. 

Name
Phone
Website
In this Issue:

Contact Information
Name
Phone
Website


Budget-Friendly Fun

Singles, Couples, and Families alike can benefit from some low-budget methods of fun these days. Many of us are pinching pennies by staying at home, or opting out of our more expensive preferred pastimes - but that doesn't mean the fun stops too! There are many things you can do to have a great time on a shoestring budget. Here are our top picks!

At-Home Movie Night. Grab a few flicks and start early - order take out or make homemade snacks, and gather 'round the TV with blankets. Cozier and more relaxing than a movie theatre - at a fraction of the price!

Game Night. Cheesy sounding, we know, but greatly gratifying! Gather your friends and/or family around for some old fashioned board games for a night of laughs and brain teasers. Just the two of you? Close the shades and try some couples only games for a different type of teaser.

Splash around. Check out town pools or local waterfronts. Lakeside beaches are clean and relatively cheap, and more accessible than their oceanfront counterparts - unless you live near the ocean. If you don't want to use the pool or go to the lake, break out sprinklers for hours of giggles and fun. Don't forget the sunscreen!

Go Fly a Kite. Or kick a soccer ball. Find age-appropriate (or childishly fun) activities for you and yours to enjoy. Add 1 part activity, 2 parts fresh air and sunshine, and enjoy the simple pleasures of soaking in the sun, getting physical, and having fun - all for very inexpensive. Want to rev up the outdoor adventures? Try going for a day-long hike and picnic, or better yet - go camping.

There are many things you can do as a family, couple, or even solo to enjoy life, without prying into your savings account. A little innovation can go a long way, and before you know it, you'll be enjoying the finer,simpler things in life.



Quick Tips
Create a realistic budget. Use reciepts and payment records to create a budget that you can stick to.
 
Evaluate spending. You may be surprised at where it is all going.
 
Have a savings plan. At least 5-10% of your income should go to savings. The more you save, the less you will use credit cards and incur more debts. 

Save for Retirement. Start early, with long term goals for your retirement plan. 

Check your insurance. Are you paying too much for too little? Shop around for all of your insurance needs and change plans as needed.


Preventing Foreclosure
Foreclosure is a bleak reality in the country's current real estate crisis, but even in difficult financial situations, it's avoidable with these steps:

1. Face the problem head on. When you realize you're falling behind on your mortgage payments, contact your lender. Most lenders provide options for borrowers to help them get through difficult financial times without facing foreclosure.

2. Prioritize your spending. A mortgage is often the largest expense a family is responsible for, but difficulty paying the mortgage is usually due to poor money management, not lack of money. Write down every purchase you make in a week and you may start to see that frivolous spending (eating out, buying unnecessary items, etc.) is adding up and taking away from the mortgage fund. Consider eliminating optional expenses like cable, internet, and club membership until you're caught up on mortgage payments and have a budget in place to prevent it from happening again.

3. Use your assets. If you're in dire financial straits and having difficulty catching up on your mortgage payments, consider selling a second car or getting a second job to help catch up. This will not only bring more money into your home, but it will also demonstrate to your lender that you are actively trying to keep your home, even if it means making sacrifices.

4. Know your rights. Contact your State Government Housing Office to learn about foreclosure laws and timelines in your state to find what your lender can legally do if you don't make your payments. And finally, don't succumb to "foreclosure prevention companies" preying on the vulnerable. These companies often charge the equivalent of 2-3 months' worth of mortgage payments to negotiate with your lender, a service that various nonprofit organizations will do for free.
JBA Network • 311 Montford Avenue • Asheville • NC • 28801

Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Preferences | Send to a Friend | Report Spam