Which Financial Tool is Most Important for Success?

Let's discuss this calmly shall we?

Which financial Tool is THE most important for your financial success?

Is is tithing? ( giving 10% of your income to church or charity)

Is it saving? (taking a preset portion of your income and hiding it away where you won't use it for other purposes other than savings and/or investing for the purpose of securing a future income streams)

Is it investing?(And no, investing is not necessarily the same as saving....but the two are very much connected)

It is reducing your personal COST of LIVING? ( mastering how to lower your monthly bills such as housing, utilities, insurance and food costs )

Is it paying off and down all debt? ( for this illustration I am lumping together all kinds of debt....both mortgage debt as well as consumer debt)

Is it putting aside funds for your own, your spouse's and your children's education?

Is it about "Asset Allocation" .....( deciding precisely where and what investment product you put your money into)

Is is about having sufficient funds set aside separately just for emergencies?

Is it about saving cash to finance a prepaid vacation, so that you won't be tempted to use debt to pay for a vacation?

Is it about delaying the purchase of a home and renting for more years so that you may build up a greater nest egg?

Is it about refusing to finance a car by saving up and paying cash for a second hand modest vehicle?

It is about learning to live without credit cards?

Is it about learning to live without the trendy "stuff" that your friends and neighbors seem to say are "sooooo important for appearances"?

Is is about being aggressive in business opportunities/investment opportunities when we find them?

Do we work hard to make our money work hard?

How much risk is reasonable?

Have your given someone else control over your finances? How trustworthy is that person or organization? Can that person or organization be trusted to protect your best interests?

Are we investing in ways that limit and/or reduce our taxes?

Have we done a will to protect our assets for future generations after our passing?

Are we reading something daily/weekly/monthly which will add to our personal arsenal of accurate financial information?

Are we getting to know people who have succeeded financially and humbling ourselves to learn and listen from their example?

Are we reading books or listening to audio books regularly written/recorded by those who are well respected in the arena of personal finance and/or investing?

When we  come up with "unknowns" do we write down our questions and seek out the answers? Or are we content to live in ignorance because we have become comfortable with living passively?

Are we teachable......or do we live as if we have "arrived" and no longer need to learn more about personal finance?

Or is it all of the above? Who is going to lead us into wisdom in these arenas of life?

It is possible to get God's wisdom, as He gives wisdom to those who ask it of Him, according to the scriptures "who giveth to all men liberally".

May God's Spirit use these questions to stir up some good and important discussions in your home and family.

The more you talk and read about personal finance, the more questions you may have. But don't get overwhelmed.... Don't get discouraged. Becoming educated about personal finance is a journey......not a one stop destination.It is going to bear great rewards for you and for your future descendants who may, depending upon your choices, be able to learn simply by following your excellent example.

Peace,
C.













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Canadian and American Finance Authors

I don't know about you...but I latched onto that catch phrase "Readers are Leaders" and so it has become a habit to inhale books just as often as I can.

Therefore, in case your reading list, particularly in the realm of finance and investing, has become a little stale, permit me to share with you some of the finance authors that I have dabbled with in reading their books or speeches over the past decade. If any of them have also piqued your curiosity and provided meaty motivation, please go for it and share your feisty opinions in the comments section.
 Peacefully productive,

Carla.

Derek Foster "Aka, the Lazy Investor" has published several investing books written for the common folk. 
    to see his titles, go to his website www.stopworking.ca

The Millionaire Mind by Thomas J. Stanley

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton

Robert Kiyosaki ----a large number of books....too many to list...check out his websites by googling him....or start with his breakout book  entitled "Rich Dad Poor Dad".

Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki wrote a book together called 
"Why We Want You to be Rich: Two Men One Message"

Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich"

Tony Robbins new book "Money, Master the Game"

Tim Ferriss---lifestyle hacker/author of the breakout book "The Four Hour Work Week"

Gail Vaz Oxlade--personal/family finance coach from TV seminars (Canada centric eh)
all major book sellers will carry her books.

David Bach--check out his website --www.Finishrich.com

12 Miracles

Hi Friends,
On your right you will see a new photo I took recently, depicting what I describe as
"12 Miracles" ... Why do I call them miracles? Because they are simple straight forward blessings that God has provided for us, to help us maintain great health. This list did not float down to me from heaven. But it is a hard won list, that has been accumulated over years of trial and error.Most of these items are available at low cost and the only ones that are a little more expensive are still available for less than 20 dollars per bottle in most cities.
Here's my blessed, my very precious and carefully carved list as well as a

description of some of their potential benefits and uses:

1. Cranberry juice—cranberry juice has been used to work with those who are trying to prevent or deal with bladder infections. Try to get the bottled cranberry juices that contain only cranberry juice and not other added mixtures. Most brands will sell for under $6 per bottle.
2.  Epsom salt—Epsom salt is available at a very low cost in most bulk stores, pharmacies, grocery stores and even dollar stores.Epsom salts can help draw out toxins out of the body through the skin. 

Having Epsom salts on hand for soaking feet in warm water

is quite valuable. Some add Epsom salts to their bath

water for over all body maintenance. Do not take Epsom salt

internally, it is intended only for external use. Epsom salts can help draw out toxins out of the body through the skin. You can also soak your

arms or hands in a warm bath of dissolved Epsom salts and find

relief for weary muscles or aches and pains.

3.Olive oil—The famous “Mediterranean diet” includes this staple,

often referred to as the “healthy oil”. Olive oil has so many

benefits, I can’t even begin to complete such a list, but a few

benefits are as follows: olive oil is an unsaturated fat and is great

added to pasta sauces, to stir fries, salads and any fried item.

Olive oil can be used freely on the skin and hair to add moisture,

shine and a healthy glow. Olive oil can be used with a cotton ball,

to remove makeup. Olive oil can be used to massage tired joints

and stiff muscles.

4.Coconut oil--- coconut oil is a saturated fat, but is considered a

healthy alternative to butter. Coconut oil can be used as a hair

treatment to restore shine and relieve dryness of the scalp. Just a

small pea sized amount of olive oil will treat an entire head of

hair. Coconut oil can be used freely in the kitchen for frying. It is a

solid and will become a liquid at warmer temperatures. Many

cosmetic companies and hair product designers add coconut oil to

their preparations, as it is proven to be so helpful for the

treatment of dry skin, hair and nails. You will enjoy coconut oil

immensely if you use it sparingly. It is a  heavy oil, so just a little

bit goes a long way.

5.Ginger—Ginger is one of my favorite items to have on hand in the

kitchen. Just peeling and chopping three “dice” sized chunks and

boiling in 2 cups of water with a bit of your favorite natural

sweetener, is a great inexpensive health tonic. You can also use

fresh ginger as a supplement, by peeling and chopping

just bits of raw ginger and swallowing with some

water. Be sure to chop it small enough that you can swallow it

easily without discomfort. Ginger can stimulate a sluggish

digestive system and bring about a boost in energy. Raw ginger

revs up the immune system and re-energizes the skin.

6.Garlic --- So many articles and books have been written about the

beneficial qualities of garlic.  If you find the scent of raw garlic to

be too overpowering, you can use deodorized garlic supplements purchased from your favorite health store. Fans of garlic consume it in its

raw state by peeling it down to a small enough size to be able to

swallow it like a vitamin with water. Garlic is known as a natural

antibiotic and helpful for the strengthening of the immune system

and cleansing of the blood. It seems to assist humans in fighting

off many forms of viruses, and bacteria.

7.Echinacea. This herb is made from a popular perennial flower also

known as the cone flower. People consume it in vitamin pill form

or in a liquid tincture. It works with your immune system to

prevent the spread of colds and flu’s and shortens the duration

for those already battling a cold.

8.Water—don’t chuckle. It’s often the simplest of remedies that are

the most effective. Just forcing yourself to drink at least 500 ml of

room temperature clean tap water per day can help heal a tired

digestive system and assist your body in flushing out any toxins

that need to be expelled from the body. Those who regularly

drink water, find almost instant improvement in the texture and

vitality of their skin.

9.Carrots. Yes the humble carrot. Readily available in most grocery

stores and priced well within most people’s budgets, we would do

well to consume carrots more often. The orange hue of carrots

reveals that they contain an ingredient that has been

reported to improve vision and overall improved health. It is great

to consume carrots raw as well as cooked or in stir fries.

10.Apples- One does not need to spend a lot of money to benefit

from the wonders of apples. Particularly when apples are at their

peak harvest time, one can find apples for sale for even less than

one dollar per pound. Apples, when eaten raw, stimulate the

metabolism and energize.

11.Parsley- The wonder of this little green specimen is manifold.

Parsley has been show to be a natural deodorizer to freshen

breath and body scent. Add fresh or bits of frozen parsley to

smoothies or other raw drinks to maximize the benefits. Parsley is

easily added to soups, stews and stir fries with great taste and

added health benefits.

12.Vitamin B complex. This supplement is highly recommended for

women, particularly during their years of menstruation. Vitamin B

complex has been reported to calm the nerves and prevent the

incidence of yeast infections. Take only as directed by a licensed

medical professional and always read and follow the labels.

Well, that’s it  my friends. You have had the opportunity to see my

precious list of 12 miraculous simple items that can 

improve your life. The great thing is that each item is usually

readily available and sells for twenty dollars or much less per

item. You don’t know what benefit you may reap from using these

simple and healthy items as part of your total health routine.

Don’t just take my advice. Talk about these items with your loved

ones and friends, and most importantly, with your licensed health

professional. 

May God bless you with accurate knowledge and the ability to

achieve great health..

Disclaimer: This list is intended for conversational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, and is not intended to replace medical advice. This blog post is not intended to suggest treatments, cures, diagnosis, or prevention of any disease. Always consult your licensed medical professional for medical advice. The author and publisher of this blog post hold absolutely no liability for any ideas discussed in this post

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