How My Moms Death Is Changing My Life

My Mom died three days before Christmas in December. It’s been difficult to write articles for the site these last few months but I managed a few here and there. She was 87 years old. She passed away in a nursing home due to complications related to a build up of fluid in her lungs.  In the past year her health declined gradually due to Alzheimer’s , dementia and a back problem which kept her confined to a wheel chair.

I will always cherish the gift of life and go for my dreams.

When a loved one dies before your very eyes, you put your life on hold. My weekends were spent arranging my schedule so I could spend time with my Mom and family. There was a continuous dark cloud over my head since I never knew when her last day would come. Now that she is gone it’s like I’ve come off auto pilot and am now living life again. Little chores that were sitting for months get done, I’m able to write, but most of all, the sun shines a bit brighter and my heart finds time to soar. Here is the thing. Don’t put off your dreams for one more day. There is no reason why you can’t take the first steps to live your dream life. Go out there and start today! You never know when life throws you a curve ball and takes the wind out of your sails. When the coast is clear, sail for the stars! Seriously, what’s stopping you?

I will save my money and always avoid stupid debts.

My Mom left an impressive estate. It isn’t millions but although she did not work, she still managed to save a good chunk of change. My parents lived a nice middle class existence. They had everything they could want, a nice home, good food, wonderful friends and a few pets here and there. The amazing thing is that while our society is spiralling into staggering debt my parents were doing the exact opposite. Instead of carrying any kind of needless debt they saved their money. Instead of paying interest on a foolish loan or Visa card they saved that money. This is such a simple yet essential financial concept. Don’t pay interest on your dumb debts, instead learn to save that money. The freedom from no stupid debts and saving that money will change your life forever.

Your parents care, it’s when they don’t care that trouble starts.

My parents were strict when I grew up. My mom is Russian and went through WWII, learned a lot of harsh lessons and saw horrible things so she had no patience for stupidity. But she was strict because she cared.  And this is the most important part of being a parent. You need to care. If you think that not caring for your kid and ignoring them will “teach them a lesson” you are on the path to losing your kid. Showing that you care and setting boundaries isn’t fun sometimes, but that is life. Kids need boundaries. Without them they become lost lambs and easy prey for others. So always show that you care. Always.

Visit your friends or have them over.

It’s proven that we are happiest when we are with our friends. Invite them over for drinks and supper. Do it on a regular basis. Life is way too short. Be happy. Be happy with yourself and with your friends. These are the moments that make life memorable.

5 Things You Need to Know About Debt

I’m focusing on making life changes around the subjects of money and health. These are two of my most popular subjects from the traffic I’ve seen lately.

These days everyone is looking for ways to reduce debt and save money. It is possible to wipe out your existing debt and learn how to live your life within your means.

Here are five tips that will help you on your way to debt free living:

1. Stop using credit cards. One of the leading factors in the current economic crisis is people buying things on credit they cannot afford. The next thing they know, they find themselves unable to do anything more than make minimum monthly payments.

• Minimum payments will keep you in debt because every month interest continues to accrue on your original balance. A $1,000 balance on a typical credit card can take 22 years to pay off if you make only the minimum monthly payments!
• Don’t fall into the trap of credit card debt. Instead, avoid the hassle and expense by paying cash for the things you buy. If you want a big-ticket item, save the cash before you make the purchase. Only buy when you can afford to pay for the item in full before you bring it home.

2. Buy luxury items with cash. We all have extras and luxuries we want, but using credit to get them is a dangerous path to take. You’ll get much greater enjoyment from the extras in your life when you pay cash, rather than ongoing monthly payments.

• Nothing takes the excitement out of a new toy or nice vacation more than the large payments that strain your budget month after month.

3. Create a realistic budget that includes debt repayment. The first step in gaining control over your debt is creating a workable budget. Rather than stifling you, a budget can bring you freedom! You’ll know where your money goes and you’ll set a spending plan so you can continue buying the most important things in your life.

• Your budget should take into consideration all facets of your lifestyle, including housing, food and household items, utilities, savings, recreation and debt repayment.
• If your budget doesn’t include room for debt repayment, there will never be enough money to pay off your debt. Take control of your financial reality by working with a realistic budget every month. Before long, you’ll see your debt diminishing while your savings grow.

4. Seek the help of a professional credit counselor, accountant or financial planner. The best way to be sure you’re making sound financial decisions is to seek out the help of a financial professional.

• Credit counselors, financial planners and accountants are experts in the areas of savings, debt repayment, investments and tax deductions. Implement each of these areas into your finances to eliminate financial strain and secure a stable financial future.

5. Negotiate better rates with the banks or credit card companies. Many people assume they have no choice but to accept the interest and finance rates offered by their banks and credit card companies, but that isn’t always the case!

• Talk to the people at your financial institutions. You may be surprised at how willing they are to budge.
• If your credit is in good shape or you’ve made steady, progressive strides to improve it, you may be able to get lower interest rates on your debts.
• You might also receive higher interest rates on your savings, giving you a double shot at eliminating your debt entirely and moving forward with your finances in a positive direction.

You can repair your debt problems and learn to avoid creating them in the future. These five steps will point you in the right direction and get you started on a new path to financial freedom and prosperity!