Finance Valley

Don’t Let Finances Rule Over Your Self-esteem

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:50:18 +0000

Prior to obtaining the barbershop, this fellow had several bad business ventures. They were all legitimate. Just bad choices! Generally, they all involved selling, in which he was not exactly a shining star. Oh, he did manage to sell a few things such as his house and his car. It was not quite that bad, but almost.

About the same time as the business failures and the purchase of the barbershop, his wife and two daughters were in college. So the debts really began to pile up, as the pressure became intolerable. Also, fatigue set in because of the three jobs he was working so that he could continue to tread water.

The barber/entrepreneur did a couple of things he thought might relieve some immediate pressure. He borrowed on credit cards and from the Internal Revenue Service (by not paying estimated taxes). Eventually everything started to come apart, as the IRS threatened a tax lien.

For lunch one Saturday the barber’s family came to his shop after hours, as they often did. He was so overcome with worry and stress that he verbally threw them out. Then he went home, closed his bedroom door and considered how he might end his life without destroying his family or disappointing his God. As it turned out, only thoughts of God and family keep him from doing the unthinkable.

As you might guess, I know the fellow’s story so well because I’m the fellow. Today, I’m pleased to say that, because I obtained the help I needed emotionally and financially, I’m well on the way to being completely debt free in few years (except for a home mortgage). And, I lead a happier, fuller life than ever. However, I’ve been left with some lessons I’ll never forget.

The first lesson is: “Debt robs a man of his self-respect, and makes him almost despise himself.” (P.T. Barnum). Thus, there’s a need to use credit wisely. Self-esteem is at stake. And, while you might buy things on credit that you can’t afford, because it temporarily lifts your spirits or gives you something to show to others, it’s not worth the shame and loathing when debt becomes overwhelming. Learn to live within your means even if it involves doing without!

Read more on

http://myfreeinfo4u.com/finance/don_t_let_finances_rule_over_your_self_esteem.html

Confessions Of A Personal Finance Blogger

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:46:45 +0000

I have been trying to find out more about making money on the internet as a result of a little google ad that popped up next to one of my articles.

Since then, I have been sucked into the world of internet marketing and while I’ve learnt a lot, I can’t say I’ve really enjoyed myself. I like writing for the sake of writing and to have to keep adjusting my point of view to slant it a little towards a product I was trying to promote just took the fun out of the writing.

Not to mention having to think about these important things called keywords so google would find me. It drove me nuts trying to remember to mention a keyword, and not make the whole article sound like I was trying to mention the keyword.

But I ramble on. Actually, what happened was, I tried to create a blog on personal finance. I figured that maybe if my content was about money, maybe people would put all sorts of nice google ads about money on the site, and I could promote the internet products helping people to get rich.

I have since realised my flawed logic.

1. Money is an interesting topic. Personal finance is not. I was half-way through my blog when I learnt about this thing called doing keyword research and the number of people who actually search for blogs under personal finance are a tiny fraction of people who search for money blogs, of which there must be millions of them, mostly trying to sell something or other.

2. I don’t believe in the stuff I was supposed to be selling. I don’t believe in get rich quick schemes. But try advertising a product that tells people they can get rich slowly but surely, and in the most boring way, by saving, researching, investing etc and see how many clicks you get !

3. I changed my name of the blog from Why Money Matters – A blog on Personal Finance to Grow Rich Along With Me – The Best Is Yet To Be, and google found me ! Under “get rich blog”, google has decided I can come on its first page. Of course, once people come and visit and find out it isn’t something quick, they leave soon after. Oh well.

4. I failed a number of blogs created for the purpose of trying to make money. Actually, el cheapo me used blogger for most of them so google reviewed me and almost took one of my blogs off. Paid for another one but have since returned that !

5. My lack of savvy as a marketer became clear when I tried to sell Think And Grow Rich by Napolean Hill through Amazon.com, only to find after a few posts on it, someone else was advertising to give away a free version in the google ads next to my advertisement to sell the book !

Oh well. Have since become addicted to flooding cyberspace with blogs just for the fun of seeing them published. Have also littered the same cyberspace with articles meant to help promote my blog, but have found people read the articles, but don’t visit the blog ! Have also started a new blog on my internet marketing experience, separate from my personal finance blog, which is slowly gaining some regular readership.

Student Finance: Best of Finance for the Best of Education

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:27:53 +0000

To forge ahead and have a bright career prospect, it all depends on the level of education. Be it in the field of medicine, engineering, IT, aviation, you need to have a good expertise and for the same you have to spend a certain amount of money. In the present circumstances, education is an expensive affair and this is where those belonging to the low income group have to face a lot of difficulties. However, the issues related to finances too can be sorted out with the help of student finance. Through this loan program, you will be able to take care of all the expenses pertaining to your education without any worry.

The program is indeed flexible and offers the best financial package attached with the best terms and conditions. Further, the programs also accommodate students with a history of bad credit, so that they too can take care of their educational expenses. With the amount derived, you can use it for purposes like paying admission fees, hotel dues and mess charges, expenses on books and computers along with some to tackle personal needs.

Funds for students can be availed from various sources, but it is the federal government through which you derive the funds at fairly easy terms and conditions. Federal loan is offered to your further in the Stafford and Perkins loan schemes. The interest rate charged is comparatively low. Interesting these schemes of the finance is meant only for the students belonging to the economically weaker section.

If you have failed to source the funds from government sources, then you can prefer to avail the funds from private lenders. Private lenders offer the funds by categorizing it in to secured and unsecured form. Secured form of the funds offers a bigger amount at comparatively low rates. On the other hand, unsecured form of the funds can be derived without any collateral. Although the interest rate charged will be marginally high, a proper research of the market will help you to access a better loan deal.

About repaying the debts, you will only start making payments only after you have completed your studies and got a suitable job.

Student finance enhances your chances of taking a proper education without worrying about the financial aspect.