Archive for April, 2006
What’s more important - having a large bank account balance or a healthy positive cash flow each month? I’m sure both are important, but which one should we focus our attention on when budgeting? Should we budget and plan based on money in our bank accounts? If I want a new plasma TV that costs $2,000 and I have $8,300 in my bank account, I could make that purchase stress-free right?
The amount in a bank account is the least important factor when making expenditure decisions. To increase our wealth and achieve independence, the primary factor we need to control, manage and think about is our cash flow. If I’m spending $100 more than I make each month, buying a $2,000 TV is a bad idea, even with $8,300 in the bank. In a negative cash flow situation, that balance will quickly diminish and with it the false sense of security it created.
Too often, we buy something or make a big financial decision based on the amount of money we currently possess and then find ourselves frustrated later on when we realize we aren’t progressing financially. In the words of Robert Kiyosaki, we’re stuck in the rat race! If we aren’t carefully tracking our monthly in-goes and out-goes we don’t have enough information to make sound financial decisions. The only way to increase our wealth and get out of the race is to manage our cash flows, i.e., spend less than we make and intelligently invest the positive cash flow.
April 28th, 2006
A recent article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows that most teenagers are financially illiterate. On average, most high school seniors “could correctly answer barely half of the questions on a test about personal finance and economics.” They were also oblivious to the dangers of government spending and the concept of having to pay for the retirement of others through Social Security.
It wasn’t a matter of demographics. “From the richest families to the poorest, most parents aren’t talking to their children about money.”
The RJ suggests taking time at family dinner to discuss personal finance principles. Children aren’t likely to learn these principles if not from their parents.
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
April 21st, 2006
I really liked how Mary Hunt, author of a book by the same title, defined “debt-proof living”. This concept touches on so many virtues:
Debt-proof living is a lifestyle where you spend less than you earn; you give, save, and invest confidently and consistently; your financial decisions are purposeful; you turn away from compulsive behavior; you shun unsecured debt; you borrow cautiously; you anticipate the unexpected; you scrutinize your purchases; and you reach for your goals by following a specific plan.
Debt-proof living is about generosity, gratitude, and obedience. It is about sound choices and effective decisions. To debt-proof your life means to know exactly what to do with your money and have the freedom to earn and spend it when and how you choose. Debt-proof living is a way of life — a financially disciplined lifestyle that produces peace and joy.
Via: Debtspiration
April 19th, 2006
This week’s Festival of Frugality is up and being hosted by the Canadian Capitalist. Check it out.
April 11th, 2006
There is an excellent new site called Debtspiration.com. It posts motivational quotes each day from various authors about reducing your debt and increasing your savings.
“We hope our collection of ideas and quotes motivates and educates others, nudging them to reduce debt and grow savings. We hope it encourages you to seek out more information and knowledge regarding all aspects of personal finance.”
April 8th, 2006
I’m fascinated by a new company called Prosper that recently sprung up. It is an online market for lending and borrowing money — sort of an eBay for financing. For instance, a borrower could post a request for $8,000 at 8% to purchase a new car. A lender might find and accept that offer, in which case the lender’s money goes directly to the borrower. Prosper takes care of running credit checks on the borrowers, intermediating the transfer of money, and skims off 1% as a fee.
As you might expect, the potential for good here is enormous. Since banks charge high interest rates to borrowers and offer very low interest rates to savers, Prosper’s smaller margins could mean real savings (and earnings) for borrowers and lenders.
Of course there is some sense of security in dealing with a bank, but I’ll be interested to see how Prosper does over time and whether or not this becomes more mainstream.
P.S. There is another company like this in the U.K. called Zopa.
April 5th, 2006