Obama’s laundy list of lies

The American love affair with Obama is OVER.
It was pretty short-lived, like a lot of relationships. Wild adulation for the first few weeks, then gradually, familiarity began to breed contempt. And then his true character.

Look at this laundry list of lies.

http://obama-arama.services.officelive.com/default.aspx

Do NOT allow ths person to become the Democratic nominee, because you can be sure all of this and MORE will be dredged up and he will be unelectable by November, unless the Republicans make a really stupid move. But just in case that does not happen, we need to be clear about who this person really is-an empty suit who will do anything he can for the sake of personal ambition.

We simply cannot afford another 4 years of Republican misrule. Clinton will hit the ground running, and keep on going. After all, they have tried to stop her in her tracks for how many YEARS now, let alone months, and FAILED.

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Tips for Smart Shopping for Clothes

 

We’ve all seen the headlines. These days, more and more people are living on a tight budget. While men and women alike enjoy shopping and appreciate having a nice wardrobe, they also want to be able to maintain some semblance of a budget in the process.

If you’re one of them, there are some tips that you should keep in mind when you head off shopping to expand and broaden your wardrobe.

Before purchasing a piece of clothing, try to think of at least two pieces that you already own that you can wear with it.

Don’t be haphazard with your purchases. You might see something on a shelf or rack and find it appealing, but if you don’t have anything that goes with it, it will just sit in your wardrobe. Avoid impulse purchases at all costs.

You might also consider shopping online to get some ideas as to how to mix and match your current wardrobe, with one or two all purpose pieces.

There is nothing worse than the impulse buy you regret, or the purchase that a salesperson talked you into.

While a particular item may be attractive, some items really do not enhance your wardrobe, or your appearance. hose skinny jeams may look great on someone who is skinny, but be realistic,”it may be the fashion, but if rolls of flab are sticking out from under your belly top you might want to go from something a bit more classic. Or at least do a few more sit ups and try to work off the love handles and muffin top.

When it comes to developing a wardrobe that is full of good value clothing you will be able to wear over and over again, it is important that the pieces that you select to include in your wardrobe compliment one another.

As you go about shopping and as you eye a piece of clothing on a store rack or shelf, don’t run off and purchase that piece unless you can be sure you have several things to match it, plus, it really is the bargain you think it is.

By shopping in a careful manner, you will be able to develop and create a truly fantastic and versatile wardrobe.

In addition to allowing you the ability to expand your wardrobe with compatible matching pieces, this manner of shopping also assists you saving money along the way. You end up avoiding impulse buying, and thus spending money on items that you will not be able to wear with any frequency because you do not have other items that match or compliment it. Or items that are so trendy they will be outdated soon, or so obvious that people will notice how often you wear it.

Remember, you can never go wrong with basic black, and a whole number of colors to go with it. But there is no need to buy a rainbow of color.  The more simple your wardrobe, the better. It will also save you time in trying to decide what to wear every morning!

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Avoid Impulse Spending, Part II

[NEEDS VERSUS WANTS]

 

To overcome impulse spending, the first thing to do is learn to separate your NEEDS from your WANTS.

Your budget will help you do this. Rent, electric, phone, paying your taxes, all of these are essential needs. Food, a modest amount on clothing and shoes which will help you hold down your job and keep money coming in, also NEEDS.

That designer handbag, great shoes, amazing jeans, well, sorry, those are NOT life’s essentials.

 

WE DESIRE WHAT WE SEE, AND SEE WHAT WE DESIRE

You are NOT entirely to blame. The whole of the ad industry is based on turning WANTS into perceived NEEDS.

Advertisers blitz us with their products at us 24/7. Perhaps you really DO need a new computer, for example. But don’t just say yes to the first as you see or the first salesman who comes along and tells you that you really NEED the model with the most expensive bells and whistles.

Or that you have to act now before the sale is over. Most of the time if there is a sale, it means it’s a slow month and they are trying to keep their numbers up!

 

SUCCESSFUL SHOPPING TIPS

The trick with shopping, even in a ‘sale’,  is to give yourself a cooling-off period before you buy anything that you haven’t planned for or budgeted for. Especially if you have a credit card.

When you go shopping, make a list and stick to it. In particular, never go shopping in a supermarket when you are hungry. At the holidays, make your list, check it twice, and do not go overboard at the holidays and then have to keep on paying for it via your credit cards months after the fact.

When you do go shopping, take only enough cash to pay for what you have planned to buy, or use a debit card linked to your checking account.

Leave your credit cards at home. In fact, try to get rid of all your credit cards by paying them down, and then keep the one with the lowest APR for emergencies.

 

EMERGENCY, OR IMPULSE?

And be very strict about what qualifies as an emergency. For Carrie in Sex in the City it was the Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes. For me, it would be my dog’s surgery in January.

If you see something you think you really need, give yourself two weeks to decide if it is really something you need or something you can easily do without.

By following this simple solution, you will curb your impulse spending. Then you will mend your financial fences and your relationships, and be able to move forward toward your short and long terms goals aligned with your budget, and not constantly busting it.

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Avoid Impulse Spending Part I

 

Is your weakness impulse spending?

 

Answer these questions truthfully:

1.)    Does your spouse or partner complain that you spend too much money?

2.)    Are you surprised each month when your credit card bill arrives and you see how much more you charged than you thought you had?

3.)    Do you have more shoes and clothes in your closet than you could ever possibly wear?

4.)    Do you own every new gadget before it has time to collect dust on a retailer’s shelf?

5.)    Do you buy things you didn’t know you wanted until you saw them on display in a store?

6.)    Do you often wonder what happened to the money you had in your purse or wallet?

 

If you answered YES to any two of the above questions, chances are you’re an impulse spender and indulge yourself in retail therapy.

 

THE DANGERS OF IMPULSE SPENDING

Impulse spending is not a good thing. It will prevent you from saving for the important long term goals you really want, like a house, a new car, a vacation, or retirement.

 

YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS

Once you define your adult financial goals, you will have to set a budget and stick to it.   Impulse spending is an enemy of any budget. It is pointless to sacrifice your long term goals for a bunch of short term ‘hits’.  Your retail therapy doesn’t cure anything, you just end up spending money on items that really don’t matter in the overall scheme of things.

 

THE RISKS OF IMPULSE SPENDING

Impulse spending will not only put a strain on your finances, but your relationships as well. Arguments over money is touted as the number one reason for divorce in this country.

 

Continued in: Avoid Impulse Spending Part II

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Bridal Shower Games

If you’re hosting a bridal shower, there are literally hundreds of games to choose from. Some are silly, some are serious, but all are about having some fun with the bride before she’s married. Here’s a sampling of ideas for bridal shower games.

One fun game really puts the bride on the spot with regard to her knowledge of her husband-to-be’s life. Prior to the party, have someone ask the groom a series of questions, such as where he was born, what his favorite food is, or similar personal questions.

Then at the bridal shower, put the bride on the spot by asking her the answers to the questions. See how many she can get right (hopefully at least half!). If she does well, give the girl a prize; she deserves one. If she doesn’t, she may want to brush up on her groom, quick!

One all-time favorite game is the toilet paper wedding dress. This game involves separating the guests into teams consisting of at least 2 people and no more than 5. Give each team a roll or toilet paper (or 2) and have them fashion a wedding dress out of the toilet paper. One of the team members will volunteer as the model.

Provide them with a “dress up trunk” filled with jewelry and shoes. They must make the dress out of the toilet paper, but they can accessorize with the provided jewelry, shoes, gloves and hats. Place a time limit on this (5 minutes is adequate) and have the bride vote on the best dress. Be sure to provide prizes for the winning team!

Another fun game that’s always a hit is making the bride get dressed while blindfolded. Tell the bride she is to pretend she’s on her honeymoon and the power has gone off. She must prepare for her wedding night in complete darkness. Provide her with a suitcase filled with items and then blindfold her. She must get dressed in a certain period of time (2 minutes is adequate) while completely blindfolded and with no help from the guests. Include some silly items like oversized sunglasses, garden gloves or a flannel nightgown just to make it fun. This is a photo opportunity, so be sure someone is waiting to record the end result!

Another fun game which puts the bridal shower guests more on the spot than the bride is the handbag game. Everyone puts their purses in the center of the room. Create a list of items commonly found in a purse and assign a point value. Then create a list of less common items and give them a higher point value. So you might give lipstick 2 points, a tampon 3 points, and sunglasses 5 points. But a granola bar could be 10 points and a staple remover 15 points.

Then go through the purses awarding points and give the person with the highest number of points (and therefore, the most items and probably highest number of unusual items) a prize.

Before the bridal shower, create bingo cards for this shower bingo game. In the squares, put pictures of items you think the bride will receive at the shower. So, boxes might include things like lingerie, towels and the like.

As the bride opens gifts, have people mark off that item on their bingo card. If nobody gets a “bingo”, give a prize to the person who marked off the most number of items.

Another bridal shower game is a derivation of a popular game often played at bachelorette parties involving a stripper. This is the clean version.

About 30 minutes into the party, have the bride leave the room and pass out pieces of paper. Have everyone write on the paper everything they can remember about the bride’s outfit, hair, etc. How many rings is she wearing? What color is her blouse? Is she wearing open or closed toed shoes? Once everyone is done recording their observations, the bride comes back into the room and a prize is awarded to the person with the best observation skills.

One thing is for sure, there are lots of games you can play at your bridal shower which will keep all of your guests engaged and involved, so it is not just all about opening presents and making small talk.

FURTHER READING:

GREAT WEDDING ACTIVITIES AND GAMES: How to Entertain Your Guests at Your Wedding Reception and Other Wedding-Related Gatherings

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The Basics Of Asset Management, Part III

 

TYPES OF ACCOUNTING

Cash bases accounting is the management of your current transactions. This way you keep track of any money being taken out of your account or any money that might be deposited, and whether or not it was deposited from you or from someone else.

When any types of transactions take place on your checking account, that is when this type of accounting will come into play. When someone is talking about assets, they are also talking about the cash that you have acquired.

 

WHAT ARE ASSETS?

Of course there are many types of assets but your cash is really the most basic one there is. Any other form of investment that you may have, including, stocks, bonds, Cds, 401ks, 529s and so forth are also a type of asset, and your house and car are as well, but are usually only a real asset if you own them outright. Otherwise your mortgage holder and car finance company own them!

Assets come in all different forms. Start simple, by making sure you keep track of all your transactions, and trying to stick to your budget, so that you gradually pay down any debt you might have. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be in a position to save, and even to invest.

Once you know what all your assets are and what they are worth then you will be able to begin with your asset management methods. Once you have started figuring out a record-keeping system that works for you, and savings and investment strategies that start paying dividends, then you will have the ability to earn more money from multiple streams of revenue, and you will be able to watch that money grow and help you achieve your  financial goals.

 

YOUR FUTURE FINANCIAL GOALS

It’s never too early to start saving for the future. Once you are in a position to start thinking about saving and investing, also consider consulting with a financial planner. Be realistic about your goals, do your research, learn about what things cost. If you want to buy a house worth $500k, what is it REALLY going to cost.

What will the difference be in that financial scenario if you were able to put down $150k of it in cash? And is this a worthwhile investment, if all of your capital and income are ‘feeding the beast’ and leaving you cash poor with no chance to save for retirement?

Unfortunately, in our get credit quick, get the American Dream society, people don’t stop to ask these questions. Owning a home is a noble aspiration, but is it a false security blanket at the end of the day? Looking at the current crisis in the housing market, one could argue yes.

The essential problem goes beyond that though, to being constantly encouraged to impulse spend on everything in sight on the TV. And let’s face it, how much are we ever taught about asset management at school?

But a little knowledge can go a long way. Even if you think things are so bad than nothing can make a difference, you’d be surprised at how $5 saved here and there can add up.

It’s like the humble dime. It’s small, light-weight, but you get 10 of them together and it makes a dollar.

And once you learn more about asset management, you can encourage your partner, if you have one, and even your children too.  That way you can all be actively planning and participating in reaching your financial goals, not being hostages to fortune. Asset management means just that, YOU manage your assets, for a brighter financial future.

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The Basics Of Asset Management Part II

WHY NOT USE SOFTWARE?

I know we have not mentioned all the really handy accounting programs out there that can help you with asset management. This is because you don’t usually carry your computer around with you, while a check book register or a small notebook are portable, so you can note down your expenditures any time, anywhere.

As the old saying goes, the dullest pencil is better than the sharpest memory. We would also advise you to make note of what you do with that cash you take out of the ATM. All too often, it can vanish into thin air without you even noticing. You can write the amount you spend right on the slip of paper, and note down what it was for.

Was it an essential, like milk, or was it a luxury like beer? Again, part of asset management is sticking to your budget and trying to cut down on your impulse spending, so writing these things down will help you spot your areas of impulsiveness.

A notebook for all finances is an even better idea than the checkbook register because you can also note down any items you might be putting on your credit card/s.

 

THE GOALS OF ASSET MANAGEMENT

The whole goal of asset management is to make the most of the money you do have. Credit cards, with their fees and interest and other potential penalties, are not the best way to make the most of your money.

Accounting comes in a couple of different forms, including, accrual accounting and cash bases accounting. Accrual accounting will help you keep track of what you owe if you’ve exceeded your income. This should then let you know that you are spending entirely too much money and that you had better begin cutting back here and there where possible, in order to manage your assets more efficiently.

It is a rare person these days who doesn’t have some form of debt, and a credit card CAN be a good thing if you are making your payments on time and more than the minimum on a regular basis. This is how you can boost your credit score. It is also a way to decrease it though, if you are not careful!

It is not always intentional either,”we are all also very busy. And yes, mistakes do happen. Your checkbook register may have a different amount written in it, compared to the amount of money that you have spent.

That’s why we recommend duplicate checks, and pressing down hard when you fill them out. All too often we write a check and can’t recall who it was to, what for, and what amount.

Keeping these kind of detailed records and making a habit of keeping all your little bank slips and receipts will also be handy at tax time. Especially if you start thinking about running your own small home based business, you will need to keep track of everything you spend, supplies, corporate hospitality (which you can deduct at 50%), and so  on.

In another article we will talk about the risks as well as rewards of tying your personal finances to your own business, but for now, the main thing to remember is that effective asset management is all about keeping track, and staying within budget and on target for your short term and long term financial goals.

 

The Basics Of Asset Management Part III

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