| I'm fortunate to have an excellent financial planner | | | | appreciation, gratitude, family and friends before all |
| who in turn works with an excellent team of financial | | | | else. You most likely don't need to buy it. |
| specialists. These specialists scrutinize all aspects of | | | | Hold on to your own reality. Don't give in to the |
| finance including taxes, insurance, saving and | | | | advertisers. |
| budgeting. They have a wide range of clients, from | | | | In this information age we are continuously assaulted |
| the average Joe to multi-millionaires. Knowing whether | | | | with advertising images trying to convince us to buy, |
| I am spending more than I earn is probably the | | | | buy and buy. Bigger, better and faster. We will look |
| simplest and best advice he has ever given me. Here | | | | more successful. We see celebrities using their names |
| is that strategy plus a few others for reducing debt | | | | to sell almost anything. Tiger Woods drapes himself in |
| and living a life with less stress and more freedom. | | | | Nike from head to foot because Nike is trying to |
| Are you spending more than you earn? | | | | convince us that it is a groovy and respectful |
| Isn't it incredibly easy to have money "mysteriously | | | | company. We begin to respect Nike because Tiger |
| float away" each month on purchases you simply | | | | Woods uses them. Tiger has sold his image. Using my |
| "forgot"? We know we have monthly bills, but a | | | | treasured rock songs to sell cars, computers and any |
| person's got to live, eh? Are you scared to add up | | | | other consumer product really offends me. The Who, |
| those credit card purchases each month? And then | | | | Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and The Rolling Stones do it |
| months become years, and the money continues to | | | | and have sold out. The Doors have not (completely). |
| "float away." If you really think about it, keeping | | | | Advertising images and music are reality. Success isn't |
| track of your money is easy. All it takes is paper and | | | | about exciting rock songs and getting everything you |
| pencil. One column for debts and one column for | | | | want. It isn't about looking like Tiger. Spend your time |
| income; add them up each month, subtract the | | | | on what is truly important to YOU and not on what |
| difference and see if you spend more than you earn. | | | | the advertisers tell you. Close the television and get |
| Once you clearly see your spending habits on paper, | | | | outdoors. Take a hike in the woods. Marvel at the |
| you can no longer hide from them. This is by far the | | | | beautiful sky. Life can be magical at times. Sometimes |
| single most important step towards debt reduction | | | | it's the simple pleasures that are the most rewarding. |
| and wealth creation. Being completely honest with | | | | Note: Although they allowed one song to be used in |
| yourself is the first crucial step towards incorporating | | | | the 70's, here is what the drummer Densmore from |
| positive financial change in your life. Are you spending | | | | the Doors said recently being offered millions to use |
| more than you earn? Credit cards got a hold of you? | | | | their music for Apple and Cadillac advertising. From |
| Understand how emotional intelligence and your | | | | the LAtimes... |
| values can rid you of crazy monkey brain. | | | | "People lost their virginity to this music, got high for |
| How many times have you innocently walked into a | | | | the first time to this music," Densmore said. "I've had |
| store and found a million reasons why it's okay to | | | | people say kids died in Vietnam listening to this music, |
| purchase something? This is the last time I will buy | | | | other people say they know someone who didn't |
| this. My credit card balance is low; it's okay. I love it | | | | commit suicide because of this music.... On stage, |
| and it's on sale! I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing it | | | | when we played these songs, they felt mysterious |
| for them. Hey, I have some extra cash! We all have | | | | and magic. That's not for rent." |
| these emotions and thoughts coursing through our | | | | Let's summarize: |
| heads at some time. Real millionaires with solid | | | | 1. Take action today to spend less than you earn. It |
| finances realize that spending money on stuff doesn't | | | | will reduce stress and release those shackles of debt. |
| buy lasting happiness. In the short term, it's | | | | 2. Your emotions and thoughts can easily make you |
| pleasurable but financially disastrous. So the next time | | | | spend more. Use appreciation or gratitude to realize |
| you have the spending bug, take a moment to | | | | what is truly important in life. |
| simply appreciate everything you do have. | | | | 3. Don't let the advertisers make your reality. Your |
| Appreciation is a powerful emotion and a fantastic | | | | reality and beliefs should have little to do with snazzy |
| core value. Appreciating your family, friends, health, | | | | rock songs and advertising. |
| nature and the simple pleasures in life will make you | | | | Please consider this article for your website, blog or |
| realize that spending won't buy happiness. Use your | | | | ezine. Permission to reprint if by-line stays intact and |
| emotional intelligence. Make appreciation a core value. | | | | links are activated on the Internet. |
| Real millionaires respect the dollar but place | | | | |