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CAN PERSONAL FINANCE CREATE WORLD PEACE?

 

 “Science can lift people out of poverty & cure disease. That in turn will reduce civil unrest. The key is education in science.” Stephen Hawking

What does the greatest scientific mind of our time have to do with personal finance?  I’m not suggesting that money knowledge can cure disease …. But, good financial habits can ward off poverty, build wealth, provide resources to obtain health care, and thus (maybe) reduce civil unrest. After all, if the poor and marginalized had a way to increase their personal and financial wealth, would they be interested in fighting?

MAIN TOPIC:

Education has the power to uplift. Learn about scientific benefits of good health, hygiene, vaccinations etc. and live a longer life. Learn how to work smart, save, spend wisely, invest well and grow resources to become wealthy.

Now how can I grow wealth if I’m only earning enough to get by?

Either earn more or spend less.

How to Earn More 101

  • Assess your likes and strengths, everyone has them.
  •  Be creative & brainstorm ideas.
  • Get enough education or experience to work in your interest area; Love to drive and see the country, become a truck driver. Like working with your hands, what about a carpenter? Interested in science & service to others? Try nursing, physical therapy, phlebotomy. Could sell ice to an Eskimo? Sales is for you. Love cleaning & order? Become a self employed house cleaner.
  • Find someone working in the field of interest, talk to them and find out how to get into the field.
  • Map out a plan, take step one, & keep going until you reach the goal.
  • Be patient & disciplined.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION; How to spend less?

This is an area where many of my blogger colleagues excel. Here are a few of my recent favorites:

Not Made of Money offers 4 Tactics to Help you Spend Less:

“Always Buy Used First
The internet has made it easier than ever to find used items. Before you go buy something new, make sure you go online and do some searching for a used version….”

Sweating the Big Stuff keeps it simple with 3 Tips to Save Money at the Supermarket

“My husband’s delegated duty was to shop for the sale items each week. This worked out really well. He drives right by the supermarket on his way home from work. He would just pop in and pick up the specials that we were interested in and nothing else….”

Not Made of Money tackles the biggie, 47 Ways to Save Money and Get Rid of Credit Card Debt:

“Shop the dollar store for your party goods, gift wrap, and gift bags.
I’ve written before how you can put together dollar store gift baskets and save money on children’s birthday parties……..”

Little House in the Valley writes at Wise Bread How to Live Well on a Feast to Famine Income:

“Living on a fluctuating income can wreak havoc on a person’s finances. I should know; my income is slightly erratic from season to season. From October through June, my income is steady and stable with an occasional fluctuation — a surge of income one month, or a great reduction the next…”

Khaleef at KNS Financial-Faithful with a Few recounts his amazing trips to CVS where he spends almost nothing:

“As usual, every item on this list was either on sale, or we had a coupon for it – and in many cases, both (except for the alcohol and peroxide)! Actually, we try very hard to only purchase items that are on sale AND for which we have coupons!”

Kevin at Invest it Wisely asks How much of your paycheck do you use for the Basics?

“While having a buffer is important, there is another concept which I’d like to introduce which I believe is even more important: assuming that you get paid every two weeks, How many paychecks do you need to consume per month to survive?”

Oblivious Investor touches on a lifestyle option where less money is needed in, I don’t want to (Retire)ment Planning:

“Should You Save for Retirement Anyway?

You may enjoy your work now, but will you still feel that way when you actually reach the age where most people retire? Betting your future livelihood on the assumption that you won’t change your mind is a risk that doesn’t seem wise to me…”

Len Penzo dot com writes, If you can’t live on $40,000 per Year it’s your own Fault:

“Well, I live in Southern California, one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.  In its 2009 list of the most expensive cities, Forbes listed Los Angeles second; only New York City had a higher cost of living.

Even so, I know many people living here right now that are making ends meet on $40,000 or less….”

 And for a fun one, from Financial Samurai, The Secret to Early Retirement:

“What I discovered is so much deeper, and so much more powerful than anything ANY of us personal finance “gurus” have discussed.  The secret to early retirement and leisurely living is so amazing that I don’t know if I should even share with you guys since I could probably write a book, do a video, and make tons of money in the process.”

 I honestly don’t know if personal finance can create world peace, but I know that those with food, clothes, shelter, money for a few extras, and emergencies are less apt to feel stressed, antagonistic, vengeful, and jealous of others. Life contentment doesn’t follow from the super rich, but having a bit more than enough can certainly provide peace of mind. 

Single Mom Rich Mom delves into a fascinating aspect of money management in The Price of a Fulfilling Life and Frugality Burn-out:

Fact:  The life I want can’t be paid for by my retirement-projected income.

Answer:  Go back to work and buy the fulfilling life.

‘To be successful, you must decide exactly what you want to accomplish, then resolve to pay the price to get it.” ~ Bunker Hunt’………. “

Money Crashers had an inspiring & thought provoking article entitled, How I earned Money as a Kid, One dime at a Time:

Age 15 – However, my internet knowledge attracted the attention of a family friend who ran an antiques business. I would go to her house on the school bus once or twice a week to take pictures, write descriptions, and list things on eBay. I enjoyed all the odd things she’d find and sometimes she’d send me home with unsellable items, which is how I ended up with a bright blue fake-leather executive chair…..”

Christian Personal Finance has a teriffic tutorial entitled, How to Make Money Blogging:

“The purpose of this article is to show you how to make money with a blog. I suspect most people won’t stick with it long enough to make a full-time income, but even making an extra few hundred dollars a month isn’t bad either. The good news is that even if you don’t make as much money blogging as you’d hoped, you can always sell your blog.”

What do you think; CAN PERSONAL FINANCE CREATE WORLD PEACE? 

ACTION STEPS:

Get a notebook and label it: “(your name) Personal Finance” and keep it by the computer. Use it to keep all of your personal finance goals, thoughts, activities, and plans.

  •  Write in your notebook all of your HAVES today. Really appreciate what you already have.
  • Jot down some ways to find that extra cash to add to your “what if” savings.

image credit: Chemical Heritage Foundation

 

RECENT PERSONAL FINANCE CARNIVALS, LINK ROUND UPS, & GIVEAWAYS!

I am honored to have my work showcased at these sites recently. Why not stop by the sites and check out the fine articles?  

Invest it Wisely reprinted 2 of my articles this week; A Sneak Peak Inside BF’s personal portfolio pt 1 & What do you think about link posts?

He also has an amazing giveaway with tons of PRIZES!

Maximizing Money published my Book Review: The Investment Answer guest post at Yakezie.com at The Finance Blog Carnival  

I am thrilled that Personal Dividends posted one of my favorite articles; Are You Already Rich? at the Carnival of Wealth

Len Penzo included A Sneak Peek Inside my Portfolio in his black coffee series

Finally, the monster giveaway is going on at Couple Money; be sure to visit for a chance to win a laptop computer and other great stuff 

GUEST POSTS

This was a great week for BarbaraFriedbergPersonalFinance as my work was published at 2 additional  websites, why not stop by and see what you think?

I’ve got the time; How do I get the Money guest post at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff

Book review; The Investment Answer at Yakezie.com

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