Your $tock Mom

“… the importance of regulations protecting consumers from corporate swindles and … ” (video 17:08)

Does this cartoon remind you of the mindlessly futile behavior of a dog chasing his own tail? Are you wasting your valuable time and energy trying to make financial gains by chasing after funds and assets that you already have in your possession or within your reach but fail to recognize their proximity?
I totally understand what it’s like to be financially strapped and looking for any solution to obtaining financial security; but, the urgency to establish financial security can lead to exhaustive efforts that are non-productive, possibly destructive, and quite probably leave you …

I started a new project this past weekend; I went into my office, took one box of old files and went through them to determine what to still keep and what to shred.  I love old movies; so, with the soothing company of hot tea with honey, Fuji apple slices, and a favorite movie, I took a tour down memory lane perusing through files that dated back nearly 30 years.
Going through the paperwork was very enlightening and entertaining; it gave a revealing snapshot of where my money went … both …

BRAVO!  Be proud of yourself.  I take it that you just arrived at this post after reading the post, “It Pays … To Be Organized!”  Well, let me get right to the point so that you can begin to implement the following procedure:
First:  Collect and retain all receipts for every item that you purchase with your credit card for each month of that card’s billing cycle – the billing period/cycle closing date is printed on your statement; remember it.  Keep those receipts together in an envelope as previously discussed; then, …

Fight that lazybug and get your life in order.  Staying organized will not only save you time; but, invariably, the time that you save will save you money.  Think of the hours you must spend on tasks and projects that you postponed thinking it okay to finish them later.  What were initially simple tasks will build into burdensome, time-consuming, free-time robbing drudgeries.
For starters, arrange each one of all your paid monthly bills (paid statement receipts) in their own envelope labeled with what they are and the year on the envelope …

So you might not have to build a college fund for them, but you need to have funds for all of their other needs, especially for those scary situations when something unexpectedly happens to them.
I firmly believe that is wise to be proactive, take the extra steps in preparation for future needs, than to be at the mercy of those emotionally draining and demanding moments that can so suddenly shake our world.
We are at our best when we are prepared and can remain calm, and that calm is a by-product …

You might be surprised to discover the amount of money you spend every day on items that are stealing your future wealth.
I recommend that you take stock of how much just one small treat costs you for one entire week.  Simple math … just add up how much is spent on one (discretionary) item that you can cut back on and put that extra money to work in your savings.

Starting this week, and each subsequent week, place at least one-fourth of your income into a savings account. This savings account is not to be used for anything except saving and building your wealth. You will later be reallocating some of this money into various other interest-dividend-or-capital-gaining instruments (staggered with some for best returns) for a well-diversified range of security and returns on your money over time. For now, just open the account and start feeding it every week. The more you contribute the earliest, the better your returns will …