Cash Employees

The new year is in full swing which is always a good time to review your finances from beginning to end, from spending to saving--and especially when living of borrowed debt.

One of the most important lessons I learned early on in my financial education was to have my money work for me rather than the other way around!

Check out the post 'Cash Employees' on Cool Campus Living on some of these matters!

Dream Crushers

Really liked this quick blog I found on www.budgetsaresexy.com 

Guest blogger Ben Luthi presents solid advice on simple steps to consider doing right now for your future financial happiness.  

Whether you are currently about to start college, in college or ready to graduate, this blog has something for everyone to think about!  Life, living, and finance doesn't really have to be so hard if we just planned better.

Things I Learned Doing Financial Planning by Ben Luthi for www.budgetsaresexy.com

Getting Out Of Debt

Getting out of debt requires that you understand how you got there.  

Be smart about taking on loans and what you are using them for.
Somewhat lengthy article, but a lot of good, relevant info and great stuff to think about.
Time for introspection!

Check out this article at 

Financial Samurai 

Why I Keep Harping On College Finance

I know it must seem odd that I keep posting things on finance, student loans and remaining debt-free, but if you remember, this blog was originally brought into existence for my son whose attending the University of Iowa.   Yes, you are correct--a cooking blog.   However, as this blog has evolved, (and hopefully, will continue to  evolve into a more comprehensive website one day), I am passionate about  addressing other aspects of college important to having a successful college experience, ie finances and health.  I know they are random brain farts, but important ones nonetheless!

Please take my advice, or at least take the expert financial bloggers' advice, on avoiding (or minimizing) your student loans as much as possible.  I am by education a health professional with a decent paying job and a job I actually enjoy.  I even graduated with a fraction of the loans that some of my colleagues racked up; but as I type this tidbit, I am still indebted to AES for approximately $22000--that's after living on a college budget thru grad school and thereafter, paying double on my repayments, and being a fairly frugal person overall.

Sure, with an interest rate of 3%, I'm no longer paying double on the bill, because higher interest loans were paid down first...but it's still another bill, even after graduating from post-graduate education 14 years ago.  Be smart!  Enough said.

Check out what the experts say from www.getrichslowly.org

Surviving Student Loans

Lemonade Stand And College Financing

Even if you are already into college full swing I thought this article from The Empowered Dollar Blog on creative ways to enhance your college funding might be useful for some of you.

http://www.empowereddollar.com/start-a-conversation/lemonade-stand-economics/

Teaching kids to be financially aware is not something our nation does very well, in fact we promote quite the opposite:
- "put it on plastic"
- "spend because you deserve it"  
- "you had a rough day"
- and whatever else we convince ourselves with that the burden of debt we are about to purchase won't matter.

But it does.
When you are in debt someone and money owns you, your time, your decisions, your lifestyle until that debt has been paid. I don't know alot of people who like to being "owned", but that is exactly what debt does--it owns you and ability to choose.

Get into the mindset that your money should always be working for you:
--gaining interest
--gaining knowledge
--increasing in value
--removing debt
--making more money.  

If you find yourself living from paycheck to paycheck then consider yourself officially employed by money rather than the other way around.

Instructions:
--Educate yourself.
--Quit spending 
--Take a finance class
--Look into Roth IRA's.
--Learn about investing.
--Ask for advice
--Make a budget.
--Look at your expenses 
--Look at your skills, talents.



Resources:
-Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
-Bookstore
-Suze Orman
-David Bach
-Jim Cramer

Paying for College

Occasionally, I browse other bloggers on advice for all of us--parents, college students and those about to apply for college.  The key to removing your ball and chain from college debt is to be realistic and prepared.  This article from The Empowered Dollar  had some simple, yet very relevant advice.  

I believe the contest is over, but check it out anyhow.

Don't get tied down in debt if you can at any point within your power can avoid this drag!

http://www.empowereddollar.com/start-a-conversation/save-for-college-and-win-5k/