So the introduction to this category states that I some experience the world of financial planning.  You don’t need to go that far to get some of the same information that I learned.  In fact, if you care to read anything about finance, you will surely find at least 1 (likely many more) article which says in the US maybe 3% of the population saves enough money.  After interviewing hundreds of people about their situation, I can assure you, these numbers are pretty accurate.  Try and get someone to “not spend” some of their money today, so they will have some tomorrow and many will look at you like you are speaking in tongues.  So, the first thing you should think of doing is save money.  In fact, here is rule #1:

1.  Save, save, save, save, and save.

Even though it has 4 letters, the word “save” is your friend.  Is there anything I can do to make this clearer?  You might be saying “I can do that, but where should I save it?”  This will be covered in future posts.  Another thing you might say is “I’m using it all, how can I save any?”  This tends to be the trouble for most people.  Usually, it comes down to our daily choices.  I recently heard a friend say that hey uses his debit card as many as 18 times per day.  Of course this will use up all your money.  He was shocked to hear that there are days when I don’t spend any money.  It’s a game I play.  I spend for the things I need, and prioritize for the things I want so that I do the right thing.  Let’s look at the overused “Latte Factor” scenario. This basically says that for every latte you skip in a week you have reduced your spending by $4/latte.  If you skip one, you save $4/week, $16/month, and $192/year.  Or if you skip 5 the numbers are $20, $80 and $960 respectively.  OK, so now we are talking about an extra (almost) $1000 per year potential, from skipping lattes.  This really doesn’t address the issue correctly.  What if we did an inventory of the items we have to spend money on each month, totaled them up, and included our savings goals there?  Then any leftovers (hopefully there are some) are our allowance each month?  As a population, we are looking at trying to save money; after we do the thing we want and buy the things we want.  Let’s learn the distinction, between needs and wants.  Put the needs first, including some savings for yourself, emergency fund and future.  Then rank your wants, by importance, so you know which ones you can let go. I’ve recently restructured my own spending, and it has had a noticeable effect on my savings goals.  My next post will include some examples of this, but focus on the needs and wants, and make sure you know what wants are important enough to save for.

From the great armchair philosopher Jeremy Center – “So here it is: I’m sitting in traffic, in the turn lane with my signal blinking left. The car in front of me also has its signal blinking left. There are times when both are perfectly in harmony and blink on and off at the same exact rate. However, that only lasts for a brief moment then dissonance takes over and the two begin down the path to completely being out of phase. Then slowly, over time, harmony is once again achieved.”  Click here for the complete post.

From the technical/philosophical aspect, are you not using the second frequency as a mask, thereby altering the original frequency?  Also, there will be small peaks and valleys along the way, which are also differentiated from “flatline” with their own pattern.  I’m not sure I’m down with the patterns you speak of being reflected on life.  I find life much more unpredictable – and interesting – because of this.  One minute we can be on top of the world, then the things we draw comfort from can change or visa versa.  At this time we a choice, usually an unconscious one, as to whether we go forward making the best of the cards we are dealt or not. 

But mainly, I’m just glad you got life by the tail for a while.  Take care my friend!

Just a quick update, I know it’s been a while.  This sleep thing, I WILL master it before I’m dead!  Can’t seem to get to bed any earlier, but I am waking up a little better.  Seems like the less I use the alarm, the more likely I am to wake up around the right time.  On the physical activity, I missed a couple weeks because of a work trip.  One week I was gone working 12 hour days, then it took me almost a week to unwind.  I’m back on the plan again, and I think this has something to do with my progress in the sleep category.  The financials are automated.  I’m carefully watching things right now to make sure how I’ve set things up is working correctly but I’m pretty confident in the plan.  While I have been posting more than say last year, I’m still working the kinks out of a family and friends newsletter.  This should be in place by the end of the month.  Haven’t put any travel together yet, but I do have a couple domestic trips in mind.  Hebrew, I haven’t made much progress.  My phone calls to Israel are helping me to retain the little I learned on my last trip but I need to push this forward.  Still working on passive income plan, and the first charity activity was completed last week!

Well, I had some charity work as part of my goals for the year and have finally managed to achieve some progress.  Right now I decided to be a little creative about it.  So, what did I do?  Well, the company next door handles disposal (of many different things) for commercial clients.  One of their recent loads was some old computer equipment.  My friend Judy volunteers for Rocky Mountain Housing Development Corporation, a non-profit that provides housing and related services to low & mid income families.  One of the “services” is computer centers in the housing developments.  So, I asked nicely, and was allowed to intercept some old equipment with no hard drives (removed for corporate security), CPU’s, monitors, keyboards, mice and some assorted cables.  Then I put an ad on craigslist asking for some hard drives for a charity project.  Oneda with Lifebyte Oxe was generous enough to provide some hard drives to the project.  In total, I was able to deliver 3 complete working CPU’s with all keyboards and cables, 2 working monitors and 3 more CPU’s for spare parts.  Judy is happy as they have a new computer center that they need equipment for and this will give them a nice start.  Also, I plan to keep an eye out for more equipment, and I’ll be sure to contact both Judy and Oneda and see if they have any current needs.  My understanding is that some kids who probably would not have access to computers otherwise will now have a place where they can work on schoolwork, and have a chance to learn some basic computer skills.

The next creative project will probably deal with some kind of food drive, I’ll probably be rallying some of the Denver folks for this as well.  It will be a spin off from the “dinner club” crew. 

Enjoy the day!