What are your Goals?

What are your Goals?

By Keith Bunn Jr.

December 30, 2012

Now that we all survived the Apocalypse of 2012, have you figured out you goals for 2013 yet? Now I have to be fair and honest with this topic, I am horrible about setting goals, and because of that, it seems that most, to all the things I wanted to do this past year didn't get done. So one of my goals this year is to set some goals and here's how I'm going to do it with these 5 steps.

1) Be specific. 

For example: If one of your goals is to get out of debt, don't just write down that you're going to pay off debt. Instead, write down that you're going to pay off X, Y, Z debts

2) Make your goals measurable. 

How do you know if you've achieved the goals, if they're not measurable. Taking the example from above, how many debts do you want to pay off this year? 3, 5, 10, how many? Or you could give it a dollar amount. Write down that you want to pay off $2000, $5000, or whatever you decide. 

3) Are they your goals? 

These goals have to be yours! Or if its a joint goal with your spouse, you both have to agree with it. You have to take ownership of it or it won't work. This has to be something you want to do or again, it won't work.

4) Set a time limit. 

You have to set yourself a deadline for when you have to have your goals accomplished by. Using our same example, don't just write down that you're going to pay X debt or $2000, but write down that you're going to pay X debt or $2000 by Feb 28th or whatever you decide the deadline should be.

5) Put them in writing. 

It astounds me that when you put your goals down on paper, they will get done compared to if you type them up on a computer or keep them in your head. So give your goals a fighting chance, write them down. 

Now don't just write down your goals and stash them some place and never look at them again. Look at and go over them often and don't be discouraged if a new goal pops up and you have to put a current goal on hold or postpone it for another time. Just keep going!

Questions

I only have 2 questions for you this week.

1) What are your goals for 2013?

2) If you set goals differently than what I've outlined here, what do you do that's different?

I hope my posts inspire you to look at what you’re doing financially and if needed, make some changes that will cause you to win financially. I also look forward to reading your views on any articles or postings that I may post. For more money news, facts and ideas, follow me on Facebook, or Twitter. Thank you!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

December 23, 2012

By Keith Bunn Jr.

Just a short blog this week to thank every one of you out there who have been reading my blog, liked and followed me on Facebook & Twitter, and who have made comments and asked questions in this past year! Believe me when I tell you, that I'd rather be helping all of you than doing my day job! One day I'll be able to make the transition from one to the other. 

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

I hope my posts inspire you to look at what you’re doing financially and if needed, make some changes that will cause you to win financially. I also look forward to reading your views on any articles or postings that I may post. For more money news, facts and ideas, follow me on Facebook, or Twitter. Thank you!

Doomsday!

Doomsday!

December 16, 2012

By Keith Bunn Jr.

Well if any one of the things I've heard that's going to happen on 12/21/12, aka, Doomsday  this will be my last blog posting. Mayan calender ending, earthquakes, alien invasions, earth colliding with planet X, dog storms, polar shifts, and last, but not least, zombies.  Cripe, I don't even know why we even bought Christmas gifts this year. I'm not even going to be able to open them. 

Really?! This is what I believe...

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."  - Jesus Christ, Book of Matthew 24:23 - 24:36 -

There have been so many times the end of the world has been predicted and every one of them have been false, so why would this be any different? With that being said, what does all this have to do with our finances? Simple, we should not let fear be a factor in our decision making process, especial when it comes to our finances. When we make decisions based on fear, we make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes are more costly than the things we're afraid of. So don't stop paying down your debts, don't stop saving money for retirement, and don't stop teaching your children how to handle money. In other words, keep living your life as if nothing was going to happen. Because as the scripture states above, "...that day and hour no one knows" when the end of the world will happen and when it does, you can't take your money with you anyways.

If all the talk about the end of the world coming has made you afraid, then you need to talk to someone about it. A pastor or counselor are perfect places to start. Because the bible also states "For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsel there is safety." - Proverbs 24:6 KJV -. I personally don't believe that the end of the world is this week. We're still making plans for Christmas, for January, etc... so talk to someone if you're afraid. This time of year is suppose to be a happy time filled with family and friends.

Questions

1) Have you ever made a financial decision based on fear?

2) If you have, do you regret that decision?

3) Has all this talk about the end of the world made you afraid? 

4) Have you talked to someone about it, a pastor or counselor?

5) What are your plans for 2013? 

I hope my posts inspire you to look at what you’re doing financially and if needed, make some changes that will cause you to win financially. I also look forward to reading your views on any articles or postings that I may post. For more money news, facts and ideas, follow me on Facebook, or Twitter. Thank you!

What to do with your Inheritance

What to do with your Inheritance

By Keith Bunn Jr.

December 11, 2012

It is always a sad time in our live when we lose a loved one, but depending on the circumstances, it could also be an incredible blessing if they have left you an inheritance with a dollar amount attached to it. But what should you do with it? Most people I know would take a trip, buy a bunch of stuff, or maybe do some repairs to their home. None of those are a bad thing, but is there something better that that inheritance can go towards? 

In my opinion, there is one question that I will ask myself when this happens, "What can I do with this inheritance that best honors the loved one that gave it to me?" I see no better way of doing that than bettering our lives in the long run. In our case, we would have to go right down our 7 Baby Steps. 1) Establish a baby emergency fund of $1000. 2) Pay off our debts smallest to largest with the Debt Snowball. 3) Go back to the baby emergency fund and boost it up to 3 to 6 months worth of your household expenses  4) Put 15% of our take home pay into retirement funds. IRA's, 401K's, 403B's, and Roth's. 5) Fund kids college using Educational Savings Accounts (ESA's) and 529 plans. 6) Pay off our home early. 7) Build wealth and give a bunch away.

Now I'd like to make myself clear so I don't sound like I'm just waiting for someone to just kick the bucket and leave me with a bunch of cash. I've had many relatives pass away in my lifetime and I have never asked, "What am I getting?" To me, that is selfish, uncaring  and rude! If I inherited some cash after someone passed, great! I'll go as far as I can in the Baby Steps. If I don't get anything, that's fine too. The memories I have of them are all I need. Those are priceless!!

Now if I received a rather large amount of cash in an inheritance and I was able to get through the Baby Steps with cash left over to play a bit by going on a trip for a week or so, then you can bet on that I'm going to do just that. Because I know my loved one would want me to enjoy that money also. 

Of course, this is what I would do. You'd have to decide what you would do. I don't want to improve our financial situation with the loss of a loved one, but if by some chance they bless me with an inheritance, I will not only honor their memory with it, but use it to improve my family's life as well.

Questions

1) What would you do if you received an inheritance? 

2) What would the best way for you to honor your loved one's memory?

I hope my posts inspire you to look at what you’re doing financially and if needed, make some changes that will cause you to win financially. I also look forward to reading your views on any articles or postings that I may post. For more money news, facts and ideas, follow me on Facebook, or Twitter. Thank you!