From the category archives:

Self Improvement

Considering Jonah

by Alex on January 13, 2012

in Life Planning,Self Improvement

Have you ever thought about how Jonah relates to your finances? If not, you should.

For those who didn’t go to Sunday school as a kid, Jonah was one of God’s prophets. He came from a rich family and was a big deal prophet of God. [click to continue…]

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Have you heard these?

“Isn’t the average credit card debt something like $15,000?  My $12,000 isn’t all that bad, is it?”

“Yes, I pay $600 monthly on car payments, but everyone has car payments.”

I have — in fact I heard these two statements in the past two weeks:  people justifying their dismal financial standing by believing they are normal.  It reminds me of what my mother used to tell me, “Joey, if everyone jumps off a bridge, does it make it right for you to do the same thing?[click to continue…]

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Get in Shape in 2012 Without Breaking the Bank

December 28, 2011

This phrase usually makes its way onto New Year’s resolution lists every January:  “Get in shape.”  Another common one is “get rid of debt.”  The problem with these two goals is that, if not approached the right way, you could end up getting in even more debt and staying in the same shape that you [...]

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The Secret of Success

July 20, 2011

I heard a quote the other day that caused me to think about hard work in a new way. “The secret of success is to be like a duck – smooth and unruffled on top, but paddling furiously underneath.”  – author unknown. Do you ever feel like that?  How about those of you trying to [...]

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Are You Acting Like A Millionaire?

June 27, 2011

Are You Acting Like A Millionaire? I hope you are. Wait a minute.  That doesn’t sound right, does it?  Why would I say you should act like a millionaire?  Well, think about it for a second.  Millionaires are millionaires because they did something right with their money (most of them at least).  Imitating the success [...]

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Lessons From U.S. Open Champion Rory McIlroy

June 22, 2011

If you, like me, have ever blown your big moment, then you, like me, are inspired by Rory McIlroy’s record breaking performance during the recent U.S. Open.  Stick with me here – you don’t have to be a golf fan to appreciate what Rory did.

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Get Back On Track With Your Resolutions

June 13, 2011

You thought we forgot, didn’t you?  According to the New York Times, 80% of people who make resolutions on January 1 will fall off the wagon by Valentine’s Day.   Six weeks of keeping a resolution isn’t anything to brag about for most people.

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Christmas in June: My Vacation Post

June 6, 2011

On December 29, 2010, while our over the top gift exchange was still grating on me, I wrote “Rethinking Our Family Christmas Gift Exchange” — a post with several ideas of how to better celebrate Christ’s birthday without the accumulation of stuff.  One thought was to create memories instead of exchanging a bunch of crappola [...]

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Stewardship Baseball Part 1

May 20, 2011

Baseball season started last month, so I figured we could make a connection between a topic that puts people to sleep at conferences, as well as on the couch. Well it’s true!  How many stewardship lessons have you listened to without cracking a yawn?  As for baseball, I can get through a game, but if [...]

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Has the American Dream Become a Nightmare?

May 13, 2011

A reader recently shared these thoughts with me, “My husband and I are from the ‘great depression era’, which always meant if at all possible, don’t go in debt.  For the past 10 to 15 years we have watched people as they lived ‘the American Dream’. To us it was watching them as they lived [...]

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Want a Financial Certification? Got One Year?

May 6, 2011

In today’s competitive world of business, having certifications can help you to stand apart from the crowd.  In my opinion, experience usually trumps certifications, but that shouldn’t keep anyone from pursuing higher education and working towards a new certification.  Whether you’re finishing school with a business degree, getting started in the financial industry, or exploring [...]

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10 Free Online Personal Finance Tools

April 13, 2011

Are you trying to get a better handle on your finances? Would you like to establish a solid financial plan for your future? Whether you want to budget your money or invest it, there are a variety of online tools that can help you, and many of them are free. Compiled here is a list [...]

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