http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl.html Secrets to Solvency www.destroydebt.com Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:29:47 GMT webmaster@destroydebt.com webmaster@destroydebt.com http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl/449-your-relationship-with-money.html http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl/449-your-relationship-with-money.html Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:29:47 GMT I got to thinking about how my relationship with money has evolved over the past year from being in debt and not making a lot of money, to getting almost completely out of debt and making a lot more income. I realized it began when I read the book, The Secret while I was on maternity leave with my...
I realized it began when I read the book, The Secret while I was on maternity leave with my daughter. I also watched the movie, The Secret online, which was very inspiring. Now, I’m in no way trying to “plug” this book, and I won’t receive one cent if you go out and buy it right now.

Nevertheless, I thought I would share this on Destroydebt.com since the focus is to get out of debt and live better “within our means.”

But what if living “within your means” was exactly what got you into debt in the first place? What I mean by this is, what if you were trying to live within your means, but there were things you either wanted or needed (a new couch, medical or dental expenses, being out of work on an unpaid maternity leave for eight weeks, etc.), and you were forced to take out the ol’ credit card?

I actually stumbled across The Secret totally by accident, but I think Rhonda Byrne would disagree and say I attracted it to me. My sister and I were going through a box of our grandparents’ old things that our mom sent to us. Our mom threw in her own copy of The Secret. It looked intriguing; my sister wasn’t interested, so I shrugged my shoulders and took it home – not realizing it was going to alter my life forever. I’m not being dramatic here. Just hear me out.

That was in October of 2007 actually. I read the book and wanted more, so I went online and paid a measly couple of bucks to see the movie.

The main point of the Secret is to alter your way of thinking about money, relationships, what you want, life, etc., to the point where you are attracting all the things you want. This sounds pretty far-fetched, but when I started applying The Secret principles in my life, amazing things began to happen.

First of all, I read this quote in the book by John Assaraf:

“The simplest way for me to look at the law of attraction is if I think of myself as a magnet, and I know that a magnet will attract to it.”

The book goes on to say, “ You are the most powerful magnet in the Universe!”

Half way through the book, my new mantra became, “I am a money magnet,” and I envisioned money literally flowing to me every day.

Next thing I know, I am getting checks left and right from all sorts of places: One person wanted to buy a book set I had; another wanted to hire me as a freelance editor for their reports; I got a nice tax refund, and many other similar things.

By June of the following year, only six months after reading the book, we had paid off all but one credit card, we went to Disneyland, and we stashed away a couple thousand dollars too.

Now, things aren’t perfect yet, and I’m not a millionaire, but I can honestly say that every time I remember to use the tips I learned in The Secret, good things start happening.

What I think it all comes down to is simply the power of thinking – positively. Don’t confuse this with being a naïve optimist either. You can’t wish for things to get better or to win the lottery; there are actions you need to take to improve your situation. But if you focus on the negative, you will get negative.

My words of advice: Decide to focus on the positive and get the feeling that you already have it. Then take proactive steps to make it happen. I’d be interested to hear other people’s thoughts on the subject too!

   ]]> http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl/434-4-easy-ways-to-save-up-to-900-month.html http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl/434-4-easy-ways-to-save-up-to-900-month.html Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:50:50 GMT These tips are designed with a family of four in mind, so you will need to adjust the figures to fit your own personal situation. 1.    Buy Generic Brands. From groceries to socks, if you switched over to the generic brands, you could save up $50 each week at the checkout stand. Th...
1.    Buy Generic Brands. From groceries to socks, if you switched over to the generic brands, you could save up $50 each week at the checkout stand.

The major brands pay big bucks to market their brand of “whatever”. That cost gets deferred to you, the consumer. Most generic brands are virtually the same as the name-brand merchandise. Check the labels and see for yourself.

2.    Skip the Coffee Shop on Your Morning Commute. The average specialty coffee drink costs up to $3. Try making your own at home and using a travel mug. You can even buy the flavored syrups at your local grocery store if you crave the extra fluff. That’s a savings of up to $15 each week.

Give yourself one cheat day a week. Mondays are probably the best day to cheat since it’s hard enough just to pull ourselves out of bed on Mondays.

3.    Eat Dinner Out Only Once a Week. The average family of four spends between $25 and $60 each time they eat out. They eat out an average of three nights a week. If you cut back to eating out only one night a week, you could save up to $120 a week!

The two main reasons people eat out are, 1) They are bored with the same old thing, and 2) They are starving and want to eat at home, but they do not have enough of the right ingredients to make a full meal at home. So, it really comes down to convenience.

To make eating at home more convenient, gather a variety of recipes that please everyone (or almost everyone), make detailed shopping lists that include the items needed for the recipes, and plan out which recipe to make on which night. This can be both fun and creative.

4.    Pack a Lunch For Work. The average cost for eating a lunch out is between $5 and $7, including a drink. Again, this can be extremely convenient, but there are at least three good reasons to packing your own lunch each day.

a.    It’s healthier. Eating out can oftentimes lead to eating foods that are deep fried, not as fresh, and mass-produced.
b.    It’s faster. You don’t have to wait in line and then wait again for your food to be prepared. This will give you more time during lunch hour to read, take a walk, or write that novel you’ve always wanted to write.
c.    It’s cheaper. For each working member of the household, you can plan on saving up to $49 a week if you pack a lunch at home.

Just as in the last two tips, you should give yourself one cheat day a week. May I again suggest Mondays? Everyone dreads Mondays. Make Monday your cheat day so you at least have a few things to look forward to after the weekend is over.]]> http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl/382-5-inexpensive-ways-to-have-fun.html http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl/382-5-inexpensive-ways-to-have-fun.html Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:50:41 GMT So, you're on a budget, and you think you and your family can't have any fun, right? Think again. There are a lot of great ways to have fun, live a full life, and keep the kids entertained without having to shell out the big bucks. Try these five tips: 1. Are you a movie lover? For a family of fou...
Try these five tips:

1. Are you a movie lover? For a family of four, a trip to the movies can cost as much as $30 before concessions. With concessions, you are looking at a total of $50-60. Instead, go to a matinee or wait until the movie plays at a second-run theater. These little mom-and-pop theaters are a great way to enjoy a movie without paying full price. Try to eat before going so you can skip the concession stand altogether. Movie theaters make most of their profits from the popcorn and candy you buy at the concession stand.

2. Or, you can skip going out to the movies completely, and pay for Netflix or Blockbuster's monthly movie-mail subscription. This way you can rent all the movies you want, walk as far your mailbox to get them (saving on gas), and not worry about late fees. Plus, you can make or buy your own concessions and still have that "movie theater" experience without the hassle of fighting for parking.

3. Like the great outdoors? Try a put-put golf course. You don't even need your own clubs! Clubs are usually included with your entry fee. If golf is not your thing, pay a visit to the zoo, the museum, the aquarium or the swimming pool. Most of these facilities offer discount admission times, or even free days!

4. Eat out during Happy Hour at restaurants. A lot of restaurants and pubs offer Happy Hours, typically from 4-6pm daily, as a way to drum up business during their slow times. Many pubs are family friendly, so you can take the kids and eat a full meal but only pay half the price of what you would pay an hour or two later.

5. Visit your local park or beach. Pack a picnic lunch, take along some bikes or balsa wood airplanes, and spend a few hours enjoying a free afternoon relaxing. Even in the winter months, parks and beaches can be a fun place to play. Create a scavenger hunt, explore the tide pools or do a little hiking to keep warm.

These are just a few tips for having fun on a budget. With a little thought, you can come up with some great ideas yourself. Search through your local parenting magazines or newspapers. Periodicals like these usually have sections that list free or inexpensive events for families. The important part is having fun while creating memories that will last a lifetime!]]> http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl/370-change-your-thoughts-and-you-change-your-world.html http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/rachelkarl/370-change-your-thoughts-and-you-change-your-world.html Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:59:15 GMT Consider the above quote by Norman Vincent Peale, an American clergyman who lived to be 95 years old. I think anytime someone who lives that long, says something that profound, he is worth listening to. Although there are countless other wise sayings out there, I wanted to take this quote and relat... Norman Vincent Peale, an American clergyman who lived to be 95 years old. I think anytime someone who lives that long, says something that profound, he is worth listening to.

Although there are countless other wise sayings out there, I wanted to take this quote and relate it in terms of becoming financially solvent.

Most of us think about "getting out of debt," being "debt-free," and other similar phrases. When we think thoughts like these, we are constantly putting the word "debt" front and center in our minds. This is because we are focusing on the debt. Okay, yes, I know this entire site is dedicated to Destroying Debt, so what I'm saying is a bit of a contradiction.

Nevertheless, why not shift your thinking to let go of thoughts that focus on debt, and focus instead on positive phrases? Studies show that positive thinking actually increases a persons success potential. For example, instead try thinking the following:

* I pay all my bills on time.
* I am a master at following a budget.
* I have more than enough money now because I followed my budget.

Moreover, you have to not only think positive thoughts, but you also have to believe them. That's where the trick comes in.

Of course this doesn't mean you are going to go out and start spending freely just because you are now thinking freely, but little by little you will actually be able to shift your entire financial situation around just by focusing on the positive. It takes positive thought and positive action (such as the wonderful suggestions in the blogs on this site).

Give it try and see what happens!]]>