Dare to Change Life Coaching & Mentoring

Tag: appreciate money

  • 🎯☯ How to Align Your Energy with Financial Success

    🎯☯ How to Align Your Energy with Financial Success

    EVERYTHING IS ENERGY.

    And every object has its own vibrational frequency.

    Each of your thoughts has a different vibrational frequency and emotionalizing your thoughts makes them magnetic….

    And you can align your energy with the frequency of success and abundance.

    In this article, we’ll discuss HOW you can achieve this.

    Your Energy Vibration Frequency

    What I’m going to talk about today is one of the most important episodes of this show… Because it’s NOT enough to be good at money mechanics or even have healthy money beliefs and habits… Today we’ll go deeper… MUCH deeper.

    We live in a dual Universe – physical and metaphysical (spiritual). At the core of our spiritual reality is a field of ENERGY, often referred as a Quantum Field. Everything around you – people, buildings, furniture, cars, flowers and trees, thoughts and money – is ENERGY.

    EVERYTHING IS ENERGY.

    Each of your thoughts has a different vibrational frequency and emotionalizing your thoughts makes them magnetic….

    You can align your energy with the frequency of success and abundance.

    In this episode of the show, we’ll talk about HOW you can achieve this.

    Energy Vibration Frequency Codes

    Just a couple of years ago what I’m going to talk about would be called woo-woo… Well, some people may still think it’s the woo-woo….

    If that’s how you feel, it’s time to wake up!! J

    Just like your fingerprint is unique, each person has unique Energy Vibration Frequency.

    Vibration is the amplitude, or intensity, of energy. The higher the vibration, the more powerful the energy.

    Frequency is the rate at which energy vibrates. It can be measured in hertz (Hz).

    Your Energy Vibration Frequency is a result of an overall accumulation of your emotions, attitudes and responses to circumstances in your life.

    The lasting, intense thoughts and emotions lead to feelings.

    Your body stores the energy of your feelings.

    Your FEELINEGS expand the accumulated energy of your consciousness that eventually becomes your vibrational frequency.

    Negative emotions have very low energy vibration level and can really weigh you down or even lead to dis-ease.

    The energy vibration levels progress upward as you feel love, joy, and peace.

    By the way, despite the words emotions and feelings being used interchangeably, they are actually two different but connected phenomena.

    Emotions originate as sensations in a body, specifically, as chemical reactions in the body. Feelings are influenced by our emotions but are generated from our mental thoughts.

    Be aware of Your Frequency Vibration Code.

    OK, let me share with you an excerpt of a list of energy vibration codes associated with different emotions that I learned from my amazing spiritual mentor – Dr. David R. Hawkins – and his must-read book, “Power vs Force”:

     • Shame: energy level 20

    • Guilt: energy level 30

    • Grief: energy level 75

    • Fear: energy level 100

    • Anger: energy level 150

    • Pride: energy level 175

    • Courage: energy level 200

    • Neutrality energy level 250

    • Willingness: energy level 310

    • Acceptance: energy level 350

    • Love: energy level 500

    • Peace: energy level 600

    • Enlightenment: energy level 700 – 1000

    For example, if you are angry most of the day, you have a low energy frequency that leads to feeling fatigued and prolongs the experience of low energy, which eventually spirals into depression and hopelessness.

    The lower your vibrational frequency, the more tired you feel. 

    I hope that having awareness of your energy vibrational frequency on a daily basis will inspire you to focus on positive emotions that will transform your vibration to higher levels.

    When you’re able to transform any negative energy emotions to the higher frequencies, you will feel more energized and optimistic.

    I invite you to develop a habit of consciously switching from negative low-frequency emotions to positive, higher frequency emotions.

    Yes, I realize that it’s not always easy. It appears that the human brain is wired to focus on negative experiences and possibilities…. That’s why so many people struggle with worries and anxiety about their future and fear uncertainty.

    However, I hope that knowing how shame, guilt, fear, and anger affect you in so many negative ways will motivate you to find ways to be more loving, kind, and optimistic.

    Be aware of Your Frequency Vibration Code.

    What Financial Freedom means to you?

    We often talk about Financial Freedom but it means different things for different people…

    What Financial Freedom means to you?

    How it will make you FEEL once you become financially Free?

    Pause and write it down into your journal…

    For me, Financial Freedom means…

    💰 Freedom from Financial Anxiety and Worries

    💰 Freedom to Choose WHAT I do

    💰 Freedom to Choose WHERE I live and work

    💰 Freedom to Choose WHO I spend time with

    💰 Freedom to Choose HOW I spend my time and money

    💰Freedom to Choose WHEN I work, rest or take vacations

    When I started my journey to financial Freedom, THAT’s how I wanted to feel and NOTHING was more important to me than feeling FREE.

    At that time I was separated, lived in a tine rundown apartment in Hoboken, NJ, exhausted my savings on building the real estate investing business that crushed in 2008.…

    I was NOT the person whose energy frequency vibration was aligned with abundance, Prosperity and Freedom.…

    I judged and doubted myself, I was focusing on problems (and, of course, had more problems because what you focus on, expands), I felt like a victim…

    Needless to say, I had a long way to go to aligning my energy with the person who can experience abundance and freedom.

    I had to develop and Aptitude for Success, especially financial success!

    And eventually got it (after years of zigging and zagging!) and want to share with today top 6 Essential Elements of Aligning Your Energy Vibration with Financial Success and Abundance Consciousness.

    6 Essential Elements of Aligning Your Energy Vibration with Financial Success and Abundance Consciousness

    1.    Self-empowerment (vs victimhood): You cannot create Wealth and freedom in your life if you don’t feel that you are capable to do so; Feeling sorry for yourself, feeling like a victim is NOT how you achieve financial success in life.

    2.    Financial responsibility (vs ignorance): You must take responsibility for your life. Blaming others or your bad luck assumes that you are not in control of your choices and decisions in life… You must take responsibility for your financial future and learn the financial know-how: how to earn, manage and grow your money.

    3.    Attitude of Gratitude (vs entitlement): Nobody owes you anything… Appreciate EVERYTHING that you have at the moment – there are people out there who would love to have what you have… Besides, “What you appreciate – appreciates!”

    4.    Clear Intentions (vs fogginess): be aware of your Intentions! You transform your reality thru clear Intentions and elevated emptions; Have a journal, write down your wishes and desires; create a “Dream-board”.

    5.    Focus (vs not having sense of priorities): Be mindful what you focus on because what you focus on – expands! FOCUS on what Works in your life already AND FOCUS on SOLUTIONS while acknowledging the problems you’re experiencing.

    6.    Mindfulness about Your Feelings (vs allowing your low-frequency feelings get out of hand): Be mindful of low frequency emotions. If feel angry or frustrated, acknowledge how you feel yet remember that YOU can choose to shift your focus and shift your emotions. It’s impossible to feel petty for yourself and grateful at the same time.

    Final words…

    Any low energy level emotions are a habitual reaction that you have developed over a prolonged period of time.

    It has created anchoring triggers that automatically bring on the emotion.

    Whenever you notice that you are in a negative emotional energy pattern, pause and make a conscious effort to release your stored low frequency emotions and raise your vibrational frequency.

    There’re many different ways to accomplish this.

    I use “Inhale Peace and Love” method for myself and my clients.

    To your Health, Wealth, and Freedom!

    Millen Livis

  • Odd Holiday Message

    Odd Holiday Message

    Decide to change your financial reality, become confident and competent with money by learning how to align your mind with your desires, how to manage and invest your money

    I believe you’re reading this because you’re not where you want to be financially in your life.

    Because there’s a gap between your aspirations and your current financial reality.

    Yes?

    And I also suspect you have tried to change your financial situation before. Probably a few times….

    Tight budgeting? Done.

    Money mindset program(s)? Done.

    Dabbling with stock investing? Done.

    Investing in your own business? Done.

    You may feel like you’ve tried so many things already yet without a dent in your bank account’s balance, let alone an improvement in your financial new worth.

    Does it sound a little like you or someone you know?

    You’re so not alone!

    I certainly can relate…

    It was December 2008… I was sitting in front of my computer in my small rental apartment…after massive losses in my investment business, car accident, divorce…

    Feeling hurt, scared and overwhelmed, looking at my bank account balance (after paying the divorce attorney)…and thinking:

    “How the hell did I get here? How did I get to this financial mess?? And is there a way out from here?

    Well, I now know that the answer is an unequivocal YES!

    I just couldn’t see things clearly at that time – I was too close to my troubles, really stressed and focused on what wasn’t working in my life (which felt like EVERYTHING during that time).

    Look…whatever your financial situation may be right now, it’s NOT the end of your life story. It’s just a chapter and…likely, a wake-up call.

    There is always a way out and way forward if you choose to make real change, instead of ignoring the need for change by putting another Band-aid on the situation…

    Change is not something that most people seek or welcome when there is not enough “pain.”

    Change is often uncomfortable, unpredictable, and even scary (because it’s unknown).

    And it seems that human nature is such that we delay/avoid/ignore a need for changes in our lives until things get really ugly.

    Until we get so uncomfortable/hurt/disturbed that we can no longer go on with businesses as usual.

    Why am I talking to you today, during the holiday season, about the real change?

    Because I see too often that people wait…and wait…and wait until they lose their health, relationship, money, hope…

    Because this is the time of the year (Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year) to MAKE TIME and reflect on your life experiences.

    It’s the time of the year to make plans and contemplate what you want to let go of, what you want to have more of, and what you want to accomplish next year…

    So, I encourage your to MAKE TIME for yourself, print and use my Wealth Planner (click HERE to download it right now) and really immerse yourself into  “your mind’s journey” that this Wealth Planner takes you on.

    Create a BIG picture for your journey to Financial Independence:

    1. Start with WHAT you want to create/experience;
    2. Dig out the skills and experiences you already have and those you may need to upgrade/acquire;
    3. Outline money habits you’ve got to change, old thinking patterns that must stop and the new ones you want to practice more;
    4. Assess your environment and inner circle (what/who do you want to keep and what/who to let go?);
    5. Decide what changes you want to see in your physical and emotional body.

    If you feel like “I know it already”, consider that this Wealth Planner is a tool to “re-mind” your old conditioned mind so that you allow yourself to snap from  “survival” or “just enough” state and leap to elegant joyful State of Creation.

    So, yeah, this is my “odd holiday message” to you.

    Let me know how it lands on you. What resonated? What frustrated? What inspired?

    To your Peace, Power and Prosperity!

    P. S. Some REALLY cool Wealth trainings are coming your way in 2020. But I have something SPECIAL FOR YOU RIGHT NOW! 

    Something that would help you JUMP START Your Investing Journey OR RE-CALIBRATE it for better RESULTS.

    I am talking about The Wealth Collection Holidays’ Special – a bundle of my most transformational and insightful programs that focus on helping you make your money work for you. 

    AND you can own LIFETIME access to these programs with the incredible 70% OFF (SAVING $700) if you ACT by January 1, 2020! 

    Wanna look what’s inside?

    Check it out here: 
    WEALTH COLLECTION HOLIDAYS’ SPECIAL

  • Your Big Badass Dream Plane & THREE Levers to Upgrade Your Financial Life

    Your Big Badass Dream Plane & THREE Levers to Upgrade Your Financial Life

    What would it take for you to feel wealthy?

    How many millions?

    Or maybe just having “more than enough”?How many homes/yachts/planes?Or maybe just having more choices?How many children/husbands/lovers? (OK, this topic is for anothertime/place… LOL)Or maybe just having more free time, working less?Obviously, being wealthy means different things to different people…And it’s great to have Audacious BIG Badass Dreams.And my question to you is: “Are you actually ready to bring your currentfinances into harmony with your BIG Badass Dreams?”Because dreaming BIG is great! However, in order to take this BIG BadassDream plane off the ground, you’ve got to get very clear about it (is it REALLYworth the efforts?), then map your way forward and learn to pilot it, so youcreate the momentum.Because if you don’t… well, let’s stay positive here.So, what is your “BIG Badass Dream” plane?What do you REALLY want for yourself and your loved ones?

    Can you describe it as if you were living it in the present moment?What do you do, what do you feel and see, where do you live, who are youwith?Make time and space for yourself to “normalize” your Big Badass Dream –make it SO NORMAL that you start embodying this dream!Then you can get to map your way forward.How do you map your way forward?By mapping your money according to your desired level of financial fitnessand using three cash flow levers to accomplish your desired results.Money Mapping is about discerning what’s REALLY important to you in life(and this may change as you go through different phases in life) and thendesigning your lifestyle so that it supports your values and your BIG dream.Money Mapping is Budgeting 2.0, because it’s NOT just about counting everypenny you spend on groceries. That’s tedious and unnecessary for mostpeople.Money Mapping is about you focusing on your BIG Badass Dream, translating itinto numbers, then reverse-engineering it into the money map so that yourlifestyle and choices are coherent with your goals.In my programs, I talk about 4 stages of Financial Fitness:1. Less than enough2. Just enough3. More than enough4. AffluenceYOU DECIDE what financial fitness level is next for you. THAT will determineyour spending patterns, your saving patterns and your investing patterns.That’s what the money mapping is for.

    My clients come to me at different levels of financial fitness spectrum and withvery different ambitions. And they ALL evolve to much higher but differentfinancial fitness levels. Because they have different definitions of “wealth.”That’s why I asked you at the beginning “What would it take for you to feelwealthy?” Your answer will determine your specific money map.In other words, your answer to this question (which only YOU know theanswer to), will guide your choices and financial decisions.For example, you may have a BASIC money map (to track your money, youcan use an Excel spreadsheet or an app) that reflects just basic needs(groceries, rent, utilities) and paying off debt. This may support a simplelifestyle, living debt-free, in a rural area, and have less pressure…Then you can create another COMFORTABLE money map that will includesome comfort items like massage, mani & padi, trips, restaurants, privatecoaching, etc.Finally, you can create another AFFLUENT money map that will cover allyour intentions and desires – from millions in the bank, to having a personalchef, jet-setting to French Riviera, and having vacation homes in resort-likelocations.Having these money maps will help you “land” your BIG BADASS DREAMplane with concrete numbers that will back it up, support your desired lifestyle.Finally, the time for the HOW question. What levers do you have to controlyour cash flow and upgrade your financial fitness?I invite you to consider these THREE levers to control your cash flow:1. Income2. Budget (pattern of spending)3. DebtAnd here are THREE ways that you can use to improve your cash flow:1. Identify your current ‘financial leaks” and make necessary adjustments.2. Brainstorm and uncover additional long-term sources of in-coming cash.3. Brainstorm and uncover immediate prospects for incoming cash flow.In summary: You Big Badass Dream can be your reality. Being FinancialIndependent is NOT a pipe dream. You’ve got to get your money map inplace, get strategic about your choices and get this plane onto the runway,ready to take off.

    With love, health and wealth

    P.S. If you feel sick and tired of being restricted by money, feeling worryingabout your retirement, anxious about investing – let’s connect! Here’s the linkto schedule a complimentary Money Breakthrough session with Millen.What do you have to lose? Fear, money anxiety, indecisiveness. What youcan gain? Clarity, direction, specific strategies and concrete steps to moveforward.

  • 7 Steps to Regain Control Over Your Money: Step #7 – Be strategic with your money

    7 Steps to Regain Control Over Your Money: Step #7 – Be strategic with your money

    You work hard for your money – whether you are an employee or a business owner – you want to make more money. Right?

    Well, how about managing your money strategically so that your money works for you and your family?!

    That’s what Step 7 is about – BEING STRATEGIC with your money!

    Here are some aspects of being strategic:

    1. Diversify your investments to maximize your results.

    If you want to be a good investor you’ve got to know how to manage risk because ANY investment entails risk.

    And diversification is one of the most important risk strategies.

    When it comes to managing risk to maximize your return, it pays to diversify.

    First, you can diversify among the four major asset classes: cash, stocks, bonds and real estate.

    Once you decide on the amounts to allocate to these four main investment classes, it is important to diversify within each asset.

    This means buying multiple stocks within a variety of industries, holding bonds of varying maturities, having different real estate properties in different locations.

    In other words, don’t put all your golden eggs in one basket.

    Also, don’t make the mistake of putting most or all of your money in “safe” investments like savings accounts, CDs and money market funds.

    Over the long term, inflation and taxes will “eat up” the purchasing power of your money in these “safe investments”.

    All investments involve some trade-off between risk and return.

    Diversification reduces unnecessary risk by spreading your money among a variety of investments.

    Besides diversification, the single most effective investment strategy is to invest continuously over time, with a long-term perspective.

     

    2. Grow your money by taking advantage Of tax-deferred Investments.

    If your employer has a tax-deferred investment plan like a 401(k) or 403(b), use it!

    Often, employers will match your investment.

    And even if they don’t, no taxes are due on your contributions or earnings until you retire and begin withdrawing the funds.

    Tax-deferred savings mean that your investments can grow much faster than they would otherwise.

    The same logic applies to IRAs, although the maximum amount you can invest annually in an IRA is substantially less than what you can put in a 401(k) or 403(b).

     

    3. Use the protection provided by insurance

    It’s wise to protect yourself, your family and your money by having an adequate insurance coverage.

    A major lawsuit, unexpected illness or accident can be financially devastating if you lack proper insurance.

    The key to insurance is to cover only financial losses so large that you could not cope with them and remain financially fit.

    If someone is dependent on your income, you must have adequate life insurance.

    Long-term disability coverage is important as long as you need employment income.

    Also, be sure to carry adequate liability coverage on your home and auto policies.

    To save on annual premiums, you may choose to raise your insurance deductible.

    And whenever you purchase insurance – life, home, disability, or auto – be sure to shop around, and buy only from a reputable firm that has a history of being solvent and paying insurance claims.

     

    4. Plan your financial legacy

    You want to have a will to ensure that your funds, property and personal items will be distributed according to your wishes.

    A will is a legal document that ensures that your assets will be given to family members or other beneficiaries you choose.

    Having a will is especially important if you have young children because it gives you the opportunity to assign a guardian for them in the event of your death.

    Although wills are simple to create, about half of all Americans die without a will.

    With no will to indicate your wishes, the court steps in and distributes your funds and property according to the laws of your state.

    To prepare a will, take an inventory of your assets, outline your objectives and determine to which friends and family you wish to pass your possessions to.

    Then, when drafting a will, be sure to include a name of a guardian for your children, name of an executor, and an alternate beneficiary.  

    Once your will is drafted, you won’t have to think about it again unless your wishes or your financial situation change substantially.

    And that’s a wrap for the mini-class series “7 Steps to Regain Control Over Your Money.”

    Share your insights and questions in the comments!

    To your Health, Wealth and Freedom

    P.S. Join me for a game-changing training – Financial Freedom Game Plan Masterclass. No credit card required! Reserve your spot HERE:

    http://daretochangelife.com/financial-freedom-gameplan/

     

  • 7 Steps to Regain Control Over Your Money: Step #6 – Shop Smart

    7 Steps to Regain Control Over Your Money: Step #6 – Shop Smart

    Women shop differently than men. In general, women tend to love shopping and many see it as an entertaining activity. They are more likely to make impulsive purchases and often take advantage of special offers.

    Men mostly buy just what they need right now – they go with a clear idea of what they are looking for and try to spend as little time as possible.

    Can you relate?

    In order to spend less and save more, especially as a woman, you’ve got to become a savvy shopper. It’s not difficult. And the tips that I’m going to share with you here will help you buy what you need, spend less and save more. That’s what I call smart shopping.  

    You can save substantial amounts of cash when you become intentional shopper as opposed to emotional shopper.  

    Ready?  

    Here are EIGHT TIPS for SAVVY SHOPPING:

    1. Plan your purchases in advance

    Plan your purchase. Pause and get really clear about: Why do you need it? Where will you put it? What will you use it for? Who will use it?

    If you don’t have compelling answers to these questions you will realize that you don’t really need to buy it at this time.

    If you feel strong about your decision to buy the item, plan the day to go shopping and enjoy the fact that you made an intentional decision to buy it, not an impulsive one.

    2. Have a budget for your purchase

    Have an approximate amount that you intend to spend on this purchase. This will help you be intentional about the amount you’re willing to pay and not get carried away with whatever price you see on the label.

    Does it require some financial discipline? Yes. And it’s a good habit to have if you want to be a Wealth Builder instead of Wealth Consumer.

    3. Pay in full (cash or debit card)

    When you are in a store and you see something that you really want or need, it’s easy to pull out a credit card and pay whatever the price may be.

    However, if you are using cash or a debit card to purchase the item, you’ll have more awareness about the price that you’re about to pay because your amount is limited by the cash in your wallet or by the amount in your bank account.

    4. Buy older iterations of products  

    Retail price of the latest version of a product is always higher than the previous years model, whether it’s a phone, a TV or a car.While the newer version may have more features, you’re paying a premium price for these new features if you buy the product on release-day.

    The same model will be priced significantly lower in just a year or two, so waiting a little longer can be quite lucrative. You may save hundreds or even thousands when you weigh the benefits of saving money on buying a good, but not the latest model of the product.

    5. Shop for clothing during the end-season

    You like to look like a “million bucks”? Great! And it doesn’t have to cost you that much! You can find significant markdowns on clothing prices—50% or more—during the end of the season for clothes. 

    Retailers cut prices to get rid of things that are going out of season. It may worth your money to wait a few months to buy clothes you like at prices your wallet will love!

    6. Don’t be fooled by marketing

    Stores are designed to entice you to spend money. Their strategies are subtle and effective. 

    Most use different lighting effects, colors, music, and items displayed in a certain way to entice you into buying more than you intended to when you came to the store. The same applies to online shopping – additional items are suggested to you when you buy anything.

    Don’t fall for any of it. Be clear about what you came to the store to buy so you won’t get dazzled into overspending or buying something you didn’t plan for.

    Buy quality items that are offered at discounted price but only if you need and want them, not simply because of the decreased price.

    Finally, remember that sales people are trained to make you buy! It’s a good idea to ask questions about products, but don’t let them persuade you into buying it there and then. Take your time to make measured decisions.

    7. Negotiate

    Very few people realize that you can negotiate many products’ prices with a seller!

    Let’s say, you have decided on an item you want. You have found the best price, you chose your timing right, and you are ready to pay for it.

    But wait! Always ask for “the best possible price” wherever you are or whatever you are buying. What is the worst that can happen?

    Sometimes when the seller cannot offer any additional discount on the product, you may get a discount on a service or another item that you need to buy too! Negotiation is a great skill that you can develop and practice when you shop!

    8. Be mindful of timing when you travel

    Prices on hotels, vacation rentals, airfare, and even rental cars are often much higher during certain days of the week, school and college breaks, and national holidays.

    The travel industry knows that most people like to leave for vacation on Fridays and come back on Sundays. That’s why these days the prices on airfare, vacation rentals and hotels are higher.  

    Be smart and adjust your travel timeline so that you get a better deal. Shop around for plane tickets to fly out on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday to take advantage of lower prices.  

    Also, the plane tickets usually cost less when bought in advance – plan your air travel in advance. Do price comparison for your favorite travel destinations to reduce your travel expenses further.

    The Bottom Line: From shopping for groceries to shopping for a weekend getaway, spending money is a side effect of shopping (Get savvy about it!

    Next time you’re browsing in a store or online, think about these 8 tips to be a savvy shopper.

    To your Health, Wealth and Freedom!

    P.S. Have you registered yet for my brand new training – Unpack Your Debt?

    This is a 5-day LIVE bootcamp where I’ll share the TRUTH about DEBT and show you the WAY OUT. 

    You can access this LIVE training FREE if you register before February 25th! Click HERE to Register NOW 

  • 7 Steps to Regain Control Over Your Money: Step #5 – Pay Yourself First

    7 Steps to Regain Control Over Your Money: Step #5 – Pay Yourself First

    In step #4 we talked about tracking your money, remember?

    If you don’t know where your money goes, if you don’t have ANY mechanism (call it budget, call it a money tracker, call it whatever) – you don’t have control over your money. Money controls you!

    You may feel that you have to make more and more money to live.

    Yes?

    What if you could spend less so you won’t need to work more to make more?

    And if you feel that you’ve already trimmed your budget to the bare minimum, then it’s possible that it’s time to look for an additional source of income.

    Ok, that was a quick reminder of key #4 – Track Your Money

    Now the next, step #5, is to Pay Yourself First.

    There’re THREE Aspects in this step:

    1. Pay Yourself First

    So, once you figure out how you can better control your optional spending, your unnecessary expenses (your “wants”), the next important money habit to develop is to pay yourself before you pay anyone else!

    For many people, a good way to start saving regularly is to have a small amount transferred automatically from paycheck to a savings account.

    In other words, have some savings automatically set aside!

    If you don’t see it, you don’t miss it.

    How much can you set aside?

    The common suggestion is between 5 and 10 percent of your gross annual income.

    Of course, this can be much harder than it sounds.

    So, if you’re currently living paycheck to paycheck without clear opportunity to increase your income in the near future, begin by paying yourself with WHAT YOU CAN now. It could be one percent of your income, or $20, $50, $100.

    ANYTHING is better than nothing. Train yourself to allocate consistent contributions toward your savings. That’s the goal here.

    The next question: what is the purpose of these savings?

    Here are a couple of suggestions:

    2. Maintain an Emergency or “Peace of Mind Fund”

    Before you commit your newfound savings to ANY investments (ALL investments involve risk), make sure you have at least three to six months’ worth of your lifestyle expenses saved in an emergency (aka peace of mind) fund.

    Life happens to all of us; cars need repairs, houses need maintenance, medical emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances.

    Keeping your emergency fund liquid will ensure that you don’t have to panic and sell your investments when their prices are down, and guarantees that you can always get to your money quickly.

    If you have trouble deciding how much you need to keep on hand, begin by considering the standard expenses you have in a month.

    If you have dependents (e.g. kids, parents, etc.), you’ll want to keep more money in your emergency fund to offset the greater risk.

    Once you fill your emergency fund, you can redirect money to your investments.

    3. Give yourself an allowance

    Here’s the fun part. Once you get to the point that your basic expenses and savings needs are met, you can decide how much money you want to spend guilt-free on anything you want (like shopping, eating out or entertainment).

    You and your spouse can have that amount in cash each month but when the money runs out, it’s gone until the following month.

    Anything you don’t spend can be carried over.

    This may add some fun and money flexibility into your relationship because neither of you can question how the other spends their allowance.

    Leave a comment and let me know what resonated with you and what you want to implement into your life right away.

    To your Health, Wealth, and Freedom!

    For more resources on various financial topics, check this page on my website:

    WORK WITH MILLEN

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