You Hold The Key To Creating Balance In Your Life
I often chuckle at how hard so many of us seem to be working to find the ever elusive balance that we seek. Some of you are probably personally convinced and some days I am too. that balance simply does not really exist. Perhaps you have told yourself that having balance is simply one of those urban legends. Sort of like the Loch Ness Monster, you ve heard of it but never seen it. So what is balance. There are many definitions of balance. According to Webster s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, one definition of balance means to bring into harmony or proportion. Another is to bring to a state or position of equipoise. It doesn t take a rocket scientist to note the word poise in the word equipoise and that certainly sounds like something I d like more of. Wouldn t you. So, how do you get it. Simply put, you get balance by developing the ability to prioritize and focus on those things that are most important to you, and to let go of those things that aren t important to you. And, this requires that you have a personal definition of success, a clear understanding of your values, and a means for evaluating all of the demands on your time that you receive on a daily basis. You also...
Habits Can Build You, Or Kill You.
Habits are the most overlooked thing about life. One of my mentors taught me that People Form Habits, and Habits Form Futures. We go through our life creating sets of habits that in the end will create the life we want to live. We create this habits unconsciously. You might don t know but these habits are the things that are holding you back in life, so STOP blaming others for your failures. I wll give you few bad habits that you are probably conscious of right away. -Not returning phone calls on time. -Being late for meetings and appointments. -Having your cellphone ON all the time. -Answering the telephone during family mealtimes. These are just few of many others. Check yourself out by making a list of all the habits that keep you unproductive and not moving towards your goals. Take an hour or more so you can really think through this process, and plan it so you won t be interrupted. You can also ask for feedback. Talk to people you respect and admire, who knows you well. Ask them what they observe about your bad habits. What you are looking for here, is consistency. What do I mean by that, if you talk to 10 people and 8 of them tell you that you are always late to...
When Is A 1031 Exchange The Wrong Answer?
Maybe you see something better on the other side, or maybe you have problems with one of your current properties. But before diving into a 1031 exchange, consider why you want to exchange, and whether or not it will solve your problems. Property Management Problems - If you ve lost the taste for property management, would another location really change anything. Try hiring a manager. After all, tenant landlord problems exist everywhere even with higher priced properties. Tax Solutions - It s true that you can defer your payment of Capital Gain Taxes when you exchange some properties. But if the new property costs as much as the one you sold, then you ll probably see a property tax hike. Income Solutions - A powerful grass is greener temptation is when you start thinking one property will produce more cash than another. It s true that some will, but ask yourself why you re having problems now. Is it the property or the management. Lower tax rates and lower maintenance costs, are sometimes good reasons for a 1031 exchange. But if maintenance costs are high because of negligence, you ll find yourself with the same problem lacking a paddle in a new creek. Low Adjusted Basis - If...
Rising Interest Rates Can Work To Your Advantage
The news is filled with stories about people having difficulty making payments on their mortgages in the face of steady increases in interest rates. What was once a fabulous deal for them has quickly turned into an albatross, something that could threaten their financial viability. Lost in all of this are those people who not only benefit, but thrive during times of higher interest rates. How about you. Are higher interest rates working to your benefit or not. If you live on a fixed income, then you have suffered long enough with dismal returns on your savings. Likely, the bulk of your monies are tied up in a safe financial vehicle such as certificates of deposits. If so, then you suffered long enough with returns of 1.25 or so. Today, interest rates are climbing, so much so that a return of 4.5 , 5 or even higher is possible. This has meant an immense relief for people who live on interest income and want their savings to last them for the rest of their lives. Of course, not every financial institution is paying the higher rates so it is imperative that consumers shop around for the best returns. Recent rates on CDs show an average of just over five percent on CDs with terms...
Two Can Live More Cheaply Than One Consider A Roommate
If living expenses are eating up your budget, one of the most popular solutions is to find one or more roommates to share them. Rent for a multiple-bedroom apartment is usually not significantly higher than that of a single bedroom or studio unit. So actually, with a roommate to share the expenses, you re able to live much more cheaply. There are many places where you can find people who are also looking for roommates. Check the classified section of your newspaper and with acquaintances. Post a notice at your church, at work, or, if you re a college student, on a bulletin board at school. There are also several websites which focus on finding roommates and living accommodations. You must keep in mind that you ll be living closely with this person or persons so there are several things you should consider when choosing your roommate: Make sure that your schedules and interests will compliment each other. If you like a quiet life and your roommate loves to invite people in for impromptu parties, it s probably not a good mix. How you live is another issue that should be considered. If you re a neat freak and your prospective roommate is a slob, there will be problems. If you re...