Saving and Investing Success

    Who hasn't lost money in the stock market? Or on that seemingly ideal investment? Don't let fear of losing get in the way of your success!
 
    We've all made our fair share of financial mistakes. If you are saving and investing chances are better than average that you're going to make financial mistakes, too. Everybody does. Look on the bright side and learn from your mistake(s). Do all you can to avoid repeating your mistakes.

    The lessons you learn can be a big benefit over the long haul.

    Do your research! Be careful who you trust. Study the success stories of others - check out how Warren Buffet made his fortune. History is filled with stories of financial success stories.

Be patient - don't expect to hit a home run with every investment you make.

Take advantage of compound interest - leave your earnings to keep earning even more. While it is never too late to start saving and investing - the earlier you start, the better your odds for lasting financial security! Start saving your money early!

   

GoodNest

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school.  He didn't want his mother to walk with him.  She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.

So she had an idea of how to handle it.. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her..

Her neighbor said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that
lady following us to school all week?"  "Do you know her?"

Timmy nonchalantly replied,  'Yeah, I know who she is.'

The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'

'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'

'Shirley Goodnest?   Who the heck is she and why is she following us? '

'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the
days of my life',  so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you,and give you peace.

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.

When you are down to nothing ... God is up to something.

Laugh Often

A hearty laugh is more desirable for mental health than any exercise of the reasoning faculties.


Grief, anxiety, and fear are great enemies of human life. A depressed, sour, melancholy soul, a life which has ceased to believe in its own sacredness, its own power, its own mission, a life which sinks into querulous egotism or vegetating aimlessness, has become crippled and useless.

We should fight against every influence which tends to depress the mind, as we would against a temptation to crime. It is undoubtedly true that, as a rule, the mind has power to lengthen the period of youthful and mature strength and beauty, preserving and renewing physical life by a stalwart mental health.

I read the other day of a man in a neighboring city who was given up to die; his relatives were sent for, and they watched at his bedside. But an old acquaintance, who called to see him, assured him smilingly that he was all right and would soon be well. He talked in such a strain that the sick man was forced to laugh; and the effort so roused his system that he rallied, and he was soon well again.

Was it not Shakespere who said that a light heart lives long?

Eliminate Worry

   "It is not work that kills men," said a famous philosopher; "it is worry.

   Work is healthy; you can hardly put more on a man than he can bear. But worry is rust upon the blade. It is not movement that destroys the machinery, but friction."

    Helen Hunt says there is one sin which seems to be everywhere, and by everybody is underestimated and quite too much overlooked in valuations of character. It is the sin of fretting. It is as common as air, as speech; so common that unless it rises above its usual monotone we do not even observe it.

    Watch any gathering of people, and we see how many minutes it will be before somebody frets—that is, makes more or less complaint of  something or other, which probably every one in the room, or car, or on the street corner knew before, and which most probably nobody can help.

    Why say anything about it? It is cold, it is hot, it is wet, it is dry, somebody has broken an appointment, ill-cooked a meal; stupidity or bad faith somewhere has resulted in discomfort. There are plenty of things to fret about. It is simply astonishing, how much annoyance and discomfort may be found in the course of every-day living, even of the simplest, if one only keeps a sharp eye out on that side of things.

   Some people seem to be always hunting for deformities, discords and shadows, instead of beauty, harmony and light. We are born to trouble, as sparks fly upward. But even to the sparks flying upward, in the blackest of smoke, there is a blue sky above, and the less time they waste on the road, the sooner they will reach it.

   Worry is all time wasted on the road.

    About two things we should never fret, that which we cannot help, and that which we can help. Better find one of your own faults than ten of your neighbor's.


    It is not the troubles of to-day, but those of to-morrow and next week and next year, that whiten our heads and wrinkle our faces. Eliminate worry - eat healthy, laugh a little ( or a lot ), and get a little exercise every day!

True Love

True Love. ( A tale from D. L. Moody )

One day when I was in Brooklyn, I saw a young man going along the street without any arms. A friend who was with me, pointed him out, and told me his story. When the war broke out he felt it to be his duty to enlist and go to the front. He was engaged to be married, and while in the army letters passed frequently between him and his intended wife.

After the battle of the Wilderness the young lady looked anxiously for the accustomed letter. For a little while no letter was received. At last one came in a strange hand. She opened it with trembling fingers, and read these words: "We have fought a terrible battle. I have been wounded so awfully that I shall never be able to support you. A friend writes this for me. I love you more tenderly than ever, but I release you from your promise. I will not ask you to join your life with the maimed life of mine:"

That letter was never answered. The next train that left, the young lady was on it. She went to the hospital. She found out the number of his cot, and she went down the aisle, between the long rows of the wounded men. At last she saw the number, and, hurrying to his side, she threw her arms around his neck and said: "I'll not desert you. I'll take care of you."

He did not resist her love. They were married, and there is no happier couple than this one. We are dependent on one another. Christ says, "I'll take care of you. I'll take you to this bosom of mine." That young man could have spurned her love; he could, but he didn't.

Surely you can be saved if you will accept the Saviour's love. If God loves us, my friends, He loves us unto the end. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Start Saving Money for Retirement

    Are you saving enough of your hard earned money? Would you like to someday leave your 9 to 5 job and maybe enjoy life more? Maybe you'd like to spend more time enjoying life and less time stuck in that stressful job so many of us seem to have?
   
Without exception, retirement planners advise  pitching in as much as you can to your retirement plan. This is especially true if your employer contributes too. If your contributions are made by salary deduction, saving is easier to do and will be  almost painless. Contributing more means postponing, or "deferring," taxes until you withdraw the money at retirement.  When you reach retirement age you may be in a lower tax bracket.
 

    Catch-up provisions for some retirement plans allow you to contribute extra amounts if you're over 50. Information about 401(k) catch-up contributions is available from your retirement plan administrator or on the Internet. If your plan has a catch-up provision, act on it now.

    

    Staying employed as long as possible benefits your retirement finances in several ways. Having an income gives your retirement savings more time to grow. A regular income could mean more regular savings. If you work for a company that provides health insurance, you won't have to fully pay for a policy yourself.

    

    You don't have to stay at your same job if there are other opportunities. Maybe you want a new career, one that ties in to your personal interests. Longer life spans and better health mean many older people have the energy and enthusiasm employers are looking for, not to mention the skills and experience. Many people find the social benefits of working as important as the financial ones.

    The amount of your monthly Social Security benefit goes up the older you are when you start receiving it. For example, a 61-year-old man earning $60,000 in 2009 and eligible for his Social Security benefit at 62 would receive an additional $1,080 a year by waiting 1 year, until he is 63, to collect his benefits. On the other hand, retirees who are seriously ill, who need the money immediately, or who feel comfortable investing their monthly checks may choose not to wait.

In this example, the worker turning 62 in 2010 would have a full retirement age under Social Security of 66. At full retirement, his benefit will be $1,645. If, however, he starts to receive benefits at age 62, his monthly benefit would be reduced to $1,172. By waiting until age 70, his monthly benefit would be $2,281.

     Early retirement can  result in about the same total Social Security benefits over your lifetime, but in smaller amounts to take into account the longer period you will be receiving them.

    If you delay retirement beyond the full Social Security retirement age, you can earn retirement credits, increasing Social Security by a certain percentage (depending on date of birth) until you reach age 70. 

 

      No matter how old you are when you choose to retire,  remember to sign up for Medicare at age 65. If you don't (for example, because you have other coverage) you may be limited on when you can enroll later and may pay more in premiums.

    Want a less stressful, more worry-free retirement?  Focus on saving your money and adding to your nest egg. Investing your savings wisely More saving, more investing, and less spending will boost your confidence and your financial bottom line as you approach retirement!

    Its never too late to start saving your money! Try these money saving tips to help you save a little ( or a lot ) more of your hard earned money!
 

Share the Love and Have Your Best Year Ever!

Try these simple steps to help make this New Year your best ever!

1. Decide to be Happy. Ignore and forget the inevitable  stuff that gets in your way. Put negative thoughts and feelings aside as soon as you start feeling them. Instead, choose to turn them into a positive. Find the blessing or opportunity which more often than not is hidden  behind most of life's challenges! Keep your mind free of hate and negative thoughts. Find something pleasant to focus on! Life is short enough. Why waste even a moment on hate? You're in control. Decide to choose a happier life!

2. Get healthy. Choose to enjoy life more! Get at least 30 minutes of exercise - of your choosing - every day. Even if it's just a nice walk with your favorite loved one(s).  Want to lose some weight,  enjoy life more or achieve a better level of fitness? Kick it up to 45 minutes a day!

3. Turn off the TV for 30 minutes every day and read something positive. Or go to bed a little earlier and get a great night's sleep!  The point is - enjoy that TV a little less and all that life has to offer  a little more. You can always hear about the news tomorrow - or who won the latest round of your favorite talent show!

4. Get outside more - connect with nature. Breathe in some of that fresh air and contemplate the all the beauty nature has to offer!

5. Embrace the habit of eating healthy. Choose to avoid the drive thru lane of your local fat-food favorites. Eat more vegetables and fruit. More protein and less simple carbs ( like white bread and sugar). You and I both know the stuff we love can often be just a waste of calories. ( My weakness is donuts! )

6. Set a few simple and achievable goals. Write them down on paper. Or in your journal.  Experts say you have far better odds of reaching your written goals. Note the action plan or steps you'll need to take in order to reach those written goals.

7. Evaluate your progress and decide to adapt your goals or the steps you need to take to reach them. Take a few minutes each evening to decide what your priorities are for the following day. Every weekend or so - take an honest look at where you are. What's working and what maybe isn't worling so well?

8. Enjoy the Journey. Share some time with those you love. Or find someone new to enjoy this great life with. Try something new. Pick up a new sport or pasttime. Get out there and enjoy life. Life is short - You owe it to yourself to make the most of this wonderful gift!

9. Fail forward. Everyone misses their mark from time to time. We all fall down on occasion. Forgive yourself if you falter. Anyone who ever accomplished anything had to overcome obstacles. If you fall down or fail. No Worries! Get back up! Persist! Never Give Up!

10. Seek to Have More Fun. Laugh more! It's good for your mind and your heart! Find something funny to read or watch on the tube. What have you got to lose?  Except that frown on your face or those worrisome thoughts which get in everyone's way from time to time!  Remember that classic old song from the 80's -  Don't Worry, Be Happy!

And, finally - just one more thought - or bonus step. Learn to Love yourself and share your love with as many others as you can. Practice random acts of kindness as often as you can. Do it without anyone knowing if you can.  Spread your Love around!