Tinker Buck the Norm - Financial Empowerment

Cupid Is As Cupid Does

2012-02-01T12:00:00Z

Tell me something, what do you think is the most amount of money you have spent on yourself or someone else? The reason I ask is because February is already here. For some of you, this means you may be buying a gift for that special someone. For others, they are thankful they don’t have to go through the so-called “traditions” of what is known as St. Valentine’s Day.

Some people like to make others feel special by giving them jewelry or an electronic item. What happened to a box of chocolates and a card? If you have the money to purchase a more expensive gift, hey, more power to you. Why not put a limit on gift purchasing? Why purchase a gift at all? The idea of this particular holiday is to show the person you love how you feel.

So, instead of buying each other elaborate gifts, how about spending some time together? Your wallet will thank you and you still show the love and appreciation for the other person. Be creative with it.

Tell me some of your cost-free date ideas that have in mind for this Valentine’s Day.

What's New With You

2012-01-25T12:00:00Z

Here we are at the end of January. How’s your new year’s resolution going so far? Hopefully still going good and strong! As for myself, I wanted to do something different rather than just having the ordinary fitness goal. I say ordinary because every year I have been trying to lose the same 15 pounds! I’m still trying.

Other than having a fitness goal, I never took the time to really see the other types of resolutions that could benefit my life. Every year, every month or even every day, we should always strive to accomplish a small goal. Having a goal can help us stay productive and organized, which means less stress in the future. Set a goal for how much money you should save each month and really focus on making that happen. Once that goal is reached, try for another goal the next month. Next thing you know you have accomplished a small objective and you save some cash!

If you are looking for a job, stay prepared, update your resume, practice your interview questions in front of the mirror, and continue trying your hardest. Never quit searching for the right job. Opportunities are out there and don’t be afraid of what tomorrow may bring. If you have a job, make it a goal to stay productive! Use your time wisely and to finish your tasks on a daily basis.

If you’re in school, a new semester has begun, so make it a goal to perform efficiently and make good grades. Dare yourself to socialize, be confident, and most importantly believe in yourself. You are there to set your life towards great success!

What are other ways you can resolute your life?

Money and Lyrics

2012-01-18T06:00:00Z

I hate to start the new year talking about how to build a budget and why it is important, but what better way to start a new year than with a new budget. RIGHT!! Money is on everyone’s mind all the time. Even many musical artists struggle with money. You can hear it in their lyrics. As Snoop Dogg once proclaimed, “I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind.”

Budgeting allows us not to live beyond what we earn, so we don’t get into trouble with debt. I think the Swedish pop group Abba said it best when they declared, “I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay. Ain’t it sad and still, there never seems to be a single penny left for me.” Many people live paycheck to paycheck and know this feeling well. It’s hard to make a budget when it seems the prices of everything are rapidly rising while your paycheck stays the same.

Instead of complaining about the rising costs of things, you can still live comfortably by making a few adjustments in your budget. Take some time and write down all of the necessary things in your life like rent, bills, gas, groceries and compare them to your income. If you need to make some adjustments think about those bills that are really not needed like cable, internet, Starbucks or maybe that gym membership.

As Oasis said, “Put your money where your mouth is” and see what kind of realistic budget you come up with. You may be surprised at how much extra money you have in the end. I hope everyone has a happy new year!

Paint Your Perfect Picture

2012-01-04T12:00:00Z

If there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s that I have no right to complain about my life because it is what I make it. Yes, outside circumstances come and go, things change but it’s my reaction to them that really determines the outcome.

As we start a new year, my challenge to you is to paint your perfect picture. What do you want your life to look like? Do you want more secure finances? How about a better paying job or saving more money? Whatever it is, now is the time to paint that picture. Write it down, keep it clear, and inspire yourself with where you want to go.

Leadership coach, Zig Ziglar, said, “If you want to reach a goal, you must ‘see the reaching’ in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal.” In other words, setting a goal is the first step and then actually picturing yourself achieving it is the next. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to achieving all the goals you have set for yourself.

How do you plan on painting your perfect picture for 2012?

Penniless Holiday

2011-12-28T12:00:00Z

So here it is, December. The time of year when everyone is hustling around and buying Christmas gifts, attending holiday parties, taking final exams, and it’s almost time to head home to see your family when…BAM! Your wallet is empty and you have no gas money. You’ve maxed out your credit card on Christmas gifts and have no cash left. But wait, you remember there’s that jar of coins you’ve been saving! You use that cash to fill up your tank and make it home just in time for Christmas.

It’s really hard to save during the holidays. I know this first hand because the story I just shared happened to me when I lived away from home. I was in such a panic I almost forgot I had been saving. Although it was only loose change, it was enough to get me home for the holidays. You always hear the expression “every penny counts” and in this case it definitely did.

Whether you’re saving loose change or putting extra cash in a jar each month, saving a little can get you a lot. I challenge you to save as much as you can this coming year and see how much you’ve saved this time next year.

Tell me about a time you have been strapped for cash. How did you get out of your penniless situation?

Tis The Season To Be Jolly

2011-12-16T12:00:00Z

I love Christmas (period). Everything is so vibrant and lively it brings out the joy in you. The creative ideas in decorating a pine tree, driving around and seeing all the beautiful lights that illuminate the night, looking at the different facial expressions children have when they see Santa Claus, and not to mention all the fun events that go on around town. Those are just a few reasons why it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Of course, when it comes to this holiday season most people think it’s about spending tons of money and that shouldn’t be the case. I agree with Will’s article about Black Friday and how it overshadows Thanksgiving; for me personally it’s feels as if we are missing out on the real reason of why we celebrate Christmas. For those of us who don’t have much to spend this season, here are a few ideas that will make your Christmas unforgettable:

Create your own gift.

It’s the thought that counts. Be creative with your ideas, it doesn’t have to cost much and for you to take the time to make your own gift is worth more than you know.

Give a little more of your time.

When it comes to family time, offer to do some extra chores around the house like setting up the table, mopping the floor, or washing dishes, you will be appreciated and the love that you show will always be remembered.

Volunteer at different charitable events.

Not only will you bring out the joy in others for offering your time, you will have the instant gratification of knowing you did something good for someone else.

…And that’s how we BUCK THE NORM during the most wonderful time of the year!

To Buy or Not To Buy

2011-12-07T06:00:00Z

Good day, Buck-The-Normers! I’m not sure how you enjoy spending your time, but I tend to spend most of my free time gaining knowledge in all different kinds of areas. Lately I’ve definitely been on a financial knowledge kick. There are plenty of great websites out there for this purpose (including this one! but the other day I found myself reading an article on Yahoo! Finance. This particular one can be found here. It was all about items I should never spend money on again.

There’s not a better time of year to start making decisions on how to better your financial situation. One, it’s the holidays and you’re probably spending more cash than normal. Two, it’s getting close to the new year where you can make a fresh start.

So here are the items they said you should never purchase again:

1. Lottery tickets

I could not agree more! For those who buy lotto tickets on a regular basis, how much have you spent? And how much have you won? Just think about if you took the money you spent on the tickets and just put that in savings!

2. Retailer Extended Warranties

Personally, I think some products deserve to have an extended warranty while others I don’t. Depending on a the type of product, it may be beneficial to have one, but things like TVs or appliances rarely need this extra coverage.

3. Unlimited Cellular Plans

This is totally up to the user. I know some people who definitely need to purchase this because their cell phone usage is extremely high. While other people, like my wonderful mother, would benefit from purchasing a less expensive, limited cell phone plan.

4. Cleaning Supplies

All I am going to say here is if you want to save money there are ways to make your own cleaning supplies. Personally, making cleaning supplies from scratch isn’t for me.

5. Ultra-High SPF Sunscreen

This is kind of random, but word on the street is anything stronger than SPF 45 doesn’t do any better than SPF 45 so there you have it. Don’t waste your money!

What other products do people tend to buy that they don’t really need?

It's That Time of Year

2011-11-23T12:00:00Z

It’s that time of year. Day after tomorrow, people will start to knock out their Christmas shopping. I wrote about Black Friday last year. Just to recap, I don’t like it. The insane number of stories and ads I’ve seen in the last month promoting Black Friday has made me dislike the event even more. It’s almost overshadowed Thanksgiving. Awful.

This year, I’ve been looking for ways to embody the idea of giving during the holiday season and saving some cash while making sure everyone on my list is covered. That’s when it hit me: charitable donations.

After all, you know how the old saying goes, “tis better to give than receive.” What’s better than donating a small amount of money to several local charities in my family’s name to help those less fortunate? The answer is pretty obvious; nothing is better than that.

I actually can’t take credit for this idea. Several years ago, my aunt began donating various things in my name to charities. So far, I’ve donated a calf to a village in Peru, 250 pair of socks to a homeless shelter in Denver, and one dozen chickens to a family in Uganda. Thanks Aunt Susan!

Have you ever donated money to charity during the holiday season? Let us know in the comments.

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

2011-11-07T12:00:00Z

When I was a teenager, I overheard my mother discussing her credit score with someone on the phone. My mother has always been very responsible with her finances and has kept a close eye on her credit score. Apparently, she was speaking to someone with her financial institution about acquiring financing for a new home. We had lived in the same house for a number of years, and it was time to upgrade.

At the time, the term “credit score” didn’t mean anything to me. That quickly changed when I was in college and attempted to purchase a new car after my Ford Tempo decided to go to car heaven following a road trip to and from Michigan to Arizona. I found a car I wanted, but when I tried to get financing for it, I was told I had “limited credit history.” Sweet.

At that point, my mom was able to step in and help get the deal done. It wasn’t that I had bad credit; it was that I didn’t have a history showing I was responsible enough to make regular payments over an extended period of time. Anyway, there a lot factors that go into determining your credit score. I found that out through first-hand experience. Here’s some good info about what makes up your credit score.

Silly Ways to Save – But They Work!

2011-10-27T05:00:00Z

I like to think of ways to think creatively with the basic things in life, including saving money. When I started working at age 16, I didn’t have any bills to pay, so I would come up with different ways to save money, in addition to putting it in my savings account. Here are other options:

Hide extra cash from yourself!

If you don’t see it, you won’t use it! There are different places you can hide cash from yourself, like in a shoe box, book, trinket, between the mattresses, or random places in your bedroom or bathroom. So, choose a place where you will be able to add more to your hidden stash.

Piggy banks are still cool

It does not matter how old you are, having a piggy bank is still the coolest way to store your change! Each time you fill it up you can take it into your financial institution, have it counted, and deposited into your savings account. It’s a win-win situation, and the feeling of seeing how much change you have saved is priceless.

$5 a paycheck will do the trick

If you think about it, $5 is very easy to spend. So why not throw it into your savings account instead? Or you can also have it direct deposited each time you get paid so you don’t have to worry about it. As your pay progresses you can increase how much you want to deposit each time. Sounds easy right? I think so!

You may want to make saving a habit now so that it can come naturally to you in the future. If you have any other fun ways to save please let me know!

Grocery Savings

2011-10-21T10:00:00Z

There are a lot of things I try to save money on, but I’m guilty of not doing my best at one place: the grocery store. When I go to buy food, I know what I want and/or need, and I buy it. But, after watching shows like Extreme Couponing, I know there is a ton of saving potential to be had at the grocery store!

Here are a few tips I’m going to try to implement in my coming visits to buy groceries:

1. Take advantage of sale items

Just because I want something doesn’t mean I have to buy it on that particular trip to the grocery store. Try finding what is on sale that day, and choose those items instead.

2. Cut coupons

There is a limit to what is on sale; however, there are countless coupon sources out there for you to take advantage of. From your local newspaper to certain websites and even in-store ads, coupons can save you tons of money if you take the time to plan it out. A whole article could be written on saving money by using coupons, but that is for another day!

3. Make a list and stick to it

Making a list of what you’re going to buy helps you stay away from buying all the snacks and other goodies that look so tempting while you shop. Make a list and stick to it.

The price of food and other grocery items is going up at a record pace, and slowly but surely, the grocery bill is going up for all of us. But if we stick to these tips, we have a pretty good chance of not breaking the bank!

I’ve Never Even Been to San Jose

2011-09-28T05:00:00Z

I recently was driving to a lake here in Oklahoma to visit my dad with my brother and sister when my phone rang. It was my boss. I answered and she had a very strange question for me, “ Are you, by any chance, in San Jose, California?” I started to laugh because I thought she was kidding. She wasn’t laughing. We had seen each other just the day before so I assumed there was going to be a punch line. There wasn’t.

Someone had stolen my debit card number from a restaurant here in Oklahoma City and turned around and sold that card number to someone in California, who then created a fake debit card and went on a mini-shopping spree at a Target in San Jose. I was very fortunate because the good folks at my credit union noticed this unusual activity and quickly deactivated the card. No money was ever taken out of my account and I considered myself to be very lucky.

My point in telling you all of this is that it’s a really good idea to make sure your financial institution offers fraud and theft protection for your debit card. Luckily, mine did, and there were no serious consequences. For more information about security features your debit card might have go here.

This Is My Confession

2011-09-16T05:00:00Z

“When I shop the world gets better, the world is better; and then it’s not anymore, and I have to do it again.” – Rebecca Bloomwood, Confessions Of A Shopaholic

Face it. A lot of us love to shop. Whether it means buying a new pair of shoes or getting the latest video games, having nice things can make you feel really good for that moment and even make you smile a little bit. Any time I have some extra cash, as I am confessing to you through the internet world, I love to go shopping! No shame in that! Being a part of the “look of the season” makes me feel good about myself, and I look good wearing it. But I know that spending a great deal of money on things I want instead of need can get me into some major financial debt! So how do I manage to contain myself from the desire of wanting fancy things and keep myself debt free??? Well…

The key to saving money is to simply be patient. Trust me everything will eventually go on sale. Look for special offers online, in the mail, and even on your phone! There are a couple of good apps such as ShopSavvy and shopkick that will search for the best prices for you. Clearance items online and in-store are also the best places to look for great savings, who knows there might even be an additional discount! So for those of you who are shopaholics remember you can save while you spend!

Do you have any other ideas to save while spending? Please let me know!

Peace of Mind

2011-09-06T10:00:00Z

I know I have a tendency to worry, so I also choose to stay as prepared as possible. One of the ways I can do this is by having an emergency fund. Life’s life and we can’t prevent certain things from happening – cars breaking down, hail damaging our roof, an urgent need to go see a loved one across the country, or a sudden loss of your job. But what we can prevent is not being able to take care of those things when they arise.

I know I may be out of the norm, but surely there are a few of you who can relate with me. I worry.

I’m always thinking about the future and what could happen if a certain something happened. I’m the one who will drive five miles back home to make sure I closed the garage door, if I have the slightest doubt that I didn’t, only to find I definitely did close it!

That’s where the emergency fund comes in, and consequently, that’s where the peace of mind comes in.

Most experts say you need between 6-10 months of living expenses in your emergency fund. And, living expenses aren’t necessarily the total of what you bring home every month. They are the necessities like rent/mortgage payment, utility bills, gas, and food.

If you haven’t started your emergency/peace-of-mind fund, today is the day to start. Start with $10 or start with $100. Whatever you can put in there will be better than nothing. Keep saving until you have the peace of mind you need and deserve!

Prepare for a New Journey

2011-08-25T05:00:00Z

This past year I’ve been to more than five different graduations and every one of them seems to have quoted the same thing in a deep and low James Earl Jones kind of voice (well in my mind it sounds like it) “…and now your journey has begun.” Daunting… And boy, they weren’t kidding! The pressure of figuring out what to do after high school is a huge decision because it will determine the direction of your future. Not to mention, the funds that you will be spending to further your education!

EEK!

But don’t fret! I have a few ideas on how to make it easier when it comes to saving money during your college years:

School Supplies

Make sure you buy only the things you will need. Usually on the first day, having a folder for each class, notebook paper, and pens/pencils is enough. If you need other items, the syllabus will be your guide. Check out Bargainst.com for further details on supplies!

Textbooks

Most college bookstores will give the option to rent your textbooks instead of buying them at full price. Other bookstores and websites may offer you to rent the same books at a cheaper price but do some research prior to renting textbooks.

Share A Ride

If you have friends that are attending the same college, why not go together? Prices for parking decals can be a little pricey, and of course gas, prices aren’t as friendly as they use to be. If you decide to live on campus, walk/jog/run/skip, ride a bike, roller blade, or skateboard to class – anything to keep some extra cash in your pocket.

Congratulations, you are now ready for a successful semester!