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Why You Should Always Trust But Verify

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Trust, Faith, Encouragement, Trust

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Trust is a five-letter word. A word that is small in size, but whose meaning is of monumental importance.

Today on Greenbacks Magnet we are spilling the tea and reading the tea leaves on the topic of personal finance.

Somewhat like Jalen and Jacoby do on their podcast.

This is a no-holds barred conversation about getting your fiscal house in order.

If I had a podcast right now, I have several friends or family members that could be my partner on this magic carpet ride. Aladdin had Princess Jasmine. Jordan had Scottie Pippen. Keenan had Kel. Barack has Michelle. Oprah has Gayle. Key had Peele. Batman has Robin. Kermit the Frog has Miss Piggy. Jalen has Jacoby.

Having a partner just makes things more fun.

I ask my significant other all the time, “Are you gonna back me up?! Are you gonna be the pip to my Gladys?!” I need people with good character that I can trust around me.

Image result for gladys knight and the pips GIF"

It’s like my man Shakespeare says, “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” ― William Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well

Trusting people with your money comes with huge financial risks! And I notice it is more risk than reward. You have to be on top of things when it comes to your money.

So today, I am going to give you some real stories of private conversations I have been in, eavesdropped on, and stood witness to in hopes it might help you more easily navigate these hostile fiscal waters out here in these mean streets.

I’m doing it Jalen Rose and David Jacoby style for those of you ESPN fans out there, you know what I’m talking about.

I want you to trust my advice, and me but I also want you to verify it.

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Let’s get started and dive right in.

In the spirit of Jalen and Jacoby:

Got to give the people…

Give the people what?

What they want!

What do they want?

Current events! They want you to spit that hot fire!

And in this blogs case FIRE is Financial Independence, Retire Early!

TRUST, BUT VERIFY

That is a famous quote uttered by former President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War.

He was a former Hollywood actor turned politician, which was unheard of at the time in 1981. My how times have changed.

Reagan also gave us Reaganomics, also known as Voodoo Economics, it works as crazy as it sounds. Voodoo (magic) is French in origin and hails from Louisiana around the 1700’s, which is before the Louisiana Purchase between the United States and France, negotiated by President Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon in 1803.

Therefore, the term Voodoo Economics simply means magic economics or finances (magic money).

There goes that Peter Pan quote I put at the top circling back to us as magic money is like pixie dust! It just doesn’t exist! In my mind, this is like creating money or great finances out of thin air.

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It’s kind of how 50 Cent said he owed $8 million worth of Bitcoin when he owed nothing and created $8 million of wealth for himself in the eyes of his followers on Instagram because we are all just, and I roll my eyes as I type this, “living for the Gram.” I discuss fifty and the Gram on this post.

According to Psychologytoday.com, Reaganomics is this in that “the simple answer: when the outcome is essential and matters more than the relationship, use “trust, but verify.” When the relationship matters more than any single outcome, don’t use it.” Basically, if you are unsure of how to proceed in making a decision where the outcome can be life-changing, then do your research to uncover the facts before saying yes.

In my opinion, that means reviewing credit reports before walking down the aisle.

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Why should I commit to someone with four felonies, two bankruptcies, a property lien and $50,000 of back taxes owed to the IRS without knowing what I am getting myself into. You would be surprised what you uncover with a simple credit report.

A woman has a right to say no or change her mind about marriage all the way until the time she is in front of the minister. It’s cool to trust your partner when they say they paid off that Neiman Marcus credit card, but request that copy of the credit report baby to verify.

WHAT IS REAGANOMICS?

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Reaganomics, or Reaganism, refers to the economic policies promoted by U.S. President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s.

The economic policies of the former US president Ronald Reagan, associated especially with the reduction of taxes and the promotion of unrestricted free-market activity. “the claim that cutting taxes generates more revenue was a key element of Reaganomics”

When looking up Voodoo Economics this pops up in the search: an economic policy perceived as being unrealistic and ill-advised, in particular a policy of maintaining or increasing levels of public spending while reducing taxation. “as governor, he put into practice the same voodoo economics that he would later impose on the country as president”

I will give it to you in layman’s terms, give more to the rich and their gains of money and benefits should also find it’s way down to everyone else.

It’s the reverse of Robinhood’s theory of taking from the rich and giving to the poor, by instead giving to the rich. There you have it. I just gave you the premise of Trickle-down Economics.

Image result for robin hood coin gif"

WHAT IS TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS?

Great question. Trickle-down economics, also called trickle-down theory, refers to the economic proposition that taxes on businesses and the wealthy in society should be reduced as a means to stimulate business investment in the short term and benefit society at large in the long term. 

According to thebalance.com writer Kimberly Amadeo, Trickle–down economics is a theory that claims benefits for the wealthy trickle down to everyone else. These benefits are tax cuts on businesses, high-income earners, capital gains, and dividends. … All of this expansion will trickle down to workers. 

I don’t know about that.

When I look to my left on the West Coast, I see massive homelessness.

When I look to my right on the East Coast, I see wage stagnation.

Taxes got cut, but people are in even more debt. When the top 10% of the richest American households own 84% of the stock market wealth in the country something is terribly askew.

I call gentle bullshit on all this record stock market gains that is causing the country to grow wealth for all.

It seems more that instead of lifting all boats to prosperity for 99% of the population, stocks are lifting a few yachts of the 1%.

In the illustrious words of Sheldon Cooper, pardon me, I mean Dr. Cooper, this is a bunch of hokum. I mean the term even has the word trick in it. Hello?

WHEN IN ROME, TAKE OUT MORE DEBT

I have seen stuff you would not believe people have done when it comes to their money.

I saw a couple of government workers deciding to take on an $800,000 mortgage. Don’t ask me why. After 30 years of payments, they will have paid $1.6 million for a pile of bricks they are never at because they are always at work. Then the husband loses his job and they lose the house!

If you do not have $1.6 million in retirement or other assets, then you cannot afford or should not buy a home for three-quarters of a million.

Since, many college students see their friends take out loans to fund spring break trips they feel they are entitled to do it too! I actually knew someone who got a boob job and paid off a car with a student loan refund.

I hear tons of people say they are never going to retire, can’t afford college, and will work forever but no one wants to downsize their $400,000 mortgage. If they want it, they get it. How you ask? Do what the neighbors did and take out a HELOC.

A FLY ON THE FISCAL WALL

I’m about to spill that tea so don’t blink or you might miss it!

Overheard around an office watercooler.

“I owe $100,000 in back property taxes to the IRS.”

Overheard at the nail salon.

“I bought a $700 Gucci belt.”

Heard it from a friend.

“My daughter wants a pair of Gucci boots.”

Come on now. I have said it before. The only teenager that deserves a pair of Gucci boots is on stage with her two friends Kelly and Michelle.

Image result for destinys child gif"

A grandmother recounting her money woes to me.

“I am in $25,000 worth of credit card debt. I am on a fixed income. My granddaughter was supposed to use my credit card for a one-time charge to pay her auto insurance when she got a new car and then I found out she never stopped it and I paid for the whole year! When I asked her for the money back she said she didn’t have it and then told me about all the bills she has.”

A male-exotic dancer told me, “I strip because I don’t make enough at my job to live on that.”

The guy who can’t pay his child support who owns a Range Rover and house is constantly in danger of foreclosure.

A beauty salon owner who confided in me. Her child support payment is $25 a month and the father keeps quitting his job so he don’t have to pay it! At the tender age of 25, she also decided to lease a beauty shop and buy a home. She said, “It’s like paying two mortgages.”

Another friend.

“I would rather struggle today and get my forever home, than buy a starter home and have a smaller home and have to move.”

A cousin.

“I can’t make too much or they will take me off Section 8 housing.”

Just FYI, many safety net programs do not allow you to make too much or have too much in savings or assets. If you have more than $2,000 in checking, you could lose all income assistance benefits and NEVER be able to get back on. Essentially, keeping the poor trapped in a cycle of poverty.

CHANGE THE MONEY GAME

There is a saying. Control your money; control your life. When you know how money works life is easy. When you don’t, life is hard.

I read every book I can get my hands on about finance. I have learned about taxes, insurance, stocks, real estate, and entrepreneurship.

Here are a couple books I have read that changed my money mindset.

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Image result for SIMPLE PATH TO WEALTH"

Some things I have done to build wealth and start saving over $13,000 a year.

I stopped getting personal loans. It took me years to pay off a $20,000 personal loan. I took that $333 monthly payments and started saving money.

I once had a $448.65 car payment. I paid off the car and started investing that money.

I started studying the stock market.

I cut out buying clothes and all shopping and stared saving over $8,000 a year. I canceled subscriptions. Maybe Jillian Michaels may want to do the same as on her Instagram, cause you know we are all “living for the Gram,” she stated she would like to figure out how “like to get my American Express bill down.” 

I only spend on things I love and I cut spending mercilessly on the things I don’t.

I transferred over $84,000 out of multiple stock funds and placed my bet on one 500 index fund.

I write money milestones.

The goal is to be a 401(k) millionaire.

By investing over 25% of my income into things like the VFINX, VFIAX, or VTSAX, I can make this dream a reality.

Milestone number one was $100,000 in Mr. Market. I hit that marker and kept on climbing.

The money starts accumulating faster like a freaking avalanche once you have that first $100k. The next stop was $200,000.

Then I started making my way to a quarter million.

I estimated that once you hit $250,000, then you can get to millionaire status in 14.5 to 23.5 years with a 6% or above interest rate. And that is without adding another dime.

Once you get to one-quarter of a million, the other three-quarters are not too far behind.

If you could invest $20,000 a year including employer match, you could be a millionaire in 10 years with a 10% return with a principal investment start of $250,000.

That first $100,000 is your capital to a better future. It plants the seed money from which the rest of the harvest will grow.

DROPPING DIMES LIKE SCROOGE MCDUCK AND OTHER MONEY HINTS

Image result for ducktales intro gif"

Dropping dimes used to mean putting a dime in a payphone to connect with someone.

Now it is used more figuratively than literally as in giving some knowledge in this case.

The reason I invest most of my money in index funds is this piece of advice from Warren Buffet.  

He instructed the trustee in charge of his estate to invest 90 percent of his money into the S&P 500 for his wife after he dies.

Warren Buffet is worth $81 billion. Most of his wealth came after the age of 50. Buffet gained 99% of his wealth after 50. That 1% of his wealth took 50 years to build, the other $80 billion too like 25 years or less than half the time it took to get the first billion.

He had to create companies, invest, graduate from Columbia, start businesses, and save the excess for 50 years to create the other 99% of his wealth!

In farming, like 99% of the crop comes from just 2% of the seeds that survive. Every time you invest your money, you are sowing seeds for your future self.

Focus less on buying luxury and focus more on buying assets to pay for luxury. I even get inspired by fictional cartoon characters like Scrooge McDuck and his number one dime story.

In a book I read, they state three of their truths about money. She stated, “the Scarcity Mind- set taught me the three lessons that would eventually turn me into a millionaire:

Money is the most important thing in the world.
Money is worth sacrificing for.
Money is even worth bleeding for.

Well, until next time party people. I’m out.

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Automobiles, Financial Freedom, Financial Independence, Investing, Retirement, Saving, Wealth

Expensive Cars Are Masquerading Around As Signs Of Wealth

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Venice, Mask, Red, Carnival, Italy

You ever drive by a neighborhood that ends in Estates or Hills and look in the driveway?

There are usually enough European cars around for these folks to start a dealership down the street and give Audi a run for their money.

You figure places like Beverly Hills, Miami Beach, and New York are places that can afford these types of cars, but what about places you would think those people may not make the type of money it requires to have those vehicles?

Unfortunately, in my few decades on this earth, I have seen things that you would not believe.

Since, many of you out there know my absolute fiscal pet peeve is new car ownership, you understand my ire as I write this.

I can teach you to get rich without having to sign a car loan document or sell your soul. I’m not Ursula. I will give you back your voice.

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I rejected that notion that I must own a luxury car to feel good about myself and feel important. I paid off over $50,000 worth of debt so I could start investing more money in Mr. Market.

The goal was to try to always be increasing my investment portfolio by $20,000-$25,000 or more per year. It took me a decade, but I hit that goal. It’s raining dividends right now. All from just rejecting new car ownership.

I am going to share with you a few car buying horror stories that may very well give you nightmares. So hide the wife. Hide the kids. This is the part in the movie theater where you turn your heads, close you eyes and take a deep breath.

I am about to lift up the hood on the numbers behind what buying new cars will be in opportunity costs in this series of posts on rejecting new car ownership. So buckle up, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

Drip so hard or broke so much

First let me explain what drip is.

It is a slang term many rappers use and there are more or less elaborate definitions of “drip.” Offset and Cardi B use the term to refer to their diamonds and wealth, while Atlanta rapper Gunna told Billboard that “drip” refers to fashion: Drip is your attire, the clothes you wear.

But as rapper 50 Cent has shown us with his bankruptcy filing, looks can be deceiving. Fifty says money in Instagram photos are fake.

For instance, he doesn’t own like 50 Rolex watches or chains, but only rotated the same like three on Instagram because on the world of gram it’s all about appearances.

He also has stated he had $8 million in Bitcoin, but really he owns $0. He just made up $8 million out of thin air! Why put on this show? For likes of course, what else?

Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Digital, Money

This is nothing new. People inflate their salaries, income, accomplishments, and credentials all the time. What makes this case so sad is that he is telling the world, not just a few friends having a round of drinks while playing a poker game down at the local watering hole.

I have noticed that once you actually stop looking and start listening to what people have to say about their finances, that is when you uncover the truth. Behind all the expensive cars, clothes, and homes most people are stressed and broke.

What is wealth

I gave my definition of wealth in a previous post. Really it means you can meet all your basic needs and have some left over to last you several decades without you sweating whether or not the bills get paid.

For regular folks, a good week looks like this – there’s milk in the fridge, none of the kids got into a car accident or ran over any mailboxes this week, and all the bills got paid on time.

Image result for milk in the fridge gif

For the wealthy, a good week looks like this – enough food in the cupboards to feed an army, you taking the Rolls to work this week cause the Jag is in the shop being detailed, and you earned more in dividends than you spent last month.

Wealth is every bit as good as it sounds. Let us see the other side of the coin and how the lack of having enough coins can cause despair.

Dream cars are only for those with money in the bank

Here is where the horror stories are about to begin folks.

Brace yourselves.

I knew a guy who loved his dream car so much that it was keeping his bank account in the red. Let’s call him Edgar. Edgar grew up without a father. At one point, he was living in a shelter. After years of toiling in the salt mines, he was able to get an apartment and get on better financial footing.

At the ripe old age of 28, he decided to “treat himself” because he “deserved it” to a $30,000 BMW convertible and eventually he got a girlfriend to ride in that car beside him.

He felt that he had paid his dues so he should have a nice car.

Image result for bmw driving gif

I don’t know about all of you out there, but I look at paid dues as 10, 20, 30, or 40 years of busting your hump to build a security and a solid foundation for your future self and family. Buying a luxury car that costs $500 a month is not the way to having a life of abundance.

How else could he have spent that money?

Let’s say he saved up the $30,000 ($6,000 a year over five years) by taking public transportation to work and invested that money instead of trying t impress people with his wealth…er uh I mean debt that is masquerading as wealth in the form of a nice financed luxury vehicle. He could have also saved up a few tax returns and got a beater to get back and forth to work.

If you save $100.00 per month your savings may grow to $731,411.74 after 30 years. This includes a starting balance of $30,000.00 and a 10% annual rate of return.

Starting amount$30,000.00
Years30 years.
Additional contributions$100.00 per month
Rate of return10% compounded annually
Total amount you will have contributed$66,000.00
Total interest$665,411.74
Total at end of investment$731,411.74
YearAdditionsInterestBalance
Start$30,000.00 $30,000.00
1$1,200.00$3,064.06$34,264.06
2$1,200.00$3,490.46$38,954.52
3$1,200.00$3,959.52$44,114.04
4$1,200.00$4,475.46$49,789.50
5$1,200.00$5,043.01$56,032.51
6$1,200.00$5,667.32$62,899.83
7$1,200.00$6,354.01$70,453.84
8$1,200.00$7,109.45$78,763.29
9$1,200.00$7,940.38$87,903.67
10$1,200.00$8,854.41$97,958.08
11$1,200.00$9,859.87$109,017.95
12$1,200.00$10,965.86$121,183.81
13$1,200.00$12,182.43$134,566.24
14$1,200.00$13,520.67$149,286.91
15$1,200.00$14,992.74$165,479.65
16$1,200.00$16,612.02$183,291.67
17$1,200.00$18,393.24$202,884.91
18$1,200.00$20,352.54$224,437.45
19$1,200.00$22,507.80$248,145.25
20$1,200.00$24,878.59$274,223.84
21$1,200.00$27,486.45$302,910.29
22$1,200.00$30,355.08$334,465.37
23$1,200.00$33,510.59$369,175.96
24$1,200.00$36,981.65$407,357.61
25$1,200.00$40,799.79$449,357.40
26$1,200.00$44,999.79$495,557.19
27$1,200.00$49,619.76$546,376.95
28$1,200.00$54,701.76$602,278.71
29$1,200.00$60,291.92$663,770.63
30$1,200.00$66,441.11$731,411.74

Back to Edgar’s story.

One night while going to see his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, he was so tired (he would get tired doing like two sit-ups) that he fell asleep at the wheel. He got into a major accident, the car was in the repair shop for months, BMW lent him a loaner, him and the girlfriend broke up (she may have been with him for the car) and he got to drive that DREAM car for all of like 8 months!

He did eventually get it back, but I noticed that every couple of months or so the car would have an issue and need to go in the shop.

He bragged how he was so smart to get an extended warranty or the repair bills would be like $2,000 or more. However, what he is failing to realize is that when that warranty runs out, you will be the one paying those expensive repair bills because luxury comes at a price. A very expensive one.

Last time I laid eyes on him; he still had that car, was still single, and had moved into a more expensive apartment. Instead of investing money, he spent every dime and his bank account stayed on empty.

If he would have been willing to give up the car, he could have saved a small fortune. I tried to run the numbers with him, but he wasn’t really interested. Little did he know that his dream car was turning his life into a nightmare.

After he lost his job, he couldn’t afford to make the payments. His mother had to step in and help him. Maybe if he put the money he spent on those expensive Xbox video games in the bank instead, he might have had the money to pay his bills himself. He needs to keep that devil-may-care attitude in the video games where it belongs.

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Dante in Devil May Cry for Xbox

And his motto was “live for the day.”

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If living for the day means being broke for a lifetime, I’ll pass. He may have had a great car that made him feel like he had arrived and look like he had money, but he was really BROKE.

Do cars really equal freedom or are they a debtor’s prison on four wheels

I have owned only two cars in my entire life.

They are expensive money-pits with all-wheel drive.

I have seen people spend so much money on car repairs that it makes me want to cry. I have also seen people own three, five, or even seven cars by the age of 25!

Many people never even go on to pay the car off. They just roll over negative equity onto the latest new car purchase. Putting them in a never ending spiral of debt payments.

And do not even think about not purchasing gap insurance.

Gap insurance is an optional, add-on car insurance coverage that can help certain drivers cover the “gap” between the amount they owe on their car and the car’s actual cash value (ACV) in the event of an accident.

Even this can be something only the well-heeled can afford.

Gap can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars additional on top of what you are paying to purchase your vehicle. It must be paid for up front at the time of vehicle purchase. If you cannot pay out of pocket, they will add it to your loan. You are now paying interest on this insurance coverage.

Why do you need gap? I have a friend. Let’s call her Pam. Pam likes nice cars. However, Pam is in-between jobs right now, is several months behind on mortgage payments, and has been in two car accidents in two years.

At one time, she owed an Audi. When a maintenance issue arrived and the repair bill came in at $3,000, she couldn’t afford it so she sold it.

Speaking of repair bills, I have heard stories of people leaving the Jiffy Lube or car dealership after getting the repair quote, which they cannot afford, then go on to say, “I know someone that will do it for cheaper” or “I’ll fix it later” or “I’ll take it to my mechanic.” All just mean the same thing: Broke.

When you cannot pay the repair bills on your car, then how can you possibly afford to save for retirement?

Getting back to Pam, she ended up with gap insurance from a third party. Therefore, she was going back and forth trying to get the money for the car for over four months!

I don’t know many folks that can go without a car for this long. Her quality of life immediately went down. You could feel it with every passing month when you were around her.

One word. I will give you one guess. You give up? It rhymes with repair. Of course I mean despair.

She also has no cash savings and no retirement.

She was very young at the time. Maybe 22. This is what she could have done if she saved up that money and invested it instead.

If you save $100.00 per month your savings may grow to $1,464,646.73 after 40 years. This includes a starting balance of $20,000.00 and a 10% annual rate of return.

Starting amount$20,000.00
Years40 years.
Additional contributions$100.00 per month
Rate of return10% compounded annually
Total amount you will have contributed$68,000.00
Total interest$1,396,646.73
Total at end of investment$1,464,646.73
YearAdditionsInterestBalance
Start$20,000.00 $20,000.00
1$1,200.00$2,064.06$23,264.06
2$1,200.00$2,390.46$26,854.52
3$1,200.00$2,749.50$30,804.02
4$1,200.00$3,144.46$35,148.48
5$1,200.00$3,578.92$39,927.40
6$1,200.00$4,056.80$45,184.20
7$1,200.00$4,582.47$50,966.67
8$1,200.00$5,160.72$57,327.39
9$1,200.00$5,796.80$64,324.19
10$1,200.00$6,496.47$72,020.66
11$1,200.00$7,266.12$80,486.78
12$1,200.00$8,112.74$89,799.52
13$1,200.00$9,044.00$100,043.52
14$1,200.00$10,068.42$111,311.94
15$1,200.00$11,195.25$123,707.19
16$1,200.00$12,434.76$137,341.95
17$1,200.00$13,798.25$152,340.20
18$1,200.00$15,298.06$168,838.26
19$1,200.00$16,947.87$186,986.13
20$1,200.00$18,762.67$206,948.80
21$1,200.00$20,758.93$228,907.73
22$1,200.00$22,954.83$253,062.56
23$1,200.00$25,370.31$279,632.87
24$1,200.00$28,027.34$308,860.21
25$1,200.00$30,950.07$341,010.28
26$1,200.00$34,165.09$376,375.37
27$1,200.00$37,701.60$415,276.97
28$1,200.00$41,591.74$458,068.71
29$1,200.00$45,870.92$505,139.63
30$1,200.00$50,578.02$556,917.65
31$1,200.00$55,755.83$613,873.48
32$1,200.00$61,451.41$676,524.89
33$1,200.00$67,716.54$745,441.43
34$1,200.00$74,608.19$821,249.62
35$1,200.00$82,189.02$904,638.64
36$1,200.00$90,527.91$996,366.55
37$1,200.00$99,700.71$1,097,267.26
38$1,200.00$109,790.79$1,208,258.05
39$1,200.00$120,889.85$1,330,347.90
40$1,200.00$133,098.83$1,464,646.73

I have actually seen people own multiple cars even though they can only drive one at a time. However, you have to maintain and insure all of them. Just give up the ones you are not using and fund your retirement with that money.

Instead of that money going into a 401k, the lender and insurance company was getting rich off these never ending payments they receive. Put that money to work for yourself by investing it.

Tow truck companies are winning

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Have you ever seen that show on A&E called Parking Wars? Some of the saddest things I have ever seen to do with cars was on that show.

The struggle is real in the city of brotherly love. So many people in Philadelphia were getting their cars towed and booted for failure to pay parking tickets it was crazy.

Those meter maids were making like $20,000-$30,000 a year and they were on a mission! Giving out those tickets like gumdrops! And making revenue for the city in the process.

I have seen and heard some stories so heartbreaking it made my eyes start watering. I have seen or heard people lose their jobs, then their homes, and finally get their car repossessed with all their belongings in it.

One guy came out running to his car while they were lifting it on the tow truck. He had almost every valuable possession he owed in that car including the photo albums of his deceased family members.

All he asked is if he could go in the trunk and get his stuff (clothing, personal hygiene, photos, credentials). The tow driver said no.

Unfortunately, once the car is on the lift, it can’t be stopped unless you pay or have already paid and can PROVE IT!

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And that guy went from being homeless and living in his car, to being homeless on the street.

I have seen people give up their cars due to debt, gambling, substance abuse, you name it.

I know someone who saved up $8,000 and sink every penny into a new car just to have a $100 lower monthly payment. Never mind that she was still living with her parents at the age of 42.

I have also seen people have to choose between paying the gas, electric, or phone bill on-time or pay the car note.

I even had an ex-coworker get her car repossessed twice! She just had to have an SUV. She was making like $12 bucks an hour at time and was only 20. She destroyed her credit and the possibility of home ownership for at least a few years just for the sake of looking rich instead of actually saving towards becoming rich.

She was broke. She had no wealth whatsoever! The little she had, she mailed in monthly installments to Chevrolet.

Society would like you to believe that owning a nice brand new luxury car will make you look like you have achieved success.

It really only means someone has allowed you to borrow money from them and pay them back with interest for the privilege of loaning you their money.

Real wealth cannot just been seen by the naked eye in the form of fancy condos, clothes, jewelry, furs and luxury cars. It is usually shielded from prying eyes in the form of investments and inside bank accounts.

For most folks, a luxury car does not mean you have wealth; it means you have debt. Reject new cars like I have and I promise you will actually start to build wealth.

Scouts honor.

Celebrities and Money, Financial Freedom, Financial Independence, Saving, Self-Made Millionaires, Video Games Reviews, Wealth

5 Money Lessons From Maniac Mansion

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For those of you out there that grew up in the in the 90’s, then you may remember a video game by the name of Maniac Mansion.

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It was released on October 5, 1987 on multiple platforms such as Apple II, Atari and Nintendo to much fanfare and critical acclaim and was developed by the man who created Luke Skywalker and the Star Wars franchise, George Lucas, through Lucasfilm Games.

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This was long before the iphone was released to worldwide sensation back in 2007, which was developed by another pioneer, Steve Jobs of Apple.

See my post How Being An Outlier Can Make You Rich

What I absolutely loved about this game was the character development. They were so much fun. Interacting with Weird Ed and Edna and the tentacles was a riot!

Even how the characters spoke to each other was hilarious. Let me provide you with this example.

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However, as with anything, you have to look below the surface and take a deeper look. Therefore, I wrote this post focusing on the financial aspects of this game in regards to how you can relate money to the world around you. Even a video game.

And do not even get me started on the price of games today! Growing up we thought $60 a pop for one game was outrageous! Boy, were we wrong.

Today, you can spend $80 or more for a subscription to play your Playstation or Xbox console. Another subscription! Come off it marketing departments across America! You know people can’t afford to barely buy toilet paper out here, let alone video game subscriptions!

Don’t believe me?

When the longest government shutdown in United Sates history, it lasted 35 days, happened people were in line at soup kitchens!

Missing one check caused people absolute panic. And I don’t mean at the disco! One lady said that she was down to $1.26 in her checking account; that was all the money she had and she didn’t know what she was going to do.

You see back in the good old days, you would go to the store, buy an item, do the transaction one time, and like Cinderella’s fairy Godmother’s would say, “bibbidi-bobbidi-boo” and you owed the thing free and clear as the transaction was done, over, finito. 

See my post America Is The Land Of Subscriptions

This post will show you how to save money, get rich, and maybe decide to put a down payment on some property, but it doesn’t have to be a mansion. So here we go.

5 Money and Life Lessons from Maniac Mansion

But first… What is Maniac Mansion?

Maniac Mansion is a 1987 graphic adventure video game developed and published by Lucasfilm Games.

It follows teenage protagonist Dave Miller as he attempts to rescue his girlfriend from a mad scientist, whose mind has been enslaved by a sentient meteor. The player uses a point-and-click interface to guide Dave and two of his six playable friends through the scientist’s mansion while solving puzzles and avoiding dangers. Gameplay is non-linear, and the game must be completed in different ways based on the player’s choice of characters.

MONEY AND LIFE LESSON ONE: MANSIONS COST MONEY

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It has been over twenty years since a mysterious purple meteor came hurtling out of the sky and made a large crater in the front lawn of a large Victorian mansion belonging to the Edison family. Dr. Fred, his wife Nurse Edna, and their son Weird Ed were reclusive people who left the house very rarely, but the meteor’s arrival brought about a strange change in Dr. Fred. Now, a local cheerleader has vanished without a trace. Dave, her boyfriend, has gathered a few of his close comrades on a mission to invade the mansion and save Sandy!

However, if we just focus on the part about the mansion…basically, big homes costs big bucks! For fun, I looked up the cost of Victorian homes.

The Main House at Skywalker Ranch inspired the design of Maniac Mansion‘s setting, which is reported to have cost self-made millionaire George Lucas around $100 million dollars.

A large white house with black roofing in front of green hills and forests.
The Skywalker Ranch
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So unless you are onstage with your two friends Kelly and Michelle or creating the next new franchise, you may want to stick with buying a home you can afford.

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Let’s not forget that property taxes are forever! If you can’t pay your taxes, you can still lose your home, even if you own it free and clear.

Taxes are an ongoing expense to owning a home.

Let us not forget that even celebrities have to sell homes for unforeseen reasons and sometimes at a loss.

It was reported that Johnny Depp was suing his management company for $25 million and in the court filing it detailed his spending at at $2 million- a-month! He had considerable property holdings and it was also reported that he was advised to sell a family home located in Paris, France or something along those lines and possibly at a loss at that!

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was also recently in the news as his Connecticut manse was costing him $70,000-a-month to maintain. That basically is the cost of running a small boutique hotel or miniature bed-and-breakfast. He ended up selling the property at a loss, he paid $4.1 million and sold at $2.3 million, to stop paying the exorbitant cost of owning the place.

Lastly, Mary J. Blige was reported to own a couple mansion-style properties in New Jersey that were unable to be rented. You read that right. She is paying for properties that are uninhabitable, costing her money every single month night and day, and collecting no rent on the properties. In her divorce filing, she was reported to make over $300,000 a month so it is unclear why exactly these properties are unable to be renovated and sold without a closer look at her financial records and proper accounting.

The reason I refuse to buy a big home is because they along with cars can be wealth suckers.

Doing the math, if you buy a $350,000 at a 5% interest rate and take 30 years to pay it off it will cost you around $700,000! Or a $500,000 home could cost you $1,000,000. Yes, twice what you bought the home for.

And most people are working to pay for this behemoth, fancy vacations, and expensive nights on the town with bottle service meaning they are not even home enough to enjoy paying double the cost of it!

See my post American Homes Are $1,100 Per Month Storage Units

MONEY AND LIFE LESSON TWO: PATIENCE

All good things come in time. Building wealth is no exception to the rule.

I started out with a toothbrush, a bag of clothes, and some books.

Now I have a home, paid off vehicle, stocks, investments, and even more books. The point I’m trying to make here is that you accumulate money and things over time. You may not have everything you want right now, but keep working.

Never let yesterday use up too much of today. – Will Rogers

If you are working towards something, the don’t stop or quit for anything. I turned a $450 car payment into $100,000. It took like a decade.

Come to think of it, it usually takes people 10 years or more to perfect whatever it is their doing so you may as well chill out.

The humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935) once told a young John Wayne some sound and simple advice. I will share it with you here.

After John Wayne (1907-1979) complained for a full 10-15 minutes of why he wasn’t being paid more to act on film, he asked Will Rogers what he should do? Will Rogers replied, “Well kid, are you working?” To which, John Wayne replied, “yes.” Then Will Rogers says, “keep working.” And then proceeds to walk away.

So my reply to anyone who wants something NOW, “have patience.” This is me NOW moving on to the next paragraph and lesson in this post, which is my equivalent to Will Rogers walking away. I have given you all the advice you need on that topic. Moving on.

MONEY AND LIFE LESSON THREE: MAKE FRIENDS NOT ENEMIES

One of the best things about the game are the characters. Each have different looks, mannerisms, ways of speaking, talents and abilities. This is part of what makes the game so much fun.

Dave is on a mission. To save his girlfriend Sandy. But he can’t do it alone. He brings along his friends to help him out and watch his back.

This is also sound advice if you want to build a fortune and an empire. Nobody does it alone. Eventually you will need to work with bankers, lawyers, businesses, investment professional, and tax attorneys.

It is always best to make friends than enemies as you never know when it is the next time you will see someone again.

When you are climbing that corporate ladder, those same people you tried to step on on the way up, you may see them again on the way down.

Hopefully, you offered them a piece of the pie instead of one to the face.

Mark Cuban said some great business advice in that if you start a company, then make sure your employees have some stock options invested in it as part of their compensation. That way if the company is successful and gets sold then the employees make money too.

This does two things: 1) eliminates wealth inequality (many of Mark Cuban’s former employees, 300 out of 330, became millions); and 2) encourages people to pay it forward through philanthropy and spend money that gets circulated back into the economy.

MONEY AND LIFE LESSON FOUR: RESCUE THE GIRL OR GUY FROM FINANCIAL DUNGEONS

In the game, if you get caught snooping around the mansion, then you are sen t to the dungeon.

The game is notorious for constantly getting you thrown in the dungeon by almost every member of the household if you are seen.

Fortunately, the game has a cheat in which you can get the dungeon key and let yourself and others that have been captured out of the dungeon. Without this trick in the game, you are toast.

Speaking of toast, avocado toast is not causing millennial’s to be broke. It is the ever escalating cost of education, housing, and healthcare that makes it harder to save.

All wealth building starts with saving. Period. A good cash reserves is a must. Here is a tip for you. Pros have cash. Amateurs do not. Pros are not under any kind of financial pressure. They remove the pressure and make rational decisions because they have money in the bank. Only amateurs allow pressure to get to them. Remove much of the pressure in your life by having cash reserves.

I recommend that being $10,000 or more in savings. That is how you are able to rescue yourself from being trapped in a financial dungeon. Just have cash.

MONEY AND LIFE LESSON FIVE: ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN

The video game Maniac Mansion has 5 possible endings. Depending on what players you chose to play and what actions you take.

The game allows you to have 3 characters for game play out of about 6. These are the people that have your back in case things should go wrong.

In addition, their different talents and unique abilities allow each kid to be an asset to the team. You must too do this in life. You must have back up…plans that is.

For example, I try to keep a minimum of 2-3 months or more of savings in the bank at ALL TIMES! Then I ramped it up to a goal of $10,000.

In addition, if you can save $233,000 in your 401(k), then you do not have to add another cent! After 20 years, with a return rate of 8 percent, you will have $1,001,857.35 in your retirement account. That’s Plan A. Cant’t envision making that happen? Then go to plan B. Save $168,000 in your 401(k), then do not add another penny. After 25 years, with a return rate of 8 percent, you will have $1,001,358.03 in your retirement account.

Are you starting to get the idea?

You can move the finish line and change your actions according to what is happening in your life, but keep the goal. If necessary, you can have a Plan A, B, C, D, etc. The point is to make it so that you are always moving forward by planning ahead.

Just like you have to do when playing Maniac Mansion.

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So let’s get out there, have some fun, and start saving!

Film Reviews, Financial Independence, Saving

Just Winging It: Heavenly Money Advice From The Heavenly Kid

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The idea is not to live forever, it is to create something that will. – Andy Warhol

I’m back with another blast from the past. This time I’m taking you back to 1985 with The Heavenly Kid.

The movie poster image says: In Life & Love, We’re All Just Winging It.

However, in the real world “WINGING IT” isn’t going to cut it.

Anything you want, you are going to have to work for and pursue it. You must devise a plan, write it down, determine a strategy, chart a course, set sail, and execute that plan until you reach the finish line.

See my post on Nike founder Phil Knight

One of my favorite films from the 80’s was this gem. The movie had a kick ass soundtrack too!

What I really loved about The Heavenly Kid (THK) is that in the end what mattered most was people and not things.

Take a walk with memory down memory lane. You will not be sorry you came along.

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Pinky promise.?

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I pinky promise you.

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The synopsis is as follows: A hip guardian angel named Bobby Fantana, who died in a car race in the 60s, reluctantly agrees to watch over lonely 80s high schooler Lenny Barnes who needs guidance on how to become cool.

This is how it all went down.

A young greaser-type rebel, challenges Joe Barnes (Mark Metcalf) to a game of chicken for making a pass at his girlfriend Emily (Jane Kaczmarek). Bobby wins the race easily when Joe dives out of his car, but Bobby is unable to get out of the car in time due to his bracelet getting caught on the gearshift. He dies as his car plummets over the cliff into a fiery wreck.

I know this is some sad sh*t, but it does get better.

Although, Bobby is no longer with us there is still some good he can do.

He wakes up aboard a speeding train, which stops at a station housing a huge escalator going up into a bright white light, which one of the attendants refers to as “Uptown”. Bobby is denied entry, and Rafferty (Richard Mulligan) appears and explains that he isn’t considered ready yet and needs to carry out an assignment in order to earn his ticket Uptown.

That train is hilarious. Basically, it is like some form of purgatory, but without any maliciousness. After what seemed like an eternity and many years in limbo, Bobby is finally given his assignment: he is to return to Earth and act as a guardian angel and friend for Lenny Barnes (Jason Gedrick), a promising high school student who is constantly picked on in school, particularly by school bullies Fred Gallo (Stephen Gregory) and Bill McIntyre (Beau Dremann).

The one and only Jason Gedrick.

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Iron Eagle 1986 young hero
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However, Bobby is instructed that he is only allowed to reveal himself to Lenny and nobody else.

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Ooh, plot thickens.

Basically, Bobby is not allowed to enter heaven but has to stay in one of the lower levels or downtown until he has worked enough as an guardian angel in order to deserve paradise. Like all good things, you have to earn it first.

Get out the popcorn, it’s going to be a good read.

WINGED ADVICE #1: CONFIDENCE IS KEY

When Bobby meets Lenny he is for lack of a better word; a nerd.

Just for flare. I am providing one of my favorite meet and greet handshakes of all time. By my favorite WWE wrestler Mach Man Randy Savage with Hulk Hogan. Now he had style and oozed confidence!

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And not the Steve Urkel type, but a kid that just has no confidence. Bobby is about to help him change that.

The first time he sees Lenny he is being picked on by a bunch of jerks from his high school. He notices that the “kid has no confidence cause he’s got no style.” Truer words had not been spoken.

I will not ever forget being teased in school. It only made me stronger. I remember thinking this is bull$#%t! I’m only here to get an education. I’m not here for you or your approval!

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All people cared about were looks and popularity. I was like there has to be more to life than they way you LOOK!

I decided to ignore them and hit the books and the gym. I found an upperclassman that was willing to do my hair anytime I wanted, then I worked on having impeccably flawless hygiene and appearance.

I felt this. Just like Regine Hunter (Kim Fields) in Living Single.

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I was like Beyonce in that b*tch! I WOKE UP LIKE THIS!

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All the bullying and teasing stopped REAL QUICK.

That is why I focus so much on my health, education, and building wealth. And it paid off in spades. I own a home, have multiple retirement accounts, I have over $100,000 in just 1 index fund and I own a bunch of those! Thanks Jack Bogle for creating the first index fund in 1975 with Vanguard.

I’m not the only one that has been teased in school. Lots of folks have. I recently saw an interview with William Zabka (Johnny from The Karate Kid) while he was promoting Cobra Kai with Ralph Macchio.

When asked about bullying he said he hates it. There are 3 core people involved in bullying: the bully, the one being bullied, and the witness. Go tell an adult or someone you trust what is going on. Speak up. No one knows unless you tell them. Don’t be afraid to stand up, say something or defend yourself. Remember that bullying is only a season; it is not your whole life. This too shall pass. It is not permanent; it is only temporary. At the time, it seems like your whole world because in that moment it is, but you will grow up an this will end. Yes, he said all of that. He played the bully in a movie. That is fiction. In real life (IRL), he is anti-bullying.

In addition, I remember hearing Jillian Michael tell her story. She was chubby and overweight. The kids were relentless in their teasing. Once she started training in martial arts she said the teasing dried up like prunes and stopped real quick. Therefore, if you want to do anything in this life, the first thing you have to do after making sure you are safe, dry, and feed is to build up some confidence. It can change your life faster than just about anything.

How do you get it? Create a safe place and space for yourself to be who you are, but also to have a clean and neat appearance.

Coco Chanel once said the fastest way to change your appearance is to never underestimate the value of fresh-shaped eyebrows, clean glowing skin and a good haircut.

Basically, focus on hair, teeth, and skin.

You do this by drinking water, exercising, and eating well.

The End.

As far as clothing goes, just do the basics. You are in high school for goodness sakes! All you need are jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, and sneakers.

For the ladies, some fitted tops, jeans, skirts, dresses and heels. A nice blazer and black leather jacket are staples along with nude heels and black pumps. A little black dress is always great to have.

And most important, nothing too TRENDY! Styles change quick. They change so fast that styles have already changed while I was typing this sentence on this post!

Stick to regular staples and basic solid colors and you will never go wrong. Remember that red is the color of confidence.

Also, that you are your biggest cheerleader. You have to believe in yourself or otherwise no one else will. Find a way to build up your confidence and you will go a lot further along in your life.

That’s just my $0.02 cents. Smooches 💋

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WINGED ADVICE #2: CRUSHES DON’T LAST FOREVER AND NEITHER DOES BEING BROKE

Lenny has a crush on a girl named Sharon who is the most beautiful and popular girl of the class. He was totally obsessed.

But she does not even notice him until Bobby helps Lenny change his image and boosts his confidence. By doing this Bobby dresses Lenny up making him a playboy and tough guy so that he gets what he wants although Bobby knows that this is not the best. 

Lenny spent so much time obsessing over Sharon that the girl that really liked him wasn’t even in his eyesight, but was right in front of him in his friend Melissa (Nancy Valen).

Look we have all been there. Young love. Sometimes it goes unrequited. You will love again. I promise you. Like a friend told Romeo, during the infamous feud between the Montague’s and the Capulets), he must move on from Juliet, there are other beauties.

Shakespeare had that right. Nothing lasts forever. You must be willing to move on once you have done all you can. Did you do your best? Alright then, move on. Time heals all wounds and this includes a broken heart.

Now let’s talk money.

Don’t sped money like a drunken sailor.

Once you start earning some income, put some money aside. Even if it is only $5 dollars a week! This will get you in the habit of saving.

They say the niches are in riches. If that is so, then saving is the niche to building lasting wealth.

I started with nothing and slowly built what I have. First, I was saving $1 a day. Then it was $50 a month. I slowly started bumping it up every chance I got. Got a raise. Save it. Got a windfall. Save it. Can’t just let that money sit. Money can’t be idle.

See my post Money Lessons I Learned from Scrooge McDuck

Money must be invested and it has to keep circulating. Spend on what you need. If there is excess, then you can buy luxuries, but not before you have earned the money first. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

I finally started doing $150 a month and then doubled that. I started reading more on saving and figured “What the heck?” just cut out the crap, stop spending and save.

That is when I leap frogged from saving $3,600 a year to $5,000, $8,000, $10,000 and then $13,333. I sold, stop buying, or earned more and saved. From sacrifice comes great things. Get it. Got it. Good.

WINGED ADVICE #3: SHOPPING FOR A PURPOSE

One of my favorite scenes in the film was the shopping scene. Bobby takes Lenny shopping for new clothes. This boosts his confidence.

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In addition, he builds Lenny a car. Now that he has a new set of wheels and fancy clothes, he is ready to take on the world.

I am all for new clothes and buying things you need. Lenny needed to burn those clothes he had or donate them (waste not want not). They made him sad and lonely. He went from geek to chic. And his attitude along with it. However, they only got what he needed. No $5,000 Rolex, or $700 sneakers. Enough for the kid to get by and feel good.

See my post Shoe Game Is Not For The Frugal At Heart

That is what I do. That is how I was able to save thousands in annual clothing expenses and bank that money.

He was also economical in how he got a car. They went to a junkyard and put it together from all the spare parts lying around. No $500 car note there, which is the average that Americans are paying. Stop trying to impress people with your fancy gadgets.

Take a note from 50 Cent’s playbook. When in doubt: sell. Here is a cautionary tale.

Curtis 50 Cent Jackson recently sold his Connecticut mansion for $2.9 million. That is an 84% loss as he paid $4.1 million for the place in 2003. The reason he sold: money The place was a money pit. It cost a whopping $70,000 a month to maintain the property!

Therefore, he is paying $840,000 a year for his manse. He hasn’t even eaten yet! No gas was put in the Hummer (fill in any fancy car name here) and no food was put in the fridge. And don’t forget health insurance. That’s all got to be paid. In 9 years, 50 Cent will have paid over $7.5 million just to do nothing but sit on the sofa in his house! This 19 bedroom manse had no purpose other than to impress people. No one NEEDS 19 bedrooms unless they are running a bed and breakfast. Matter of fact, having a 10,000 or more square ft home is like having a small hotel. I’ll pass.

WINGED ADVICE #4: FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY OR FAMILY

Bobby later finds out that Lenny’s mother is his former girlfriend who has married another guy. Although not being allowed he makes himself visible to her…

and after some additional situations take place Lenny is challenged to a chicken race at the local quarry by Fred, Sharon’s former boyfriend. Having been told by Rafferty that Lenny will die just as Bobby did earlier, Bobby offers to trade his own chance to move Uptown (essentially, his own immortal soul) to save Lenny’s life.  He vows to give up his soul. A selfless act indeed.  

This unknowingly earns Bobby a trip to Heaven or “uptown” as the movie refers to it. Rafferty explains to Bobby that he had learned to love and value someone more than himself, and that is how one earned a ticket Uptown.

There are going to be times in this life when you will have to chose what matters most to you. What do you value? I remember hearing the Osmonds father (yes, those Osmonds of Donnie and Marie fame) tell his children: faith, family, then career.

I pick my investments based on what I value most: freedom. The freedom to choose what I do with my life and my time.

Money is infinite, but time is not. Once it’s gone, it is gone forever.

That is why I only do what excites me. You only get one life. One shot. One chance. I suggest we all do what Eminem says, ” You better lose yourself in the music, the moment You own it, you better never let it go You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.” I agree wholeheartedly.

If you like this post, then check out the film The Heavenly Kid. Because life and you money are too important to “just wing it.”




Financial Freedom, Financial Independence, Investing, Wealth

Mega Millions win or bust

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Here’s something to think about: How come you never see a headline like ‘Psychic Wins Lottery’? – Jay Leno

Are you feeling lucky? Well, do ya?

If so, well then playing the lotto might just be for you.

But like Katniss, the odds may not be ever in your favor.

It has about two weeks since the largest jackpot in Mega Millions history was won by a single ticket to the tune of $1.537 billion dollars!

All over the country it was Powerball and Mega Millions fever.

Everywhere I went people were talking about the lotto. Some people even tweeted about what they would do if they won.

I get it. You win the jackpot and your financial freedom. You’re on cloud nine.

However, you have to plan your escape from the rate race whether or not you win the lottery.

If you want to get rich, either by picking winning numbers or otherwise, you better learn quick how to manage a fortune.

Here’s why.

CHANCES OF WINNING

Are pretty slim.

According to Fortune magazine, the odds of winning the lottery are about one in 300 million. Considering that there are over 326 million Americans, that makes your odds quite small.

If you want to close this gap, you will have to increase your scope of numbers to play and play more often.

It’s not enough to do the kids birthdays or your anniversary. Going to have to get creative. You need the locker combination to your high school locker, your kids Xbox password, your great-aunt’s wedding date, and your first love’s old address. You know, something like that.

But all jokes aside, you will have to increase your range of numbers to increase your odds of winning.

In addition, you will have to play more often.

It has been well-documented that people who win the lottery once are likely to win it again.

The problem with this is that you also increase the amount of money you lose while playing the game.

LOTTERY WINNERS GO BROKE

Get rich or die tryin’. – 50 cent  

Did you know a high percentage of lottery winners end up broke? According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, 70 percent of lottery winners go broke.

I have a theory.

If you are unable to manage balancing your check book with $1k, then it is nearly impossible to do it with $1B.

I feel like it is.

But, if you saw  Justin Timberlake in The Social Network, you know he says, “you know what is cool? A billion dollars.”

They say the first million is the hardest. Well, try wrapping your head around a billion!

Even billionaire T. Boone Pickens thinks that it is too!

That’s a whole lot more zeroes you are working with. If you don’t know what PEMDAS stands for (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally), you are in trouble.

You must first learn the rules of money, if you are to win the game. See my posts for more on how to build up your wealth knowledge bank.

Forget casinos, bet on yourself

The six ways to get rich

Money Lessons I learned from Scrooge McDuck

How Millennial Money inspire me to start saving $13,333.06 a year

STAY GROUNDED

“Using money you haven’t earned to buy things you don’t need to impress people you don’t like” – Robert Quillen

I have seen too many lottery winners go bankrupt. You win all that money just to go back to being broke! No, thanks.

Forget your friends and family telling you to spend. Do not inflate your lifestyle and then upgrade it even more after moving to that gated community in Beverly Hills. You do not need to outspend your neighbors.

3 Rich Habits of Millionaires

You can still drive a Honda. The kids can still get jobs. If you think that it is taking away an opportunity for someone else to work for a needed paycheck, then let junior volunteer.

That was the advice Fran gave Mr. Sheffield in The Nanny.   He wanted to teach his daughter about responsibility and the value of money. So, in S02E21 Maggie became a candy striper at a hospital.  Great advice.

Fun Fact: In the S02E08 of Gilmore Girls,  Rory gets in trouble at school. It just so happens that one of her schoolmates in that episode was none other than Mr. Sheffield’s youngest, Grace, played by actress Madeline Zima. You can see her in the blue sweater walking behind Rory in this clip.

My advice to anyone who comes into large sums of money whether by inheritance, large windfall, bonus, or lottery is to stay humble.

Read my posts for lessons on eating humble pie:

How Dave Grohl turned passion into profits

Money Lessons I learned from Aesop’s The Ants and the Grasshopper

Money and Life Lessons I learned from Mr. T

Life Lessons I learned from The Warriors

The Greatest Assets are people

HOW TO MANAGE ALL THAT MONEY

You have to ask yourself after winning the lottery: How are you planning to manage all that cash?

You need a team to help you manage all that money. A circle of trust, like in Meet the Fockers.

I have a few suggestions.

  • Set up a trust to stay anonymous
  • Get a financial advisor
  • Hire an intermediary to answer requests for money on your behalf
  • Set a daily, monthly, annual spending limit
  • Hire an attorney
  • Take the lump sum
  • Create your own annuity with a spending budget
  • Hire a CPA
  • Learn how to manage money
  • Understand your tax liability

BUY STOCKS INSTEAD OF LOTTERY TICKETS

I would much prefer people spend their money wisely than to bet it on chance.

You could invest your money instead of throwing it down on the roulette table. If you are want to be a part owner of Caesar’s Palace, instead of merely placing bets at one, you can buy REIT’s or mutual funds.

Even better, you can buy index funds that includes hundreds of stocks that track a benchmark such as the S&P 500.

Every dollar you invest can possibly be turned into two or three dollars.

Source: familyfinancefavs.com

Not sure what all this is? No problem. Go down to your local library and ask for books on personal finance. You can also look up any words you are unfamiliar with online.

In addition, you can read blogs, listen to podcasts, join investing clubs, get a job in banking, take a few online finance courses, or ask friends and family for book recommendations.

Many books offer book recommendations in the appendix.

All you have to do is be willing to do some homework.

Trust me, it’s worth it.

When your one-day sitting on a beach in Hawaii, sipping cocktails and able to get up at noon just because.

Your future self will thank you.