High Heels and High Worth

It is King's birthday - a three day weekend. Most will enjoy the day off but let me remind and implore upon  you to make it a day on!  It is that important...

Do something good today - for the greater good.  Make your community, your church, a neighborhood  school or some else's life better - TODAY!!!!.  Find a way to serve,  do it proudly. It is the right thing to do....just for today. 

The holiday which celebrates and honors  one of the greatest Leaders who has lived in my lifetime, would  want us to march on in a forward way.  He too would impart upon us l to be more than we ever thought we could be.

YES! Today is a day off (technically ...OMG, those sales!!!) but we have 24 hours TODAY to do something different, add value and make it a day of service.  Today is about being ON!

Join thousands in America and many around the world in heart and song in HIS name as we celebrate  life and  each other.  Make a contribution to serve today. We will all be better. Ultimately, we can make and be the difference in the world we want to see - if we just do it!

Happy King's Day!!

As I think about past Christmases, my heart smiles as  I am filled with wonderful memories.  Like many, it seems the good ol' days were "the best."  My... how, beautiful and distorted 20/20 vision can be. YES...those were the days.  However,  more important are the days of now. This  is the day that I am enjoying....Today...Right NOW!!!

Counting blessings is something I look at so differently today. What about you... How do you count your blessings?  Where are you this holiday season as it relates to spending and buying gifts for friends and loved ones??  Have you counted  your blessings (yet?)

As you ponder the questions, think about how blessed you are.  Write a letter to a friend or a loved one.  Let her know how special she is.  Know someone who is unable to get out and select the perfect tree...why don't you stop by with a special home- baked  "goody."  Put up the holiday decorations while you are there and feel the happiness when the lights are hung.

Counting blessings and giving from the heart will make someone's day and holiday season a most memorable one. Do it... and be grateful.

...Tis the Season!!!! 

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Living frugally requires sense with cents - 24/7! After determining  my monthly food budget, I proceeded to the supermarket this week with no "list" in tow.  In addition, I did not take my "save the earth" recycling green bag into the store which gives one an additional .05 per bag -  if one takes it into the store to carry purchases home.

"What was I thinking?" I asked myself as I hurried to the door in hope of beating the after work crowd for my weekly groceries.  It was 6:30.  Dinner was still a  mere thought in my mind and getting home from a long day after a tough meeting with a 4:30 client, I was bushed.  In auto pilot, all I thought "Just do what you have to do and get home....fast and in a hurry."  "Bury this one," I added quietly to myself..."You have to start all over again tomorrow."

Prompted by a kind gentleman at the door who stopped and smiled at me  I prepared to open the entry door  of the supermarket.   "Where's your bag?" he asked, "It's earth day every day here," he added, "And we want your help to save the earth."  " Besides you will get money back for your effort, if you use a recyclable bag."  "Wow," I sighed, a whole five cents,mmmhhh,  he is serious about this job... I continued thinking silently but answered back with a half smile as I affirmatively nodded, "That's a good thing!"

Feeling a little guilty and also experiencing the need to be a part of the bigger picture, I returned to my car, picked up my "save the green bag" and sat there for a few minutes.  I took  time while in the car to prepare my weekly list.  Upon completion, I  was proud of myself for the effort put forth and the  savings - the whole nickel and the monies saved after shopping because I put together a list vs.  random buying based on everything that looks good in my face. 

A list always saves the purchaser money. Too it hones in on  personal desires related to  lifelong goals -  to stay the course and live the healthy wealth wise motto - Sense and cents at every turn.  Yep, I almost, broke my own rule, but I did not not.  For sure I was glad for the reminder from one who cared enough to share.  After all, areen't we all worth it -  again!

This week:  Don't spend money on things you don't need.  Prepare your food and essentials list before entering the supermarket. Plan and  have a varied menu in mind as you and your family think of the week's menus.   Prepare to save.  You will waste less because you have made healthywealth minded decisions in advance.  

Plan and prepare wisely. Always use your sense for cents - you are worth it!!!!

As a kid , my Dad would tell my sister and me that every day was Children's Day.  While I never liked his sentiment as a kid, I clearly understand what he was saying now that I am an adult with two dependents, I mean a family of my own.  Given the fact, that Mom's have one "special" day of the year, I hope you and yours were treated well. Too, I trust that in the push and pull grind of living our busy lives you took a few minutes out for you to relax, review and contemplate on your bottom line....afterall; it was, for one day....all about YOU!

Today, try to take advantage of the low rates if you own your home.  Refinance today and $ave!

Depo$it an extra few dollars this week from your next paycheck and throw all of that excess change you have around the house in an account with your name on it. start with checking your wallet, there is alays loose change there.

Celebrate you! with the interest rate (yes, I recognize that it is minimal) on those accounts you opened earlier this year.  Make today count - your blessing that is...and celebrate Mother's Day for a lifetime with all that you are putting away for tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day Mom! You deserve all that you earn because you saved for it!

Today started like every other Monday...early prayers and meditation, a quick shower before getting dressed for work and a gentle reminder to my 17 year old.   Time to get up, I thought before knocking on his door. "Good Morning," I announced,"Time to rise and shine." 

With the radio  stations playing our favorite morning tunes; his on hip hop and mine tuned into R and B initially, I  paid very little attention to the number of times I heard Luther Vandross crooning his heart out.  After the 5th song in less than an hour, it made perfect sense.  I heard Steve Harvey from  The Morning Show announce, "Today is his Birthday." he stated..."The greatest R and B voice ever to sing." 

With a smile on my face, I knew despite whatever the news for the day and meeting update from    President Obama's Economic team meeting in Washington DC at the  summit, today was Luther's birthday and just for today...."A House is Not a Home" and "Any Love" would reign in my heart.

Initially thinking about my client's and their financial matters -  especially after watching 60 Minutes last night, and hearing the reporter discuss  everyone's 401k blues and debt management non solutions somehow, it did not have its weight. It probably would have been different even a year ago.  After all, haven't we all resigned to the fact that we will be working until death or debt due us part???

Considering that it was Luther's birthday,  today was about a song and my heart NOT another blues singing moment and broken promises with no plan.  The daunting news shared by the correspondent on America's #1 TV show, about shrinking or dare I say a shrunk and dissipated 401k retirement fund appeared almost moot after listening to Luther sing his heart out - again and again throughout the day.

What is it all really about? I asked myself.  We work our hearts out for years, save in hopes of golden years only to find out that what was once golden, (if it ever was)  may not even be plastic lining, forget silver lining or even copper.    Is that the real problem?  Did we lean too heavily on the plastic and somewhere, somehow lost our way? What about the lessons our parents tried to show us?  Were we too busy living it up to listen to their old fashioned ways of pay as you go and never ever live beyond your means?

Recognizing that building and rebuilding a 401k and or planning for a savings plan may take a minimum of 10 years to build. That is what the experts told us yesterday on the show.  "We have to be honest with the public" is what one of the retirement fund gurus told the watching public.  "Where were you when we needed you?" I smirked to myself.  For those who did all of the right things, where did that leave them who have become us?.  Not asking the right and pertinent questions about who and how the 401k funds were being managed is only one of the many problems discussed.  Too and probably most important, the experts told the audience that the fees being charged on many retirement funds had hidden costs and  how to find them was near impossible.  Mmmh...whose money is it anyway?

Reminded of the way things were, I wondered how many might go back to saving (cash)  in the mattress  and doing away with banks, paying enormous fees, "come on" gimmicks and teaser rates to get consumers to just say "Yes" for the future, of course.  Yes, the cynic in me, is exaggerating (I think) but just for today, I chose to not think about it.  Money and financial matters that have caused us all to sigh and wait for better days waited as I celebrated Luther and sang loudly "Superstar....till you come back to me".   Now if only my money would respond in kind - like the words of his Grammy award winning words.