Archive for Lifestyle
2013 A Chance to Start Again
Posted by: | CommentsAnother year begins and in a way it’s a chance to wipe the slate clean and an opportunity to decide what we want 
the coming months to hold. We should always be consciously planning and setting goals that will keep us on track and living life the way we want but most of us don’t. Although most goals set at New Year will soon be forgotten it really is a good time to make change.
There are always lots of articles and talk about New Year’s resolutions at this time of year and for many it’s only when the busyness of the holiday is over that some with serious intentions can actually take the time to clearly focus on what they want. So, if you missed the Jan 1st deadline that is just fine because now is as good a time as any to set some worthy goals for yourself.
Are you good at following through on your goals? Some will see projects through to the end but more have a habit of setting goals only to have them go by the wayside before January is out. Most of us are great starters but not good finishers. We are full-steam ahead and totally motivated at the beginning but soon lose steam and end up not reaching the finishing line and end up putting the same goals on our list year after year. Maybe this is the year to break that habit and get what you say you want.
How will you keep your resolutions this year? If you are already aware that you don’t have a good track record you are probably also aware that things come up that have taken you off course in the past and likely to do so again. Think about what those obstacles could be and find a ways to handle them when they do come up so that they won’t take you off course and sabotage your efforts.
Procrastination is one of the main causes of failed goals and dreams It holds people back from what they want. Procrastination like a number of other issues is emotional rather than mental. Talking yourself into doing something just doesn’t work, neither does willpower.
When you think about how our emotions affect us just consider the topic of weight loss. Why do so many of us have such a difficult time losing weight when we know what we need to do. There’s a ton of information available so no one could say they don’t have the knowledge. It used to be considered that people that had a problem losing weight had no will power. Some said they were just greedy and lazy people that ate too much. Then it was finally revealed that there is far more to it than that. The truth is that there are a lot of emotional triggers related to weight issues.and the reasons why people have such a struggle losing excess weight, even though they are desperate to do so. It has become accepted that a lot of problems are actually emotional and telling someone to just do it is not going to work.
Procrastination means constantly putting things off, even when you know it’s something that you really want or need to do. This can create a lot of stress for you because what you need to do stays on your mind and to do list. It takes your focus, makes you feel guilty and stops you from enjoying your free time because you know there’s still something you should be doing or need to do. A great example of this is tax season. Many of us leave doing our taxes to the last minute and worry about it for weeks before hand rather than get it done and not feel the pressure and guilt.
If you want to lose weight you know that there are specific things that you need to do otherwise it won’t happen. If you want to become more fit you know that you are going to have to exercise more. Even though you really and truly want the results something stops you from doing what needs to be done.
You need to dig deeper and find out what is really stopping you. Ask yourself “What if I lost the weight how would my life be different” or “What if I made more money how would my life be different”? Do this process with whatever it is that you say you want and see what answers you come up with. Is there something you are unconsciously (not aware of) that is stopping you getting what you want? Check what you feel and not the first answer that comes to your mind as we are searching for the emotional blocks. Once you figure this out you will have a much better chance of success.
Give A Gift Of Learning And Memories
Posted by: | CommentsGive a Gift of Learning and Memories
Whenever it comes to gift giving for whatever the occasion it’s common that most of us are left scratching our heads wondering what to give our loved ones. For those of us that are older, especially those over 50, if you are like me you will probably recall it all very differently today than when we were youngsters. Many of us grew up in a time when Xmas and birthdays were about the only time you would receive any type of gifts. Almost anything would be appreciates and there were often real needs to be filled.
With Christmas fast approaching and it seems like it’s someone’s birthday almost every week the topic of gift giving is at the forefront of many minds, especially right now. And as one young mum recently said to me, these days it’s Xmas every day. This may seem a little bit of an exaggeration especially for some people but I think we all have a good idea of what she is referring to. People buy for themselves and receive things all year round, so when it comes to one of those special occasions finding the right gift is far more difficult because if it’s something the person really wants then the chances are that they already have it.
Even knowing this I think most of us go out on the hunt in the hopes of coming across something unique that the person in question may actually like, but it’s not easy. We all have such individual tastes in clothes, accessories, music and everything else. Read More→
If Money Was No Object How Would Your Life Be?
Posted by: | CommentsIf Money Was No Object How Would Your Life Be?
This question really does bare some thinking about because it’s not one we would normally consider. How different would your life be now if back when you were younger still with most of your life before you, that money was no object when you were trying to make some of your life decisions? Where would you be now and what would you be doing?
There are a lot of people that live to an old age never really having lived the life they wanted, not even for a short time. Others have taken risks and gone after what they wanted, knowing that it’s now or never, some have not lived as long but they actually fully lived while they were here.
If money wasn’t a concern, it just didn’t come into the equation, what would you desire your life to be like now? You can’t go back in time but maybe you can make up a bit for what you’ve missed out on or been searching for.
When it comes to choosing a career most people go after the money, even though they may be selling themselves short, and more often than not they are not getting any fulfillment from what they are doing or getting any further ahead. It really doesn’t make sense to be doing things that you don’t like but the problem is most of us think there isn’t another choice or we are too old to change this is not to say that money isn’t important because money can help in many ways
Is it really too late to give up what you don’t want and go after what you always wanted? Some people do, it just takes some of us much longer to realize all the stuff we accumulate doesn’t amount to anything in the end it’s all about experiences and enjoyable ones at that.
There are those that decide to give up all the trappings that hold them hostage in their life for a simple life and freedom. They get to do the things that they want whether that is painting landscapes, sitting around a bonfire having a sing-a -long with friends, relaxing in a sunny location, surfing the waves or whatever their heart desires. They may drop out of the rat race and let go of their baggage but what are they getting in its place?
Maybe it’s time to stop letting other people get you to live their version of the world. Maybe you will be compelled to make more of the short life that we have
This video by Alan Watts is well worth the just over 3 minutes it takes to watch.
Making These Mistakes Can Cost You Big Time!
Posted by: | CommentsMaking These Mistakes Can Cost You Big Time!
We all make mistakes and most of them we tend to learn from. However, as you get older there are certain mistakes that you do not want to make because they can be very costly and I’m not talking about money I’m talking about something more important – Your life!
The chances are that you are reading this because you’re heading towards or are already over 50, shall we say in the 3rd phase of life. Like me you’re probably thinking more about your life these days and how things have played out. At times like this often comes the realization that you are not where you thought you would be at this time of your life, or maybe you are asking yourself “is this all there is?”
Some of you may have reached far beyond your personal expectation and are better off than you ever thought possible. Generally it’s the other way around, that you have not managed to achieve as much as you had hoped for, that you thought that you would be in a better situation than you are at this time of your life. You may even be feeling a bit discouraged by it all.
Maybe things haven’t gone as you had hoped.
Circumstances can arise that can turn our life upside down and inside out in a flash. These circumstances are often totally out of our control. We only have to see what happened during the massive storm that caused havoc in many other areas before it hit the New York, New Jersey areas very recently where nature once again took its toll on many lives. A large number of which will never be the same again. This is big scale devastation like others we have seen before, but there are the individual personal catastrophes that happen to people like us every day!
Constantly lives are changed,
Whether it’s a major development such as a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, Tsunami, volcanic eruption or by an accident. These can affect hundreds, thousands, or a few, it’s rarely an event will just affect one person alone because those we are close to will often be affected in some way too.
Each is affected individually and left to deal with their own personal loss in their own way. These losses may be a personal loss, for example when we lose someone we care about, a physical loss maybe our home to fire or flood, emotional loss when we break off a relationship or when a parent is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s and can’t remember who you are. There’s the financial loss that could have been caused by the bad economy which has swallowed up your savings and investments, or losing your job and therefore your income. There are numerous ways we can suffer loss.
There are a lot of things that happen that we have no control over.
Getting older certainly doesn’t come without its challenges. Besides the physical changes we notice in ourselves and others by the time we reach our fifties and sixties we will have had friends and family members pass away or that are dealing with serious health issues. It’s at those times most of all that we tend to think about our own mortality and what we are doing with our life. The problem is its usually short lived and rather than taking some positive useful action then and there we quickly revert back into our old ways and routine doing nothing to improve our situations
It’s a mistake to waste your good health and mobility.
You will never be younger than you are right at this moment so don’t wait for later! You may be reasonably healthy and fit now so make the most of that while you have it. There are things that you can do in your 50s that you may find you are unable to do in your sixties or seventies and beyond. Many people start to get hip and knee problems that can cause a lot of pain, often requiring joint replacement which if you are able to get it can leave you immobile for long periods of time. Yes, it can happen at a much younger age too but seems to be much more common in those in their sixties and seventies
During my 50s a lot of changes happened for me. My life took a different direction, but it was a good direction. I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed most of my fifties. I took the opportunity to do things that I used to enjoy, as well as some other things that I had wanted to do and hadn’t. I took control of my life and it felt great.
Don’t make the mistake of giving up!
The year I turned sixty while not all bad, life did become much more of a challenge. We suffered the terrible loss of a much loved young member of our family. It changed everything; in fact nothing has been the same since. While you don’t ever get over something like this, after a while as challenging as it may be you learn to adjust and go on or you will stay stuck.
It took a while before I got back to thinking that my own life is going by really fast and if there are more things I want to achieve or do I need to get on with it. I have always had the belief that you should do things while you are able as you never know when the options will run out. Don’t give up on your life!
Don’t make the mistake of wasting your valuable time
It’s a big mistake to waste valuable time putting things off for later because you never know what later will bring. Time is a funny thing it’s illusive and we use it for all sorts of excuses. We say we don’t have the time for whatever but the truth is ‘this is all the time you have’. You cannot manage time, you cannot manipulate it no matter what you do; you can only manage yourself and the way in which you use your time. Organize yourself to use your time wisely!
Please leave your related comments below!
Men Over 50 And Their Biggest Challenges
Posted by: | CommentsMen Over 50 And Their
Biggest Challenges
Once you hit 50 there are a new set of rules, although hopefully you will still be leading a full active life there are a few things to consider. This article talks about men over 50 and their biggest challenges.
Health – everybody needs to keep an eye on their health but for men over 50 in particular there are certain things to be aware of. 
- Prostate – while it may be unpleasant to some ensuring that you have a healthy prostate is one of the best things you can do for your health at 50+ a prostate screening (while a little bit uncomfortable) may well save your life and is painless. There are other screenings to be aware of and a regular visit to your doctor for check-ups is vital.
- Erectile problems – Erectile dysfunction can be symptomatic of something more serious, or can just be a symptom of stress. Whatever else it is it is no reason to be embarrassed, go see your doctor and he will set your mind at ease and give you the tools to get past it. Try to keep your stress level manageable as stress can cause so many physical symptoms.
- Staying active – After 50 the energy levels for many men drop, ensuring you stay active even if you don’t want to put in 5 days in the gym is important. A good walk every day can be enough to ensure that you stay at a healthy weight. Bike riding is a popular activity that can be shared with a friend or family member, it really depends on how much of a challenge you like. Something to keep in mind is once you start letting your exercise routine go it doesn’t take much to feel and look different and getting started again takes even more discipline
- Eating Right – ensuring a healthy diet will allow you to manage your weight and keep you trim and healthy into your 60’s and beyond. Remember that alcohol cause the lbs to pile on too. Everything in moderation and do your best to eat clean healthy foods. Fast foods are tempting and convenient but the culprit of many extra pounds. Choose wisely when going for fast foods.
- Regular check-ups – the key aspect to remaining healthy over 50 is regularly checking in with your doctor. And don’t forget dental and eye checks ups too. Remember the old saying – An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Nip any problems in the bud.
Retirement planning – Making sure you have enough of an income to live on once you retire is a concern for many men but there are a few steps you can take to relieve the worry. It’s not always possible but do your best to be financially prepared as retirement comes around fast:
- Invest in a pension plan – Speaking to a financial adviser about a pension plan to suit you can ease the burden of what happens to you once you do retire.
- Make a bucket list – Think about all the things you will get to do once you retire, whether you want to travel, work in your local community, or learn a new language, play the guitar or learn to dance retirement should be something you look forward to not dread. Make sure that you invest your time well.
Estate Planning – Making sure your affairs are in order offers great peace of mind.
- Make a Will – making a will is not as difficult as it sounds, and once it’s done you will breathe easier knowing that your affairs are in order.
- The kids – Another burden for many in their 50’s can be that they still have kids in college or school, ensuring that they are taken care of is a stress for many. This challenge will hopefully take care of itself and once they are grown up it will be time for you to enjoy your retirement. Take particular joy in spending as much of their inheritance as you can on the things you love once you retire.
Besides the challenges already mentioned be sure to maintain a social life and remember that it’s never too late to make changes in your life. There are many challenges facing men over 50 but none are insurmountable. There is a lot of advice available just make sure you get it from a reliable source.
Living and Thriving In Mexico
Posted by: | CommentsHave you ever thought about moving to Mexico or some other country to have a different type of Lifestyle? Many of us have but just never got any further than the thinking and wondering what it would be like.
I have a friend that did more than think about it, she actually took the leap about 2 years ago and so far I have heard nothing but good things about her new life in Mexico. It wasn’t a spur of the moment decision for her; as a matter of fact she had been planning her move to Mexico for a number of years prior to her retirement. She is a single retired woman that had come to realize that where she was living she would not be able to afford to have the standard of living that she had been used to once she retired plus living in the sun was a big attraction for her.
We can find lots of promotional material on these countries many of them have some form of advertising attached to them so you wonder if what you are hearing is in fact true. It’s nice to hear unbiased information from real people with no agenda. I often wonder how other real people make out when they make such a big decision as moving to another country especially when they retire and where English is not the first language.
Sometimes information comes from unexpected sources. At one time or another most of us have had occasion to say “it really is a small world” I’ve said this more than a few times. One of those times was a few days ago. It started with a promotional email that I received. I hadn’t read it nor did I recognize the sender. The same afternoon I received a phone call from the sender of the email. It was a man with a British accent. This caught my attention as I am originally from Britain. Normally I am not happy to have sales calls to my home. However this man introduced himself and told me he had sent me the email and asked if I had read it. He wanted to make it clear what the offer it contained was all about, (it was related to hotel accommodation). I wasn’t interested in the offer but our conversation got on to other things, it turned out that he was calling me from Mexico and that I was originally from a city not too far away from London where he had lived and worked before he moved to Mexico.
We ended up having a really long interesting conversation about various things including how he came to live in Puerto Vallarta and what his thoughts are now that he’s been living there for some time. I had mentioned that some people I know at one time or another have given some consideration to moving to Mexico, either full or part time, myself included; also family members and friends.
I found it refreshing to speak with someone else that has actually taken the leap and lives there full time. Besides discovering that there are 2 people that we are both acquainted with (what are the chances of that) he gave me some insight of living in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.
He had been in the banking industry in London and he has a young son. He told me even though there were some tough decisions because of family as well as wondering if he would be able to make a living once he made the move. He said “I don’t have one regret about the decision to move here! I wake up with a smile on my face every day”. He had recently been back to the UK for a while due to personal matters but he said he couldn’t wait to get back to Mexico.
He asked if I could recall what it was like as a kid back in Britain years ago when as a kid you were able to play out in the street with the other kids until late, especially during the summer. How you would spend all day outside, no phone, not worried about time, your parents expected to see you when you were hungry”. Then he added “well that’s what my son can do here; he often stays out with the other kids playing out in the street sometimes until close to 11pm”. I could totally recall how different it was when I was a kid it was just healthy outdoors fun where you could enjoying yourself exploring and doing things that most kids today will never experience.
He explained that when they were back in the UK after school his son spent all his time on his play station 3, with little or no conversation, no real play, and he didn’t want a story when he went to bed. His son was so hyped up from the electronic games etc that he often had a problem sleeping. Now back in Mexico after school they build with Lego and do other playful things, sometimes his son will just lay in the hammock on the deck watching the sky or the ocean then he plays with the kids out in the street. By the end of the day his son has had fun, activity, fresh air and sleeps well without any electronic gadgets. As this dad said I have seen such a difference in this boy he is happy, and healthy.
A lot of these other countries are way smarter than us; they still know how to live while many here have forgotten how and never will have some of the best experiences.
As appealing as it may be anyone that is serious about making such a move needs to do their homework first. It is a big and somewhat gutsy thing to do, even a bit scary, so check everything out before making any final decisions.
Life Over 50 May Not Be What You Expected
Posted by: | CommentsLife over 50 may not be what you expected -
No matter where you live in the western world things have changed!
We all know that change is inevitable, that nothing stays the same. But for some reason once you are over 50 a lot of big changes take place that we may not really be prepared for. I don’t think that I’ve ever met anyone that just can’t wait to turn 50, and 10 years later for many turning 60 is even worse.
Most of us reach these age milestones with trepidation and a smile on our face to the world even if we are not feeling it in our hearts. It’s another reminder of how time is slipping away from us. Even though there may still be 60 minutes in an hour and 7 days in a week, boy does time seem to go by faster each year as we get older. It brings home how short a lifetime really is, so if there are things you want or need to do you had better get on with it!
If we want to survive and thrive in our later life we do have to reinvent ourselves, sometimes more than once and become more resilient in order to manage the challenges that we will probably have to face. In my parents and grandparents time 50 was old, and it always appeared to me that once people got older and into their senior years, somehow they were more settled into life and they sort of plodded along and accepted the status Quo and retirement was short lived for many and not because they chose to return to work. Were they really happy with it – who knows but on the whole they accepted it and didn’t know any better. But that’s definitely not the case anymore!
Just think about it back then how many parents aged 50 plus had young children at home with them unless it was their grandchildren. Today it’s pretty common to have parents in their ‘50s and 60s with kids in school or collage. How many in the age group of 50, 60, and 70 plus were getting divorced, never mind out dating again. Not to mention beginning a new career path in their 50s or running a business for the first time while in their 60s or 70s. How many women on their own or men for that matter at retirement age packed up everything to move to another part of the world where they spoke a different language? This is the way it is for many over 50s these days.
Today’s over 50s seniors are the pioneers for future generations, we don’t want to plod along to the end we want adventure, excitement, opportunities and more. The world has changed and so have we!
The economy is the pits and many plans have been waylaid through no fault of our own. We have trusted others with our hard earned money and many lost out because of it. A lot of people are sick of being told that everything is ‘with the people’s interest at heart’ only to see things getting worse day by day. No wonder so many people want change and they are not prepared to listen to any more bull, and many are taking the ‘bull by the horns’ and making some big decisions for themselves. Most of people are beginning to realize that in the end they are on their own and no one will have your interests at heart better than you. It is up to each one of us to reinvent ourselves and our life if we want to survive the changes in today’s world.
Think about what’s happening in your life. Is it going the way you want? If stuff is happening that you don’t like, didn’t expect, wish was different then you’ve probably already discovered that dwelling on it or burying your head in the sand doesn’t help to change it. Use that energy in finding better solutions and options. Don’t waste anymore time just plodding along, feeling hopeless reinvent yourself and your life!
Bored With Life – Then It’s Time To Change Your Life
Posted by: | CommentsYour life is boring, it sucks, you’re in a rut and need to make some changes but what to do that is the question. Most of us get to this realization at some point in our lives. For most of us it’s as we’ve gotten older, often once we are over 50 and life is not as exciting or as full as it once was. For many life’s circumstances have forced changes on them that they do not like and don’t know how to handle so they do nothing and boredom sets in. Going through a divorce, losing someone that you love, losing your job, retiring, kids leaving home, moving to a new place these are all very challenging times for most of us but it happens all the time.
We can feel sorry for ourselves for a while that is definitely a part of the process and certainly allowed but then it’s time to examine your life and have a conversation with yourself about what comes next. You know that you need and want to change your life but it seems like such a lot of effort to make more changes even if they are ones of your choosing. What if you take a chance and it all backfires? What will other people think of you if you go off and do something very different to what you’ve always done? Will they think that you are foolish and ungrateful because compared to many others you’ve actually got a good life?
These are the questions that keep most of us stuck in the first place. We constantly second guess ourselves and afraid of what others think rather than doing what is best for us. We are talking about you living a boring life here and there are so many things that you can do that could change your life from boring to useful, productive, creative, fun and enjoyable and who can be bored when they live like that?
Many find themselves alone after years of marriage and bringing up children they are at a loss but there have to be things that you really would like to do. Let’s take a look at a few ideas…
- Travel is one of the favorite pastimes of many people of all ages but travel takes money and time but if you think outside of the box maybe it is doable even for you. Could you combine a hobby with travel and make some cash at the same time. An example could be photography and selling your pictures. What about house sitting in one of the many places you want to visit? I know of a lady that house sits for someone in Naples Florida for a couple of months every year.
- Taking up a hobby that you love will give you pleasure and enjoyment as well as the potential to make some extra money, depending what your hobby is. Cooking, sewing, carpentry, painting, and many more hobbies can turn into cash on your pocket or just do it for the fun of it.
- If you are creative what can you create for yourself or others? Writing, music, websites, making something creative is great while you are creating you can’t be bored at the same time. Maybe you can even take your creativity to others and teach more about it too.
- If you want to move away, where do you want to go? What do you know about the place, what do you need to know and do to make this happen? Is it really doable? A friend of mine went to live in Mexico a year ago and so far so good she loves it and her lifestyle there. She sold her house and purchased a new home in a gated community where the residents a re friendly and they have lots of parties and fun times. She didn’t do it without first doing a ;lot of research about the area, health care, legal aspects and so on. All these things take time but need to be done if you want it to be a successful move.
- Do you love animals or children? How can you be of service to others and work with what you love?
- If you were a volunteer what would you volunteer to do? In a hospital, teaching, coaching, feeding the hungry, food bank, traveling to other countries to volunteer with agencies, etc.
- If you are an expert at something how can you show others how to become an expert too?
If you are really honest with yourself why would you choose a boring life over one that could be fulfilled, busy and happy. No Matter how big or small your changes are they can make a difference. It’s time to ban boredom and change your life! Time to do what you love.
Top 10 Things Women Over 50 Do
Posted by: | CommentsYou never know what life has in store for you no matter how well you think you have it planned out. Things can and do change. Often certain milestones will spur you on to re-evaluate your life and one of those times is turning 50. It can be a particularly thought provoking time for women about to turn 50 or even for those that are already over 50 now life as you’ve known it has changed.
After many years of domesticity taking care of family and often not considering their own needs many women start to think more about themselves, what they want and need before it gets too late. The appeal of being a mom and wife may no longer have the same appeal as it once had. Most women want some excitement in their life. The question is will they actually do something about it, and if so what will they do to meet this need? Some will take the bull by the horns and some will stay the course without rocking the boat even if they are not happy with their life as it is.
10 changes that over 50s women have made:
- Change career path. Many women have taken on careers because they fitted in with family life and not because they followed their own career interests. Often they choose to change that and pursue a career that interests them.
- Go back to school. Often women have not reached the level of education they would have liked or maybe they didn’t know what they wanted, so they make the decision to better their education or get trained for a new career.
- Follow a long lost passion (something they put on hold for domesticity) Family life is very consuming so many women give up something they love to raise a family. Often there just isn’t enough time to pursue their passion or it doesn’t fit well with their life as a mother and wife. The 50s is a good time for many to get back to that passion they put on the back burner.
- Leave long term relationships. Sustaining difficult relationships take its toll. Sometimes when things have not been good in a relationship many women feel they have put up with things for far too long. They finally get sick of it and leave sometimes with the intention of finding a more exciting relationship.
- Search For new Experiences. A sense of urgency has a lot of women in their 50s scrambling to discover new experiences. They feel that time is running out and want to find happiness while they can still enjoy it.
- Rediscover Self – after many years of not paying attention to their own needs they search to find themselves once more. Many women feel lost when their family doesn’t need them as much as they once did. The kids are off to college and flown the nest leaving them feeling lost.
- Deal with Conflicting Feelings. Even though they have reached a time in life when they deserve to do some things for themselves many women worry how it will affect others which stops them dead in their tracks and miserable.
- Instigate Divorce from Boredom – We all know relationships change sometimes for the better but often for the worst. Quiet evenings at home with a book or watching TV doesn’t cut it for many women over 50. It’s back to that feeling that time is running out and there are things to explore. This has many women with the desire to be single again. In over 50’s divorces over 60% of them are now instigated by women.
- Deal with Menopause. Blame the hormones. The changes that women go through during their mid 40s to mid 50s account for a number of these life changing behaviors.
- Find Confidence – Finding the confidence to finally say enough is enough. Staying in an unsatisfactory relationship is a thing of the past for many women over 50. Staying in a job that they hate is also no longer acceptable for many women in this age group. Or anything else that in unsatisfactory many women just won’t put up with it anymore. They do something about it!
Many women over 50 have the desire to make changes. Material comforts, money and marriage are not always enough. They realize this doesn’t equate to happiness or fulfillment. Some create a whole new life where they find the fulfillment they need. Sometimes it’s found traveling to third world countries to help others less fortunate, sometimes it’s found in a fulfilling career and other times in the right relationship. Everyone is different and we all have needs.
Before you do anything drastic you do need to consider the consequences and how destructive your actions may be. Will the benefits outweigh the sacrifices? Always explore the possibility that there may be a better way. And remember the grass is not always greener elsewhere.
10 Tips to Handling Credit Card Debt
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s almost impossible to not have a credit card today. If you want to make online purchases, book a hotel room, or a vacation you really need to have a credit card. Credit card debt can soon become a real problem and end up controlling your life. It’s easy to get into the debt but often seems impossible to get out of it.
The real problem begins when you start to use your credit cards for everyday living expenses, or get carried away with shopping sprees and don’t pay off the balance within the month, so you start getting hit with high interest rates. These interest rates can be astronomical and before you know it debt gets out of control.
One credit card maxed out often leads to getting another card and then another, and before you know where you are things have totally spiraled out of control and your drowning in debt. It is not uncommonfor many Americans to have as many as 9 credit cards.
Credit Card Debt
So what can you do to help your situation if this happens to you? Well first of all you have to acknowledge that this is a problem that needs a solution that you will take action on. Here are some of the most important things that you have to do in order to get your finances under control.
1. Cut up all your credit cards bar one. As already mentioned you do need a credit card for certain things but you must put this one credit card away and use for emergencies only.
2. Add up the total of all of your debts – you need to know what you are working with. Knowing things have got out of control and feeling doomed a lot of people don’t even open their bills because they know they can’t do anything about it. You have to know what you owe.
3. If you have more than one credit card list them all and how much you owe on each one and what the interest rate is charged on each card. Once you have done that you are going to contact the credit card companies and request a lower interest rate. If you find one with the lowest rate see about transferring the total amount to this one credit card company. Don’t be afraid to ask as all these credit card companies are in competition with each other for your business and are used to offering incentives to get business.
4. What you are trying to do here is to consolidate your debt so that you have the lowest interest rate you can get and have only one payment rather than multiple payments. When you are paying the very minimal amounts on your credit cards you will take forever to pay off the debt. If you don’t get satisfaction with the credit card companies or this method doesn’t really help your situation make an appointment to speak with someone at your bank about debt consolidation. In the long run having one payment will end up costing less than multiple payments. Read More→
