Clipboard Basketball

Basketball coaches’ clipboard for iPad

Are you living from pay check to pay check like over 50% of all Americans? Do you feel like you only enough money to pay your bills, take care of a few essentials and maybe get to go out and have a little fun? Saving money seems like a wonderful idea but there just isn’t the extra to save. It means that you may want to re-evaluate your budget or spending. Planning makes saving very easy. Let’s look at a few ideas that can help you manage your money.

1. Here is a quick and easy tip to get you started. Maybe you wrote out a budget and found that it is in the negative each month. Loose change is king. Don’t hate all of those coins in your pockets or at the bottom of your purse. Turn loose change into a nice savings plan. Get a large jar or can and everyday deposit all loose change daily. Make sure you hide the can so that the money in it doesn’t become pop and chip money.
2. Set a goal of about $1.50 per day or the cost of 1 soft drink which is $45.00 per month. If this is too big cut it down and start with only $25 per month which is only .83 cents per day. Don’t be afraid to push yourself. This money is for you. Consider having the money deducted directly from your check or bank account. Make these payments to the savings account automatic. By making your payments automatic you will be consistent and you won’t be tempted to spend it.
3. Open a savings account that is not easily accessible. If the goal is to save money it can not be in an account with Debit Card or ATM access. This allows the account time to grow before you pinch off of it.
4. Try not to use a Debit Card. Use cash only. Debit Cards give you a false sense of security and often cause you to overspend.
5. Reduce the number of times you eat out. Track the dollars spent each month dinning out. If you normally spend $300.00 a month dinning out try spending $200.00 per month and take the additional $100.00 and open a savings account.
6. Finally, create a budget. I know it sounds old fashioned and boring but it works! I asked a friend to help me with this example. I asked her how much she pays out each month in bills, she said “a lot”. I asked her if she could save $150.00 a month and she said it’s possible only with a budget.

Real Life Example

My friend’s name is Beverly. She is a single mother of a handsome 14 year old boy. She lives in a 2-bedroom apartment, drives a 2005 Ford Focus and has a supportive x-husband who actively provides financial and emotional support. Her son is a typical young adult who loves sports. His favorite sports are Basketball and Golf. Here is how we got her to save $150.00 per month

Beverly earns approximately 50,000 per year before taxes and receives about $5000 per year via child support. Let’s look at her bills and see if we can reach our goal of saving $150.00 per month.

Beverly saves 5% of her gross earnings through her jobs 401k plan. Her monthly bills equal $2647.00 before her savings goal of $150.00 per month with her savings calculated into the total monthly bills she spends $2747.00. Her bill break down is below. Beverly brings home $3246.00 per month. This number includes $400.00 per month from her Ex-Husband and $1423 paid twice per month from her job. This leaves Beverly with $499 per month to enjoy. Another way to look at this is Beverly can spend $116.43 per week on anything she desires.

Here are Beverly’s Monthly Expenses:

• $965.00 – Rent
• $50.00 Electricity
• $60.00 Phone
• $75.00 Cable
• $89.00 Cell-phone
• $100.00 Per month in gas for her car
• $80.00 laundry and dry cleaning
• $300.00 per month for groceries
• $336.00 car note
• $67.00 car insurance
• $100.00 credit cards
• $100.00 per month for fun money
• $275.00 per month tithes and offerings
• $150.00 per month savings goal

Create a budget by understanding where your money is being spent each month and how much is left over to use for fun. This should take less than 30 minutes. Don’t leave out any monthly bills. Using a budget is the most effective way to save money.

If you happen to spend all of the money you have saved, don’t dwell on it. Start over immediately. Over time you will be very proud of the results.

Yolanda R. Spearman-MBA, Detroit Michigan [http://www.buildabigbankaccount.com/optin.html]

IS THE PREZ TOO MUCH LIKE U OR ME?

WHY IS IT NECESSARY THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE “LIKE US” IN THE WHITE HOUSE???
DO WE CONSTANTLY NEED TO BE REINFORCED WITH OUR OWN QUALITIES?
WE VOTED FOR SOMEONE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE A BEER WITH… AND WE GOT A C STUDENT AS OUR 8 YEAR PREZ? did it go alright??? hmmm
WHY NOT HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS BRILLIANT … WHY SHOULDN’T THEY MAKE US LOOK NOT AS SMART?
ARE WE THAT FRAGILE? ARE OUR EGOS THAT FRAGILE??
thecaptain of the Basketball Team is not the “average” player…. he is not the guy with the clipboard. he is the best and the one our team can’t do without.

That’s a good point.. why are we so determined to have someone normal?