inspiration

Join the 52 Week Make Money Challenge for 2014

December 31, 2013 By Jeffrey Strain 3 Comments

While talking with some friends who attempted the 52 week money challenge last year, it became apparent that a lot of them had frustration because they didn’t feel that there were many areas in their budget where they could save. They had already cut back as much as possible, and there simply wasn’t anyplace for them to squeeze out a little more savings to fund their challenge account. It soon became apparent that what they needed was a money making challenge. That is, a challenge where they could make small amounts of money during their free time each week not associated with their current earnings, so that they had the money to fund the challenge account.

Thus, the creation of the 52 week make money challenge came about. The concept is the same as the 52 week save money challenge, but the goal is to find ways to make money each week to add to the challenge total instead of ways to save. While I think most people would combine the two (looking for ways to both make and save money to fund their account), it’s beneficial for me to split these two up in this instance. Like many things in life, some people prefer to save, while others prefer to make money to fund their accounts. Participating in both a money making and money saving challenge will allow those to follow the challenge that best fits their interest. Of course, following both is also perfectly acceptable for those who are looking for ways to both make and save money.

For this challenge, I’m going to use the alternative method (click on the image for a pdf file to print out).

52 Week Money Making Challenge(Blank)-pd

I’m sure that the amount of money I make each week will fluctuate quite a bit over the course of the year. I will shoot for making the highest amount on my chart each week, but I realize that there will be weeks where I will be crossing off a lesser amount. This will give me the needed flexibility to try new and different ways to make a little extra over the course of the year.

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I plan to use the variety method for the challenge. I hope through the course of the year to look at a wide range of different ways to possibly make a little bit extra here and there. It’ll also be a year to experiment and to try a number of ways to make money that I’ve never tried in the past. While some of the ways I try may apply to you, others probably won’t. My hope is that by trying a different range of ways to make money, you’ll find some that you can adopt for your own challenge. I also hope that even those that won’t work for you will at least get your creativity flowing so you might be inspired to come up with your own version that does work.

I plan to take the challenge a step further than simply telling you how much I made each week and from what source. I also plan to explain the details about how I went about making it possible. This way, if you do see something that you think you would like to try, you can learn from my successes and mistakes, which should give you an even better opportunity to make money. In the same way, I hope to hear from those following the challenge on how I might be able to improve what I’m doing to create even more income.

As with most challenges, it helps to have a support group to stay motivated and inspired as the year goes by. There is a small, but growing, area in the forums that is devoted to ideas on how to make extra money. I hope to use it as a resource to come up with new ideas. If you decide to do the challenge, it should be a good resource for you as well.

If this challenge sounds even a little bit appealing, I highly encourage you to give it a try. It’s truly amazing how it’s possible to build a nice little side income doing small things here and there to increase the amount you make. Even better, at the end of the year you’ll have an account with nearly $1,400 in it. If you end up creating a habit, the amount of money you earn going forward should only increase in the years that follow.

Articles that are related to this challenge:

The 52 Week Make Money Challenge
Make Money Challenge Preparations
Week One Results
Week Two Results
Week Three Results
Week Four Results

(Photo courtesy of 401(k))

50 Things I Am Thankful For

November 25, 2013 By Jeffrey Strain 104 Comments

It’s so easy in our day-to-day lives to get caught up in the moment and forget about all the good things that there are to celebrate. Most of these things have very little to do with money (although having money can sometimes make them easier to accomplish). I think it’s important to sit down every once in awhile and reflect on those things I’m thankful for to make sure they aren’t forgotten in the day-to-day dramas.

What I’m thankful for is probably not exactly the same as what you’re thankful for, but I hope that by sharing my list, you might discover a thing or two which you’re also thankful for that you may have not considered before. Here is my list, in no particular order, of 50 things for which I’m thankful:

Life: When you think of the odds that you even exist, then the odds that you ended up exactly where you are today, you have beaten odds far greater than any lottery.

Beaches: It really is impossible to have a bad day if that day is spent at a beach.

Nature: The wonder and beauty of it inspires me on a daily basis. My friends often say that it’s my religion. They might be right.

Curiosity: The joy of wanting to learn something new about the things around me on a daily basis is something that I truly love.

Joy: I seem to be able to find it on a daily basis, and the more I find, the more it comes to me.

Friends: It’s funny because as an introvert, I don’t have a lot of them, but the friendships that I do form are the foundation of my life.

Family: We don’t always get along and we tend to fight about petty things, but I know that if I ever needed anyone they would be there for me in an instant. I would be there for them in an instant as well. Besides, I have the two cutest nieces in the world.

Science: A subject that I have never been all that good at and struggled with in school, yet one that fascinates me on a daily basis and I strive to learn more about everyday.

Stars: I still stare at them in the night sky with the wonder of a little boy.

Clouds: I can spend hours watching clouds form shape after shape as they cross the sky.

Sun: There is nothing like feeling the warmth of rays from the sun hitting your face on a brisk morning.

Seasons: Each time a new one rolls around, it seems like a celebration of the new excitement to come.

Smiles: It’s the first thing that I notice about people, and seeing a genuine one can literally make my day.

Laughter: There can never be enough laughter in the world.

Hugs: No matter how you are feeling before you receive a hug, you are going to feel at least a little better after it.

Backrubs: Seriously, do you know anyone who doesn’t love a good backrub?

Wine: A glass of wine at the end of the day is always a welcome treat.

National Parks: Most people don’t realize there are nearly 400 in the US, and that the lesser known ones can be just as beautiful (if not more-so) than the popular ones.

Love: There is such a huge variety of love out there, but when you have it with another being, you know it.

Romance: Okay, I admit it. Deep down, I’m still a hopeless romantic.

Chocolate: Sneaking snacks between meals just wouldn’t be the same without it.

Surprise: I love it when the unexpected infiltrates the normalcy of my normal day-to-day activities that I’ve become accustomed to.

Sadness: It’s the sign that shows how much you really cared.

Internet: It allows me to make a living while traveling full-time, and provides me with my dream job.

Discovery: One of my favorite things in life is discovering new things each and every day.

Imagination: I’m probably so thankful for this because mine tends to work in overdrive.

Ideas: I love sharing, hearing about and simply thinking about new ideas, and the better ways that we can do things.

Difference: Think what a boring world it would be if everything was always the same. I try to celebrate difference even when that difference isn’t what I would choose for myself.

Music: There’s nothing like the right song to reach deep inside you and pour out exactly what you’re feeling at that moment.

Art: I am fascinated by it and how artists can make it come alive — probably because it’s something that I don’t do well myself, but wish I could.

Health: I can basically do any activity that I want to do without major physical or mental roadblocks in the way. Since I know others who aren’t as fortunate, it’s something that I cherish all the more.

Individuality: I can be who I want to be and you can be who you want to be, and if those are two completely different things, that’s okay. How great is that?

Sunsets: The colors that a sunset can produce still leaves me in awe each time I see a new one. Sunrises are the same way.

Hot Showers: My secret everyday pleasure. I would not have done well living 100 years ago.

Walks: I absolutely love them and try to take at least one a day for my mental health.

Caves: There is just something about them that speaks to me.

Dreams: It fascinates me what my mind comes up with while I’m asleep, and then trying to figure out why it decided that all that strangeness was something I needed to see.

Goals: I love to constantly strive toward them even if I can’t accomplish all the ones I set.

Failure: While I’m not usually all that happy at the time of the failures, I almost always come away with a better understanding and perspective from from the failure.

Classes: I truly wish I had more time to take more of these.

Planes: Think about it. You can get anyplace in the entire world within a day. How fantastic is that?

Road Trips: Do you know anyone who doesn’t love a road trip?

Passion: Whether it’s about something you’re doing or toward another person, having passion is something that is an indescribably feeling.

Bucket Lists: If you don’t have one, you should start making it right this second, and then actively working to cross everything on the list off.

Modern Medicine: I have good friends still alive because of it that wouldn’t be here if we were all born 100 years earlier.

Backyard Gardens: There is something delicious about food that you have grown yourself.

Challenges: They make us do more than we thought we could while at the same time making us better people.

Rainbows: Storm versus sunlight to create pure beauty.

Patience: Something that I am eternally thankful that others have with me, and something that I continue to try to improve on having for others.

Sex: I debated whether to mention this, but let’s face it — it’s awesome.

I hope the above list has made you stop for a moment and consider some of the things which you’re thankful for in your life. I would love to hear some of those things in the comment section.

Don’t Focus on the Numbers

July 24, 2013 By Jennifer Derrick 2 Comments

Everyone loves a personal story. We like to hear how other people paid off debt, retired early, paid for college, or afforded that fabulous vacation. Personal stories are fun to read and can be inspiring.

However, too many people focus on just the numbers in these stories and then get all bent out of shape because the numbers given aren’t exactly like theirs. They complain in the comment trails of blogs or give bashing reviews to books saying, “This [whatever inspiring thing the author has done] isn’t possible in the real world. The numbers just don’t add up.”

But it isn’t the numbers that readers should focus on. Costs of living vary widely across the U.S. and around the world. What a $50,000 income will buy in one place may not even cover the basics in another. While certain money saving behaviors might work well in one area (going without a car, foregoing air conditioning, clipping coupons, etc.), they might not be possible or as cost efficient in another. The numbers will always be different based on where you live and how much you make. Unless you live in the same location as the author and have their exact job, you’ll never be able to compare apples to apples.

Yet instead of dismissing the author’s story as either an outright lie or a mathematical impossibility, stop and look at how they achieved their goal. Whether the person paid off $50,000 of debt in one year on a $90,000 income, or whether they took a $4,000 vacation on a $20,000 income isn’t the point. The point is that they took certain steps to achieve their goals. That’s what you should take from such personal stories. Don’t worry about whether their numbers exactly match what you think is possible. Focus on learning from the tips and advice the storyteller is giving you.

Almost every personal story tells you the things that they did to achieve their goal. They list the items that they cut out or reduced in their budgets. The detail the sacrifices they made. Some of their advice may not apply to you. Some of it will. But the point isn’t to give you a roadmap to follow exactly. The point is to get you thinking about changes you can make in your own life to achieve your personal goals.

Here’s an example: You read an article about how someone is able to live without a car and that they save $10,000 a year in maintenance, gas, insurance, taxes, etc. You think, “Bah. I can’t do that here, so this article is rubbish. It’s impossible to save $10,000 per year.”

But if you stop focusing on the numbers and think about what the person is actually doing, you might be able to come away with a few money saving strategies. Maybe you can’t eliminate a car entirely, but maybe there are times of the year when walking or biking is more appealing. Maybe you have some public transportation that, while not great for everyday commuting, can be used once per week or so for more casual outings. Maybe you can find a carpool twice per week, or work out some type of car sharing arrangement with a friend. Maybe you’ll be reminded to shop around for a better deal on your insurance. No, you won’t save the $10,000 mentioned in the article by trying some of these strategies, but you’ll save something.

It’s the same with larger goals. Someone discusses how they retired early and people cry, “Not possible for me! I don’t have that kind of income (or I have too many kids or I can’t give up my extras, etc.).” But they don’t stop and think, “Hey, I might not make that kind of money and I might have some limitations that the author did not, but there are things I can do to cut my expenses. Look at all the things this person does to save money. Some of it would work for me, and I’ve got access to things she doesn’t mention. Maybe I can’t retire at forty, but maybe I can manage it by fifty-five.” Just because you won’t make it on the same timetable as the author doesn’t mean that your goal is worthless or unachievable. It’s just different.

When you get hung up on the numbers in a book or a blog post, you often dismiss some valuable advice. At the very least, the story will likely to inspire you to think differently about your own spending. And that’s where change starts. You’ll only make yourself nuts if you try to make your numbers match someone else’s exactly, but you can take the advice, wisdom, and inspiration contained in the story and use it to make your own success. It won’t be the same as the author’s, but it might be even better.

(Photo courtesy of Luis Argerich)

What Trash Art Can Teach About Money

January 13, 2012 By Jeffrey Strain 2 Comments

I must admit that I wish I had more artistic talent. When there is an art piece that catches my eye, I can stare at it for hours wondering how the artist was able to visualize the final piece from the raw materials she decided to use. I also must admit that I have a special affinity for trash art — those creations that come from the stuff that most people wouldn’t consider worth anything.

As I was staring at a piece of trash art in San Francisco the other day, I was reminded that trash art can also show us some important messages about money. Here are a few worth considering:

It’s Not What You Have, But What You Do With What You Have

(Photo courtesy of darinmarshall)

It’s easy to get frustrated when you see all the things that other people have, and wish that you had those things as well. Wouldn’t life be so much easier if you had the things that they had? While it’s true that you have less than some people, the fact is that there are many people that have far less than you do. What’s important to remember is that using creativity, hard work and a whole lot of determination, you can create something wonderful no matter how little you may have to start with.

Sure, the neighbor may have the ability to purchase every single raw material she needs to create the sculpture that she wants, but that doesn’t mean that it will be any more fascinating than one created with whatever materials you’re able to scrounge up and find. If a sculpture can be created out of the trash from a landfill that nobody else wanted, you have plenty of tools and resources at your disposal to create the financial life that you desire. If you’re having trouble with the creativity of how to begin, try emulating someone that has less than you.

Sometimes Having Less Is An Advantage

(Photo courtesy of allfr3d)

Not having a lot of money right at this instance probably doesn’t seem like an advantage, but not having a lot of money teaches a lot of financial basics that will help ensure that you know how to handle and keep the money that you do accumulate in later years. The fact is that when you don’t have money, it’s essential to become creative in order to get the things that you need, and to accomplish your financial goals. If you have always been in a position where money has never been an issue and then suddenly it disappears, you will have a much more difficult time adapting than if you have faced similar situations in the past.

In addition, having less will also teach you that there is no reason to spend a lot of money on something when there is a perfectly good alternative at a cheaper price. Why go out and pay a small fortune for all the materials it would cost to build a giant elephant sculpture when that same elephant sculpture can be created from abundant driftwood at no cost?

Luck Has Little To Do With Building Wealth

(Photo courtesy of j.pauley)

There are certainly people that have money due to pure luck (think about being born into the correct family or lottery winners), but they are the exception to the rule. Most people who have created a financially stable life for themselves have learned that the best type of “luck” is long hours of hard work which often goes unnoticed until others see the stability and it appears to them that the success was somehow easy and instant.

Random pieces of trash don’t magically make themselves into a beautiful butterfly. It requires a lot of patience to gather up all the needed pieces. It takes a lot of planning to take the pieces and imagine what they can become. It takes a lot of hard work and time to arrange them in the correct way to finally create the beautiful piece. This is the truth with most things in life including your finances.

Others May Think You’re Crazy

(Photo courtesy of 185Queens)

When you decide that it’s time to get your finances in order and you’re willing to do what it takes to make that happen, there is a high possibility that not everyone will agree or support you in your effort. This can be especially true when you make a financial decision that they may not understand or like. This doesn’t mean that it’s in your best interest to ignore other people’s opinions (the truth is that you should listen carefully to what they have to say and weigh it against what others have to say to come to a decision that is right for you), but it’s important to move toward your financial goals even when not everyone will agree with what you’re doing.

There would likely be a lot of people that would be embarrassed or feel that it was beneath them to go around gathering plastic bags. They may very well come and talk to you and ask you to stop because you are not only embarrassing yourself, but them as well. What they may fail to understand is that you aren’t collecting the plastic bags to pile them up as a mess in your house, but you’re gathering them because they are the foundation to turn into a polar bear work of art. In much the same way, saving small amounts where ever possible is often the foundation to getting out of debt.

Creatively Use What You Have

(Photo courtesy of David Mach)

When you’re trying to get your finances in order, chances are that you are going to have limited resources to work with. When this is the reality, it’s important to consider alternative ways to use things which may not have been their original purpose. Being able to repurpose the things you have to accomplish the things you need can go a long way to helping you save money and get your finances in order.

Clothes hangers are meant to be used for hanging clothes. There are also a lot of other things that clothes hangers can be repurposed for to save money. They can also be turned into an awsome tiger with a bit of creativity.

While all of the above lessons are important, probably the biggest lesson is that inspiration to reach the financial goals you have can be found in everyday things that are all around you. No matter how little you may have at the moment, it doesn’t have to remain that way. It’s possible to take whatever you do have and create it into something beautiful.

Retro Pop Music to Inspire You to Save

February 5, 2008 By Shannon Christman 2 Comments

Music has a profound effect on many people. A specific song can trigger long-forgotten memories and emotions or can inspire someone to make a life change — maybe proposing marriage, following a dream, entering rehab, or expressing appreciation to parents. Music is a creative way to express the thoughts and emotions dearest to our hearts.

Strangely, for all the time most of us spend thinking about money, earning money, and spending money, very few songs outside the rap/hip-hop genre talk specifically about money. Those that do talk mostly about acquiring money or spending it; I can’t think of a single song that talks about saving it. Nevertheless, it’s possible to put together a playlist of songs that can inspire you to save. Here are some retro pop songs that can make you want to put some cash in your bank account:

“I Wanna Be Rich” by Calloway: Though the unabashed message of greed in this song is a bit too much, it does get to the point. If you, too, “want money, lots and lots of money,” the most certain way to get it is to save and invest. Very few of us win the lottery. If this song sticks in your head and drives you crazy, try any version of “for the same message.

“Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits: If you’re old enough to remember this song and you haven’t yet played the guitar on MTV, it’s highly unlikely you ever will. Jobs that provide “money for nothing” are rare, so the best way to earn money with little work is to invest. To do that, most of us first have to earn some money to save.

“She Works Hard for Her Money” by Donna Summer: If you work hard for your money, why should you waste it? Make wise purchases and save the rest. (If you don’t like this song, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton will give you the same idea.)

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin: When “the landlord say your rent is late, he may have to litigate,” you know you’re in trouble. If you’ve saved ahead of time, you won’t have to worry; you can be happy to know you have enough to pay your rent in a pinch.

“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor: You may say this song has nothing to do with money, but it can serve as a reminder that saving can help you survive when disaster strikes — whether you’re abandoned by someone you love, find yourself unexpectedly out of work, or need to find a new place to live.

“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” by Billy Joel: Brenda and Eddie (“the king and queen of the prom”), like many couples, “started to fight when the money got tight.” Of course, too much money can cause problems in a relationship, as well, but if Brenda and Eddie had saved a bit more of their money at the beginning of their marriage, they might have avoided getting a divorce and becoming the topic of their old classmates’ discussion at the Italian restaurant.

“Two Princes” by the Spin Doctors: If the prince who loves the girl, despite having “no future or family tree,” saves the money he earns, he can offer her as much security as the prince who “has diamonds in his pockets.” Of course, his love is already a stronger argument than money for her to marry him, and the song would be pointless if he had money, too, but how could she say no to love and money in the bank?

“Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Taco: Taco points out how much fun you can have pretending you have money when you don’t, but it can be just as much fun pretending you don’t have money when you do. When you have money in the bank that no one knows about, it’s like having a buried treasure. Plus, you’re in a better position to bargain to buy something if the seller thinks you don’t have much to spend. On the other hand, if you really want to show off your wealth, you still have to save up to be able to afford to be “dressed up like a million dollar trouper.”

Few of these songs are specifically about money, but they are about the deeper desires/motives that make us save. If greed, fear of hard times, or dreams of a higher standard of living is what drives you to put away money for the future, someone else has already expressed these ideas in a way that will have you tapping your toes and singing along. Let their words and tunes help you stay on the road to financial security.

Image courtesy of drp

Turning Financial Envy into Inspiration

February 4, 2008 By Cortni Marrazzo 8 Comments

I think all of us have been guilty of financial envy at one time or another. “I wish I could afford a car like that” or “I wish we could live in a house like theirs.” It’s not as much of “Keeping up the Joneses” as it is simply envying the Joneses. If I see someone driving down the road in a new BMW I don’t run out and buy one to keep up with them, but sometimes I secretly wish I had one of my own.

Growing up and being poor or middle class can often lead to envy for those who are “rich,” “well off,” or “wealthy.” (I put those terms in quotes because they are relative.) And envy isn’t a positive thing. In fact envy often leads to a sour attitude. It can lead to distrust and dislike of a person, and in worse cases it can lead to hopes that that person fails at something. After all, if something goes wrong in their life, then you won’t have as much reason to envy them. Sounds rotten, I know, but some people actually think this way and I can bet most people have thought this way at least once in their lives (I know I have).

So how do you know if you have financial envy? Watch your attitude when you think people around you have more money or when they have nicer things. I used to be an administrative assistant at a real estate office and during the summer it always seemed like people were taking off early to go to their lake houses or go on their boats. They would come in with their “vacation” clothes on to take care of some last minute items and then drive off to their lake house in their convertibles. Meanwhile, I was stuck at work because I had no lake house or boat, I couldn’t afford to rent one, and didn’t even have vacation time to take off if I wanted to. When those people would say goodbye, I would mumble a goodbye and think to myself “must be nice!” My underlying attitude was envy and jealousy, which kept me from being happy for them and made my attitude sour.

Or I’d see a lady at Starbucks who was getting into her huge, incredible nice and decked out SUV with her latte in her well manicured hand, wearing the latest fashionable clothes. I’d drive by on my way home from work thinking about how it would be nice if I had unlimited money and no budget. I honestly have no idea if these people were wealthy or over their heads in debt. Frankly it’s none of my business. They choose to enjoy the finer things in life and I simply wasn’t able to at that time.

So what’s so wrong with financial envy? There is a proverb that says “Envy is rottenness to the bones.” Literally, envy can destroy you from the inside out. First of all, it keeps your focus on what you don’t have instead of being able to celebrate what you do have. That can make some people depressed, causing them to spend money they don’t have on things to make them feel better. Secondly, it can cause rifts in your relationships if you are secretly wanting your financially accelerated friend to fail. Beyond that, it simply doesn’t help you get any further financially.

The fact is that financial envy comes from the thinking and mindset that rich people are not nice people and they don’t deserve what they have. It may not be what you think consciously, but it’s a subconscious thought. Many times if you feel that you can’t ever have what that person has or become the kind of person they are, you will begin to dislike them so you subconsciously feel better about being different from them. And if you don’t like wealthy people, then you will do things that will prevent yourself from being wealthy because, after all, you don’t want to become one of “those people” that you don’t like. What we think influences our subconscious, which in turn very powerfully influences our daily decisions, which influence our life’s direction. It’s an interesting process and can be very positive or very negative.

While I do occasionally find myself envying people who have more money than I do (or at least appear to), I used to have a lot bigger problem with this. I always wished I could be rich and have all the money I wanted. I knew that wouldn’t make all my problems go away, but I thought it would certainly help. That envy wasn’t changing anything though. So I decided to get smart about my finances and get things in order. I read books and researched and found that if I make wise decisions and take care of my finances today, I can have tons of money later in life. If I work hard and invest and don’t waste my money, I’ll be able to afford a lake house and/or a boat someday. Not today, but someday. This revelation caused me to start looking at wealthy people differently. I’m no longer envious of people who have more than me; I’m actually inspired because I can be like them someday. It really helps me stick with my financial goals. Being able to buy those things isn’t the only reason I want to be wealthy someday, but they will definitely be an added benefit.

So now when I see someone leaving work to go to their lake house, I tell them to enjoy themselves and I find joy in the fact that some day I will be able to enjoy myself at mine, but it’s their turn right now. And when I pass a BMW or Mercedes or Lexus on the freeway, I don’t scowl at the person driving the luxury car; I look forward to the day when I will be able to drive one. But I hope when that day comes that people won’t be scowling at me!

Image courtsey of Corvair owner