I poked my head into those murky depths and got lost amidst the disheveled hodgepodge of clumsy duds staring back at me. It was time to bring my wardrobe back onto the path of good health, one of bliss and much more au courant. After taking a deep breath, I ravaged through the entire mess and divided all my clothing into two piles. It’s just amazing what I found hiding out in there!

#1. The Keeper Pile

This was the soulful heap. The moment I gazed upon a garment, I felt captivated and knew it was a keeper! All articles that wiggled their way here made my heart sing with joy and made me feel happy and confident while wearing them. This illustrious pile contained everything from my favorite jeans to expensive cashmere sweaters to my beloved ratty hoodie. Basically all garments I cannot live without were whisked away to here.

#2. The “Meh” Heap (also known as the Giveaway Pile)

If I wrinkled my nose and said, ‘meh’, that article was tossed into a second pile of frippery shame. These included things which no longer fit properly as well as those elusive items that, for reasons unknown, never seem to be worn. It also included anything I agonized over whether to keep or not. If that baby tee didn’t immediately stir my soul with its absolute fabulousness, it wasn’t serving its purpose and needed to go. Depending on condition, these garments will either be thrown out, given to charity or sold.

~¤~¤~

My end goal was to transform the hideous clutter into a comfortable closet space that contained only pieces I loved. If something didn’t make me feel good or was unflattering, there was no reason for it to take up precious space. Any closet-based source of unhappiness needed to go, pronto.

Clearing the clutter from my (now shriveled-yet stunning) closet served as an excellent reminder not to spend frivolously on clothing in the future. There was so much stuff I’d accumulated over the years that was tucked away on shelves and rarely worn. I’ll now consider long and hard whether or not to fork over hard-earned dough next time I feel the urge to shop. This is an excellent plan in general for everything, not just clothing. Unless it’s an item that resonates strongly with me, I simply won’t buy it. From now on, only the most delightful pieces will find a home here.

Discarding all that extra baggage and uncluttering the closet monster was not only liberating, but the process was also a lot of fun! I have clothing in great condition for charity and now I can whip out an outfit without being eaten alive by fashion foibles. Frugality and style doesn’t have to feel like a painful sacrifice as long as I remain mindful of what I buy and only buy what I truly love.

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key ~†~ Quality cuts and fabrics shouldn’t be a source of guilt as long as they’re affordable for your budget and something you really adore. This ensures every piece will serve its purpose in your closet, both in quality and by making you feel comfortable and radiant.

=^..^=

† †

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Compare prices and read helpful product reviews to make smart buying easy through Ciao! – Price Comparison and Product Reviews for the savvy shopper.

“Daddy?” I inquired as my tiny fist wrapped around the sleek shiny morsels placed in my palm. “What would happen if I save all these and never ever EVER spent a penny of it?”

My father’s eyes crinkled in amusement as his mouth momentarily twitched. “Well darling, you’d be a very rich young lady!”

“Would I be a … a kazillionaire?” I delightedly squeaked.

His face smoothed into an earnest expression. “Honey, it’s impossible to save it ALL. You need to spend money to survive. You’ll see, one day you’ll understand better when you’re older.”

My young eyes brightened as I gazed in critical fascination upon the tiny change trickling through my five-year-old fingers. The quarters in the batch my father had handed to me felt heavy and awkward, yet I felt a curious satisfaction from jingling all that glimmering change together and listening to their tiny notes of promise.

Wow, my youthful mind mused. If grownups need this stuff to survive, it must be pretty important!

Unknowingly, even at that young age, I was making a correlation between money and wealth and as tempting as those quarters were to spend, I carefully tucked them away that radiant afternoon.

Ten years later, I received my first job at a local roller rink and the money was no longer being saved. Between rushing to the nail salon, splurging on the latest voguish styles, crisping myself in endless tanning sessions and bribing others to buy packs of forbidden menthol cigarettes, any notion of saving drifted like the lazy smoke rings billowing up from the bathroom stalls at school, bloating and inflating.

My financial sensibilities had crumpled.

Wealth, I believed, was out of reach and reserved for those lucky few born into well-to-do families or for lottery winners. But not for me. My paychecks went toward all the tempting goodies I could now afford and I voraciously wasted no time in spending everything I earned.

Fast forward another few years and I was really in jeopardy. Not only was I struggling paycheck to paycheck but I found myself in some serious debt as well. I’ll never forget the feeling of distress when I ripped open my mailing statements one morning and frantically realized I could barely afford my minimum credit card payments.

That evening when my friends called to invite me out for a martini rendezvous, I did the unthinkable and politely declined. With a growing knot gnawing through my stomach, I had a hammering realization that I couldn’t even afford to go.

I kept my butt planted firmly home that night and forced myself to review my entire financial situation. It was an illuminating turning point and I was ashamed to realize I had absolutely no savings, coupled with almost $20,000 worth of debt. So I did what any self-respecting female would do at such a critical moment; I immediately cracked open a tub of Heath Ripple and wept into my ice cream.

How did this happen? I lamented, nursing a soggy spoonful. Oh my god, I’ve deliberately made myself a slave.

The next morning, I still felt like shit but was ready to confront the situation more calmly. After work that afternoon, I stopped by my local library, curled up on a bench and spent hours thumbing through books in the personal finance section. A huge chunk went missing from the library that day as I carried a towering stack of material home with me. A few months later, I began writing on this site.

As of right now, I’m still struggling to get out of the debt cycle. But I’ve stopped accumulating further debt, which has been a tremendous first step, and actually started saving those pennies and quarters again without wasting it all on frivolous ‘stuff’. I’m able to finally breathe again and it’s been extremely empowering to feel as if I’m slowly gaining control of my life back.

So is kazillionaire status in my future? Hah, time will only tell.

=^..^=

† †

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Compare prices and read helpful product reviews to make smart buying easy through Ciao! – Price Comparison and Product Reviews for the savvy shopper.

I love the atmosphere at the gym; all the various cardio equipment to choose from, going with my girl friends as motivation and for socializing, the huge mirrored studios I quietly sneak into when classes aren’t in session so I can carefully watch my reflection and perfect yoga postures.

But I socialize with my girl friends when we get together over the weekend and I didn’t necessarily need to see them again at the gym. And through several years of yoga practice (and mirror evaluation), I had now developed a ‘feel’ for what the correct posture should be without constantly needing to check my body alignment.

While a yearly gym membership is excellent for my health, it wasn’t being as kind to my wallet. It seemed as if I was wasting a lot of money on pricey annual fees for a membership I wasn’t using as much I should be.

I sat down and carefully drew out a list of the pros and cons to justify rejoining my gym. I could switch to a 24-hour gym, which would make the membership fee worth every penny since I would no longer be constrained to certain times. But while my current gym is located around the corner, the only 24-hour gym in this area is clear on the other side of town.

Con, I hastily scribbled, the gas money needed to get there!

After several days, I was still agonizing over what to do, and my gym was beginning to call every day now to persistently remind me how my membership was up for renewal.

I finally broached the subject with my boyfriend over lunch.

“So,” I concluded, spearheading a piece of romaine, “although this is a huge expense, I certainly don’t mind investing in something that’s good for my health. I can comfortably afford it and all, but I just don’t know what to do.”

He chewed thoughtfully on his pesto for a moment. “Look, you said yourself you’re struggling to get there as much as you’d like to. Why don’t you take the money for your annual membership and use it for something more useful then?” He pushed a glossy magazine towards me and thumbed open to a sporting goods advertisement. “If the biggest obstacle is making it to the gym in time, why don’t you buy your own piece of exercise equipment and use it at home instead?”

A bell went off in my head. “Matty, you’re a genius!” I cried. “That’s perfect! And a sturdy cardio bike would be exactly within my budget.”

We spent the next week comparison shopping for an adorable reclining bicycle, and I was lucky enough to find a great deal on a $500 bike that had been reduced to almost exactly what my annual gym membership would have cost.

When the phone rang again, I carefully put down my book and answered this time instead of gritting my teeth and letting the machine take over.

“Jennifer,” the chirpy voice announced. “We here at XXX Gym just wanted to remind you that your renewal fee will be due next week. If you don’t renew your membership now, you’ll miss out on some great savings for our exclusive members.”

“Oh, that’s ok.” I stopped pedaling for a moment and proudly glanced down at the new recumbent bike that was now nestled near the television in my bedroom. “I don’t think I’ll be renewing this year after all. Thank you, though, for the reminder.”

=^..^=

† †

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Compare prices and read helpful product reviews to make smart buying easy through Ciao! – Price Comparison and Product Reviews for the savvy shopper.

… ‘cause no one enjoys a sour puss!

Have you ever encountered those poor souls who always seem miserable and glide through life with a perpetual scowl frozen in place? Life is hard and boy do their wretched and sourful expressions never neglect to reflect it! One can leave the house adorned in the finest clothes or most elaborate jewelry, but nothing conceals an exhaustive tarty expression. A warm smile is actually the most precious accessory we can add to our personal wardrobe each morning.

Your smile is a reflection of goodwill towards others

Yesterday I was feeling fatigued at work and was also scheduled to administer a test to some college students. Since I was feeling pretty crappy, I tried to alleviate my spirits a bit by humming softly underneath my breath. Suddenly a student burst into the room on crutches with his arm in a sling. As I rushed over to help him become situated, he cheerfully laughed and recounted his clumsy dirt bike accident last weekend with surprising felicity. Dazzled by his good humor, I couldn’t help but laugh and smile back.

Suddenly I didn’t have to force anything at all; I really did feel more joyful.

One evening I was at a party with a close friend of mine. As she excused herself to use the bathroom, I was awkwardly left standing alone in a room filled with strangers. ‘Now Jennifer,’ I said to myself, ‘it doesn’t help to stand here with a frightened scowl on my puss. I’m going to try smiling and see what happens.’ I decided to relax and put on a warm smile to mask how silly I felt. Within moments, several people approached to introduce themselves or engage in conversation. The reaction was immediate.

Try it next time you’re out; it really works! A genuine smile makes us appear more approachable and others become naturally drawn toward us.

Consider these very inspirational sage words from Elbert Hubbard;

Whenever you go out of doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high, and fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in the sunshine; greet your friends with a smile, and put soul into every handclasp.

Do not fear being misunderstood and do not waste a minute thinking about your enemies. Try to fix firmly in your mind what you would like to do; and then without veering of direction, you will move straight to the goal. Keep your mind on the great and splendid things you would like to do, and then, as the days go gliding by, you will find yourself unconsciously seizing upon the opportunities that are required for the fulfillment of your desire, just as the coral insect takes from the running tide the element it needs.

Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire to be, and the thought you hold is hourly transforming you into the particular individual……Thought is supreme. Preserve a right mental attitude – the attitude of courage, frankness, and good cheer. To think right is to create. All things come through desire and every sincere prayer is answered.

We become like that on which our hearts are fixed. Draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high. We are god in the chrysalis.

Other reasons to get your happy groovin’ on

1. A smile boosts and enhances our mood. If you find yourself trapped in a case of the ickies, try humming, whistling or singing softly to yourself for a few moments. You may be surprised how much better you feel.
2. Smiling is contagious and makes us appear more approachable and attractive to others. People crave happiness and are naturally drawn to any type of positive energy we project.
3. Showing off a beautiful smile is also great for your health! Studies have shown that smiling helps lower blood pressure, relieves stress and naturally boosts the immune system by releasing serotonin and endorphins throughout the body. Smiling and laugher are simple and effective methods to increase longevity.

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key  ~†~ Happiness depends on inner conditions, so get your inner sparkle on and smile with plenty of soul! To others, your smile is like the sun bursting through dark clouds and enriches everyone who receives it. And the best part – it’s absolutely free to give.

~¤~¤~

Sayings of the Wise

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -Abraham Lincoln

A man without a smiling face must not open up shop. – ancient Chinese proverb

Health must be earned. Get it, you Lobster! -Elbert Hubbard

=^..^=

 † †

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One of my goals this year has been to gradually move away from heavily processed fast food and toward more quality nutrition. This was certainly not easy since I’m usually pretty helpless in the kitchen – just ask my boyfriend who watched in horror as I nearly took my finger out of commission while trying to crack open a dinner roll.

But by sprinkling in a small dose of determination, I’ve finally established better eating habits that are actually quite simple. We’ll just ignore the scars for a moment …

Recreation of the body through food

How many times have we heard that old adage, you are what you eat? But it’s actually true, probably more than we realize!

The body is a miraculous machine and every moment each tiny cell is hard at work rebuilding and regenerating itself, and throughout a period of time all our skin cells, organ cells and brain cells will have degenerated and be completely replenished. The you sitting here now reading this will be recreated to a completely ‘new’ you in a few months from now! What’s so important during this recreation process is how our bodies use the food we ingest as raw materials and building blocks for destroying old cells and constructing healthy new ones.

So what we eat really does literally affect who we are, right down to the cellular level!

Growing your own garden

As I mentioned in Beauty On A Budget, one of the best decisions I’ve made this year, especially financially, is growing my own vegetable garden. Not only are homegrown veggies packed with nutrients and much cheaper than buying from the supermarket, they are ridiculously convenient when it comes to coping with a hectic schedule.

When I rush home from work in the evenings like a ravenous lunatic, I can have a fresh salad brimming with romaine, tomatoes, broccoli, celery, cucumbers and sweet peppers plucked straight from the backyard and plopped onto my plate; the small beginnings of a fiesty feast ready in minutes!

(I’m actually munching on a salad as I write this.)

Always plan the grocery shopping list

I can try to convince myself I’d like to make an effort to eat better, but let’s face reality here. If I arrive home from work exhausted and the cupboard or fridge is nearly empty or piled with crap, I’m going to end up whipping up whatever happens to be lying around in there.

Without being stocked with the proper ingredients by planning out my shopping strategy beforehand, I’m all ready setting myself up for failure. This is why it’s important, especially during a transitional phase, to always plan a grocery list and have the items readily available when you need them.

My grocery list usually looks something like this;

Misc

green tea, multivitamins, Ester C 1,000 Vitamins, Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother, red wine, organic snacking chips, jelly beans, dark chocolate, Jägermeister .. (oops, don’t ask ; )

Carbs

wild grain or brown rice, whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, multigrain or whole wheat bread, baked potatoes, beans, corn, fat-free yoghurt, three varieties of fruit (strawberries, blueberries, apples, bananas, pomegranates, kiwi, oranges, etc)

Proteins

low-fat cottage cheese, chicken breast, skinless turkey breast, eggs for egg whites, lean ground beef, seafood (salmon, tuna in water, haddock, orange roughy, shrimp, etc)

Veggies

basically anything scooped from the veggie garden

Creating simple nutritious meals

To motivate myself further, I keep a list of my favorite foods tacked to the fridge in their proper categories for when I’m hungry and feeling irritatingly indecisive. I simply choose an appropriate portion of carbs, proteins and veggies from each column and combine them together to create a simple yet nutritiously complete meal.

In the morning I may have a bowl of strawberries with some cottage cheese and a few slices of sweet pepper, then a tuna sandwich on whole wheat bread for lunch. For the evening, I may choose steamed brown rice and chicken with a garden salad, paired with a glass of red wine and some dark chocolate for dessert. I always carry water or green tea with me in a mug to sip on throughout the day while at work or running errands.

• Stock up on staple foods while on sale. If you can keep them from perishing, go ahead and stock up on your favorite foods if you find them at a decent price.
• Instead of eating three large meals, consider eating five or six smaller meals spread throughout the day. This helps natural metabolism and can also prevent accidental overeating.
• Eat just enough to satiate hunger, but not until too full. Eating just enough will help you feel relaxed and alert but who can stand that bloating achy feeling after gorging yourself completely? There’s a reason your body is sending that horrible nauseous feeling to your tummy, it’s simply not healthy. Next time you’re dining out, observe the expressions of people coming in compared to the sluggish ones leaving, who have managed to stuff themselves to the gills! 
• Reconnect with the simple joy of eating. Take time to slowly chew your food and savour each delicious flavor and texture. It’s easy to rush through a meal and forget to really enjoy the pleasure of this small blessing - make an effort to actually taste your food.
• If you’re trying to eat healthier, always keep one free day to eat whatever you desire. Make a promise to yourself that one day out of the week, all rules go out the window and anything goes. Indulge in that yummy double fudge peanut butter cup ice cream or that Big Mac with fries, guilt free. The key to anything is moderation and you deserve some play time. So for one day, let loose and have fun!

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key~†~ Nourish your body properly and watch the miraculous transformation from the inside out

=^..^=

Lookin’ like a million dollars, even on a broke-ass budget

For me, beauty has always been a special type of spiritual elevation – a powerful radiation from the inside out that shines through in the joy we feel in our hearts and by unlocking the passion in our souls. Beauty encapsulates not only the physical, but possesses the mental and spiritual just as deeply.

Many women may feel afraid to cultivate their external beauty and end up neglecting themselves in fear of being too vain or self indulgent. This to me is an absolute shame. Feeling fabulous both inside and out is extreme nourishment for the soul and every person should penetrate their fullest potential on every level. No matter what age, anyone can be truly beautiful.

Beauty is all around us. Appreciating and cultivating your unique beauty is your own Divine right.

KISS (keep it simple, sugar)

Taking proper care of your body doesn’t need to be expensive or a hassle and once you establish a routine, in can actually be a lot of fun! I always try to keep my beauty regime as natural as possible. There are just too many synthetic ingredients found in beauty products which can aggravate the skin and cause unwanted side effects.

Beauty always starts from the inside. It’s terribly cliché, I know, but true. No procedure is more powerful than proper nutrition, light exercise, yoga and meditation.

Your skin is the largest organ of the body and if you’re out of balance somewhere internally, the effects will always show up on the skin in some embarrassing form. Drink plenty of water consistently throughout the day to flush toxins from the body. Please don’t wait to feel thirsty before drinking. If you do, you are all ready well on your way to dehydration and depriving your organs of essential moisture. If urine isn’t clear when you pee, you need to consume more liquids.

My drink of choice has always been green tea for its beneficial antioxidant potential. I always keep a mug of green tea handy and sip it consistently throughout the day wherever I go.

Yoga is by far my favorite type of exercise. The long term health benefits of yoga are precious and invaluable. Yoga not only teaches us how to quiet our minds and reach tranquility, but the gentle stretching techniques (known as asanas) allow our bodies to age with grace and strength.

My other favorite exercise has always been hiking. By walking at least 45 minutes at least three times a week, you’re getting superior health benefits without needing to worry about fancy or complicated exercise equipment. And the best part, it’s absolutely free.

Abide by your own inner clock. Always listen to your unique body triggers for guidance. When you’re feeling sore, do some light yoga and stretching for fifteen minutes. Feeling drowsy? Take a quick power nap – twenty minutes usually suffices.

Your body will always let you know when it’s time to rest, relax, eat, sleep and play.

Make time for quiet meditation in your daily routine. Nothing deteriorates loveliness quicker than stress, and meditation will help unlock the inner Divine to help you feel connected and vibrant.

~¤ Healing always begins from within ¤~

Ready to play mad scientist in your kitchen and concoct some savory beauty recipes? Dabble into these simple and inexpensive, yet highly effective secrets. I’ll start with what I refer to as “The Big Three”. These are the essential beauty items I keep well-stocked in at all times and would feel helplessly lost without.

~¤~¤~

Vaseline is by far my favorite skin softener for problem areas. Top make-up artists also love using Vaseline on models like Kate Moss to give their skin that lovely dewy glow. Marilyn Monroe used to layer tons of this on while pairing it with baby powder to make her skin appear translucent and ethereal.

Vaseline can feel very goopy and heavy. The key here is to apply a very light layer at a time (a small dash of this stuff goes a long way), and always try to use on moist skin.  If it feels too thick or greasy in your palm, mix in a bit of water. You don’t need it everywhere; apply a small amount of Vaseline at night to where your skin tends to feel the driest. (This happens to be the creases on the side of my nose.)

As an added bonus, it’s one of my favorite lip glosses as well. I run a toothbrush over my lips to get rid of dry skin and immediately apply a smidgen for irresistibly soft puckers.

If you suffer from very thin, stubby eyelashes like I do, Vaseline is a beauty must-have. I coat both sides of my eyelashes with a tiny amount and allow it to set for ten minutes. Then I use an eyelash curler and, wow! The transformation is astonishing. My eyelashes are now lovely, thick and elegantly long. I’ve never spent a penny on mascara because this technique is so dramatic and effective.

~¤~¤~

Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother is a miracle juice in a bottle. As someone who suffers from horribly dry skin in the winter, this is my holy grail for both dermatitis and acne blemishes. I mix 50% ACV with Mother and 50% tepid water in a small spray bottle and spritz it all over my face when my skin feels irritated and flaky. The ACV evens out the skin tone, kills bacteria, balances my skin’s pH levels and is a supreme blood purifier.

Suffering from dandruff? Add a generous amount of ACV with Mother to bath water, lean back to immerse entire back of head up to hairline and gently massage scalp with fingertips. Do this a few times a week and you’ll be amazed how quickly pesky dandruff (caused by bacteria and yeast) disappears. This also removes all the buildup gunk in hair. Enjoy your new silky soft mane! And don’t worry about the strong vinegar smell lingering in hair – it quickly dissipates.

I love this stuff so much, I even ingest a tablespoon of ACV with Mother every day internally for its blood purifying properties and for a boost of energy. Just be careful – the acid may wear away at tooth enamel when used over the long term. To counter this problem, add a tablespoon of ACV with Mother to hot water (you can also mix in a bit of honey to mask the yucky vinegar flavor if the taste makes you gag) and try to sip through a straw, allowing the liquid to fall to the back of throat.

At times I’ll notice tiny bumps forming on my arms and chest, which is usually caused by dry skin and eczema when hair follicles become clogged with oil. When I notice these, I spritz ACV with Mother directly to the area and the little buggers disappear overnight. Any acidic based moisturizer will also work to unclog these little annoyances when they sprout up.

~¤~¤~

Raw honey is liquid gold for the skin. Honey kills bacteria, viruses and fungus and is an amazing moisturizer as well as another great counter to acne. This is by far my favorite homemade facial mask. Simply apply raw honey all over face and neck (the fingertips will warm the honey enough to allow it to glide on smoothly) and let sit for 20 minutes or more.

I love letting my honey mask sit on overnight. Since your skin warms the honey as you sleep, parts of it will dribble off onto the pillow. But for me the outcome is worth every bit of the small mess it creates. I don’t mind washing my pillowcases afterward because I’m always amazed at how calm, soft and glowing my skin feels in the morning after rinsing the honey off. I receive so many compliments on my complexion!

I slather honey on my lips as well for another great (and yummy) lip gloss – it makes lips unbelievably soft and the sugars in the honey are a natural exfoliator. Honey also has amazing healing properties and makes a great natural antiseptic. Apply honey to wounds to kill bacteria, lessen the probability of a deep scar forming and to prevent infection.

~¤~¤~

Here are some other useful beauty tips I’ve acquired over the years.

Need exfoliation fast? Open a sugar packet and add a few drops of olive oil, gently apply to your face and rinse with tepid water. Mix instant oatmeal and water for another wonderful homemade exfoliating mask

Brighten teeth instantly by gurgling with Hydrogen Peroxide. Swish in mouth and be very careful not to swallow! You’ll look like a rabid dog by the time you spit the solution out, but try to hold the foam in your mouth as long as possible for optimal whitening results. And as a reader pointed out, using an incorrect concentration of peroxide can damage the enamel on your teeth. Always read the label on the bottle to be certain the concentration is safe for oral use.

Detoxify your skin … with kitty litter! This is one of those dirty little secrets you’ll pay hundreds of dollars for at the spa. You can have the same treatment in your own home for so much cheaper. Simply purchase a bag of 100% natural clay kitty litter (be sure to select a formula without clumping or any added chemicals or additives) and add a small amount of water to liquify. Apply to your face and entire body. Violà, an instant spa formula and invigorating mineral treatment!

Suffering from greasy, oily skin? Mash up a ripened tomato and apply the mush directly to your face. Leave on for at least 20 minutes and rinse with tepid water. Here’s another great recipe to unclog pores. Apply crushed cucumber pulp all over problem areas- it’s fabulous!

Getting itchy fingers and wanna mush up some more fruit? Try a banana this time. Smush a banana and add a tiny amount of honey to form a soft paste and apply the delectable goo directly to the face. Still have a few spare bananas on hand? Go ahead and eat one, then apply the smooshy rest to your hair as well. Now tell me beauty isn’t fun!

Crisco is a highly effective moisturizer and another big secret among Hollywood beauties. Hospitals even use this stuff (disguised under a different name, cream “C”) to treat skin conditions, like psoriasis.

Use powdered milk in the bath for a natural lactic exfoliator and silky smooth skin – you’ll quickly realize why milk and honey bathes were adored by Cleopatra. Milk is also a beauty secret used among many in the fashion industry. Instead of cleansing with water, many models simply refresh their face in the morning with a splash of milk!

Need an instant face lift? You’ll spend quite a chunk of change at the beauty counter by purchasing firming creams to tighten your face up. Try this instead. Crack one egg, remove the yolk and beat the egg white until frothy. Apply the egg white froth generously to face and neck and allow to set for at least twenty minutes. But don’t plan on trying to move your face or eating for a bit! After a few moments, you’ll immediately start to feel the ‘tightening’ effects. Lightly rinse with tepid water when finished.

Trying to lose weight but battling an irresistible sweet tooth? Consider jelly beans for a light calorie snack. Fresh fruit like strawberries and blueberries are an even sweeter alternative. Go ahead and mush some on your face while you’re at it (the fruit, not the jelly beans!)

To combat puffy swollen eyes, cucumber slices are the oldest beauty trick in the book. Don’t have any on hand? Try some of these other remedies instead. The potassium in raw potato slices works wonders for sore achy eyes and dark circles. Still stuck for a quick solution? Put two large spoons in the freezer for twenty minutes. Lay down, gently press the backs of the spoon to your eyes and say, “ahhhh”.  Hold for at least ten minutes to ‘wake up’ tired peepers.

Need a good conditioning solution for dry, brittle hair? Mix one egg, a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of olive oil and apply to wet hair. Cover with a shower cap and let sit for at least an hour before rinsing.

For a quick alternative to hairspray, dissolve a tablespoon of sugar in hot water in a spray bottle and wait for it to cool.

Dandruff can be stubborn and persistent, and dry itchy scalps are no fun. Soak scalp in Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother a few times a week as mentioned above. Add a large handful of crushed aspirin tablets to your favorite bottle of shampoo to further combat flakes.

For blemishes on face, try the famous aspirin mask. The acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin is excellent for oily, acne-prone skin. Dissolve three to five uncoated aspirin in water and apply to red areas and blemishes. Allow aspirin to penetrate facial pores at least twenty minutes before rinsing.

For a quick boost, bend over at the waist (pretend like you’re pulling your head toward your knees, but allow your head and arms to just dangle) and hold the position for at least 30 seconds. This will not only invigorate your entire body, but your complexion will also get a rosy boost as well. If you’re somewhere where you’ll look absolutely ridiculous doing this, take off your shoes and gently roll a plastic water bottle back and forth under the arch of your foot for another revitalizing effect.

For a nasty red pimple, apply a bit of Visine to a cotton swab and hold the swab on your blemish for twenty seconds.

Eat a snippet of parsley for instant fresh and kissable breath.

Traveling, but suffer from a weak stomach? Eat candied ginger or peppermint to instantly soothe an unsettled tummy.

Shave your bikini line using Neosporin (an insider trick of lingerie models and porn stars) for a smooth, soothing shave and to eliminate redness, irritation and bumpiness.

Buy Vitamin E and Vitamin A capsules from your local health food store. Prick open and apply to your favorite inexpensive moisturizer for added lushness without the expensive price tag.

I routinely apply a dash of self-tanner to face and arms for that sun-kissed glow – and skip makeup all together! Fake Bake was a favorite of mine in the past, but it also darkened facial pores so I switched to Clarin’s Self-Tanning Bronzing Gel. Experiment a bit with different products to see what works best on your skin tone.

Build your own garden and you’ll have a majority of these beauty products right in your backyard. This year I spent less than $30 at the nursery for cucumbers, acorn squash, romaine and butter crunch lettuce, celery, broccoli, bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. My garden has flourished and I’ve saved a bundle on food shopping.

What are some of your unconventional beauty secrets?

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key ~†~ Your beauty is your own unique canvas. Do something every day to make an effort to pamper yourself. Be playful with new ideas in your beauty ritual and indulge every part of your skin. Never be afraid to recreate yourself.
=^..^=

Related Posts:

1. Crash Course In Cutting Your Own Bangs
2. Uncluttering the Closet Monster
3. Whipping Up Simple Tasty Meals For Quality Nutrition
4. Fit Nation – Time To Whip My Buns Into Gear

† †

A financial update. Oh baby, how far we’ve come

While rummaging through some older posts here on Broke-Ass, I stumbled across a lot of stuff I’d forgotten about. A post from last year showed how I’d gone from $0 in savings in January 2007 to $1,000 in savings four months later (see Surviving Paycheck to Paycheck? You Can Still Start Saving).

It was a huge milestone for me. For someone who had never adequately been able to hold onto money for very long, I began to realize I could achieve anything I really put my mind to. This included learning habits that would aid my search in finding that elusive concept known as financial freedom.

Yesterday I decided once again to review my progress. I tend to have a ‘do it and forget it’ approach, meaning every time I receive money, at least 20% is manually deducted and siphoned away into some form of savings. (And, well, basically forgotten.)  A little over a year since my last financial update post, I have hit another milestone. Actually I was quite shocked when I added everything together and realized …

… I now have approximately $6,000 stashed away in some form of savings.

I’d also managed to clear a sizable chunk off my debt as well. In fact, if I remain aggressive on paying off debt as a main priority, I’m now on course to being debt-free within twelve months at the very latest. And the thought of no debt lingering over my head is exhilarating!

So what’s next on the financial agenda?

Preserving wealth amidst inflation

Preserving wealth right now means uncovering creative ways to keep the inflation beast at bay and preventing this rabid little monster from devouring portions of savings.

If my savings account isn’t keeping pace with inflation, purchasing power is being diminished and I’m unfortunately becoming a financial loser. But isn’t putting a safety cushion of money into a savings account supposedly one of the ‘Golden Rules’ touted by financial advisors ad naseam for smart beginner investing?

Surprisingly I know many people who openly scoff at the interest rates attached to most savings accounts.  “But Jennifer,” they ask. “Why put money into the bank when I’m receiving such a pitiful return? With a tiny bit of effort, I can do so much better myself.”

So how are they doing it?

These folks say they recognize the importance of preserving their current wealth by always keeping a sharp eye out for opportunities. They’ve become experts in finding little niches that will help them keep pace with inflation (and possibly even net a profit in the process!) When federal interest rates start dropping is also when it’s crucial for savers to get their inventive juices flowing.

When the going gets tough, the tough get … creative!

Just to throw some quick questions at you – do you have a certain hobby that can be capitalized upon? Can current interests or skills be used as an asset for opening your own business? Do you enjoy collecting antiques or other collectibles or are you an avid coin collector and a fan of numismatics? Have you ever considered visiting estate or garage sales in your area for underpriced (unrealized) items?

The goal, they explain, is to invest your money in something that will inherently keep its value and thus (hopefully) rise with inflation. It also needs to be an area you’re knowledgeable about and feel comfortable enough to park money into it. For example, many investors enjoy precious metals, such as gold and silver, as a hedge against inflation. Once you dabble your toe into a certain area, you can even try accumulating a bit of ’interest’ in the process.

Here’s another example. I know quite a few who frequent both estate and garage sales and continually make a killing by arriving early and recognizing hidden treasures nestled among other junk. These treasure hunters are aware of the real value attached to many antiquities. They make handsome returns by buying low and selling high and have a lot of fun in the process. Consider becoming educated in a hobby or area of interest and you too may develop a niche and one day be a whiz in this type of ’horse trading’.

If I’ve learned anything from these pros, it’s this tidbit of advice. Start small and always keep cash on hand. You never know when an opportunity might present itself and you’ll want to be prepared to immediately pounce if it does.

Unfortunately the sobering fact is, it doesn’t matter how much I’ve saved if inflation continues chomping away on my hard-earned dollars. So now it’s time to get innovative and try to prod this irksome inflation beast back to its insidious lair.

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key  ~†~ When interest rates are down, savers truly suffer. Use the internet (which allows access to a potential worldwide customer base) and other skills to your advantage to discover your own creative ways to both accumulate and preserve wealth. 

~¤~¤~

Also check out the Carnival of Personal Finance for many great submissions on financial topics. A huge thank you to Mrs. Micah for hosting this week’s edition.

=^..^=

Developing a More Conscious Lifestyle

During the chaotic nature of life, it’s easy to become distracted and engulfed in day-to-day affairs. Every once in a while I feel a need to suspend all the buzz swirling around me and find a private sanctuary to curl up in for quiet contemplation.

Finances may feel important, but over obsessing about money is unbalanced and certainly not healthy. Whenever I feel overwhelmed in general, the following guidelines serve as gentle reminders which help bring things into greater perspective for me.

~¤~¤~

• Don’t only do what is convenient. Learn how to make a deeper commitment and take a more radical responsibility for yourself. Build integrity by exercising the values and ethics which are important to you.

• Recognize the Divine in others through practicing respect and love. Although everyone has their own needs, each are different but equal.

• During conflict, don’t be limited only to your needs. Step outside yourself to consider the needs of others in a more compassionate manner. This helps manifest a positive solution for all concerned.

• Eliminate manipulation through demands, threats and passive-aggressive behavior. Only take from others what they are willing to give freely, and accept others for who they are.

• Let go of Ego and practice simply being in each moment. Rather than trying to exert control over circumstances, learn instead how to become present.

• Healing begins from within. Treat your body well through exercise and a well-balanced diet rich in grains, fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water each day, the rich honey of life.

• Volunteer your time. Use your creativity and energy to motivate and help causes which are important to you.

• Recognize that everything has a limit; the day, the night, even one’s own energy and time. No matter how great one’s perceived wealth, there always exists an extent to which one may enjoy it. Feel grateful for and humbled by your current unique blessings.

• Ever catch yourself saying, “I just don’t have time” or “I wish I had time to”? Take responsibility by recognizing that everyone has the same amount of time in each day and ultimately you decide how that time is used. Choose productively and wisely how you wish to dedicate each precious moment.

• Incorporate a quiet meditative practice into your daily routine. Prolonged meditation sharpens focus and enables you to think well, while awakening new levels of the Divine Self. Recent empirical studies are now recognizing how continued meditation physically enlarges and alters our brain.

~¤~¤~

Recommended Reading:

The Harvard Gazette, Meditation Found to Increase Brain Size

The Washington Post, Meditation Gives Brain A Charge

~¤~¤~

• Take the time to properly honor all the small steps leading up to where you want to be. Don’t miss the beauty of the journey, as each step is equally fulfilling and significant.

• Experience temporary sensory deprivation. Try fasting, taking an hour long vow of silence, or wearing a blindfold or earplugs for an extended period of time. This will enhance awareness of both body and breath, bring perspective and allow you to develop a deeper appreciation for each sensory organ.

• Change is inevitable and everything is constantly influx. Use this wisdom to react less to personal inner dramas and focus more on acceptance and being present.

• Instead of dismissing or burying negative emotion, become aware of fear, worry and discomfort to fully observe and experience it. This helps bring perspective and heightened awareness as you begin to understand the root causes of these emotions.

• Obtaining financial peace of mind means allowing your wealth to absorb unexpected expenses. Obsessing and fretting over financial situations which do not directly affect day-to-day situations sabotages this entire concept. As Marshall Glickman states in his book The Mindful Money Guide, “Getting into a tizzy about a small misfortune undermines the whole point of having any fortune [at all].”

• Take action. Don’t feel discouraged if progress feels slow. Just as a toddler learns how to walk one step at a time, it’s taking that baby step which is most crucial.

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key ~†~ Explore your unique purpose in life and discover what fills your heart with joy. There is never a better time to live fully and with integrity than right now.

~¤~¤~

Sayings of the Wise

Drip by drip, a cup gets filled. -Unknown

“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand – and melting like a snowflake…”
(Francis Bacon, 1561 – 1626)

“The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” -Amelia Earhart

The Master once offered a banana to an awestruck visitor who so venerated the gift that he hardly knew what to do with it. When the Master was told of this, he said characteristically, “Tell the silly ass to eat it.”

-Awakening, Conversations with the Masters by Anthony de Mello

=^..^=

† †

Featured Resources 

Compare prices and read helpful product reviews to make smart buying easy through Ciao! – Price Comparison and Product Reviews for the savvy shopper.

Believe it or not, your blossoming network is sitting right under your nose.

In my last article, I reiterated the importance of enriching your life through networking and giving. But how does one go about assembling and sustaining a kick ass network?

The opportunity for meeting new people literally surrounds us every day. First and foremost, we need to be receptive to each new encounter. And then comes the essential part (the part actually where most people fail) – actually keeping in touch with all our new acquaintances.

Obviously the more people you know, the greater the chances of unearthing that exact person you’ll need for your latest fabulous project.

How To Build A Fulfilling, Kick Ass Network

Take a moment to consider some of the tips below on how to launch (and keep) a thriving, kick ass network.

• Discover Interconnection. Have you ever heard the theory of “Six Degrees of Separation”, or small world phenomenon? This focuses on how everyone in the world is separated by merely six people from everyone else. Through establishing successful connections, you can theoretically reach just about anyone in the world!

And in the current technological age, the internet is keeping us more connected than ever before. Use every avenue to your advantage, including email, message boards, and even blogging. The opportunities for meeting exciting new faces are limitless and expanding every day.

• Establish and Keep Track of Your Network. This is extremely important. To launch a successful network, you first need to recognize who is actually included in it. A network is useless if you can’t identify who you’d like to incorporate.

If you feel lost on where to begin, family and friends are excellent starting points. Even college professors are great resources. Need some advice? Thumb through your current contact list. Umm, ok, so your list is currently comprised of yourself, your cat, and your mom? Well it’s still a great place to launch a blossoming network. Try asking dear Mom for a referral to someone else. And remember to give your kitty a special snuggle. (After all, she’s the only one who can stand putting up with you constantly.)

Chances are good if your immediate contacts can’t help out, they will probably know someone who can. When you’re in a bind, take a moment to consider everyone you know.

From now on, every time you meet someone new, make a conscious effort to ask for their name and contact information. Develop an organized plan on how to record each new encounter, including when and how you met and other relevant details. Formulate a type of database and focus on methods to continue expanding on it.

Jot down personal contact details, such as where they live. Are they married with kids? What type of career field are they involved with? What challenges do they face? In other words, what are their specific needs? And what value can you offer to help them become more successful?

• Sustain Your Network By Keeping In Touch. Steal a moment out of your busy schedule to do a small gesture every few weeks, such as sending a brief email to catch up on how they’re doing. Take special notice of any new situations or relevant needs which may have cropped up on their side since you last spoke.
• Help Those in Your Network Connect to Each Other Through You. If you generously give to others and help them become connected, they will be thankful and happy to return the favor down the road when you’re in need.

Perhaps you know someone who has the skills or resources to aid someone else on your contact list. By all means, go ahead and introduce them. Remain receptive to current needs and help out whenever possible.

• Continually Expand and Nurture Your Network. Each encounter in our lives is symbolically profound. Everyone has something unique to teach (whether we realize it or not) and can offer certain value into our lives. Open yourself up to exciting new possibilities and you’ll never know who you might unexpectedly meet.

Consider the sheer amount of people you encounter each day. Remember the guy standing next to you in the elevator?  Or your colleague in the next office? How about the owner of your favorite store, or the gal that was sitting next to you on the bus this morning? Successful people recognize how critical it is to reach out – anyone can be an invaluable resource. 

• Learn How to Ask for Help. If done honestly, there is never any shame in reaching out to others for assistance.

Many competent people are reluctant to do the smart thing by asking for help because they allow their pride or fear to hold them back. So stop sabotaging yourself all ready. Learn how to let others know when you need them. This really can’t be stressed enough.  Never feel afraid or ashamed when asking others for counsel.   

Don’t feel afraid to open yourself up to all possibilities, and learn how to give without expecting anything in return. Before long, you’ll be astonished how quickly your network will blossom.

Give unconditionally, make time to keep in touch and remain receptive to new possibilities. You’ll establish your own flourishing kick-ass network in no time!

 ~†~ Baby Steps Are Key ~†~ Envision interconnection. Find inspiration and balance within yourself through your relationship to the world.

=^..^=

It’s a secret that most self-made millionaires all ready know. In fact, no successful person ever clawed their way to the top alone. So what is the elusive secret to their abundant success?

Remember, truth is almost always simple. And you may be surprised to learn how simple their secret really is. It’s a concept that can benefit anyone striving to accomplish their passions and dreams.

The Importance of Networking and Giving

As you blaze your own unique path in life, avoid the trap of becoming so wrapped up in yourself and your endeavors that you accidentally overlook the incredible benefits of giving. By becoming disconnected from others, it unknowingly creates a crutch which ultimately may sabotage certain goals. 

• One of the most important keys to success lies in the crucial ability to network with others. Through recognizing the value of every individual who enters your life, your network continually expands and becomes an invaluable tool for building a platform of success.

So how does this work?

As previously mentioned, no one becomes wildly successful on their own. Those who have been catapulted to extreme success in their careers understand the value of networking through giving, and also know how to ask others for help when needed.

Shifting Attitude to Inviting Success

Just as tiny seeds of wealth eventually blossom into financial prosperity, also think of your current network of family and friends as seedlings of potentiality.  

• Everyone we encounter literally has the potential to change our lives. By recognizing this and opening ourselves up to each unique possibility, we thus enrich our existence and gain invaluable allies in the process.

Are you interested in a certain career or industry, but feel baffled on where to begin? Use your network to gather information! Chances are a friend, or a friend of a friend, knows someone involved with a similar career path. It can be as simple as asking for advice or requesting to meet someone involved in that particular industry.

Are you excitedly brimming with an innovative idea, yet feel unsure if you’re on the right track? Pick the brains of your family and friends! Their feedback and suggestions could re-align your concept with precisely what it needs to become launched. Perhaps they even know someone who can help bring your concept to the next level. 

• Establishing a solid network also requires the humbling experience of knowing when and how to reach out when in need.

Nurturing Your Network

In return, wildly successful individuals recognize the value of nurturing their networks through giving. Chances are, if you’ve given unconditionally in the past, those who have touched your life will be eager to help out in any way they can. Even small gestures will be kindly remembered.   

1. Learn how to be responsive to others and give unconditionally.
2. Never feel shy about humbly accessing your network when in need.
3. Recognize how every individual has the potentiality to impact us in some way, not just financially. Everyone can empower your life through providing a useful tidbit of information.  

Don’t be so quick to dismiss the importance of each new encounter. After all, that individual could be holding the key to aid in further unlocking your success. And in a more profound spiritual sense, everyone bares the gift of teaching us more about ourselves.

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key ~†~ 

Look for ways to inspire, motivate and support through your unique personality. The more you give unconditionally to other people and causes, the more these gifts will be returned tenfold

=^..^=

In the midst of my feverish cleaning (ahem), I stumbled across a forlorn journal abandoned years ago. Taking advantage of an opportunity to discontinue work for a moment, I plopped down onto some tattered pillows and curiously thumbed through its content. A particular entry I wrote in Copenhagen, Denmark caught my eye.

THURSDAY – 02.19.04
6:25 PM

Enjoying the beauty of Copenhagen immensely right now … and the company of these silly Danes.

I have also been thinking alot about some of my goals (practical and otherwise).

I definitely look forward to beginning university after the summer. I am hoping that I can keep myself motivated to dedicate 100% to my studies.

Before when I was in university, I put many things off and didn’t feel as if I gave my best effort. I still managed to pull off almost perfect grades, but I find it much more satisfying when I know that I really put my all into a project (instead of brushing it off until the very last minute, as I usually do).

I have also made some “fun” goals for myself, which will ideally be accomplished within the next 5 – 10 years. This list is continuously growing.

* I’ve always dreamed of visiting New Orleans (or shall I say New ‘Awlins) to visit all of the places I’ve read about in childhood novels.

Trent Reznor, Anne Rice, Poppy Z. Brite, VC Andrews and Gabriel Knight have all helped to bring the magic of this city alive for me. I would love to experience the Garden District, take a stroll down Bourbon Street, see Marie Laveau’s tomb in the St. Louis Cemetary, and visit a voodoo museum to encounter all the mojo, juju, hoodoo, gris-gris bags and zombies I’ve ever dreamed of!

Continuing on with my traveling goals …

* Walking on the Great Wall of China
* Learning how to belly dance in Istanbul
* Swimming with dolphins

And on a spiritual note …
* Climbing Mount Sinai

* Oh yes, I would also like to know how it feels to be a millionaire. Judging from my traveling plans though, I am probably doomed to be a very poor woman.

Well, I’m feeling restless sitting in bed (I’m on my laptop) and I don’t have much else to add. I am going to close this entry for now and try to get something constructive accomplished today.

The last goal made me laugh, considering I’m now learning about personal financing and can (presumably) avoid the calamitous fate of remaining ‘a very poor woman’. I had absolutely no clue when this message was first scrawled three years ago that being a millionaire was even conceivable through wise financial planning.

I would still be thrilled to visit New Orleans, even in the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I’ve always felt a mysterious affinity toward the essence of this crumpled and nearly-forgotten city. My longing has not diminished over the years.

I’ve actually decided to rekindle this journal as a continuation of my personal goals. (A recent one I’ve scribbled on the list; to wander through the mountains of Kurdistan in search of ancient Sufi mystics).

Perhaps in another few years I’ll stumble on it again for further amusing revelations.

=^..^=

Today on my day off, I’ve designated myself the incredibly boring task of scrubbing my room clean. I still have so much *crap* laying around it’s unbelievable. One of my main goals for the month of March is to seriously declutter my living area to eliminate as many distractions as possible.

I also got sticky notes to randomly tack around my home and office. On each sticky, I’ll be writing little phrases to remind myself of particular goals. It will be an experiment to see if it helps keep me motivated and on track. I’m viewing it as a type of systematic advertising, except this advertising will be written by me and to myself!

(Psst, how about instead of flipping through magazines and comparing yourself to Hollywood glamour, you write a little note of your own reminding yourself how beautiful and unique you are?)

Ramit Sethi wrote a great update to his site I Will Teach You to be Rich, which has generated a lot of interesting discussion in the comments.

As I continue slacking cleaning, I’ll also continue perusing.

=^..^=

When one continually feels a certain way, they believe it and consequently create a reality for themselves.

I can’t do it. It’s too difficult. I’m not sure. I’ll never be able to. I can. I’m able to. I will succeed, and this is how.

To believe you’re poor and impoverished will create a similar reality. However, if you recognize how extremely wealthy you are (through good health, family, friends, love, laughter, career satisfaction, experiences, and memories), you start feeling an enhanced sense of gratitude for every blessing in your life. By becoming satisfied in other areas, you also willingly invite further wealth into your life through positive energy and emotion.

What type of reality are you currently creating?

Manifest Wealth Through Positive Reinforcement

There is much more to accumulating wealth than mere dollars and cents or calculating figures and spreadsheets on a table. It’s a deeply rooted spiritual and emotional mindset. Mentally, we may find ourselves caught up in the wrong endeavors. Instead of focusing on the blessings in our life and expressing gratitude for the necessities we have, we tend to obsess over what we feel we lack. This creates a destructive mental chain of misery – which in turn manifests dissatisfaction, greed, and the insatiable desire of never having enough and always wanting more. Through recognition of our blessings, see how leading a happier life has never felt so simple.

It only takes a quick glance through some of the past articles posted this week (such as the corruption of wealth) to receive a glimpse of the tragic burden wealth has brought upon some individuals (most notably, lottery winners who fell into unexpected earnings.)

But the money itself isn’t the problem here.

These individuals appeared mentally unprepared to cope with the huge influx of money that suddenly befell them. Spiritually they were unable to assimilate money into their lives in a positive fashion, and their wealth spiraled out of control. It festered into an excruciatingly chaotic and destructive force. Some of these individuals may have forgotten to respect and appreciate what they had previously, or perhaps it was a lesson they never learned to begin with. By failing to respect the unexpected gift of wealth, they weren’t able to utilize it in a beneficial or enlightening manner. It deteriorated their lives.

Gratitude For Every Penny

Because money is such a powerful universal force, it demands immense respect. But consider your own habits. Are you respecting your income properly?

Do you currently feel appreciative and satisfied with what you have? Are you consciously aware of your expenses? Is your money thrown all over the place in disarray and crumpled in your wallet, or is it neatly folded together?

If you searched through your home, would you find enough change in your cushions to service a Laundromat for a month? Are you making irrational purchases without realizing where portions of your paycheck are being funneled?

One of my best friends recently bemoaned to me how she had no idea where her money was draining away to. Christmas had come and gone, of course. But she anticipated the expense and prepared for the holidays by budgeting for gifts. She didn’t believe that was where the problem lay.

Conscious Spending

I asked her to briefly walk me through one of her days. Besides regularly buying food at work, she suddenly realized she also spent over $1 on bottled water at the gym almost every day. Surely an insignificant purchase, she mused?

When we calculated the expense of the bottled water alone, we were shocked to realize she was spending over $350 a year on just water at the gym. That’s almost $1,000 over a three-year period. It suddenly dawned on her that it would be more practical to bring a thermos and fill it herself at the water fountain. She realized she could more wisely utilize that money, and scoffed at her ineptitude in just that tiny little area. She also realized how easy and cost-efficient it would be to bring lunch to work more often.

But, ironically, a trivial bottle of water began to represent a foolish expense that wasn’t in line with my friend’s personal goals. From that day forward, it became a trigger point. A seed was planted in her mind that blossomed into a conscious awareness of how she was choosing to spend every portion of her money.

I am pleased that my friend, who used to be extremely intimidated by personal finances, (the mention of the stock market would literally send her running and squealing), is now willing to learn about retirement funding and proper investing. She has found a wiser approach on how to respect her money further. For the first time, she is taking firm control of her personal finances instead of allowing them to control her.

Mentally walk yourself through a day or two of your normal expenses. What careless spending will you uncover?

For those still unconvinced of their inherent wealth and would rather look at their concrete net worth, take a peek at how well you rank with the global wealth rich list. Were you surprised?

~†~ Baby Steps are Key ~†~

Manifest positive emotion through continued gratitude – recognize and respect your blessings

=^..^=

Some thoughts from Stevers at the Stever Robbins Company:

“A Fable that Starts True: Extraordinary People Producing Ordinary Results

A young man—college student—with a goatee and headphones sat across from me on the subway. Hunched over a book, he was wearing cargo pants, a T-shirt, several bracelets, and many necklaces. The knapsack in his lap proclaimed (in hand-written magic marker), “Life is a verb, not a noun.” A button on the knapsack: “Reading is Sexy.”

I looked around. Everyone else was wearing sensible clothes. Khakis. Button-down shirts. Gap shorts. Me? Khaki shorts and a generic polo shirt. Clothes, happily devoid of personality. The young man had more personality in his little finger than the rest of us had together. Pondering, I wondered if he would ever end up as Boring as the rest of us.

Step-by-step, he’s molded into Everyman

It would begin on the first day at work. “Wearing a goatee isn’t really appropriate for this office,” he would be told with a smile by the kindly secretary who wants to see him succeed. The next day, he’s cleanshaven. Bracelets, she informs him, aren’t really right for work. And why not leave the necklaces at home, too.

The next day, he shows up, feeling a bit less like himself, feeling like he’s holding back. But, eager to do a good job, he cuts his hair. He shoves the backpack under his desk and buys a smart, leather folio. He shows up “dressed for work.” A colleague sees his old knapsack under his desk, smiles condescendingly, and offers helpful advice, “As an expert at copy-writing I can assure you that technically, ‘life’ is a noun. The verb form would be ‘live.’”

A few weeks later, he finds his childhood hero is speaking in a nearby town. He wants to take a day off and go. “Sorry, kid. You haven’t accrued enough vacation time, yet.” He sighs, understandingly … and in that moment, his Life really does begin to transform from a verb into a noun.

Next comes his yearly review. His best idea saved the company a cool million, but some of his ideas are a bit … out there. We helpfully give him the Tried-and-True industry handbooks, so he can tone down the wacko ideas. He learns quickly what is and isn’t possible. And since he did a good job, we give a whopping 5% raise. (That is $1,750 given his $35K salary. We’re glad he’s not a $200K person; we’d be shelling out ten grand. He doesn’t notice that his raise amount has far more to do with his age than with the value of his idea. We don’t notice, either.)

Within a couple of years, our young friend fits right in. He wears the right clothes. He cancels his dinner dates for Oh-so-important client meetings. He knows the conventional wisdom, and can self-censor his wacko ideas in the bud. He spends his time working, attending industry conventions, and absorbing the Status Quo. He’s a success. And he’s quite unlikely to be an agent of innovation, creativity, or newness. Mission accomplished!

Conformity is our boon and our curse

The problem is conformity. We love it. We like people who look like us, who dress like us, who care about the same things, who live similar lives. It’s hard-wired, you know. Given two identical college applications with different candidate names and pictures, we prefer the one who looks and sounds like us. And never mind the Internet “revolution.” We’ve now made it possible to read only news that agrees with our existing beliefs, communicate mostly with people we know will agree, and read commentary that comes straight from our comfort zone.

Conformity has its good side, of course. It’s very easy to manage. You only need to learn one way of dealing with people, and, well, that’s that. You can pretend everyone’s the same, and since we all agree dress, emotion, purpose, and rewards in the workplace are pretty much standard, we’ll play along enough for us all to happily work together…limiting ourselves to the lowest common denominator of our uniqueness.

But we innovate, create, and find new ideas come people interact who think differently. People nudge each other outside their comfort zones, and if the environment is right, they can end up breaking existing molds and creating Great New Things. But innovation means helping people cultivate their differences and then bringing them together in ways that spark creativity.
When we all wear the same work uniform, we send the message: differences in expression aren’t allowed here. When we all work in identical cubicles, we send the message: individuality is limited to two 8×10″ pictures above your keyboard tray. When our idea of flex-time is letting someone come in at 8:15 instead of 8, we send the message: no matter what your own rhythms, they matter less than having your body here.

And guess what’s the worst of all? Hiring for “fit.” You know what happens when you hire only people you feel comfortable with? You get yet another carbon copy of the Standard Employee you already have way too many of. The candidate who makes you feel a little uncomfortable, who thinks a bit off-the-wall, will bring you genius, if you treat them right.

So bring some extraordinary results into being by bringing together ordinary people, just not your definition of ordinary. Practice stepping outside your comfort zone. Wear some clothes that you’d never normally wear. Don’t be my friend who, at age 60, confided that the only thing he can wear comfortably is a suit and tie (even at home). Go someplace new. Try a new cuisine. Stretch yourself. Find out what happens. Learn from it. Meet some people outside your normal sphere. Go to Burning Man.

But why stop there? Instead of looking oddly at the young man in your office who pierced his nose, go get something pierced yourself. Your belly button is a good choice; you can always tuck in your shirt when you want to be discrete. But above all, remember that conforming to the norm leads you nowhere but the norm. It makes for boring business and a boring life. If you’re going to dream big dreams, matter to the people around you, and create breakthroughs whereever you go, start by piercing your belly button. Khakis and a polo shirt in a gray cubicle just aren’t going to take you anywhere extraordinary.”

Source: Innovate, Compete, Win.
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I’m working on an article for tomorrow on small ways to help improve personal finances. I didn’t want to publish the article prematurely so I decided to reflect on ambitions for the coming year.

Here are some current goals that have been a work in progress for months now, so none of them should be too daunting.

• Broke-Ass Student will be relocating to a new home. Thanks to a generous donation from John Chow, I can afford my own web hosting. Bare with me during the coming weeks as I make the transition to a new domain. I’m still new to coding and web design, so I’m learning as I zip along.
• Some financial goals are to contribute to a 403(b) retirement plan with a new job I’ve started today. I’m also going to look into opening a Roth IRA, to start dabbling into the stock market. But foremost I’ll be aggressively slapping chunks out of my current debt, which consists mainly of car payments and pending student loans.
• Establishing a healthier overall diet. I’d like to transition toward a more wholesome balanced diet of organic fruits and veggies while trimming down on meat. I’d also like to up my physical exercise.
• More time for meditation. Currently I practice 45 minutes of yoga every day, usually 20 minutes during sunrise and continued asanas in the evening hours. I’m ultimately aiming towards two hours of yoga per day, with a half hour dedicated to quiet meditation. It’s an invigorating way to start and end the day, and mental and health benefits outweigh any sacrifice of time on my part. It naturally detoxifies my body and soothes nerves while setting my creativity into an exuberant frenzy. My body feels more refreshed and I actually need less sleep, therefore gaining extra hours for productivity. It’s been invaluable for staying awake longer and accomplishing the zillion things buzzing around in my head (or for quieting the chaos in general).

If one of your goals this year is to include more physical exercise, I suggest starting out with an hour of light-to-brisk walking every day. It will do wonders for your mood and health. Try it for a week – you’ll love the results.

• Running regime. One of my favorite Christmas gifts is a pair of New Balance running shoes. I’ll be sure to put these to use with a dedicated running regime at the gym this week. For an enlightening and humbling read, check out Japan’s Tendai ‘marathon’ monks.
• Writing each day for at least half an hour.

That’s it. I hope everyone had a lovely New Years celebration. Due to limited finances, I kept it simple. My boyfriend and I cosied up with some candles, wine, a veggie pizza and a huge snuggly blanket, and we watched the Godfather all night

… an awsome prerequisite to what a fabulous year it’s going to be.

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