Living Within Beneath our Means –

At turn of 2006-2007, just before the housing market crash, people were living it up, spending, buying, and really not savings. Through these last 5 years I have been researching the internet, most articles, journal entries, blogs from people that talk about their community and state of finances. I sort of gathered the information and look or swift through it for pertinent information or information that correlates to the economy and what we are experiences.

Anyhow, so I have come to realize while reading and researching these articles that people were not really putting any money away while the boom was going on. So it turns out when the market crashed in 2008- 2009, people began loosing their jobs and at that point realized they did not have enough savings to get them through the rough times…hey even if it meant having 3 months of reserves to pay the mortgage and basic bills. You could have easily have cut back on the other fluffs, such as extended cable, extra cell phone, steaks every Friday, etc.

So it comes that to thousands of people loosing their homes and other possessions due to simply not putting away a little money when times were good. Hey, I am a culprit and did not have anything. The thing is I have been lucky and still maintain my job and well, now I am putting a way a little snipping, but seriously it is not enough to sustain a long drought of no work…like I have seen with other colleagues. I do have a little, but like my previous article, I had to deal with a few set backs in regards to having to reach into that savings in order to get through. So once again I am back to square one in regards to money reserves.

The things, since many of us are feeling the pinch, and for those that have been fortunate enough to find a job, why not try and leave beneath our means…in other words try and cut back on fluff, such as extended cable or if at all possible cut back on the number of cell phones in the household. For example maybe you can purchase a cell phone that will allow you to put minutes into it and only reload it if you run out of minutes. If you go out as a family then take along one cell phone the one that is in a plan, like 69.99/moth unlimited minutes, text, and video. Now, also you can reduce the accessories on your cell phone plan, possibly cut back on the number of text or eliminate that completely, reduce the number of minutes, don’t get that GPS addition, there are features you can do with out that would reduce your cell phone monthly bill. Remember you have Internet access and Google maps or Yahoo maps are available, simply print out your destination.

The thing is trying to find luxury items in your household is the key to finding that little extra money that you can actually put away for a rainy day…and possibly a long drought. There are also many FREE things to do around San Diego and I am pretty sure your city, going to the park, walking on the boardwalk, hikes, etc. what I think is that we need to get back to the 70’s and 80’s and not get so immersed in Technology and the products and gadgets out there. Instead of texting, maybe a phone call or email will be just as affective. Ok it may not be instantaneous, but come on…a little patience goes a long way.

Look around see the things you can cut back on and do without; maybe instead of TV shows, DVR’ing you can play a board game with the family. The thing is I am pretty certain that if we look around our household you will find things you can cut back on and do with out the thing is having the courage to move forward with it and most importantly having the discipline to put away that extra money you found away for such a day when you need it. Now, remember this doesn’t only hold true to families, but to single people as well.

My Perspective:

Times are tough for everyone but I do believe that if we all look around we can find things we can cut back on or do without. Instead of cable, there are options through the internet for free TV, Netflix also has a low monthly plan that allows you to access thousands of movies, yah they may be old, but come on…HBO, Show Time and the other channels also have the same old movies all month long and usually they only have old movies, so instead of 29.95 a month, why not pay 5.95 a month or free…you see what I mean. We all love our morning coffee…ok most of us do, instead of Starbucks, why not make your own coffee…huge savings. Try Godiva coffee which can be found in most market places, I shop Vons. Things are there, I believe if you start saving now for a rainy day…you will be able to handle better any possible layoff or reduction in your business. Once again thanks for reading, Latino Man Signing off.

The Economy and What We Are Doing

You know this is a topic that’s been on everyone’s mind at some point over the past several years. It’s been tough for many people and well most importantly many families. The crunch on the economy has had a grip on many of us and trying to adjust to rising fuel prices and rising groceries prices and well pretty much everything is rising…that many families are pulling straying away from the “wholesome Family” unit and stress has build up between spouses, children and well heck even the family pets. I mean just recently well maybe the past few months. I have seen more pet adoptions pictures in the San Diego Reader than I have in the past several years. It seems people are making cuts in all areas and getting rid of the family pet has become a HUGE norm.

So, I wonder what we are doing, all of us, including myself to try and make ends meet? Yah, I know trying to get a new job is probably a crazy idea, and trying to ask for a raise from your current employer can seems right not a bit out of place…so maybe trying to find a second job…maybe in the Service industry could b the answer, but then when then you get family time or an actual break…it could lead our society to a, “I Work to Live” attitude and you no longer just live. I know…maybe you can start your own business, but heck what business would thrive right now in today’s times? Could you physically stop working and not worry about getting a fixed income and start a business and maybe wait a few years before it starts to give you some income? The decisions are tough…more and more people out on the net are looking for ways to make some extra money, whether it is 100 dollars or 1000 dollars a month…something to supplement and actually more than likely extra money that you can put away and have in case you do loose your job. WOW…you know yah ok…we see the Stock market at 12,000, yah we hear that Unemployment is at 9%...but wait…is that number really accurate?

I see the things around us, and wonder what is really happening? I do have a job, thank goodness for that, but I also, for the past 5 or 6 years been trying my hand at on-line business…wait…ok so I am a Real Estate agent and I have my Notary…ok…but…yes…I have been researching, learning, and doing online business…and not until now has it at least been giving me some income…maybe nothing to write home about but income. I have learned so much about the ins and outs of the internet, the marketing, the links, the banner, the banner exchanges, the ad placement, the social networking and well the language of the Internet…because it is different…believe me and if you are anything like me, you could end up spinning your wheels for years and get nowhere, but I have found one very important thing, a characteristic that not many have…when they attempt a new business and that is, “consistency”…people give up after 3-4 months…blaming the business opportunity and the economy…the thing is…and this will probably sound extremely lame, but “slow and steady will get you there”. This is how I see it, if I continue working the business, maybe by the time I retire…it will produce enough income to support some kind of living…maybe not living large…but a living without worries…and the income will be coming in steady. I don’t know…I could be preaching to the quire…I could be saying the same thing thousands of people have written about, sold books about, made movies about, but the only thing you can’t do in today’s’ economy is, “Not Be Consistent”.

My Perspective:
I think the possibilities are out there; yes these business opportunities or affiliate opportunities are there for a reason…and not simply to suck up your money…actually you should never pay for an Affiliate Opportunity, if you work them properly and keep it steady…I know you will see some results…ok yah maybe not the results you would like to see…but picture this…you are retired in 10-20 years…and every two weeks or every month…you get a check in the mail for 500 dollars…may not sound like a lot and maybe 500 dollars won’t get you far…but $500 is better than $0…only saying. So, look around, do the research, don’t spend a whole lot of money or none at all is better and see about a business opportunity or Affiliate Program…heck I have a few listed on this blog…but like always say…research, learn and if you decide to jump aboard, then “Stick-To-It”.

I wish you and yours a good 2011 and if you have gotten this far…you can make the rest of the trip or at least make it memorable. Latino Man signing off…till next time.

I Have the Issue - ???

So I wanted to get your opinion, or well, maybe not an opinion, but I wanted to share my situation. This was brought up during a heated discussion, just like many couples people argue about different things and one of the most common things is finances. Now, I have already moved on, but in a recent discussion, this was brought up…more of a blame on me for what was happening, but like I shared with her I wanted to share with you…see if maybe I was in the wrong, so please read on.

So, let’s just say…your significant other build widgets and after all costs, make a profit of $100 dollars. Ok, so you really don’t know what the make, but if you see 10 widgets shipped per week, then you can conclude that they are selling 10 widgets a week for $100 dollars each, and this is continuous…ok. So you guess-timate $1000 per week, but when it comes time to deposit into your mutual bank...it is 1500 every 2-weeks…so you ask yourself…what is going on with the other $500…so you ask and they tell you that NO, they deposited all the money…and other reasons. But I ask, I work a full-time job, bust my hump and I am a Realtor and Loan specialist, I also have my Notary license and I run a website business…so I believe that I have the right to get cranky, because every month if you struggle to make ends meet…you end up getting tired and frustrated, because you know there are an additional 1000 a month that you have no clue where it is going. Wait…I am using this as an example, in my case it is thousands of dollars a month un-accounted for…and when I ask…they get defensive and worst of they wonder why I am in such a PISSY mood everyday.

So I ask, if you had a partner that you could guess pretty darn close what the make and you noticed they don’t deposit a lot of it…wouldn’t you be a little PISSY? Especially if you BUST your hump to provide...towards the family. That was the last discussion I was in, why was I always in a bad mood and it wasn’t nice to live with someone that was always in a bad mood…so…I guess I was the problem in this relationship.

You know though, I hear her talking to her friends and I hear some conversation about the husbands…I heard one where the husband got upset and threw out the wife in her underwear and bra in the middle of the night…she had to walk/run more blocks to get to her moms house. Ok, then I hear one where the husband won’t change a diaper, won’t cook, won’t clean, won’t do a single thing around the house to help and they both work. He comes home late or whenever he likes and expects a warm dinner and a warm bed, then I heard one of the husbands does not allow her to wear lowcut shirts, short dresses or tight dresses, no shorts, no bathing suites, no makeup, she cannot go out with friends, unless he is there…wait…the best part is, he goes out with his friends and stays out late hours of the night…no..wait, he sometimes does not come home, he verbally abuses her..seriously…pretty much she is locked up in a 10,000 square foot mansion…with no outside connection…so you tell me…I was the issue here.

Now, I am not perfect at all, I have a temper, but it takes a lot to get that out, but I don’t care what she wears, I prefer sexy, I don’t mind she goes out with friends, she can come home whenever…I trust her, she can pretty much buy anything, within reason, I don’t argue over petty things, I work hard, as I said, I have a fulltime job, make good money, I am a realtor, close deals, I have my notary, have provided services, run a website, pays for itself and provides a little money..which all goes directly into our mutual account…come…I guess I am the problem. So with that said, I decided to move on and make everyone happy…by removing the problem from the equation.

But what drives me bananas is all those other husbands or boyfriends getting away with it and I have a problem…the problem of being lied to in the face…I guess being lied to is not wrong…if no one really pays attention to it…I guess. Anyhow, thanks for reading and I hope to write some more.
For now, Latino Man signing off...wishing you a calm day, one where you can maybe ignore the issues for just a little while.

The Big “B” Word (Birthday)

I get to celebrate; I guess what you would call an important event, my birth date. I could possibly see a few people wishing other wise, and you know sometimes I even feel that maybe this day shouldn’t have come. But all we can do is do the best we can with what we are given and jus hope for the better. Of course somewhere in there we do need to make an effort, so let me rephrase, to I celebrate my Birthday.
So, I come into work, and of course my desk is decorated with blues, reds and whites…you see I am a huge superman fan and of course very proud to be an American. So when I walk in it’s nice to see that people remember the important dates in someone life. You see lately I have been feeling a bit under…sort of like a mummy…all bandaged up with no sense of real direction…you get that “old” feeling…well at least I do. The thing is it’s really nice to see decoration and someone making a fuss over your birthday…since I really don’t get much from anyone else. Yah of course my kids wish me a happy birthday, and I truly appreciate it, but you know…I wish a little more fuss was made. I guess that came with the whole marriage thing…you know, you first meet, you both celebrate your birthdays with dinner, dancing, and some end with a passionate evening. Then the marriage things comes into play and you sort of forget everything and direct your energy to making ends meet, it’s actually horrible, but we must do what we must do. I know…yah ok…guys don’t like the fuss…yah that’s what they say, but you want the really truth…they like the fuss.
So anyhow, I am sitting here at work…looking at my decorations, and people walking by wishing me a happy birthday…you know some of them I don’t hear a word from the whole year except on my birthday, yet they sit right next to me…go figure. Anyhow, I do welcome the happy wishes and smiles; it’s nice to actually see a smile on some of these coworkers. And its nice to ever so often get a little conversation going about my age, you know…so your 21 again, how’s that retirement looking…little comments like that…makes for a brighter morning. So, as I was saying, I am sitting at my desk looking at the decorations and thinking to myself…am I where I want to be? I mean…I make a good living don’t get me wrong, but I feel some days that I am threading water…and I am getting nowhere fast. Time seems to be going past me…with each year that goes by I look back at the year that has past me and ask what I have done to get ahead. I don’t know, I am sure lots of people out there feel the same way, and of course lots of people out there are worst of than me…I know that.

The thing is I always had plans and goals since I was about 19 or 20. You see I went to all kinds of seminars on turn-key business; I have bought from those infamous –infomercials-, I have bought hundreds of books on trading stocks, commodities, I have ran a Vending Route, I am have my Real estate license, I have my Notary, I have several on-line business that I market and run, I have flipped notes, done the cash Flow business, I mean if you saw my closet you’d think I was a library of business. I have purchased books on all kinds of marketing techniques, from off line strategies to on-line strategies, to gorilla marketing, I could go on. Any how, so I am sitting at my desk and see everything I have tried, done and attempted and I still feel that I am threading water fast NO where. I honestly feel that I don’t get a break and each year that goes by I feel that I haven’t inch ahead at all.

I don’t know, you know…I am not a greedy person, at all, I only want what other people have succeed on, and I know it is possible…people do it everyday…work hard and follow a plan, steps which leads them, eventually, to wealth. I know it is possible. I just need for something to give. Once I find it I will put all my energy into it…and hope for some growth and a more prosperous future, not just for me, but my children. So, back to me sitting at my desk…I truly enjoy the fuss…I just hate the reminder that I need to see how I am doing on my goals.

I am looking at my writing and I think I am just blabbing…oh well, I am trying to get out my thoughts on this Birthday of mine. Anyhow…ok…so…where am I in regards to my goals and hopes for my future…well…not exactly where I would like to be, and I guess this economy is not helping me at all, it’s making things a lot tougher…you know the strategy needs to change…will see. So I guess what I will do like I do every year, is complain, kick and rage about my whole goal thingy and then I’ll just go back to my everyday life until next year.

My Perspective:
Don't let the years go by without looking to see if your are on schedule with your dreams, or in other words, your goals. There is nothing worng with dreaming of where you would like to be when you retire and we all know it takes some financial buidling agenda and yes i know today's economy is very tough and putting away for retirement is very difficult for many of us, but anything, anything at all is better than nothing. Jsut budget, reduce, cut, but look at where you are with your dreams / goals.

So, till next time, thanks for the lending ear, and remember keep on track on your goals don’t let the years go by without making sure you are on schedule.

The Economy – Are You Serious

So, I am sure you seen the big bail out of Greece, nearly $1 Trillion in a rescue package. Yah the first day it was approved the stock market shot up, but now look at it, today May 14, 2010, it is down 170 points. And the news flash concerns on Greece, Spain and Portugal tightening up its economy/market. Come on now, are you serious, how much more money, that we do not have, are we going to give out. Your are telling me that there won’t be other countries asking for relief as well. That once they see that money is being given away, countries won’t be asking for a piece of the pie. But how much more pie is there, wait, ok, so really what this means is that we are borrowing from the future money, we don’t have yet, but somehow we will be paying that for the next 30 or 40 years, hey wait maybe out kids…kids will continue to pay.

I’m only saying, how many times are the Countries Governments going to dip their hands into the cookie jar? So you tell me this, when the US gets a Junk Rating, who will bail the US out, do you think that $1 Trillion dollars would do the trick for the US, by the time it happens, hopefully it never happens, but let’s assume it did happen, wouldn’t that be a scary situation.

You know everyone can point the finger and blame the housing market, then they can direct the blame to the Brokers, then everyone can point their fingers to the Lenders. Wait, why stop there, lets point the fingers to the Oil companies, oh come on…I think since there are so many people pointing fingers, hmm…let’s just say 1000 people, each with 10 fingers, hmm that comes out to 10,000 fingers that we can all point to someone else, right. Are you serious, I mean come on…people, step back and take a deep breath and let’s really get to the bottom of this. Stop listening to the Media, we all know that bad news sells, so why listen to the Media’s over inflated concerns, tactics, used to delivery news, so as to make it more dramatic…you know this and I know this.

Now, first of all the Governments need to stop handing out money like it is growing on trees, unless there is something I don’t know and it is, but really stop handing out money. Ok, I am struggling like many Americans and actually people in other countries, no raise in 3 years, hours cut, and prices of everything going up. Ok, don’t come crying to me about being out of a job, and loosing your house, car, boats, etc. Ok…just because I haven’t got there YET, doesn’t mean I won’t be soon. Let’s all just take a deep breath, again, and try to resolve the issues, real issues, and not just give out money like it’s a new fad - wait it is a new fad. I’m not all saying I could run things better, or that my ideas will work for everyone and every situation, because in life nothing is exactly the same and everything has exceptions…to exceptions. But the countries need to put a foot down, wait…no not the government…the PEOPLE need to put their foot down and demand, real solutions…remember this, Lao Tzu - "Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime".

Lets learn from this, really, lets not look back and start thinking about what we need to do for the future, a better future, the mistakes we did, who we allowed to make ridiculous mistakes, mainly our government…I am only saying. The people need to take back what is rightfully theirs…and start fresh and make things happen. One voice can make a difference, but imagine the MASSES, all our voices as one, yah ok…may sound far fetch, but we can do it.

What am I getting at, We the people need to put our foot down and stop letting these politicians make decisions that we obviously do not agree with and are obviously going to hurt us more and our children. Yah some of you are saying, yah your one to talk, how come you are not doing something, well I am, I started with this post and hope that some where someone will click and start the process. We need to stand together and stop pointing fingers and work towards a REAL solution.

My perspective:
When you point a finger, three point right back to you. so really are you serious. Lets step back and take a deep breath and stop allowing these politicians in making decision we don’t agree on. Let’s make our voice heard and put a foot down. We need real solutions, instead of all this money being giving away. That’s my thoughts, personal feelings and I could go on, but remember I am not saying I am right, or that what I am saying is concrete…only sharing my idea and hope to rile up some folks.

Thanks for reading, till next time…be safe….listen closely…don’t believe everything you read, instead actually read between lines, because if a story sounds to good to be true, it usually has a hidden agenda.