By Amanda Morrall
1) Even sport stars muck up
I had the pleasure of meeting Japan's New Zealand-born utility back Murray Williams recently. I guess I need a few pointers on pick-up lines as I ended up talking taxes and money with Murray instead of footie.
During the course of this scintillating conversation, I confessed my tax bads in two countries but Murray was a real gent.
He instantly made me feel better by telling me that it was not uncommon for sport stars working abroad to make the same goofs; only way worse given the magnitude of their salaries. I was reminded of the conversation when I came across this story from the New York Times; ":Financial lessons from sports star mistakes."
My talk with Murray was also clarifying in a way as it spurred me on to set a new financial goal for myself, which is to set a figure in my mind for what I want to get paid net (instead of this deceptive gross business). So many lessons to be learnt from sport. Who knew?
At the risk of getting banished from my office and exiled from NZ, "Go Japan!" (Eds. What about Canada vs Tonga today...)
2) Can cash make you happy?
Probably not, the roots of happiness go much deeper. That said, I put myself through Arun Abbey's Can cash make you happy quiz? and was essentially told that I need to lighten my views and grasp on money.
It was a surprising message really given that Abbey, co-author of How Much is Enough?, is a financial advisor. I scored 16 which put me in the "Thrifty Squirrel" camp. Apparently I need to get out more. Rugby anyone?
3) Allowance pay rates for kids
Money habits form at an early age and children learn a lot of their behaviours through their parents.
When should you start giving them allowances and how much? Different theories and approaches on that one.
Here's one idea posted on growingmoneysmart.com Love to hear what other parents have done in the comment thread.
4) Dust yourself off
What does it take to get ahead? What distinguishes the rich from the poor?
Frugality is just one part of the equation, as this blogger on controlyourcash.com bluntly points out.
Said writer argues that it's not how you construct your portfolio so much as how you construct your thoughts that will determine your wealth. I enjoyed the frankness of this article almost as much as the headline: "The Wealthy Really Are Better Than You."
5) Rich Dad stocking the pantry
I signed up awhile back to Robert Kiyosaki's Rich-Dad Coaching newsletter. The latest arrived with a link to a Fox News piece pressing home the need for Americans to prepare for economic Armageddon. It was classic Fox, dramatic and biblical.
Anyway, it selectively referred to bits of a discussion (which I dug up on YouTube) on Kiyosaki's survival plan for the uncertain times ahead; His tool kit includes a whack of gold and silver, plenty of tinned food, and of course guns.
I'm a pacifist so won't be buying a gun Rich Dad, but I'm all over that gardening thing.
5 Comments
I reckon Martial Arts is the way to go for self-protection....hah yah!
Coffee, schmoffee. I'm grooving on tea these days. As long as I don't get a whiff of java, I'm calm, cool and collected. More even keeled too.:) Bernard claims he can give up his five cups a day habit now for 30 days. "Yeah, right!" I have $20 riding on it. Easy money.
Oooh I would love to see you sting Bernard for $20. Keep us posted.
Yes perhaps time to take up the Tae Kwon Do again, another six months to a year and I could get my black belt. What I don't like about martial arts is that it dominates your life, almost becomes your life. Just the whole discipline and structure thing might work for most, but fights don't happen that way.
I have an alternative theory also......
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