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Outline
1. Make only minimum payments for debt. Squeeze your budget until you have $1000 cash.
2. Snowball your debts, smallest to largest.
3. Save a full emergency fund of 3-6 months' expenses.
4. Fully fund 15% of your gross pay into pre-tax retirement plans.
5. Fund your children's college.
6. Pay your home off early.
7. Build wealth, and give it away!
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Dave Ramsey: Baby Step 1-7
• Step 1: $1,000 in an emergency fund.
You will not arrive at debt freedom if you do not possess an Emergency Fund to fall back on. That's what this first $1,000 is for (or $500, if you earn less than $20,000 annually). Freeze everything else and make minimal payments on each debt; get a second job if needed; forego retirement savings account contributions (temporarily) if you are able to. Prioritize your emergency fund and get it ready quickly.
• Step 2: Pay off all debt except the house applying the debt snowball.
If you already have more than a thousand in savings, withdraw all except the $1,000 and employ the debt snowball method to pay off all debt. (except the house)
• Step 3: 3 to 6 months savings in a fully funded emergency fund.
The third step is to develop your full emergency fund. You should save what would it takes to live for three to six months if you lost your income.
This fund is to be used ONLY in an emergency; incidents that impact on you and your family. Put the money in a money market account where it is liquid, but not so easily available that you would be tempted to spend it.
"Sometimes," Ramsey instructs, "you have to protect yourself from you."
• Step 4: Invest 15% of your household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement plans.
With no debt and money in your pocket, you are able to invest. Each month, invest 15% of your income into a of tax-sheltered retirement plan. Make sure it is "tax-sheltered," e.g. 401(k)
• Step 5: College Funding
By this step, you already possess an emergency fund, are out of debt (except a mortgage), have enough reserves to cover the living expense for 3-6 months, and are putting up 15% or more towards your retirement. If you have children, college expenses will be your next step.
Whether or not you assist your children through college is a decision you will have to make on your own. But there is one thing I like –
Dave Ramsey advocates putting your retirement savings ahead of college savings for your children since your children can borrow money for college or get scholarships/grants, while you cannot borrow money for retirement.
• Step 6: Pay off your home early.
By prepaying your mortgage, you will benefit from #1.Interest payment savings. #2.Less risk. #3.Peace of mind
• Step 7: Build wealth and give.
Once you've reached the point where all your debts paid, and you can build surplus wealth, do yourself a favor, and start giving to others. Not only will you be a blessing to others, but you'll also be receiving blessings in return.
About the Author: How Will Debt Settlement Affect my Credit Report? http://articlesbase.com/debt-consolidation-articles/how-will-debt-settlement-affect-my-credit-report-2345991.html
Bankruptcy or Debt Negotiation — What is Better? http://articlesbase.com/debt-consolidation-articles/bankruptcy-or-debt-negotiation-what-is-better-2285788.html
Will Credit Card Debt Settlement Hurt Credit Score? http://articlesbase.com/debt-consolidation-articles/will-credit-card-debt-settlement-hurt-credit-score-2354634.html
Author: Ezra Drissman
One of the most important parts of actually moving into the future means that green jobs are going to become more popular. These jobs will focus on using renewable energy and resources, helping to promote a sustainable lifestyle that can keep the planet active and healthy long into the future. Unfortunately, this means that training for green jobs is going to become a very important part of these jobs becoming more popular. This alone makes people feel that they are not suitable for one of these new careers because they are not prepared for training for green jobs.This is not the right attitude to have, however, for training for green jobs does not need to be difficult. The actual jobs which are being expanded into green jobs mean that you will be using some of the skills which you already have and use on a daily basis. These skills simply need to be adapted into the new format for performing the task in an environmentally friendly fashion. Training for green jobs will typically mean that you are taking what you already know and applying it in a new way, which is something that everyone should be able to manage.In some cases, training for green jobs will be self-taught. If you are taking your own skills or products and starting your own business, you will want to implement your own green practices into the way that your operation runs. When this is the case, you will often have to perform your own training for green jobs. You may have to be creative about the ways that you are going to adapt your practices to a more green manner, although with enough patience and dedication, this should not be difficult.For other types of careers, training for green jobs will be provided directly on the spot. If you have the desire to get hired as a part of a green job and you have skills which are applicable to the particular job itself, you will be given all necessary training for green jobs directly as a part of the hiring process. You will have the tools which you need delivered to you, so it will not be difficult to make sure that you are going to be fully prepared for the new career you are embarking on. Training for green jobs will be no obstacle to actually starting out on a new career.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/what-kind-of-training-is-needed-for-green-jobs-1828902.html
About the AuthorEco20/20 is a cutting edge informational site. The primary focus of the site is clean energy. For almost two year Eco20/20 has been a leader in forward thinking articles.
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Hello Internet Users!
I'm Jim Bonham President & Executive Director of Lighthouse Food Farm.
It's hard to get known here in the world of many websites. I write several Blogs and write Articles to help promote our cause which is to Help Feed Homeless and Hungry Americans good nutritious organically grown fruits and vegetables. The massive emails are out of the question because I do not like Spam any more than any of you.
My articles and blogs are one of my best ways to get known out here in the massive sea of the internet without doing the Spamming and Annoying Others! The other way is you and your friends telling others about my website... which is the most important way and the way I appreciate the most. This makes me work so much harder to make my website a very useful tool for you all. In my book... a Satisfied Customer is the only way to make a business grow. My website is about you! The Customer that needs a place for service and a website that meets your needs. The feedback I get from my visitors help me continue to improve my site each week. So to keep it short... it's you (My Valued Customer and Visitor) that helps me continue to build this website into a very useful internet website for all! Thank you for your input and suggestions.
My website ( http://www.jimbonham.com ) has a lot to offer everyone. From shopping for most anything you need to finding a home For Rent or For Sale. You are able to advertise your home or properties for sale or rent, car, boat, ATV, etc. Investors... here is an avenue for Free Advertising your investment property with our Classifieds or our Auction, which are Free to Register and Free to Use. We do have a few paid options that will allow you to place your items on the front and if you chose all the options, it would be less than $2.00. All proceeds from my website goes to Help Feed Hungry Americans. All money received will be used here in the United States of America to Help Feed the Homeless and Hungry. Unfortunately, bad things happen to Good People.
The Lighthouse Food Farm is trying to give Americans Hope where there is no Hope.
I have a Share Button like this: 
on my website to share anything with your social networks, friends, co-workers and associates really easy. All I am asking is that you visit and see the website that I have devoted so many long hard hours into to make it a useful website for all.
So in closing... I ask you to visit my website and share it with others. If you need something that I do not offer, send me a message from my site and let me know. I will try and make it available for you and others.
Thank you for taking time to read this article.
Sincerely,
Jim Bonham
Jim Bonham - Executive Director
Lighthouse Food Farm
http://www.jimbonham.com See Our FREE Auction
http://www.jimbonham.com/auction See Our FREE Classifieds
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Hello again my fans, here is another one of my opinions that I have formed over the years of watching our government in action. Frankly, it scares me to think that there is a very good possibility that this is taking place in the United States of America.
Watch the video above and think about what you have seen in this country called the United States of America. What if the U.S. government released an "educational video" to teach today's Americans how to be good citizens?
Our country is known as the country of "Freedom"! Do we want this to change?
If we don't make some serious changes in our government this could very well happen.
Please take time to think long and hard about the video after you have watched it. This could be our last chance to rise and STOP the Tyranny.
Thank you for taking time to watch the video. Leave your comments below and discuss it among yuor friends and family. I know Americans will do the right thing and Stop Tyranny Today!
Jim Bonham Executive Director Lighthouse Food Farm 864-647-2084
(ARA) - For many small businesses who weathered the economic storm in 2009, 2010 represents a new beginning to return to growth and jump-start projects put on hold during the recession. Goal setting will be critical to help small businesses get back on their feet, map out their business plans and prioritize what they wish to achieve in the upcoming year.
Accomplishing these goals once workers are back into the daily grind, with deadlines looming and clients calling, is easier said than done. They will be more likely to achieve success with some structure, support and accountability.
If you are a small-business owner or manager, there is a new Web site that can help get you on track for 2010. The Staples stickK to it! Business Challenge is a free, online tool that can assist in developing business goals for the year, and more importantly, gives professionals an easy formula to ensure success. Users can register at www.staples.com/goals and participate for free to receive encouragement from fellow colleagues to keep commitments on track. The platform even offers incentives toward reaching goals in the form of EasyPoints, redeemable for Staples products that can also help achieve success in the workplace.
Some goals on the Web site that you might consider to get your employees or career moving in the right direction include:
* Get organized - Eliminate paper clutter and reduce the amount of time it takes you to find important information. Having a good organizational program - whether it's a filing system or more efficient computer software - will help your office reduce wasted time and energy.
* Promote career development for yourself and your employees - Set a time line to update your resume, or start setting up informational interviews through networking. Make a commitment to talk to your boss about opportunities available within your company.
* Maximize your bottom line with smart tax preparation or better money management - There are many ways your company can keep more money in the business, so take a good look, line by line, to see what can be trimmed out of your budgets.
* Green your office - More and more companies are looking at easy ways to help the environment. Printing green, recycling or using environmentally-friendly cleaning products are three simple ways to start making your office more eco-friendly.
* Improve office communications with better technology - Look into whether wireless networking, better lighting or even better furniture can help increase productivity and improve communication among workers and clients.
"Setting goals is important for any business owner to do, and the New Year is a perfect time to sit down and create professional goals," says John Giusti, vice president of small business marketing at Staples. "Staples wants to improve the lives of small businesses by giving them this easy platform to ensure success."
Other tips for setting goals come from stickK.com co-founder Ian Ayres, author of "Super Crunchers: Why Thinking-by-Numbers is the New Way to be Smart," a New York Times best-seller:
* Be specific in setting your goal. Make sure it will be easy to tell whether you succeeded or not.
* Be reasonable. Choose a goal you can accomplish.
* Invest in tools. Ensure that you have the proper resources and tools to achieve your goals
* Choose a referee and get support. Let someone else verify that you keep up with your commitment and have friends on the sidelines cheering on your progress.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - A slow economy and dwindling resources for financial aid may have you worrying more than ever about funding your child's college education. But there are still scholarships available for those who pursue them and take the all-important step of applying long before the school year starts.
Applying for scholarships should be one of the first steps in your search. However, scholarship myths continue to flourish and need to be dispelled.
Myth 1: Billions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed.
In reality, the number of unused scholarships is minuscule. You'll need to do your research and apply early to have a chance at getting your share of available funding.
Myth 2: Scholarships go only to the best students.
Many scholarships are awarded based on elements other than academic achievement. Some scholarships are based on the student's major field of study, involvement in extracurricular and community activities, ethnicity and geographic origin, or other factors.
Myth 3: Scholarship searches are worth paying for.
This myth eventually will die as people discover the many free resources available on the Internet or in the print media.
So how do students and their parents sort through the myths and get to the facts? Start the process early - January is perfect for the next school year - and utilize the resources around you. To find scholarship opportunities, start with your high school guidance counselor and local library for a list of possible resources. Next, check with your college financial aid office. Most states and many colleges offer scholarships, so students should also inquire about them. Finally, the Internet and organizational Web sites are excellent places to search. Remember, this information should always be free.
Don't count yourself out just because you are not the valedictorian, class president or star athlete. There are scholarships available for many interests, backgrounds and abilities. The bottom line is apply now, and the more scholarships for which you apply, especially local and regional opportunities, the better your odds are to be selected.
Though the scholarship application process can be time consuming, most scholarships require similar information. Once you complete your first application, you can easily re-use the same information for additional scholarships.
Scholarships come from many sources, but the student may have to do some detective work to uncover them. For example, at www.usbank.com/studentloans, you can apply to be one of 40 high school seniors or college undergraduates to receive a $1,000 U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship. Over the past 13 years, U.S. Bank has awarded more than $350,000 in scholarship funding for this program. Scholarship award recipients are selected through a random drawing process. There are no essays to complete or minimum grade point average requirements. The U.S. Bank Web site also features a powerful scholarship search engine.
Scholarship search tips
* Start early - Experts recommend college-bound students and their parents start looking as early as their freshman year in high school. By identifying potential awards, students can choose classes and activities that will increase their chance at winning a specific award in the future.
* Use the Internet - But be wary of scams posing as scholarships. If a scholarship is reputable, you should be able to find information about it through multiple sources. Try to use two sources and make sure the profile submitted is accurate; paying fees does not increase your chances of winning.
* Think small - Competition can be tough for large awards. Smaller awards ($1,000 and less) typically have less competition and are easier to obtain.
Additional free scholarship Web sites you may want to visit include:
* www.collegeboard.com/scholarships
* www.collegeplan.org
* www.collegescholarships.com
* www.collegenet.com
* www.scholarships.com
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Few of us have funds set aside for this endeavor. In addition, the College Board's annual "Trends in College Pricing" reports a rise in tuition costs at public and private institutions for the 2009-2010 school year. According to the report, annual tuition and fees at private four-year colleges rose 4.4 percent to $26,273, and public university costs rose 6.5 percent to $7,020.
Prospective students often don't know where to start. But take heart; Darlene Violet, director of Financial Aid at Brown Mackie College - Akron, Ohio, offers advice on funding your education. "The U.S. Department of Education distributes $96 billion a year in grants, work-study assistance, and low-interest loans," Violet says. "Every student begins the process of seeking financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, known as the 'FAFSA.'" Information submitted on the FAFSA form determines the amount a student may receive through a federal Pell Grant, which is based on financial need. The recent economic stimulus program increased Pell Grant funds by $500 per student. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Beyond completing the FAFSA, many turn next to student loans. "An education is always a good investment," says Violet, "but many people don't realize the loans must be paid back starting six months after leaving school. I advise students to seek out and apply for scholarships." Wide varieties of organizations offer scholarships, from fraternities and sororities to community groups, foundations, and corporations. Winning candidates receive funds based on a vast spectrum of criteria, including ethnicity and cultural heritage. "Students just don't take the time to find them," Violet continued. "It can be a lot of work."
The Scholarship Committee at Brown Mackie College - Akron hired a group of honor students to help others navigate through the many scholarships available, complete the application forms, and provide feedback on essays written for submission. "This allows students the security to delve deeper into the scholarship world. It's well worth it," Violet says.
Scholarship awards can be as important to the educational institution as they are to the student. Federal guidelines, known as the 90-10 rule, mandate that no more than 90 percent of the funds received by a college can come from Federal loans and grants. A minimum of 10 percent must come from outside sources, including scholarships, private loans, and the students' own financial contributions.
Violet recommends checking additional resources as well. "Many employers will pay or reimburse tuition expenses, sometimes even for immediate family members. And the Veteran's Administration offers benefits to those who have served our country," she says. The Workforce Investment Act offers grants to those who qualify, and many churches offer scholarship opportunities. In addition, the Orphan Foundation of America offers scholarships to students who are wards of the state.
Further savings can come in the form of a temporary tax credit. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, included in the economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama, can be worth as much as $2,500. People who earn $80,000 or less a year (or $160,000 or less for joint filers) can claim this credit on money paid for tuition, certain fees and course materials for higher education in 2009 and 2010. For complete details, visit www.irs.gov.
Once a student enters college, Violet advises making other financial considerations:
Ride public transportation. In addition to saving on fuel and parking fees, public transportation provides time for students to get a head start on assigned reading and homework.
Avoid credit card offers. However tempting the offer seems, credit cards charge interest on purchases and impose fees for late payments.
Work while attending classes. Many students work full- or part-time while earning their degrees. The federal work-study program helps eligible students find employment on campus.
"Taking the time to apply for scholarship funds is a step that can help now while they're in school, and in the future when no bill comes due," Violet says.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - As we head into this holiday season, shoppers will start to plan their holiday gift lists, hit the stores and start shopping. Getting the most for your holiday shopping dollars this year will not only be about sticking to a budget, but managing valuable time to spend on shopping for the holidays.
Bing.com commissioned University of Washington Economist Ali Tarhouni to analyze data on consumer shopping behavior and found the time spent holiday shopping could be more valuable than you might think.
* Research reveals that an average American can expect a $114 savings, or roughly 10 percent savings per transaction in time and material cost this holiday season by reducing the running around typically associated with holiday shopping.
* Shoppers could make an average of 5.4 trips to the mall for holiday shopping this coming season, which is equivalent to an average of $98 for lost working productivity and approximately $16 for gas, according to Tarhouni's research.
* A typical consumer visits an average of five stores, shops for an average of two hours and spends an average of $150 per mall trip during the holiday season, according to a survey by Baker Retail Initiative and Verde Group Research. Conducting research by comparison shopping online before heading into stores or making purchases online can help reduce the amount of time and money spent.
Mary Hunt, personal finance expert and author of "Debt Proof Living," believes it's important to be smart in the way you approach your holiday shopping so you can avoid these hidden costs and be more productive this holiday season.
"This season it is all about value, and time is often a more precious resource than money," says Hunt. "If we consider how valuable each hour of our holiday shopping experience is, consider how much more valuable spending time with loved ones is, or volunteering at a local food bank. Shopping is about efficiency this time of year, and it's about using the tools available to make better purchasing decisions faster."
Hunt offers a few tips to help you make faster and more informed shopping decisions this holiday season:
* Use tools available online: when creating your holiday shopping plan, start online. You can organize your list, set your budget and comparison shop fast and efficiently. Sites like Bing.com offer comprehensive user and expert reviews, and you can choose to shop entirely online, or hit the mall more empowered to find what you want in less time.
* Shop alone. Take the kids to the mall to see the Holiday sights and sounds and enjoy hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls, but shop alone when you are not distracted or pressured. Shopping solo gives you the luxury to compare, contemplate and change your mind.
* Keep organized with an exclusive online shopping e-mail account and keep all receipts. Create an e-mail address that you use exclusively for online shopping. Now it will be a snap to keep all your invoices and receipts together in one place where they can be easily retrieved. Returns are always easiest when you have the receipt. Ask for "gift receipts" that do not show the dollar amounts to give to your recipient just in case the sweater doesn't fit or the color is all wrong. A stack of envelopes, each with the name of a person on your list, is the best way to stay organized.
* Shop early to take advantage of deals and free shipping. If you wait until the last moment you may spend all your savings on overnight shipping. Shop early when you have the luxury of the cheaper and slower - delivery options.
* Get cash back. More online retailers than ever are offering cash back this holiday season. Try Bing cashback for cash rewards on purchases from more than a thousand of your favorite retailers including Walmart, Target, HP, Nordstrom, and eBay.
Bing shopping offers you a single destination to shop and get cashback from more than 1,000 retailers nationwide. You'll reduce your online shopping time with features including search result filters, comprehensive shopping results and opinion ranking.
Bing cashback allows you to set up an account and receive actual cash back on qualifying purchases. The site tells you up front what items will qualify and how much you'll save. Money is deposited into your account and you can ask for a payout 60 days (varies by merchants) after purchases as long as your account total tops $5.
Log on to www.Bing.com/shopping to save time and money this holiday shopping season and earn cash back on your purchases.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - Scam artists are always changing their schemes in an effort to trick consumers into handing over money or personal information. One of the latest scams involves hacking into social networking sites and then targeting specific friends in the victim's account.
For example, a scam artist will gain access to "Susan's" Facebook account. The scammer will send an e-mail message to all of her friends pretending to be Susan and claiming to have been mugged, injured or arrested in a foreign country, and in need of some cash immediately. But in reality, Susan is completely unaware that this message was sent out because she did not send it.
Believing that this message is from Susan, her friends want to help and immediately follow her instructions to wire money through a money transfer service like Western Union. Later they discover that they sent money to a scam artist.
The following are some tips from Western Union to help you avoid becoming a victim of these "emergency" scams through which fraudsters prey on people's emotions:
* If you receive an e-mail or phone call claiming a friend or family member needs cash, take a step back and attempt to independently verify the need. Call the person on their phone, or call a mutual friend and find out if they are aware of the situation.
* Let your friend or family member know that you have received a call or e-mail from them claiming they need help. If it turns out there isn't an emergency situation happening, they will need to report the case to local police and the administrators of their social networking site. Also advise them to change their passwords and install or update an anti-virus and anti-spyware program to help protect their computer from hackers.
* If you did send a money transfer through Western Union, and realize that it was a scam, immediately contact the company at (800) 448-1492. If the transaction has not been picked up, it will be refunded to you. Contact the police if the money has been picked up and file a report about the scam.
* Be aware of questionable situations. Scam scenarios can evolve quickly and the way scammers contact victims changes daily. Another scam similar to the social networking scheme that targets victims' emotional reactions involves phone calls from people pretending to be family members or authority figures who claim to be in need of money for medical assistance or even bail.
Regardless of whether you are contacted online or through some other means, be suspicious of requests to send money to "help a friend or family member out" unless you can absolutely verify the information you've been given.
For more information on other scams or for more tips on how to protect yourself from scams, visit www.WesternUnion.com/fraud. of ARAcontent
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(ARA) - In a tough economy, it's only natural to look for ways to cut corners. But trimming auto maintenance expenses isn't worth the risk. Taking proper care of your car steers you on the road to safe driving. It can help to keep more cash in your pocket too.
"Even the most cautious drivers are putting themselves in danger if they're not driving a well-maintained vehicle," says Charles Valinotti, senior vice president with QBE Regional Insurance. "No one wants to be in a less-than-road-worthy vehicle during an emergency."
Most drivers are diligent about addressing major mechanical issues, especially since today's cars have automatic alerts when a problem surfaces. However, many people overlook the basics - like tires - which can quickly outlive their usefulness. In recent surveys, The Rubber Manufacturers Association reported that nearly two out of three drivers do not know how to tell if their tires are bald and only 9 percent of vehicles have four properly inflated tires.
Valinotti warns that all too often windshield wipers go unnoticed until it is too late. "It's usually after a nighttime auto accident where there's bad weather and little visibility, when a driver realizes that they haven't replaced their wiper blades in years," he says. Holding off on an oil change or spark plug replacement is not worth compromising safety either.
In addition to the peace of mind that comes from having reliable tires, windshield wipers, brakes, suspension and steering systems, there are other benefits from proper car maintenance:
* Save yourself from expensive car repairs after an accident that could've been prevented.
* Extend your vehicle's life span and avoiding replacement costs for big-ticket auto parts. Consult your owner's manual to determine how often you should perform certain services on your car. If you take a long road trip or have greater wear and tear on your car, think of making a visit to your auto mechanic ahead of schedule.
* Save money at the pump. If you drive a car with a poorly tuned engine or tires that aren't properly inflated, you could find yourself filling up the gas tank more often. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environment Protection Agency.
* Score some discounts on your auto insurance policy. "We encourage our customers to drive safely and invest in ongoing auto maintenance," Valinotti says. "Our safe driver discount can take up to 10 percent off your premium." Approximately 85 percent of vehicles insured by General Casualty, a QBE Regional Insurance company, get that reward. The safe driver discount is applied automatically and keeps rolling over each year you are accident or violation free.
In between scheduled maintenance checks with a mechanic, drivers should do routine checks on their own, too. It's as simple as referring to the owner's manual for instructions. A little more diligence with car care goes a long way.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
