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Recently, someone told me “if I only had more discipline, I could get ahead financially”. What struck me as odd was this person recently retired from the US Marine Corps. How much more discipline could this person possible have. Then it occurred to me that perhaps discipline was not the only thing we need for stronger healthier personal finances. Perhaps self discipline only contributes to a small percentage of our financial success. Here is what I found:– You need the RIGHT tools –I love watching commercials on TV. Recently there was a commercial that portrayed a man who was showing off the handcrafted framing hammer his dad had given him as a gift. But would he use it to frame a house? Of course not! He help up the most powerful nail gun I had ever seen and proudly proclaimed this is what it truly takes to get the job done.What tools will you use in your personal household management? Would you build a deck with a table knife and plastic screwdriver? Would you hammer a nail with a pipe wrench or the sole of your shoe? Will you spend your hard earned money without a plan or a purpose?– You need the RIGHT budget –To begin with you need a good working monthly budget. Not just any budget. Most budgets never work or are very frustrating to use. If you use the wrong budget you might as well saw wood with a table knife. Boy, will your hand hurt after awhile.I prefer to use a monthly cash spending plan called a “zero based budget”. It is simple, easy to use and it works every time. It can be done on paper or inside of an MS-Excel spreadsheet. First, put your income (take home pay) at the top. Second, set a little aside for giving and saving for emergencies. Third, pay all your basic expenses such as housing, food, transportation and clothing. Last pay your credit card debt and miscellaneous expenses. Spend **every** dollar. Your income minus your expenses MUST equal zero or you have to go back a reallocate somewhere. Do one cash spending plan for every month. Every month is different so don’t try to make that ghastly unrealistic magic budget that you will never be able to make work.– You need the RIGHT cash management system –Want to give yourself a 12-18% raise without increasing your current salary by one penny? Use cash! When you use actual cash (not your credit card, debit card or ATM card) you will spend 12-18% less and feel greater control of your finances and your life. You will not starve or do without. Though it may not hurt a few of us to go on a diet, you will not suffer any ill effects.
The cash envelope system has been around for decades. It was most commonly used in the 1930′s and 1940′s. For example, Joe and Suzy would sit down at their kitchen table the first of every month. They would take Joe’s paycheck, cash it and distribute the money into several envelopes. They had one envelope for their rent or mortgage, one for gas and electric, one for vacation, one envelope for gas for their car, one for groceries, and one envelope for eating out, and so on. They spent only out these envelopes and if the envelope was empty they did without or transferred money from another envelope. This is by far the simplest and most effective budgeting system known today. A modified version of this system is now being taught by consumer financial education specialists and is used by families today.– You need the RIGHT mindset -Personal values and principles play a large role in healthy personal finances. From our values and principle we derive our boundaries. Would you feed your children only candy and ice cream at all hours of the day or night as they demanded? Of course not.Our local electronics store has to mop their floor every night. They have to mop the saliva and scuff marks from in front of the huge 47 inch plasma TVs. Customers come into the store, skid to a stop in front of the big televisions sets and salivate all over the floor. It happens all the time. Our inner child comes out to play when we least expect it.So, why do we allow our inner child to tantrum every time we go to the local store, car dealership, gold pro shop, or restaurant? Ok, you may think I am hitting a little below the belt here and perhaps I am. But think about it. That grocery store kid that lives inside of us needs just as much love and care our external kids. We need to establish and hold ourselves true to the same healthy boundaries that we would impose on those around us.Don’t be confused. A boundary is not the same as self discipline. A boundary is simply a line that we will not cross and that we will respect. We establish boundaries all the time. Self discipline is the commitment to stay true to our boundaries, values and principles. Many have all the self discipline they will ever need. In fact, we have all the discipline there is in the world today. What many lack is the understanding of our boundaries.It is said that healthy personal finances are 80% behavior and 20% knowledge. The simple tools you use will help you tame the behavior you are looking for. We must not settle for just any tool, but the right tools. Keep it simple and you will come to know financial prosperity and abundance for life.

Explore the possibilities of living a healthier, longer, and more positive life through lifestyle improvement programs. It is an integrated approach that offers participants an engaging and fast way to make lifestyle changes — all by combining medicine, lifestyle education, personalized exercise and fitness programs, healthy eating habits, and spiritual growth.Health improvement programs focus on providing true wellness in all senses of the term. It empowers people with the knowledge and skills required to make positive changes in their lives, to adopt healthier food habits, and achieve their lifestyle enhancement goals. Each change that you make through the health improvement program can have a tremendous impact on your present and future life.Advantages of Health and Lifestyle Improvement Programs• Offer specific solutions to reclaim your health, and achieve ideal weight
• Inspire and educate you to change your eating habits
• Provide support to make your lifestyle adjustments
• Teach how to take control of your life
• Provide you with monthly menu ideas
• Educate you on how to eat in restaurants and in all social situations
• Educate you on how to shop in supermarkets and health food storesWhat the Program Covers• Personal or phone sessions
• Emotional support, encouragement
• Invitations to exclusive workshops and free monthly seminars
• Methods of relaxation and meditation
• Personalized functional body workout of half an hour’s duration
• Limitless support by emailIn order to become totally independent mentally and physically, it is better to consult a lifestyle enhancement specialist. Such a specialist will provide you with all the needed support and assistance to reclaim your life and be active again.

One of the essential parts of ensuring your home’s value remains at top dollar is proper maintenance and repairs. Unless homeowners take caution, the cost of cost of repairs and maintenance can take a large chunk of the family budget. However, homeowners that follow these five tips can save money while ensuring their home retains its value.Consumers today are learning the value of shopping around. Whether they are buying groceries or home repair and improvement products, shopping around can save a lot of money. In addition, if you plan to have a contractor do the work, be sure to get more than one estimate before awarding the contract. Homeowners will find other ways to save by using in-store coupons or shopping at discount stores. The internet allows homeowners to compare prices without having to spend money driving from one store to another.One tip that can keep the construction projects in hand is to attack one room at a time. Never begin a second project until the first is completed. Otherwise, your entire home can quickly turn into a construction zone where no project is complete. Completing the first project before moving to the second ensures you will always have at least one place to escape the project and relax in comfort.Homeowners are often unaware of how much they can do on their own. Many home improvement stores offer classes that provide professional help in learning to complete a project on your own. In addition, the internet offers instructions on how to complete many projects. Classes and research can help you to learn tricks that make the job easier and provide a more professional looking finish.Always take time to research before you buy or sign a contract. Check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints about a contractor before entering into a contract. Look at user reviews and consumer magazines before buying home appliances. Often, the difference in price of an appliance that has a poor reputation and one that gets consistent rave reviews is smaller than one service call for repairs.Maintenance is less costly than repair or replacement of an appliance. Many times, waiting until a part fails on the appliance can lead to subsequent failure. Schedule regular maintenance checkups to ensure appliances last the longest. Many heating and air conditioning companies offer specials on maintenance calls in the spring or fall that will keep your system working well during the heat of summer or cold of winter.Your home is probably the largest investment you will make in a lifetime. The money and time spent on maintaining and repairing the home can protect that investment. Homeowners that follow these five tips can provide proper care for the home that is affordable.