MoneyWiseWomen

Sex, Finances and Honesty

Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil

I've been thinking lately how honesty can play a part in your sex life, and how that correlation can be extrapolated out to pertain to financial honesty, as well. I believe that honesty is integral to sex, and that the converse is also true: sex is integral to honesty. Let's take a look:

When I think of safe sex, I don't just think of sex with protection – although that is definitely important! - I think of all the things that are necessary for a healthy, safe, relationship: Intimacy with your partner, trust in your partner and in your relationship, and commitment to each other. You can't have all these things – what I would deem as the broader definition of “safe sex” - without having honesty in a relationship.

Joy Is ____

A short time ago I had the dellightful experience of spending an evening at Hough Elementary school with my grandchildren.  It was family night and the exercise for families was to create/write their own book.  The suggestion given was to create a book that expressed what Joy Is for each person.  Given the current economic situation and the sense of fear and worry in our country, the topic was very pertinent.

Kids and the financial Crisis

By Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil

One of the many notable ways in which families are being affected by the recession are reflected by how and where kids are choosing to go to school. There's always been a large swath of students who went from highschool to a state school, but this is becoming more and more the case, even as schools face budget cuts.  At the State University of New York college campus, for one example, admissions officers are suddenly afraid of getting what they have always wished for: top high-school seniors saying “yes” to their acceptance envelopes. After the increase of students last year, kids are already tripled up in dorm rooms.

Whether this increase in entrants is due to the fact that parents don't have to means to send their kids to private schools debt-free, or that the idea of incurring debt for a college education is becoming less appetizing, it's hard to tell. But it begs the question: how do you talk to you kids about financial difficulties without making them feel less safe or stressed out?

The Seven Abilities Needed For Successful Failure

Fail Big, Fail Often and Fail Deep. Just make sure you know the seven abilities needed to get back on track.

People are scared right now. They worry about losing their home, their job, or being a bag lady in retirement; small business owners wonder how they are going to cover overhead with reduced consumer spending this year. The one (small) consolation we have is that everyone is "failing" as part of a global economy, versus just one individual experiencing it alone.

How to Win at Office Politics

Hate office politics and want no part of it?  That may not be such a smart idea according to a recent article on CNN.com.  Many experts argue that playing the office politics game can actually be crucial to your career success.

 

The article, by Rachel Zupek, explains nine great tips to help you win at office politics while gaining other’s respect.  Among them, you’ll learn how to:

 

1. Observe how things get done in your organization.
2. Profile powerful individuals.
3. Determine strategic initiatives in the company.
4. Develop a personal track record as someone who gets results.
5. Toot your own horn.
6. Treat everyone with respect.
7. Not align too strongly with one group.
8. Communicate persuasively.
9. Be true to yourself.

Even if you hate office politics (like I do), you should check out this enlightening article.  It could open your eyes to how power and influence are managed in your company.

 

You can do it!

Lisa Quast

Career Woman, Inc. - "Your Future, Your Way"

www.careerwomaninc.com

What You Focus On Expands

"What you focus on expands."  -- anonymous (one very smart person)

It was brought to my attention that when I focused on how much money I wouldn't have left at the end of the month, that I was actually creating the outcome of less!  With a big gasp, deep swallow and hands flying to cover my face, I asked, "Then how do I stay conscious with my money?"

The next words of wisdom were, "Focus on what you're creating, what's coming your way, what's in alignment with your dreams?"  My only response was, "Yeah, BUT what if I overdraft my account!"  (The tough ones always go down fighting!)

What happened next was the outcome of opening this secret door, the door of possibilities, happiness, joy and flow!  When I stopped looking at my balance and planning incessantly, I noticed more and more money in my account.  I was enjoying myself, my work and my entire life and low and behold the cash started to flow.  Would you believe that's it's really that simple? 

Save, save, save.  I love those words and I remember a book that I read long ago, The Richest Man in Babylon, and the story goes on to say save 10%!  But I'm taking this a step further, save, save, save to put your focus on your wealth building and not your spending!  This will do the trick!

Pay yourself first.  If you give yourself a little slack and let yourself enjoy a little of what you've earned you will feel more fulfilled, happy and joyful.  Feeling better little by little is the key! 

Your financial flow is directly related to what you focus on, so focus on building your happiness and watch your bank account swell.  Really!

Sleeping With the Enemy

By: Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil

I want to expand on something I've touched on in earlier articles – the idea that people are being forced to work through the differences in their relationships in this economy, rather than getting divorced or separating, for various reasons. Divorce is expensive, maintaining two residences is expensive. These and many other circumstances are forcing people to “sleep with the enemy.” But it doesn't have to be a bad experience.

Not long ago, the New York Times framed the “easy divorce” as a victim of the recession. The article mentions several couples that have been either planning to divorce or in the midst of divorce before the market took a downturn. Now, in some cases, they're forced to put the proceedings on hold, and are living under the same roof with someone they'd prefer to be separated from.