How you see yourself is likely how others will see you as well. Here’s a few examples of how you can implement this to your advantage.

- You’re unemployed. No you’re not. You’re advancing in your career, you’re an ambitious person looking to move up.

- You do freelance graphic design. No you don’t. You’re an artist.

Think of yourself as a product. You’re selling yourself to others. From your clothing to your way of speaking, you are a product to everyone you meet. Everyone from strangers to business owners subconsciously ask themselves if they want to buy you. So sell them your product. If you don’t market yourself or brand yourself in the way you want, others will most certainly do it for you.

- Edwin, CashTheChecks.com

If you place a charge of $5,000 on your credit card and only make the minimum payment each month, the chart above shows you how long it will take you to finally pay it off and how much interest you’ll end up paying.

- Edwin, CashTheChecks.com

A recent study found that having more money doesn’t necessarily make you happy. This may put to rest the question of whether money buys happiness.

- Edwin, CashTheChecks.com

I’ve always found it a challenge to find good books to read. What I usually do is go to Amazon and look at the best sellers in categories I’m interested in like finance or business. I spend countless hours reading the reviews before finally deciding on a book. Well there’s a better way of finding good books and that’s joining a book club.

Book clubs are a great way to save on your favorite books because you can sometimes get good deals on books if you buy from the book club. You can order books of any genre from book clubs, from mystery to romance to westerns to science fiction. Get the latest best-sellers or beloved classics for less than you’d pay in a bookstore. Anyone who enjoys reading can benefit from the savings and selection that come with book club membership.

At the book club books website, there’s several different clubs to join including ethnic book clubs or the self-help section which is my favorite.

1. Factor in S&H. A $10 memory card is a good deal until you have to pay $7 for shipping, then it’s not much of a deal at all.

2. Slow down. You have time, buying online can mean impulse purchases made on a credit card. You might regret it once the Cyber Monday hangover is over.

3. Shop by product, not by store. If you know what you want to buy, use Google to find it at the lowest price, instead of just finding the product at your favorite store.

- Edwin, CashTheChecks.com

1. Bring your ads to the store. Many stores offer “lowest price” guarantees, but you need to bring proof to get your product for a lower price.

2. Ask for a gift receipt. If you’re buying somebody a present, this is a big deal. No gift receipt means people might get stuck with a gift they don’t want/need.

3. Early bird discounts. If you’re going to save “big” money, the only way you’re going to do it is to show up early. Usually stores have the huge deals 5am-11am or so.

4. Don’t feel obligated to buy something. If you get to the store too late and all the items you wanted are sold out, don’t feel the need to still buy something at a regular price. That’s the big “scam” of Black Friday. Stores have a handful of items at low prices, then want you to buy everything else at the regular price once they’ve got you in there.

- Edwin, CashTheChecks.com

When selecting a credit card you need to do a little comparison shopping. Get some basic information on credit cards first before making your choice. You should be able to compare credit offers by different categories and get a clear idea of the best online offers available.

There are many types of credit cards to choose from. Some cards offer low interest rates, while others offer only a very low introductory rate, and some cards offer rewards directly back to the consumer. Always do comparison shopping and take careful notes on the offers that best suit your own situation. Easily compare the rates and fees at this site. Remember that those who know more about credit end up paying less.

Some are interested in balance transfer credit cards. These are the types of cards where you can transfer a balance from your existing card to this new card and get a really low interest rate for usually 12 months. This is advantageous because you save money, you buy more time to pay off your debt, and you can consolidate your debt into one new credit card this way.

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt

People wish a lot, but do they plan just as much? Set small financial goals, make them attainable and stick to them. Don’t set a goal like “This year I’ll get my act together.” Set a goal such as: “This year, I’m going to put $100 of every paycheck into my savings account.” That is a realistic goal. Setting short-term realistic goals is good because it gives you confidence every time you reach them. That confidence gives you the determination to do it again the next paycheck.

Let’s do some quick math..

$100 every 2 weeks in a month is:$200
$200 a month one in a year is: $2,400
Plus $100 in interest earned: $2,500

This means that if you save up just $100 from every check you can take you and your family on a vacation every single year. The only thing left is the hard part, sticking to your goal.

- Edwin, CashTheChecks.com

By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.

- Edwin, CashTheChecks.com

Only borrow money to buy assets that appreciate. Why? If you only borrow money on items that appreciate, the interest you’ll pay can be off-set by the increased value of the item. Some examples are a house or your education. But when you put your vacation on a credit card and 6 months later you’re still paying it off at a 15% interest rate, you’re going to regret it. Instead, save your money (earn interest instead of paying interest) and when you have enough, then you can spend it.

- Edwin, CashTheChecks.com