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2 Quick Credit Fixes You Probably Haven’t Considered

2 Quick Credit Fixes You Probably Haven’t Considered.

A lot of what I discuss on here is how to build a business or what mindset to have or avoid. Every now and then though its finance time my friends.
Today I’d like to discuss two quick credit fixes for the average joe. Credit can make or make you and literally cost you 100s of 1000s of dollars over the course of a mortgage, car, or student loan.
So let’s save you Money!

-Increasing your existing Credit.
A quick fix that most everyone is going to hate me for suggesting is to INCREASE your credit limits by taking out more lines of credit and more credit cards. Consistent approvals and credit limit increases will increase your credit score and your ratios in a favorable manner. Every time you are denied you lose two points. When Amex gives you a new account with them and a low to high limit though, you win. Even a $300 dollar increase still adds to your available credit. You always want a lot of available credit. Now in this economy people are scared. They are avoiding credit, hoarding cash, and living in fear. Fear doesn’t feed the kids folks. Fear doesn’t have dividends that pay quarterly.
Increase your existing limits. Heck call every six months and ask for a credit increase. Speak cordially and state your case. Your case should be that you miss no payments and are a member in good standing etc. They can only say no right?
If that fails, ask for a reduction in the interest you are paying. Even a quarter percent will add up over time. And again-
They can only say no right?

-Debt to credit ratio.
This ratio should be below 30% percent ideally. If you reduce your spending and or pay down the amount you owe to that level or lower and keep it below said threshold you will win. Having a lot of credit is good. Its actually a high need in your personal life and in your entrepreneurial endeavors.
The more credit you have the better you are to meet fiscal challenges. Not necessarily to save your personal pockets- but in a business you may need it.

And using credit, BUILDS credit! Amazing system huh!
By reducing this ratio you will see great results in your credit report, credit score, and fico score.

-Lastly don’t cut up those cards too quick.
A lot of people think that rather than practicing self control it is easier to cut up the cards and end the access. And that’s fine- if you cut them up ONLY. A lot of people cancel their cards to avoid debt and cash flow slavery. However when you cancel one of your credit cards you shrink your income to debt ratio. Ex: before you had 3 cards with $3000 limits respectively. So you effectively had a $9000 credit limit. Now when you cancel card 1 you are down to $6000 of available credit. And if you use $3000 of said credit you have a 50% ratio-OUCH! Credit companies, banks, etc don’t like that ratio. If you had that third card you would have a 33% ratio- a preferred percent.
So folks. Be grown ups. Don’t use that card. Heck don’t even cut it up. We are grown ups. And we are entrepreneurs.
Self control is the basis to success so practice, practice, practice.

#thriveorsurvive.

“The lack of money is the root of all evil.”
-Mark Twain

Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat-
Tony@Changeinadvance.com
@changeinadvance
http://www.changeinadvance.com
Or simply reply to this article.

Tags: #thriveorsurvive, @changeinadvance, blog, credit, debt, finance, interest, Mark Twain, myfico.com, success

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Categories finance

Wealth reality 101

29 Aug

Gold is the wealth of kings……
Silver is the wealth of gentlemen……
Barter is the wealth of peasants……
Debt is the wealth slaves!!!!!

-Norm Franz.

Tags: #quotes, #thriveorsurvive, 1 percent, @changeinadvance, Barter, change, debt, econmics, finance, gentlemen, gold, growth riches, kings, peasants, poor, reality, silve, slaves., truth, wealth

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Categories finance, Motivation, Quotes

Freedom is found in your Finances

24 Aug

Freedom is found in your Finances.

‘Lastly keep a keen eye on the finances. We’ll discuss that next time folks.’

Well folks that moment is here and I have a great set of ideas and facts to help you.
Keep in mind I’m no expert or licensed CPA and or FInancial advisor. I’m simply sharing what I’ve learned and encouraging you to seek out further growth and expertise from those who can shape your fiscal future.

Freedom being found in the financials is almost an oxymoron in most peoples minds. Money, taxes, costs and revenue are practically the devil when they should be a breath of fresh air to all moguls. The sad fact is the details that make money work are the very things that scare most people.

Now I’ve a got a few clues and a few ideas to get you where you need to be.
Let’s unpack this people.

Whether you have bills or not you need a budget. Start with your monthly income. Whether you work off the books or on you need to know what you take home on average. I recommend you work on the books as every dollar you make is bankable towards your future.
Add up your monthly income and arrive at a total. Next add your expenses up- cell phone, cigarettes, metro card, insurance groceries. Everything until you have a clear picture of what you spend monthly not just your bills.
From there see if the two number match or if you are running a surplus or a deficit.
Now let’s assume you bring home 3200 and your bills are 3100. In this case you have a small surplus. And it should be used to either build a safety cushion for future issues or to pay down current debt. If you see that cash as free money or mad money you won’t survive the next recession/depression. Sorry folks but we all need a plan. I personally save almost nothing- why? All my credit cards have a debt relief plan. Also you can’t erase debt on cc’s in a bankruptcy. However you can’t rebuild as fast as you can clear. Now I’ve never used this strategy. I don’t even recommend it but you see the use? What we need to do as business people is now the limits of our dollars. And to do that always pay your bills and debts first. I don’t care how small- pay the bills first! Next take what’s left and pay off more bills. Either remove debts or be ahead of debts. That’s sound financial strategy my friends.
Also, look for cheaper insurance and cell phone/ internet/ cable plans. Bundling may save you money. So look into it.

A few more points:

-A Good Cpa.
A good cpa will find you money and deductions not hide from the irs’ eye. Many tax preparers’ will tell you to take the automatic, minimal deductions for your business. However that helps them and their licenses’ not you. Remember you get what you pay for and the cheapest cpa/ tax prep person isn’t your best friend.

-Good software.
Good software helps. A LOT.
Why? Simple. The easier it is to track your expenses the better your records will be. The company I use shows real time usage, and deductions and links to ALL my checking accounts,credit cards, et al. This puts me at ease as I know I can be lax. I only have to input my customers, clients, prospects, and new team members as I meet and or sign them up. So simple, so freeing.

-Receipts.
Even with great software I keep all my receipts. I also mark the date in blank ink and any correlating data as well on the back of the receipts. If you sign a client or partner in a restaurant or bar you get deductions as well. So next—

-What you can deduct.
If you sign people at certain venues and certain cost points you will win. Meals, phone bills, office rent, and many more options are available to a serious mogul. Get your paperwork in order, get a real CPa and you will prosper. Remember spending money on you business is necessary. However losing money on a new or existing venture isn’t.

-Debt control.
Controlling debt, public and private is key. Know the difference. You can spend money on your business, for your business, and from said businesses credit when you set things up properly. Pay off the debts of any and all businesses first so you are in the green sooner. This will ensure you win.

-Spending is good.
Autoships, company letterhead, insurance policies, etc are all useful expenses. Not everything will get you a deduction but if you can legitimately spend a dollar to get your venture off the ground you will win!
Money spent on training, mentors, and advertising is well spent. So long as you don’t go to the person(s) who seems creepy or isn’t making you money.
In life and in business you need to spend money to make money so spend it wisely.

Bonus- Money comes with math and emotions.
So make sure your math, their emotions, and your emotions are all in sync. If not you are wasting time. You need to bond with people to create an empire. When you don’t you have nothing. Make a choice.

#thriveorsurvive.

“You will be what you put into this life.” Tony
“People don’t buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional reasons.” — Zig Ziglar

Tags: #thriveorsurvive, @changeinadvance, cashfloe, costs, debt, deduction, finance, freedom, growth deductions, income, internal revenue service, irs, Math, money, taxes

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Categories Uncategorized

GIVE PEOPLE!!!! MDA needs us and this link points to my mentors giving channel

24 Aug

GIVE PEOPLE!!!
MDA needs us and this link points to my mentors giving channel.
I make nothing and gain no love or points. But the people who win are those who are supported by the
Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Give people. Love them. And Ray Higdon has excellent perks starting at $50.00. And if you message me ill show you where he has an even better deal!
However its not just personal gain or karma. Its a call to lead. A call to be who we are meant to be. Join me folks. I gave and I respect you all enough to ask that you do the same.
Tony

http://www2.mda.org/site/TR?px=1412665&fr_id=3155&pg=personal

Tags: @changeinadvance, @rayhigdon, debt, friends, giving, irs, karma, love, MDA, numis, ray higdon, sharing, tax deductible, taxea, truth

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Categories Uncategorized

Are you fighting for your independence?

5 Jul

Are you fighting for your independence?

Its independence day people. Today we celebrate our freedom and get a nifty day off from work to boot! Now I know a lot of people aren’t too excited. And most of those who are excited feel so simply because they got a day off from work. Nice.
However I have something more important on my mind and wanted to engage my readers with a few simple questions.

-Are you fighting for your independence?
Everyday, in every choice we make we either move closer to true freedom or put another limb in the proverbial shackle.
Let me explain. When we make workplace choices, or spending choices, or even simple choices as to what to read we place our freedom in jeopardy. You see there is a science to being free. A system of sorts and it requires dedication and hard work. And of course discipline. Wallace D Wattles wrote a book called the Science of getting Rich. I bought a copy and a coworker laughed. Now I won’t discuss the book now. What I will discuss is his laughter. You see he laughed at my choice of work but I saw it as research. The more you know about your goals and your end game the better you will achieve.
Also there is a mind set that has to exist. His mind set was -eh whatever money isn’t important.- My mind set was the more I know about the monetary vehicles and systems that control whole countries, the more I could achieve success in their realm. Remember people, money and finances are NOT everything but without a mastery of these concepts and systems you are little more than a new era slave.

-Do you have a plan of action that enables you to have a steady stream of residual income?
Without residual income you probably will work past 80. Sorry fact. My parents aren’t retiring till damn near 70. SSA administration has me set to retire after 67 and with budget crises and what have you I expect worse. Yes. The number will rise as we age people. The government and the average joe as well has kicked the can down the road for so long that we are already out of road and we are merely looping our current path to fiscal destruction. Sorry its true. Yet if I was wrong would you not still be better off if you simply created that residual income that will take you to the next big purchase- And beyond it?
Residual income is simply what it sounds like: income that keeps COMING and keeps GIVING.

-Do you have a plan to become independently wealthy this year?
Or a plan to get you there in the next two to three years minimum?
If you don’t, enjoy the shackles. Tuition, mortgage, health care- they can all take you down. Heck if you don’t have long term health care you are stuck in a mere few decades. I’ll even wager most of you haven’t heard of it, wanted it, or even thought of buying it. Let alone the few who have it set up. WE ALL need a plan to get ahead. How could you not want to be independently wealthy? Working for a cause is noble and a profession that gives back is amazing. I SALUTE that. But you have to want the big money. Why. Not the money. But the freedom that it provides. The leisure. The choices. Make a plan. Make decisions. Get thee people and start with planning it out on paper.

-Do you currently have the freedom to come and go as you please?
Amazing how we all have bosses and think we are in charge. Sorry if you need to schedule vacations et al and then they are pending approval- you’re stuck. And I’m sorry but its horrible. I’m currently employed by a boss. How or where is inconsequential. The sad truth is I love my job. Better yet I love the work. I give back. I’m fair. I’m honest and I give 110%. However my line of work has a time frame and as such I can’t pick up and go for a trip to Ipanema. I can’t run for any and every family emergency. I loathe that.
Do you? If not. Why? Get free people.

-Do you worry about college expenses for the kids? Daughters first wedding? Parents getting sick? A new recession?
These expenses are almost inevitable. Unless you’re an orphan, a jerk or plan to be child free forever and are sterile- hey, accidents happen. If you have any of these worries. Or inflation keeps you up at night its time to move past that. Financial freedom is the only way. You have to have a surplus. If you have x and your expenses are y you are stuck! Time to move forward people. Make a commitment to being free. These moments in life can be burdens or blessings. I want to be blessed to care for my family. I want to be there in the final moments and the high ones. I want to miss nothing. I don’t want tuition to dictate my kids choices. Are you with me?

Quick recap:
Mind set. You have to want independence and believe it is possible- and that YOU Will achieve it.
Learn more. The more you know the more you will gain. Remember G.I.Joe- knowing is half the battle.
Plan more. The more you plan the less you fail. Simple enough not to belabor it.

#thriveorsurvive.

The quality of your life is always defined by the choices you make.” – Marshall Sylver

Changeinadvance@gmail.com

@changeinadvance

Or simply reply to this article.

#thriveorsurvive

Tags: #thriveorsurvive, @changeinadvance, debt, freedom, happiness, health care, independence, kids, long term health care, marriage, mortgage, planning, residual income, slavery, success, wealth

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Categories Uncategorized

Image 24 Jun

EXCLUSIVE: Warren Sapp — Tackles Debt School Duty … GRADUATES!
(Via tmz)

Broke NFL legend Warren Sapp just pulled a Garey Busey and officially graduated from debt school!!!!!!TMZ broke the story … the Superbowl champ filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in April — claiming he was over $6.7 million in debt to creditors — but as part of the deal he was ordered by a court to complete a financial management course to learn how to better handle his dough. Looks like Sapp owned that course … he just received his “Certificate of Debtor Education” on June 19, 2012 from a company that offered the class online called Credit Card Management Services … officially putting the former NFL star on the path to financial recovery. Now he has a Superbowl ring and a debt school certificate!

(Source: http://m.tmz.com/article_head.ftl?id=http://www.tmz.com/2012/06/19/warren-sapp-graduates-debt-school/)

Tags: bankruptcy, debt, EWarren Sapp -- Tackles Debt School Duty, gary busey, GRADUATES, tmz, Tmz.com

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Categories Uncategorized

Are You Budgeting (Correctly)?

22 Jun

Are you budgeting (correctly)?

Now I’m sure most of my blog readers are used to my stupid questions. You see I don’t write for the savvy. I don’t even write for the lost. Most of the time I’m just writing to keep my mojo going. You see, writing keeps me. sharp. And the more I write the more my belief in ME grows. I’m building on my commitment. I refuse to fail. Most of you do too I’m sure. And so I ask-
Are YOU Budgeting Correctly?
Budgeting to most people involves rent, food, con ed, cable, and maybe car expenses. But if your venture is a home based business have you added that to your cost? You should. You have committed to wealth and freedom and this may be the most integral step.

-Budgeting is a daily experience.
Your budget is a living thing. It should be monitored and engaged daily. I would go so far as to suggest you look at it daily. I check my accounts daily to see what bills are pending, which are paid, and so forth. An additional benefit to this is unauthorized transactions are caught rapidly. Timing is everything with identity theft so being on top of spending will only help you.

-Budgeting is a lifelong process.
When you budget you should begin by listing all forms of income. Your next step is to list all your debts. Next calculate the values to see if you are in the red or if your in the black. You need to know this to gauge levels and create a start point in your budgeting plans. Savings, insurance, HMOs and so forth all have to be added to your deductions if you add to them monthly or bi-monthly.
Your saving account(s) and 401ks etc shouldn’t be touched but counted in your net worth. Remember establishing the baseline not only shows you the budget you need but gives you a framework that your venture can build from and then expand beyond your original vision to encompass an entire lifetime.

-Budgeting for life is only half the game.
You can’t simply budget for the regular occurrences. Life will throw you numerous curve balls. So why not work some cash into an emergency fund? Being ready is being smart. Nuff said.

-Budgeting for your business is Budgeting For Success.
If you have a budget already I salute you. If you don’t start one. It will help you immensely. Being aware of the factual numbers will give you peace of mind and a way to frame your needs and separate them from your wants. Work out what you must spend. Add in the amounts for savings, emergency funds and so forth. And enjoy the rest. Also make sure you tithe or give to charity. It ALWAYS builds your business better than you would imagine. BUT if you don’t budget for your business the rest is almost worthless. You wouldn’t open a McDonalds without cash right? So why would you start a venture, mlm, etc without expecting to put money into it. You have to spend money to make money. If you don’t want to- it won’t work. Just quit now. Seriously. If your business requires an auto-ship, and you are serious about it- budget for it. Don’t overdraw. Don’t grumble about a few less dollars for beer. Quit. If you refuse to fail- Awesome! Now budget for your success. The money you spend on a business or venture is an investment in yourself. It isn’t money down the drain. Its a physical and monetary commitment. Be proud of it.

Parting thought: are you dissatisfied with your autoship?
Your venture? Or yourself?
Think about that. You might not be an entrepreneur. Nothing wrong there. You might not like the product- find one you believe in then. But being your own boss, making your own hours, and never having to say no- I need that. And I bet you do too.

#thriveorsurvive

Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat.
Changeinadvance@gmail.com
@changeinadvance
Or simply reply to this article.

#thriveorsurvive

Tags: #business, #thriveorsurvive, @changeinadvance, auto ship, Budgeting, cost, debt, freedom, risk vs reward, survival

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Categories Uncategorized

Are you budgeting (correctly)?

21 Jun

Are you budgeting (correctly)?

#thriveorsurvive

Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat.
Changeinadvance@gmail.com
@changeinadvance
Or simply reply to this article.