Divorce Advice For Women

You're probably thinking about divorce or maybe your divorce has already started and you need some advice. Divorce is a stressful and emotional experience and for many, it can become a nightmare. Are you discovering that your divorce is not turning out as planned? Is your husband bad mouthing you to your lawyer and everyone you know? Does your husband want more child custody just so he doesn't have to pay more child support? Does he believe you do not deserve the house, the cars, the dogs, or retirement fund? Divorces can get nasty. They start off well, you're both in agreement, but then the lawyers start putting ideas in your head about property and custody. 

Getting Started With The Basics 

First thing first when it comes to divorce is money. I know it's sad but true. Why make it about money when it should be about getting out of a loveless, manipulative and controlling relationship. It should be about protecting the children and the welfare of everyone involved. However, lawyers, court fees, mediation, evaluations and expert witnesses are going to cost money to help you plead your case. Step one is to prepare financially. If you don't have any money for a lawyer, then you should start cutting expenses and putting money aside until you can afford one. Make room on credit cards and ask friends and family to borrow as much as they can give you help you out. I know, you shouldn't burden others with your financial situation, but it's better to owe your friends and family money for the next few years than it is to endure another day in a bad marriage. 

Daily Diary 

Keep a journal of every fight and argument you have with your husband so you can recall dates and information really easy. The worst thing you can do is say something negative about your husband without anything to back it up. Write down how it started, what was said and how it ended. Do not leave out details and make sure to record the date and time the conversion started. Also note down anything your husband says he is going to fight for and keep good notes on anything he says he is willing to give you without a fight. Sometimes husbands change their minds about what they want to fight for once they get a lawyer. Keep notes on everything 

Property Records and Finances 

Make sure your name is on everything you want to fight for, including houses, cars, bank accounts with money and retirement funds. If your name is not on any of these pieces of property, you could end up not getting your fair share of them. Start investigating your husband's income, bank statements, receipts and anything else you can discover he has of value. Remember anything he has purchased while married, even if your name is not on it, you could be entitled to. Start saving money in a separate bank account or in cash. Most of all make sure you have enough to hire a lawyer as soon as you're ready to file divorce or as soon as he hires his own lawyer. You want to be the first to act in a divorce. 

Lawyers, Divorce Guides, Divorce Coaches and Child Custody 

Remember, unless you both agree to divorce and who gets what property, that divorce is a battle and you must be prepared legally and mentally. Hire a good lawyer that will fight for you and one that is affordable for you. Do not price shop a lawyer, because you get what you pay for. Interview your lawyers to find a good match. Once you have found a lawyer get yourself some good books and guides on divorce. These guides will give you inside strategies your lawyers are not willing to dish out unless you have lots of money to fight with. If you can afford it, find a divorce coach to tell you what to do each step of your divorce processes. Last but absolutely not least, get your hands a hold of some guides on how to win child custody. Lawyers do not give out much advice on how to win custody, but they will surely spend the money putting up the fight. Educate yourself on what matters when it comes to child custody and evaluations. 

Be prepared financially, legally and educationally. Take charge of the divorce process and always stay on offense. The first one to act will get the upper hand. Do not wait for him to get a lawyer first. 

First thing first is to get a free consultation with an attorney familiar with divorce and child custody in your jurisdiction. 

Get a free no cost obligation of your legal rights to divorce and custody. The free consultation will let you know yours and his legal rights to divorce and child custody. They will also let you know how to protect yourself and how much its going to cost. Just remember the first one to act will get the upper hand. Do not wait for him to get a lawyer first. 

Child custody is a completely separate issue and battle from divorce and usually 90% of the expenses and heart ache. Use these strategies to get the upper hand from day one. 

Do not wait until things start to go wrong to get this information that you should be doing even before you start the divorce process.

I wish you all the best of luck!

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Janice_D._Rubin/430883 

Women and Money: The Reality Today

• 55% of  women over 65 will find themselves in poverty when they retire
• 40% of unmarried women have saved less than $1,000
• 37% of women spend retirement alone 

Startling statistics ladies. 

Most women will look at these statistics and think, that's not going to be me! 

Then go right ahead and plan the next girlfriends lunch or dinner date without looking at the bank account or the credit card balance. There is very little thought of how to ensure you do not find yourself included in the above statistics. So random incessant spending will continue without thought of the consequences, down the road, looking through the long lens. These statistical groupings are placing women in poverty every day, and few know what to do about it. 

What can be done? 

Any number of actions can change these statistics and the quality of life for all women. Ask any woman and I'll bet none of them would choose any of these girlfriend groups! Talking to girlfriends is one of the first (best) things that can be done to change the destiny of their girlfriends and which statistical group they may find themselves in. Girlfriends are a powerful group. Women will share with girlfriends they have now and the ones they have not yet been fortunate enough to meet yet. 

Women are smart and sassy. They also bond together when one of their sisters is in trouble. By opening this dialogue you may find that those closest to you, may not know the facts you now know. They may not know what to do about it either. Women share information freely and impress upon their friends what no man can. Women are naturally caregivers. This sharing with each other is at the heart of women care giving.

Planning will cause you to place yourself in situations where you won't be a statistic, part of a scary stat. How, you ask? Join our community at Femvestorsglobal for free daily information, alternatively you can join our book clubs (we offer 4 different geographical time zones- so there are no excuses ladies!). We also run virtual events or private 1:1 courses. You learn more, not just about finances. 

The very person you need for the best possible information will be sent to you. As long as learning takes place and actions are taken to change the numbers, both in the financial arena and then the stats, women don't have to find themselves in poverty. 

Invest in the knowledge and wisdom of wealth. We have heard that knowledge is power. For women, learning new vocabulary, words like monetising will bring you power and wealth. Learn now how to eliminate debt forever. Your today purchase can change the purchasing power you have in the future. Wouldn't it be awesome to know how? What do you have to do to acquire enough wealth for your future? Figure out how to share your prosperity and set some aside for those you love. It will come back to you multiplied more than you know. 

Girlfriend road trips are the best!! Memories forever! This is one road trip all the girlfriends cannot miss. This incredible ride could save them more than just the cost of gas. Investing in yourself will prove to bring increase to every aspect of your life. Finding wisdom about money can keep all women from becoming a scary statistic. Within the wealth side of these statistics lies comfort, ease, pampering and peace, which is why we do not record our group events so you have a safe space to talk. 

You will be so glad you did, sooner rather than later. 

Article Source for statistics: wiserwomen.org. 2016 retirement confidence survey, EPI.org 

Financial Success for Women

Truth Bomb Ladies- what we earn is mostly what we spend! 

Many of us spend our money without a budget and then complain when our finances begin to dwindle. The habits that we have created within ourselves with regards to how we spend our money can break or make us. The issue we have created is that we have the problem of spending within our means. Many find ourselves in a tight corner just because we couldn't say no to that flashy car or the expensive handbag we know we should not even be looking at, never mind talk of buying. 

Just like many bury ourselves deep into debt just to satisfy that yearn that has nothing to add to our personal finance or to our life for that matter. Many calculate what they spend at the end of each month and wonder where our money had gone and even what we had done with that thing we should not have bought but bought anyway and is not lying unused in a box in our room. 

Casual spending is not a friend to anyone and it can easily put you into trouble. It is something that can land you in bankruptcy left with nothing but the useless purchase of a life time that has no value to add to our life. There are a few things we need to check when determining our spending habit. 

These are: We need to see the wrong in what we are doing. We need not hide behind ignorance of our actions. We should know that it is not going to help us if we do not find solution to it. If you are in debt already, we need to pay it all off and then develop another healthier way of dealing with your finances. 

We need to know how much we spend at any particular time. Be conscious of the amount of money that is being paid for any thing you are buying so as to help you determine if that amount is worth it or if that thing is worth having. You need to map out ways to evaluate what you are spending each month and why you are over spending if you are. Know what you need and calculate what you can get when you turn away from that thing that you want but do not really need. 

Re-evaluate your lifestyle now. Invent new ways of handling your finances. This is something that will give you a new meaning into why and how you are spending what you are not supposed to. Get a new lifestyle that is healthier for your pocket. Design some kind of specification on the spending decision you make. Be careful with how you dish out your credit card and what you use it to buy. It is super easy to over spend when you know you can get it on credit. 

We as women have problems with how we spend out money, now is the time to learn to put a spending plan together, this can help in our day to day purchases so that we can see the error of what we do as clear as possible and this will be the first step towards a better habit.

We can support you with creating a spending plan and other financial success habits so you too can become financially fabulous. 

Check out www.femvestorsglobal.com for more information

How Any Woman Can Become Rich

Did you know that there is no shortage of money? The problem is that you may not believe that you are worthy of having a lot of money. Anything you believe you can have, you will receive it. If someone is going to get rich, then why not YOU?

Many women are on the list of the rich and famous today. There is no secret on how to get money. You either inherit money or acquire it through some type of business (unfortunately, a lottery win is extremely unlikely). People's reasons for acquiring a lot of money are different from others. Some will apply money to their daily needs and wants to live a better life. Others may save their fortune and leave it to their children. Some use money to devote to a charitable cause to make the world a better place to live. 

If you want to create wealth, you must do something different. First, pay off all those credit cards and get out of debt. Second, you should make saving and investing your money a high priority in your life. To keep most of your money, you must make wise investments. You may start this process by seeking the advice from financial experts. 

When you use money to fulfill your purpose by starting a business to help others fulfill theirs, then you are doing good. When you are doing good with money, you can expect to draw more money to you. Once you start drawing money to you, then the sky is the limit. This means that you can get lots of money or as much as you want or need to fulfill your purpose. It is like standing under a water fall, "If you stand under a water fall, you are bound to get wet." The same is true with money, if you follow the principles of making and investing money, over a period of time, you are bound to get rich.

To the new and experienced entrepreneurs, getting help with your small business is very crucial to your success. Getting the right help will cause you to avoid costly mistakes, and it can also help you to save a lot of time, money and energy. You will need to get the right help to form the legal structure of the business, financial, management, procurement/certification, marketing, pricing products, preparing a business plan, and more. 

There are many successful business coaches and mentors that you can learn from, you just need to be clear on the areas you require support with. Look for recommendations within your local communities, FB groups, online sites such as Upwork and network with those around you. 

Always remember when you are starting out- to focus on the areas you are good at, get support in the areas you are not so great. You do not need to hire full time employees, look at pay on demand type services for booking keeping, accountancy, virtual assistants etc. I would also suggest you look for collaborations with others where you can exchange services which is a won-win for many people.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dr._Mary_E._Waters/99920

Why Should I Invest in the Stock Market? The Truth Revealed!

Why do people invest in stocks? For some, it's like gambling. They high associated to the adrenaline that comes as a result of throwing hundreds or thousands of dollars into high-risk, high-reward endeavors. Of course, many individuals are highly calculated and look at investing in the stock market as a way to fund their future, perhaps in an extremely comfortable fashion. Of course, this is actually very possible to do, but not without the proper psychology, mechanics, and discipline in place. 

So why should we invest in the stock market? 

No matter how you look at it, your stock picks will be a gamble. It is possible for an undisciplined individual to bankrupt themselves very quickly. With that being said, there are several advantages of stock trading and investing that far outweigh the risks involved. 

Firstly, with a long-term focus, there is seldom a regulated market that doesn't rebound. This means that with a bit of due diligence, you can continually invest in an index fund whether the market is weak or strong, and chances are good that you'll come out on top eventually. 

Imaging this scenario. You invest in the stock market in a fairly low risk way, meaning you pick an  index fund (you can even invest in the NASDAQ itself) and invest $300 per month into your fund. What happens when the market goes up? Your stocks are worth more! But what happens when the market goes down? While the pessimist may panic, the wise man or woman will simply view this as an opportunity to purchase even MORE shares for that same 300 bucks! 

Then, when the market goes back up, you've got LOADS of shares enjoying this increase in value. Does this make sense? I know it's pretty basic stuff, but the basics are where a LOT of people unfortunately make their mistakes. 

Another reason I invest in the stock market, and why I firmly believe you should, too, is that you can get out of a bad decision in a heartbeat. Just sell your shares. Done. Do you think you have that kind of freedom to just walk away in the real estate business? Not a chance!

 The point is - and hear me loud and clear, I LOVE real estate - the stock market is a far more streamlined investment. For all intents and purposes, it's digital vs. physical. Both are valid in terms of return on investment, but only the stock market allows you to be incredibly efficient with your investment maneuvers. 

Consider starting small, if you're a beginning investor. And above all else, educate yourself. Read books, attend courses, join and converse with Femvestorsglobal... it's YOUR capital, so you'd better know your stuff! Do NOT blindly trust the "experts," as they're just people... and they can be just as wrong as anybody else!

Remember, education is everything!

9 Diverse Types of Investment That Will Ensure Your Financial Future

I know almost all of the people in this world are concerned about their financial future. I don't know anyone who isn't. And if you're already a married man or woman, you will surely think of your kids who are going to college in the next few years. Some are also tired already of working. That's why most retire in an early age. I reckon they're just exhausted of their usual job. Who doesn't want to have an assurance that you will have a progressive financial life? No one, right? And I also know that you want to retire without brooding about your financial situation. 

Most people are like that. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of people who do not even know what to do with their hard-earned money. They do not know how to invest. They aren't aware that there are diverse types of investment. If all you know about saving your money is putting it in a piggy bank, hiding it somewhere in your cabinet, then you should really learn about the types of investment. There is actually 9 of it. The stocks, bonds, real estate, foreign currency, mutual funds/ETF's (Exchange Traded Funds), certificates of deposit, insurance and savings account are the types of investment that you could use. 

-Stocks are buying a portion of a company or corporation. You'll become a stockholder of that company. Thus, you have your own rights there. You can gain profit with this type of investment by receiving stock dividends from that corporation. Another way of gaining profit in this is to buy low-amount stocks and then sell it in a higher price. Stocks are also considered as Medium-risk investment. 

-On the other hand, investing in bonds is like loaning your money to the Government. Because of that, the risk in this type of investment is a lower risk investment. 

-Real estate investing is buying a property and then selling it in a higher price soon. Some real estate investors do not sell their property. They just use it for rental. That's why the flow of money to them is continuous but not that massive money like reselling it. In a buyer's market, it's better if you buy properties today and then re-sell it when the time changes into a seller's market. You can also buy REITS (Real Estate Investment Trusts) which is like buying property on the stock market as opposed to buying physical property.

 -Foreign currency or one of the types of investment in foreign exchange (FOREX) deals with currency trading market. It is always open and can be accessed through the use of internet. With this type of investment, you'll need to trade currency pairs for other currency pairs in the hope that you will trade for currency that has more value. 

-Regarding the mutual or Exchange Traded funds, when you invest in this, you include a variety of different investments, such as high-risk, long-term, short-term, stocks, Index funds, bonds, and the like. 

-Crypto currency is a high risk strategy. Bitcoin is the most known and a promising commodity. The upside is unknown and it is very speculative. Unless you are a high risk investor, ignore this type of asset class as the price is known to drop -80% in a short time and you need to be able to control your emotions, otherwise you will lose a lot of money.

-Certificates of Deposit, or CDs, are alike to savings accounts, except they pay better interest. The reason for the higher interest rate is simple: when you open a CD at your local financial institution, you agree to leave the money there for a set amount of time; generally, the shortest amount of time is six months, but you may agree to a term of one year, two years, or even five years. The longer you agree to keep the CD, the higher the interest rate. 

-Some people choose to use life insurance as an investment. Many policies have investment properties, and an insurance agent or financial advisor can help you choose which the right one is. 

-Savings accounts offer very little return. In fact, despite they are technically a form of investment, they barely qualify anymore. They are certainly a very good way to teach your kids the process of saving though. 

Those are just some of the diverse types of investment. 

You may also want to invest in a business. You can either invest in a company that's just starting up, an existing business that is for sale or creating your own business. 

4 Financial Accounts Every Woman Should Have

Life can be easier when you have the financial bases covered. See if you've got the right types of accounts to help you with cash needs, emergencies, and your long-term retirement. 

1. First, do you have a bank account and ATM card with your name on it? 

It doesn't matter if you share the account with a spouse or significant other. Just make sure your name is on the account, and that you have the ability to pay bills and withdraw money. Most of us take this checking privilege for granted, but it's the most basic money account we all need. 

2. Second, do you have an emergency fund? 

I like to call it comfort-cash. This should equal whatever you might need to get through unexpected hardships that crop up, from job losses to car breakdowns. 

When you're prepared with at least 4-6 months of living expenses, you're less likely to borrow from high-interest credit cards, or sell your retirement investments with penalties or losses. 

Where should you keep a comfort-cash fund? Put it in a high interest savings account. Yes I know, it doesn't pay much, but the key here is liquidity. You need to be able to get to those funds quickly when you need them. 

3. Third, do you have a major credit card in your name only? 

It's OK to share one credit card account with a spouse, but every woman should also have a different account with just her name on it. 

You want to make sure you're building your own financial identity, and that you are the only influence on that account. In case of a later divorce or loss of partner, you've got your own credit history and credit score established. 

If you don't qualify for a credit card with good terms yet, look into getting a secured credit card, backed by a savings account you set up when you apply. You prove you're responsible with paying off card debt, before moving to a standard, unsecured credit card. 

4. Fourth, do you have a retirement savings account in your name? 

This might be an employer plan at your workplace, or an Individual Retirement Account. Retirement accounts provide tax-deferred or tax-free savings, which grow faster without current taxation. 

If you don't have an employer retirement plan, but you do have earned income, open your own retirement account. If you're not working, agree your spouse contributes to your retirement future. These help build retirement accounts for a spouse who has low earnings, or is helping raise the kids at home. 

Don't make the mistake of assuming governments will cover all your needs. It wasn't meant to, and it won't. And while taxable savings are good, tax-advantaged retirement accounts are even better. 

How did you do? 

Don't worry if you lack one or two of these categories. But make a priority of establishing what you still need. You'll be setting up your own safety net, helping insure access to cash, and building financial security by owning these four accounts.

 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Robin_Applegarth/729871

Women and Money - Another Complicated Relationship

Yet another relationship we complicate with our emotions. 

According to statistics: 

• We women earn 20% less than our male counterparts 
• We earn 80 cents on the dollar compared with men
• We have less women sitting in corner offices
• We are not getting our fair share of the world's wealth

It is abundantly clear after research that many of the characteristics and behaviors of women that make us unique also contribute to our lack of financial independence. 

Our greatest gifts we offer to society actually become our greatest weaknesses when our own best interest come in to play. Just like with anything a belief system is a standard that sets the stage for our behaviors. 

How we earn money and manage it is no different. We are taught differently with societal messages that imply our well-being is contingent upon acting polite and other stereo-typical ways when we are young girls. 

Being relationship oriented and soft-spoken are just a couple of behaviors that we are taught and then struggle with when we later apply them to the management of income earned or inherited wealth.

 The expectations of: 

• being a mum 
• wife 
• caretaker of elderly parents 
• AND independent 

are a juggling act that conflicts with the logic of the risk-reward mentality that it often takes to manage money successfully. 

As Independent Ambitious Career Woman meets head on with Nurturing Caretaker Mother and Wife we truly are BLESSED with the impossible sounding feat, if we take on the right attitude and use it to our advantage. 

We are asked to sharpen our skills in so many areas that we cannot help but succeed if we learn how to apply all of these acquired skills in the area of money-management and income negotiation in the workplace. 

There appears to be a paradigm shift that needs to take place in many of our female minds. That shift may require taking on a new mantra that empowers you to realise you have been given a job that seems daunting but in actuality have been given the opportunity to have it all. 

The ability to give life and nurture it can be applied to making money and growing it. So, being a Sep-mother with an independent minded attitude I have had to change my mantra to fit my vision of a successful retirement. 

I believe that how you think determines how you act. Our actions stem from our belief system. Our belief systems were most likely formed at a very young age. We have to understand that we can change our belief systems by attaining correct knowledge and watching our actions. 

Some of the actions we can take as women are: 

1. Keep track of how you are using and losing your money

2. Create a spending plan

3. Always put minimum of 10% away in an investment or savings...

4. Consider learn from other women. Check out Femvestorsglobal.com. 

5. Take advantage of compounding interest rate calculator! Check out http://www.investor.gov

6. There are so many ways to start learning and never an easier time to acquire knowledge. What better way to use Google! 

The Secret To Fabulous Finances

 Are you sick of living your life on credit? Would you like to have a lump sum of money you can fall back on if unforeseen circumstances strike? How about the ability to generate passive income so that you can choose how you live your life, where and with whom you spend the most precious commodity - time? 

There are only two excuses or reasons why people fail to take action on their dreams so they can live their ideal life. Not enough time or not enough money. These two key areas in our lives limit us and our potential, instilling fear that if we were to take a risk chances are we would fail. The focus generally goes to the negative and undesirable outcome which is what become reality. I would like to give you the tools and strategies to get your finances back on track and design a life that is heading towards you having your perfect ideal average day. 

The perfect ideal average day is one that is just that - average! You are not on holidays or doing things that are unusual. It is simply how you would spend your time if you had the choice to do whatever you like. You may decide to start your days late, read, socialise or go shopping. Whichever way you see it is perfect for you. 

Did you know that more than 25% of people have only 1 month of savings for emergencies in developed countries such as Australia and America? 64% also live pay check to pay check which is a statistic that continues to grow over the years.

Family budgets; I get asked 'What for?' It is staggering to know that people don't have a concept of what is going in, coming out and whether they can afford the lifestyle they are living. This is very scary and unfortunate especially when these individuals start having children and the cost of living jumps up to a new level with often less income and higher expenditure. 

I would like to share with you some of the secrets to improve your finances and start generating wealth that will see you live out your life in luxury rather than in lack. One other famous statistic to become familiar with is: By the time people reach retirement age:

•  1-2% are wealthy 
• circa 78% are on welfare and/or heavily supported by family members 
• 20% are dead 

Which statistic would you like to belong to when you retire? 

Our education around finances starts very early in life. Think about who you had as a role model around you growing up. Were they good with money or just made ends meet at the end of each pay cycle? Our beliefs about how we manage money and more importantly how we make it are set well before we turn 10 years of age.

It is very important to know what you believe about money and finances comes from and if necessary to start creating new beliefs that will serve you going forward. 

I would like to illustrate how beliefs around money are created by sharing my story in this particular area. I grew up in UK and money was never spoken about in our house. I never learned anything about money as it was never discussed in my environment- whether at home, school or with friends. I grew up believing that whatever I earnt I could spend, saving was foreign to me. Everything I earnt in my teens would be predominantly spent on Consumerism.

In my late teens and 20's, I fell in love with credit cards. As fast as I could earn I could spend. I believed that credit cards were the banks money and not mine until I received the bill. I made poor decisions and got into a lot of debt, this built up over several years. I finally threw myself into my career to pay of all my debts. Saving and investing did not occur until my mid-late 20's.

My mindset has now grown to a level that I continue to invest in my education to learn new tools and strategies that get me ahead in my finances. This is why I teach women so they can learn from my mistakes. 80% proceeds of my business goes to those without a voice.

How to Demonstrate Smart Financial Habits to Your Kids

Your kids will follow your example in many things that they do so it is important that you practice what you preach. How to demonstrate smart financial habits to your kids starts with this important understanding. Use the trust that is instinctively there between you and your kids and teach them the right way. 

Kids need to learn that money doesn't just fall from a tree, it is hard-earned and must be used wisely. Start by giving them an allowance based on their age and understanding. Make it a regular ritual and request for books to be read in exchange. Note the point I wrote about reading books and not chores. 

Chores are a part of life and NOT a paid task. If you pay your kids for chores, you are teaching your kids to be employees where they exchange time for money. If you pay your kids to read books, you enable them to expand their thinking and create an Entrepreneur mindset.

When it comes to payment for reading books, choose a day each fortnight or each month and hand over their 'pay packet' pocket money in an envelope addressed with your child's name. Show respect for the money. Ask them how their last allowance was spent so that you can get a handle on their spending habits. Get them to keep a little notebook as their 'spending account ledger'. 

Congratulate them if they are saving their money. Encourage this habit and you might even reward their habit of saving by giving them a small bonus to add to their account. Ask if they are saving for something special. If they are close to their goal and it is near a birthday you could make up the difference as part of their birthday gift. You'll know it's something special to them so it will be appreciated.

If your child does want something extra special expect, given them a book of your choice which will help them grow, a jigsaw puzzle, quiz.  Let them learn that money must be an exchange for an education and is not just available for any desire. They will learn to appreciate the things that they buy with their own money. 

Don't pamper to every whim of your child. Limit the gifts you give them and let them enjoy the gift given before allowing them to begin playing with another. Having too many at once will make them jump from one thing to another. Explain why they are not getting everything that they ask for. If they really want something that you have said no to explain why and that they must save for it themselves.

The key here is to limit the amount your child has to spend on Consumerism. Look at not only putting the money into a savings account but also teach them how to invest their savings in Index funds and stocks. I bought shares in Disney and presented this as a share certificate in a frame with their favorite character so they know they are a part owner of The Disney company as opposed to a toy they do not need.

It may not always seem like it but kids will listen to their parents so don't give in to their demands to keep up with their peers. Be firm...kids appreciate and respond to positive parenting. They need to know their boundaries. Explain why you do things but don't spoil everything by demonstrating the opposite to your kids. Instill smart financial habits in your kids and demonstrate smart habits yourself...don't blow it!

Learning Good Financial Habits Today

You understand that to build wealth you need to make goals, a budget and create good financial habits. Right? Okay, you do, but now what habits are good? Which financial habits will help you save more, spend less and get you to retirement in dignity? 

Here is a short list to get you started on making good habits to help you get to your goals. Master these first since they are the most important, then move on to some that may be a little harder or less obvious.

1. Keep a "Spending Tracker" and balance it every week. If you don't use a tracker  then how will you know how much money you have. 

It's so easy to spend more money when you don't know how much there is. So start record keeping now and balance it every week, so you always know exactly how much you have. 

There are plenty of online apps (apps are geography dependent so please check which are applicable for you) or your bank may also provide this service.

2. Spend cash. It is proven that when you spend cash, you spend less. I know for me when I put down $100 for groceries I can almost feel part of me leaving with that $100, whereas with a debit or credit card, and or payment facilitated by your mobile phone, it's easy to swipe and move on. Plus when you have cash you can physically see what you have left, rather then look at some number written down. I say just keep the credit card at home, and only pull it out for emergencies, where you may not have enough cash out of the bank account or when you travel.

Delete any mobile phone payments apps you may have, this will also prevent you from buying on impulse.

3. Use a diary and write down everything you spend each day. No matter what it is coffee, newspaper, a vending machine, if you spend it write it down. Then at the end of the day total it up. It's amazing how much that end number can be. Before I changed that number would sometimes be $30 or more. Seeing how much I was spending greatly changed what I bought throughout the day and now I save easily 400-500/month because of that. 

4. The most important thing you can do to build wealth is to start saving and do it now. Every payday, deposit a portion of it to savings. Better yet if you have direct deposit and can put it in different accounts have it go directly to savings so it's like you never even had it to begin with. 

These habits can seem hard at first and may take time to perfect. However, if you work hard and consistently build and develop these habits you will be glad you did come time to retire. These habits will even help you short term, like when the the car requires new tyres, your son's public education is going to cost $900 or even when the dishwasher breaks down. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kayle_Rowe/573649

Money Makeovers for Women

Many women believe we are unable to stand solidly on our own two feet when it comes to our financial lives. We might already be successful Entrepreneurs or Career women in our own right, maybe even Millionaires in the Expat Community, yet many tell me that if their partner died or left, they don't know what they would do regarding their finances. They don't believe they can understand the financial world, especially the investing part of that world. 

A lady last week told me she has turned her money over to someone else to invest and it has lost half its value and she just figures that's the way it is. This was a male broker who she thought was an expert.

One of my old colleagues makes plenty of money but she never pays her bills on time, never believes there will be enough and lives by the hard work model. She gives her children whatever they want but she doesn't take care of herself by paying bills on time, she doesn't know where her money is going and is unable to manage her spending.

Another woman in business knows she must do something about her retirement account so she finally meets with an advisor her partner recommends. She turns her money over to him, walks away and hopes for the best.

Another woman that attended one of my events had always managed her own finances and investing and did an amazing job. However, she got re-married later in life to a man who wanted to take care of everything- including both of their financial positions. As a couple they did not discuss finances and she handed everything over to him to take care of. He promptly lost everything they had. There is a health situation and are now facing retirement with limited financial resources. This was a woman who had been successful yet still turned everything over to someone else.

These are all very bright and successful women. I wanted to find out why this was happening. This is why I created Femvestorsglobal, to provide women with knowledge and confidence so you can maintain your financial fabulousness and not outsource this to anyone else. I knew it didn't have to be this way and I became determined to help create a change in this area of women's lives. 

My real passion and commitment is to change the statistics that 1 in 5 working women today are retiring with zero.1 in 3 women are also victims of Domestic Violence and stay in relationships as they have no other means to financially survive. I want you to live the life you were meant to live. Money is a vehicle that can either disempower us or empower us in so many ways. 

I want to support you in becoming completely free and independent and living from your innate power and aliveness. This is why I continue to write these free blogs. Now, what can you do right now to begin to change the relationship you have to money?

Join our Community Femvestorsglobal.com and become financially fabulous.

To begin, you need to begin......Today is a great day to start!

Why Women Make Better Traders and Investors Than Men

I am often asked whether men or women make better stock market traders and investors. My answer has always been women, and I continue to be proved right. 

According to the Fidelity Investments’ 2021 Women and Investing Study, On average, women investors achieve positive returns and surpass men by 40 basis points, or 0.4%, an analysis of annual performance across 5.2 million accounts from January 2011 to December 2020 shows.

Apart from being proved right, what is even more encouraging is that both the men and women outperformed the money men of the city. If it is therefore possible for these ordinary investors to outperform the so called professionals, why don't more people handle their own investments? I have no doubt there are many reasons including, a lack of both time and knowledge, but I personally believe the main reason to be fear. 

The world of finance can seem intimidating and complex and it is an impression those on the inside do little to dispel. However, what they sometimes forget is that without the contribution of those on the "outside" this world would not exist at all. The money fuelling this industry comes from the everyday activities of ordinary men and women and from the mundane markets such as savings and pensions.

For women it is even more important that they overcome this fear as within the next generation they are forecast to own over 60% of all personal assets, the first time this has ever happened. More women are starting businesses and soon there are going to be more women millionaires than men. Many companies have recognised this trend and have been quick to develop specialist services, yet the financial industry seems extremely resistant to this trend, with only a handful making half hearted attempts. In general they only pay lip service to this huge and growing market.

Women make better traders and investors for many reasons. 

Firstly, and most importantly, women are prepared to listen, admit any mistakes and learn from them. Men, on the other hand, will blame the market or their advisers, rather than their own judgment and will stick doggedly to a view even when the facts are obvious that they are in fact wrong. Getting a man to admit an error of judgement or that they have made a mistake is very rare. In the trading world this can be a costly personality trait, and yet it is a common one in men. Ask most men the reason for this and they will answer that admitting a mistake is a sign of weakness. As all women know, it is in fact the reverse. 

A classic behaviour is in map reading. All men think they are natural navigators and will refuse the offer of help even when completely lost, preferring to carry on until they find some recognisable landmark. This is generally miles from where they wanted to be yet this small success will be offered in vindication of the major  strength. Accepting a loss and moving on is one of the key characteristics that defines a good trader from one who will be wiped out very quickly. 

Women are happy to learn, men are not. Give the same piece of technical equipment to a man and women and observe the different approaches. The man will not read the manual, but attempt to use the equipment straight from the box. Invariably this fails, but reading the manual is a last resort for the male, who ploughs on regardless until finally admitting defeat and is forced to grudgingly read the instructions. The woman on the other hand will probably read the manual first before attempting to use the equipment. If both are doing it together then conflict ensues! 

Finally women make better traders as ironically they are more able to remove emotion from the trades. Men will become irate and take it as a personal insult when trades go wrong, whilst women are more philosophical about the loss and take a more dispassionate view. Being able to trade without emotion is one of the keys to success in the financial markets - just ask any successfully trader - this is a business and not personal. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Anna_Coulling/69543

5 Actions Women Must Take to Become Financially Independent

I mean really, do you want to meet your worst fear of outliving your savings? 

I didn't think so! However, we're not off to a good start. Although more than half of all baby boomers are unprepared for retirement, women are falling behind at a faster pace.

 • The number of women filing bankruptcy is increasing rapidly, especially single women 

• According to Women's Institute for Secure Retirement, women's average retirement fund is about 2 times lower than the a man's average retirement fund.

 • Women tend to be unsure of the how much they have in their retirement accounts 

• Women are not as confident as men in their investing skills, and feel underserved by the investment community 

Women's needs are different than men's when it comes to preparing for retirement. Women live longer than men, earn less in their lifetime, and have less saved. This is a double whammy for women because not only will they need more, they have less opportunity to prepare.

Facing the reality and getting prepared today, whether that's by saving or by lifestyle reduction, is critical to avoid future disappointment. 

Here are five actions women can do now to begin shifting the way they think about money, start creating a sustainable future, and enjoy living more fully while making adjustments. 

1. Create a 5-Year Plan 

Having a clear picture of life in 5 years is critical to actually making it happen. Of course a vision for 10, 20, 30 years is necessary too, but 5-years is a solid time frame from creating goals and action steps. When creating a 5-year plan multiple areas of your life should be considered; health, relationships, career/business ventures, community, travel/leisure, legacy, etc. are all necessary to have a balanced life plan. Remember, if you do not have clear goals, you will not have much chance of actually attaining them. 

2. Be Willing to Make Changes 

When you commit to achieving your 5-year goals, guess what? Your life will have to change. You will find that you need to spend your time differently, use money differently and perhaps change your relationships. Why? Because if you don't, and you keep doing what you're doing, do you think you'll achieve your 5-year plan? If everything was already on track, you'd already be living those goals. So, in order to achieve them, you must do things differently. It's not uncommon that if one is serious about achieving their goals that their lifestyle changes. Sometimes downsizing while investing in a new business, or leaving a stagnant relationship, or spending time getting educated or researching areas that will help them achieve their goals.

3. Master your Cash Flow 

Understanding how wealth building works is critical, and it starts with mastering your cash flow. There are two elements to cash flow that must be mastered; your income and your expenses. Often when addressing money you'll hear ways to reduce your spending or stay within a budget. But that's only part of the equation. Mastering your income is just as important and managing your expenses. In fact it's even more important because you can only cut back expenses so far, but you can increase your income infinitely. But, the key is making sure that you have positive cash flow, where you are spending less then what you are bringing in. You can't build wealth if you don't have positive cash flow. And don't forget, if you're not planning for your future now, then you're not living within your means. Living within your means has to include saving for your future. 

4. Understand How to Build Your Net Worth 

Your net worth is the difference between what you own and what you owe. What's left over is your net worth. The way you build your net worth is by having positive cash flow. When you have positive cash flow you can only do two things with it; 1) increase your assets, or 2) decrease your debt. Either way, your net worth increases. It's just like weight loss. In order to lose weight you can either increase your exercise, or reduce your calories (or both!). Once you understand this core concept then you can make decisions about the best placement of your excess cash flow. For example, would it be better to pay down debt, save or invest? Answers to questions like this depend on your 5-year goals, and the amount and type of debt you have. With a clear 5-year plan, you can choose the method that will help you achieve your goals the fastest and safest.

 5. Work Your Plan 

The biggest problem with creating a financial plan with an advisor is the lack of implementation. Everyone I've talked to who has paid for a financial plan says it's still sitting on their shelf. That won't happen to you because you are going to create the plan yourself, and you are going to work it regularly, right? Create an accountability system that will help you stay focused each week, and take small steps consistently. Femvestorsglobal discuss any concerns that come up, and to help you stay on track. Following through and becoming disciplined is what will allow you to see success. Commit to being a success and don't stop when things get difficult. We build a support system that you can rely on. 

So, to be financial independent and avoid financial poverty, make sure you start making the necessary changes today that will build long-term financial sustainability. Paint the picture of success for yourself and take regular steps toward it. Face the reality, address any disappointments you might be holding onto, and begin an exciting new journey for yourself. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Angie_Grainger/1086314

Financial Freedom for Women

Finance management is something that comes naturally to most women. 

It has been accustomed to that while men work, we handle the finances of the household.

It comes with the patience and fortitude that most men are not gifted with. 

As such, the search for financial freedom hits us way before it hits men.

While men think of just providing for the family, we think of how to make the budget fit. And so, financial freedom for us comes differently. 

We aim for the more profound things. 

Our children's education, having enough to sustain our needs, and hopefully having more to fulfil our wants. 

We often think of making the finances fit according to our lifestyle. 

Some families have financial sources from both parents, others just from the fathers.

But what about those who raise their kids alone? 

What about those marriages that end in divorce? 

We should be able to provide for our children even when the marriage ends in divorce. 

we need to have more than just a day job to achieve financial freedom.

But although it is not something that happens overnight, it still is something that can be achieved with patience and endurance. 

Financial freedom for women is up for grabs for those who trust themselves enough to believe that they can have it. 

Regardless of how bad your finances are right now, you can still pull yourself out. 

You can still shake all those unwanted financial strains and be worry free. 

Here's how:

1. Know your financial status. This includes everything you have and not just cash. Think of what you own versus what you owe. This will help you balance your finances. 

2. Evaluate your credit history. Assess your credit limits and how often you go overboard with your spending. Take note of what makes you overspend. 

3. Make reasonable financial goals. Do this in relation to your dreams, your responsibilities, and your priorities in life. Make your goals achievable and measurable.

 4. Create an investment plan. This is so will have an idea of how to correctly allocate your assets in relation to your current financial situation.

 5. Make investments as often as you can while it's still early. The earlier you invest, the sooner you get a return on investment (ROI). This conveniently allows financial freedom to be achieved in no time. 

6. Make the most of tax-advantaged retirement accounts/plans. This will help you earn more because you are likely to spend less on taxes. 

7. Protect your assets. Plan your estate wisely. As much as possible, make your kids your beneficiaries in order to secure their future.

8. Keep yourself informed. Learning is a never ending process. Be updated all the time. 

9. Fulfil the eight steps. With these easy steps, financial freedom for us is not that impossible to achieve. 

Just like any other goal, there must be a plan of action and the ability to put this into action. 

If you could make the time to implement these changes, you will be free from financial stresses in a reasonable amount of time.

Women Over 50 - 5 Tips For Financial Independence

Financial independence is the goal of most people especially as we approach retirement. Once we can see that turning

retirement age is just around the corner, thoughts of financial independence seem to become more frequent. Unfortunately, some of these thoughts are more than that. 

They are mild forms of panic attacks and financial anxiety, especially if the retirement nest egg isn't looking great. 

While these concerns affect all people, women over 50, especially those who are single, becoming financially independent is important for our survival, if we are desiring a comfortable retirement. And why shouldn't they be. 

Working for most of our life, retirement should be a reward for our hard work. But if the retirement pot is a bit empty, what can we do to fill them so that our senior years are not on "Struggle street".

For women over 50, here's 5 tips to help you create financial independence: 

1. Create More Income 

Yes it is easier to create wealth by having more income or a higher paying job. However, for women over 50 it is sometimes harder to move into a higher paying job- based on our age, qualifications or prolonged employment gap if we took time out to support family members. 

Perhaps an online or home based business could provide some extra cash, or a part-time job. 

2. Invest Your Surplus 

There are many courses and associations to assist women over 50 to learn how to invest their surplus income to provide for a better retirement. Look for such associations in your local area and start taking an interest in the share market, cash management funds and real estate. With time this surplus correctly invested will compound to build you a nice nest egg.  Femvestorsglobal is an amazing support network of women, in terms of commencing your investing journey. We hold your hand along the journey so you can take control of your finances sooner rather than later.

3. Money Is Taxing 

Make sure you have a good accountant and/or tax advisor to give you great advice on the best investments offering the best tax advantages. While women over 50 need extra income to invest, it is also important to cut your expenses especially by paying lower taxes.

4. Get More Out Of Your Time 

Having more time is a dream of most people. But there is only 24 hours in a day. How do you maximise your time especially with earning money. You engage the power of leverage. 

If you can earn additional income over and above you main job' you will create more wealth. But you are still exchanging your time for money. And there is only one of you. 

What if you could 'employ' a team of people whereby you could earn a percentage of their income. As well as leveraging people you can also leverage time - more specifically time zones. Why not have your team not only where you reside but also in different states and countries. So when you are asleep, your team members in another country are working and you're earning as well. Home based online businesses can offer such an opportunity.

Alternatively, (and I appreciate this is not for everyone!), you could relocate overseas to a country with not such a higher standard of living, so you can accumulate more money with an online business. You have the ability to work anywhere, whilst reducing your monthly out-goings/bills. Ultimately, our money will go so much further,

 5. It Takes Two To Tango

Going solo in life does have some advantages, however, it can also have it's limitations. Creating wealth or extra money can be one of those limitations. 

Sharing experiences and creating opportunities to jointly build wealth is more enjoyable when you're not on your own. 

Note that Women over 50 should never have a sub par retirement. There are ways to ensure this doesn't happen. 

The great opportunity is that there is still time for many of us over 50 to have financial independence. We just need to take action sooner rather than later.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Greg_N_Reed/245120

Ladies - When Are We Going to Wake Up?

Today's' woman has the all the options in the world, or do we? After all "We've come a long way" But we need to ask ourselves, "Where have we come to?" 

Please read the following statistics: 

• 49% of women over the age of 50 are single and it's on the increase

• Women's retirement income is 26% less than that of men

• 50% of 1st Marriages end in divorce

• 60% of 2nd Marriages end in Divorce

• The average female is expected to remain in the workforce until 74 due to a lack of financial resources

• Married Baby Boomers are expected to outlive their husbands by 6 years

• Of the elderly living in poverty, 3 out of 4 are women. 80% were not poor when their husbands were alive

As women we need to stop making excuses and start playing catch up! 

We cannot count on our husbands, our retirement funds or a Life Insurance policy to take care of us post our working years

The good news is that no matter what your age, there are many great vehicles to help you amass a sizable nest egg which can be invested into a cash flow vehicle

This means you will have additional income which will arrive each month to spend or save as you need. Convinced? Great! 

The next thing you will ask is "Where do I begin?" Glad you asked, if you follow these simple steps you will begin on the journey to financial freedom

1. Stop making excuses. I have heard it over and over "I am not smart enough" or "I don't have the time". Picture yourself in a dingy apartment eating cat food, and you will change your mind

 2. Self-educate 

3. Learn from others

4. Get out of debt

5. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Get into investing- Real Estate, Index funds, ETF's, stocks to name a few. This is how all millionaires become wealthy. Your goal is to derive income from multiple sources 

6. Personal Development. You have to change your mindset to believe you are worthy

You need to understand how you got to where you are so you do not repeat your mistakes 

If you have a poverty mentality-get rid of it! 

If you are addicted to shopping, find out why and overcome it! Your only hope of success is to change your mindset. 

Remember the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results! 

These 6 things are a good start to get you on the road to wealth creation. 

If you don't look out for yourself financially who will? 

Don't expect family or the government to be there

Make a change now or live with regret

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sheila_Carothers/51874

Why Women Stay Poor

Legislation aimed at addressing the earnings gap between men and women has been around for more than 50 years. Despite that women still earn substantially less than men (80 cents in the $) and continue to work in lower paid professions. Progress is being made but not as fast as we might expect.

So how does our conditioning and make up impact our attitude to money and how does that get in the way of reaching our full potential (which should be at least equal to our male counterpart)? 

There are certainly enough motivators. We hate the fact that we don't have enough money, we know we probably spend too much and we certainly know we don't save as much as we should. 

Every day we read horror stores about inadequate retirement and old age poverty. These are still not enough to spur us into action and take control of our income generation. 

The answer lies in our conditioning and is intrinsic to who we are. Until we understand how this impacts our attitude to money, all the changes in legislation and extended maternity leave in the world will not raise our earning levels. 

Our conditioning is determined at a very early age. Some time between the ages of 0 and 8 we are taught a set of values or beliefs. In fact, David McClelland, Distinguished Research Professor of Boston University, proved it could be as early as 0 to 3 when our 'values' are determined by our parents and those most closest to us. These values impact how we feel about and respond to all sorts of things including our attitudes to money, wealth and the types of work we should be pursuing. 

The emphasis on should is deliberate. Values are all about what we believe we should be doing to please others, to please society in general and to fit in. 

For women and money this is complicated. Women today are taught the importance of being financially independent, to be self reliant because, after all, 'a man is not a plan'. However, sometimes the messages we hear growing up are inconsistent and conflicting. On the one hand, we're taught about the importance of money the need to spend and save it wisely. At the same time we are taught that it's just as important to be kind, sensitive and easy going; that the most important thing is our relationship with others and not our relationship with money. 

We are different to men: we are not taught how to be powerful or how to win at all costs. This makes us reluctant to demand what we think we deserve, including equal pay. 

To add insult to injury, going back generationally we were told at a very early age that girls are poor at maths. From this we conclude that we must be bad at finance and managing money as well. As a consequence, we lack confidence in dealing with money, preferring others to take charge. 

If our grandparents were raised during or shortly after the war, we also inherited a mentality of scarcity by our own parents, which continues to impact our attitude to risk and money as we become adults and parents in our own right.

 What has been the result? 

Besides the earnings gap which persists, a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit on behalf of Barclays Wealth showed that we are far less likely to take risks with our money, whether in personal finance or business affairs. Women tend to place less importance than men on our income from investments and we save to reach a goal. Once the goal is reached we will often act to protect what it is that we have built up. This means we are limiting our potential to create even more wealth and be financially free. 

Men have a different attitude and game plan. The same survey showed that men claim to have better knowledge than women of every aspect of personal finance. They are more confident and as Dr Ros Altmann, Governor of the London School of Economics states, "Men have more of a mindset that you have to just go out and get it and you can see their attitude towards risk taking in the games they play." It may just be a matter of confidence or bravado, but men play to win, take less time researching investment products and invest in the longer term. 

Does this all mean we are doomed to stay poor for the rest of our lives? No! It means that what you focus on is what you get and it's time to focus on getting rich. Being rich is a positive thing. It is about flexibility, freedom and being in control. 

What do we need, to become financially free? 

1. Choose to do something about your financial literacy. 

Financial skills are not innate but learnt. We need to learn financial skills and practice them to gain confidence.

2. Spend don't save 

Invest a defined amount (minimum 10% of your net income) every month into a high income bearing savings account - but don't leave it there. Once you have accumulated enough, buy an asset which will produce passive income indefinitely. This could be an investment property which produces positive cash flow or stocks which pay dividends. Use this positive cash flow to buy a second income generating asset and continue to build assets. 

3. Develop financial goals and stick to them 

After you've built your financial skill, define how much income and assets you need to make you feel 'rich'. This will be different for each individual. If you are planning your retirement fund aim to build a fund that contains 25 times the annual amount you want to have when you retire. So, if you want a total income of $35,000 each year when you retire, you need to have $875,000 in your retirement fund.

4. Reward achievement in investment - don't use spending as emotional support 

A client wanted to buy a new Audi sportscar for $500 per month. Our challenge to her was to develop a stream of passive income to produce $500 per month within a year and then buy the sportscar as a reward. 

5. Network, network, network - but network with financially literate and clever people. 

We are told that we are great at networking so use this skill to build networks with others (both men and women) who are interested in building wealth. 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Pam_Kennett/31862