money visualization

A while back we introduced the MoneyNing Manifesto for financial success in the New Year. Its purpose is to empower and motivate you to financial success next year.

Another powerful technique we’re introducing to change your money mindset is visualization

If you look up visualization online, you’ll find page after page of “self-help” gurus shilling the idea that you can achieve your goals through the simple act of picturing their achievement in your head.

According to them, if you see yourself achieving your goals, you eventually will.

While there is scientific evidence to back this theory, it’s buried beneath countless pages written by Internet marketers. These guys have been touting this method of turning impossible dreams into easy reality for years.

The data, however, is there, and the method does work.

But, this is a financial blog, not a self-help blog… so you know where we’re going with this, right?

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travel tips
For those of us who travel infrequently, taking a flight can be a budget minefield. It’s not just the constantly rising price of airline tickets, either.

If you don’t plan ahead the next time you fly to Aunt Sylvia’s for the holidays, you may find that the associated costs of flying — from checked luggage to parking to food — may just put a big hole in your travel budget.

Here are the ways frequent flyers keep their costs low:

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Most of us know that one of the most important steps to build wealth over the long term is to invest our money, but the idea of investing, for many, is scary. The memories of the last financial crisis may finally be starting to fade, and anyone who remembers that time can tell you of someone they know who had their entire retirement accounts chopped in half. In fact, it was so painful people started calling their 401ks 201ks. Many people had to put off retirement because of the decline, and that’s if they are lucky to still have a job.

While stock market valuations are much higher now, some people are still concerned about what could be coming next. The economy may be doing better, but the headlines are as scary as ever. War, brexit, and the Fed raising interest rates too fast all seem to be just around the corner. In these types of conditions, it’s hard to remain calm when it comes to your money.

Before you panic, though, it’s a good idea to step back. Often, the solution is not to unceremoniously dump your investments, especially stocks. It’s better to have a measured response to the issue. Here are a few things you can do to in order to help you remain calm when you aren’t sure about the market:
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cable tv

Cable companies are a supreme example of a natural monopoly. They’re the easiest example for economics professors to use, because, due to structural conditions, only a few competitors can exist in any cable market. Often, there is only one option that consumers can choose. The consumer has no leverage and is thus at the mercy of the cable company.

Over the years, the price of cable has increased significantly. Luckily, other forms of technology and media have grown as well, leading to a shift in favor of the consumer.

If your cable bill is too high, you now have options. 
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There are a number of unscrupulous types out there, waiting to take your hard earned money. One of the most common ways criminals try and scam you is to “phish” for your information. In these types of scams, you are asked to reveal personal financial information. This information can then be used to commit identity fraud — and can cost you in time and in money.

Consumer Reports Money Adviser has issued a warning about three different scams that have been circulating recently. While the affected areas, so far, are rather small, you never know when something will spread. Here are some scams to be aware of:
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buying a house
My entire family got involved when I first considered buying a house, since I have the luck of being related to real estate agents, investors, and other experts that are more than happy to give advice about buying a property — even before I ask.

The first thing they asked me was exactly how long I expected to stay in the house. Though I didn’t know the exact amount of time, they wanted to make sure that I’d own the house for at least five years.

Why’s that? What’s the five-year rule for buying a house? 
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