Queercents

When investors buy shares of company stock, they expect that company to use their money to generate returns by using the money wisely. A good investor will do a lot of research, including looking at the company’s past financial statements, free cash flow, return on equity, and other factors, to be confident that their money will be put to good use and generate a suitable return. Giving money to charity is similar - the returns are just in a different form. Instead of using your money to make more money, you expect the charity to fund AIDS research, find missing children, feed the hungry, etc. Some charities are better at this than others, and just like buying company stock, it’s a good idea to do some research before handing over your money. There are some organizations out there that research and rate charities in order to help you get the biggest bang for your charity buck, but how helpful are these ratings really? Read the rest of this entry »

Oh the hustle and bustle is upon us. Even if you adopted all those stress-busting techniques I told you about in last month’s teleclass, I’m sure you can still feel the holiday buzz rise. Heck, the darn turkey was barely cooled and the Santas and string lights were popping up all over lawns. Companies and retailers all have the “perfect gift for you” as the many commercials will tell you….but….only YOU have the power to give the Greatest Gift ever.

Not only is it the greatest gift you can give yourself and all those you love, but the coolest part is that it

• doesn’t need batteries
• doesn’t come with a monthly fee
• doesn’t cost a lot of money
• lasts for a lifetime
• gets better with age and attention
• no shipping & handling, and no “out of stock” disappointments

Read the rest of this entry »

My partner and I went to Gay Days at Disney World in Orlando for the first time in June of this year. You may have read stories in the press about the economic impact of this yearly event, but it’s not news to the people who work there. We took cab rides on several occasions, and I think every single cab driver mentioned how they were working all weekend because it’s their best weekend of the year. Hotels all over the area host parties and events for the occasion. An event that used to draw criticism and controversy, including boycotts by religious groups and signs at park entrances warning patrons of large numbers of gays and lesbians, has given way to businesses tripping over each other to welcome and provide products and services to those same people. This is commercialism in action. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know Thanksgiving is just a week away? And, with Thanksgiving the official start of the “Holiday Season” (whatever that means), at least in the US, a whole host of other holidays are just around the corner.

Does the thought of this season..

• Make your palms sweat?
• Fill you with dread?
• Stress you out?
• Activate panic and overwhelm inside of you?
• Send you back into the closet?

Well, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way! If you’re anything like me, the holidays often become more about drama, doing a million things, trying to please everyone, and crawling out of your authentic skin and into some facade. Well, no more! I’m here to stand up for all my comfortable in your own skin principles and tell you that you can have it YOUR WAY. Or, at the very least you can enjoy the holidays in a way that feels right to you.

In just 2 months we tend to spend more money than during the whole rest of the year (except for maybe a vacation). Read the rest of this entry »

Last night we got to experience Halloween in a new way. As a stand-in parent for our neighbor’s boy. So we did the march around the neighborhood with the rest of the adults shepherding kids on the trick or treating mission. As we wandered around I couldn’t help but think about the economics and psychonomics (I think I made that word up — but I mean mindset) of this consumer made holiday.

From what I can tell, the Great Pumpkin is running neck and neck with Santa Claus when it comes to the most expensive holiday of the year. It’s not just the U.S. that has experienced this boon, according to this article which puts the Canadian spin on things:

The Retail Council of Canada estimates that Canadians spend $1.15 billion on candy, pumpkins, costumes and decorations as they mark the scariest night of the year, which this year amounts to about $59 each, down from $60 in 2006.

Of course in the US, land of the consumer, we go one better as we tally up the spooky cost of Halloween

According to the National Retail Foundation, Americans are expected to fork out more than $5 billion this Halloween season.

From what I saw last night, this doesn’t surprise me one bit. Halloween used to be a few bags of candy and a costume. Now it is a huge industry of decorations, lights, and large blow-up things that makes the neighborhood look like an orange and black version of Christmas. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s an example of how frustrating banking can be…even for us financial professionals. The bank where I conduct my business banking (let’s call them Bank W) started enforcing one of their policies. Here’s how their minor change played out from a customers perspective.

A couple weeks ago I took a deposit to the ATM at Bank W. The deposit was larger than usual because it included a check from our HELOC at Bank X. I was taking a short-term loan from our home equity line of credit to get my business situated in a new office.

A few days later, I balanced my business account by accessing Bank Ws on-line information. I was shocked to learn that the HELOC check I’d deposited was reversed out. What? I called Bank Ws 800 number for more information. The customer service rep informed me the check was not endorsed and she didn’t have more information. Her only suggestion was for me to go to the branch to resolve the issue. I felt a frustrating situation getting worse. Read the rest of this entry »

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities. In the
expert’s mind there are few.”
– Shunryu Suzuki

The concept of “Beginner’s Mind” has been around for ages. Yet, as people dying to be seen as “expert” and “adult” we often resist letting go of the need to know everything. After all, we have careers where we are paid based on our expertise. If we are parents we are expected to be experts on raising children and answering all their questions. The list of ways we need to be “in the know” in our lives just goes on and on… Read the rest of this entry »

• One who recognizes opportunities and organizes resources to take advantage of the opportunity.

• A person who takes the risk of organizing and operating a new business venture.

• One who assumes the financial risk of the initiation, operation, and management of a given business undertaking.

Entrepreneur. Does the word describe you? Entrepreneur.com points out common traits of entrepreneurs and helps you consider this route.

I’ve been a self-employed entrepreneur for several years now. It’s been a dream of mine to be my own boss, head up my own company. While running my own business comes with pleasant perks and horrific hassles, I wouldn’t change it for a traditional 9-5. In fact, I encourage researching entrepreneurship or self-employment to anyone considering it. I’ve even inspired a few friends to start their own businesses.

My last formal employment netted me two lifelong friends, Polly and Gary. I also met my partner, Khaia, because of that job. Khaia is now self-employed as a general contractor, and Polly owns her own design firm. And finally today….welcome Gary! He gave notice yesterday! We celebrated with some after work drinks, hence the late post.

The transition from employee to business owner can be difficult. In Gary’s instance, he transition from being an independent contractor. Cutting one of your main client lifelines can feel like you’re tossing your life preserver into the ocean. How will you save yourself without it? Making a bold step like this encourages you to look for new opportunities. Gary let his one main client go and opened the door to a million potential options. As scary as the leap of faith seems, great things are on the other side.

So, if you’ve got an ounce of entrepreneurship in your body and have ever considered flying solo, here are a few reasons to go for it: Read the rest of this entry »

I learned about siesta first as a child visiting Mexico and then as an adult from pure necessity. I used to be a preschool teacher from 8-1 every day. That half-day would feel like I had been running ragged for twelve hours. At exactly 2:30 I would get home and not be able to stay awake to work on my creative projects. I did that in the evening, after napping.

At about this time of year, when it finally gets hot in the Northwest, I start needing a daily nap. I was shaking my fist recently at some radio news as some financial people interviewed poo-pooed the idea of a siesta benefiting corporate America. It’s cut-throat survival of the fittest here and fit seems to mean exhausted and jacked-up on caffeine. Mediterranean climates, and our neighbors to the south have  historically known a different kind of work day. 

The numbers are there as the Siesta Awareness website notes:

“A short 10-20 minute nap in the middle of a working day can increase productivity by over 30% and alertness by 100% as well as improve memory and concentration, according to NASA.” Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve probably heard the saying “time is money.” The key to that phrase is in understanding that being organized saves time, thus being organized saves money. Being organized with your finances is no different. It can save you money too!

Here’s a little Cosmo-esque quiz to determine how organized you are! Instructions at the end will help you tally your score!

1. Turn on your favorite CD and see how long it takes you to gather your bank, credit card, investment, and other financial statements. TIP: Just pull out the paper documents for this year-to-date. How long did it take you?

• a. 1 song
• b. ½ a CD
• c. The entire CD
• d. You’ve played every song on your iPod and you’re still searching! Read the rest of this entry »