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What in the World!?!

posted May 27, 2012, 10:22 AM by Janice Harmond   [ updated Aug 27, 2016, 8:54 AM ]

 
Hi, fellow bloggers and blog followers. Let me tell you a bit about myself first. I am a tax and small business consultant. I am self employed and have been since 1999. Right now, I am doing something I very rarely do. I am at a local laundromat.  As I sat here, thinking of what to talk about, I watched and smiled as my feet, leg and laundry cart were assaulted by the kids here with mom, dad, grandparent or whomever. On comes my light bulb! I realize that the primary reason for our country’s economic woes is, are you ready? People are not and have never, for the large majority of the US population, been ‘taught’ about money and the responsibility that comes with it!

How did this mess get so out of hand?!

Here is my concern. If the grandparents were not taught, if the parents are not taught and the children (who are the future of this country) are not taught, what in the world can we possibly expect for our future!?!

In school, children are taught how to read, write, do math (including count money), make bombs, dissect small animals, run for student council president and know north south east and west. However, when a child gets his or her very first paycheck, do they know that they too should have a budget? Are they saving for their futures? Here’s one, do their pay envelopes have instructions?

Here is what I propose. Let’s make a committment to change this downward spiral in our communities!

 

Stay tuned as we figure this out together!

Ideas, suggestions, contacts? Email me at:  jharmond@barmondenterprises.com

 
 

Let's Talk Money

posted Jan 26, 2011, 7:32 AM by Janice Harmond   [ updated Sep 29, 2016, 4:01 PM ]

This is the first of what I expect to become many seriously informational blogs. As a woman, I thought long and hard about what matters most to us ladies. That being said, I've come to the conclusion that this should be about women and our money. As children, we are 'taken care' of and are taught that is the way it should be. Really? Then we become teenage girls and our brothers, fathers, boyfriends 'take care' of us. From that point into adulthood, society tells us that it is the man's place to take care of us and provide. The 'man of the house' is supposed to bring home the bacon, and dictate (for lack of a better word), what the finances will be and how they will be handled.

It has been my personal and business experience that joint is absolutely the best option, bar none. It makes both partners equally responsible. The family that plans and saves together, stays together. As women, we must pass this on! Money and Finances are usually in the top 5 reasons cited for divorce. Often I hear 'I'm not good with money'. This actually strengthens my argument. The best way to improve at something is do it! Another of my favorite excuses is 'I don't understand that stuff". Again, the more we face off with something, the more comfortable we get and the more knowledgeable we get. Given all this, I've put together a short list of helpful money tips for women.
  1. I know you love your children. However, it is not an option. Save for your later years first. Why? First, when you factor in the time away from work during our child bearing and family raising years, we lose years and money as compared to our male counterparts. Secondly, as women, we typically live several years longer than men. The longer we live, the more money we will need.
  2. Be a part of the household's money decision making process. It does not matter whether you are a stay at home mom/spouse or you earn more than your mate. Both of you NEED to know what is going on with your money. Budget together, plan together, pay bills together, save together. Get the picture?
  3. This is one I am all too familiar with. Do not sell yourself cheap. You and what you do have value. If you have a job and decide to ask for a raise, ask for what you want (what you feel you are worth). What's the worst that could happen....the boss says no? If you have your own business, make sure that your fees for services rendered are in line with the industry. You are not the dollar store!
  4. Take good care of your money. We are care givers by nature. We take care of our husband/partner, our parents, children, pets, we need to do the same for our hard earned money. Do we really need that $2000 bag? (It will be out of style next year anyway.)

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