Finances @ MindSay 
money
I don’t know how families make it these days. Exactly what yearly salary does it take to live comfortably for a family of 4? To afford a reasonable house, afford a reasonable vehicle or 2, eat relatively healthy, be reasonably insured, and enjoy a reasonable amount of daily life?
I find myself chasing the elusive dollar. As soon as I get some, it’s gone. I work harder for more. As soon as I get it, gone again. I feel guilty because I’m a working parent. Albeit part time. Then I feel guilty that I don’t work enough. Albeit part time.
I have worked fulltime and our financial picture didn’t significantly change. We ate out more because I was too tired from working. We were all bloated from too much fast food, and depressed from being on task 24/7 with no down time and gained 15 pounds. I’ve not worked at all and our financial picture didn’t significantly change either. We didn’t eat out as much. We were all depressed that we couldn’t eat bad food, had too much time on our hands and we ate too much homemade food out of boredom. The weight stayed on.
What is the goal? Is the goal to be home and broke but together? Or is the goal to chase the dollar and be too exhausted to enjoy it? How do we “In the Middle” make it?
As I approach the two-year anniversary of when my wife foolishly said, “I do” (figuratively, since who actually says that at a wedding?), I’ve been thinking about what we should do to celebrate, beyond dinner at our favorite restaurant (Melting Pot) and presenting her with her shiny new Nokia camera, nothing sounds more appealing than spending time frolicking with our new puppy.
That’s right, our all black three and a half month old Portuguese Water Dog (yes, that is the dog Obama has; no, that is not why we got him). I don’t want to lock myself in a room and write, I don’t want to research agents and publishing houses to pitch, I want to go to a park or a lake or even just the backyard with the woman and the doggie I love. Comparing that sentiment to my honeymoon, when I typed away on a novel while the cruise ship rocked us back and forth, I’ve realized this blog, which started on January 9, all the way back in 2006, has become more of a chronicle of my maturity to adulthood than my attempts to get published. And perhaps nothing is more evident of that than the massive gaps between posts, stagnant because I’m spending time working my full-time job, or working my recent new part-time job, or working on my house, or working to train the puppy, or the best of all, spending time with my lovely wife. Our friends are having a baby in a few months. Our pool is about to be opened and our new grill is begging to start charring. I’m about to sit on a panel talking to college graduates about working life. When I started this blog, I was a kid. Now, I’m…an adult.
But that doesn’t mean I’ve abandoned my dreams of becoming a published author. I’m still waiting for my wife and friend and screenwriter I admire greatly to review my most recent three novels, and while waiting I’ve written a few short stories to send to contests (something I promised myself and this audience I’d do months ago). But I also recognize that in my absence from this blog, while doing all that growing up, our economy has changed drastically, and with it, so has the publishing industry.
One of my first posts was about the insanity of ever expecting to publish a book (especially a fiction novel) outside of self-publishing. Multiple that message to the umpth degree now, where even the superstar writers of the world are seeing shrinking advances.
But there is still hope. There is still advice I can offer. And I present it in the following five tips on how to publish a book in a wretched economy:
- Make yourself a brand – you may not be a Stephen King or Jody Piccoutt yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t market like you are. Create a blog (better than this one), submit articles to online publications, contact local radio stations to see if they’d be interested in the story of who you are and what you’re trying to do (or if you’re a non-fiction writer offer yourself as a guest to discuss your specialization), become the next MySpace phenomenon (but first find the next MySpace, since that site, as well as Facebook and Twitter, are so last month)
- Create a package – Just your book isn’t enough anymore; develop the book, as well as online videos, photos or drawings to accompany the text, corresponding articles for outside publications, potential sequels, a graphic novel companion piece, action figures, etc.; whatever is appropriate for your work. And make it clear that you are willing and able to take on much of the marketing; working on a website, traveling like crazy to multiple book readings and signings, hitting up conferences, phoning into radio show after radio show after radio show (and just so you know: you may have to be the one pitching the radio shows and organization the book signings as well).
- Polish your writing – Your novel is perfect, right? No, it could always be better. Since publishers are barely accepting new work right now, take this time to send your work to friends for their review. Join book clubs. Edit again and again and again. Make sure it is beyond perfect, which doesn’t actually exist, like someone giving 110 percent. See, I’m rambling. This should be edited. Don’t ramble. Edit. A lot.
- Be patient – The economy will rebound, and people will find renewed love for writing, and with J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer motivating new groups of people to read, and with Dan Brown about to excite pro- and anti-religious groups all over again, the market is ripe for growth. Do what my dog can’t do yet and “stay, stay, good boy.” You’ll get that treat eventually.
- Keep writing – The most obvious, corny, important advice I can give; keep writing. Keep honing your craft. Keep thinking about that new idea, the one that is so different from everything else out there, the one that the publishers can’t help but pay attention to. It’s in you, and now, with no pressure weighing you down, is the perfect time to pull it out.
I tell you what, let’s make a deal. If you keep writing, I will. Okay? Good. Let’s get to it.
Make real money investing in real estate by Lou Vukas
 |  |  |
| M A K E A F O R T U N E I N R E A L E S T A T E |
 |
| WARNING: You're about to read a shocking report that has all the "gurus" up in arms... and outraged at me for releasing! But I don't care. Read my story now as I expose the truth about what it really takes for a beginner to make a fortune in real estate. Learn... |
"How To Make A Quick $10,000 Or More Buying And Selling Foreclosures In 30 Days Or Less...Without Dealing With a Single Tenant...Smug Banker...Or Even Having Your Credit Pulled." |
|
Dear Friend, If you've ever wanted to make a fortune in real estate, but you have no money, no credit and no experience, then here's a 100% guaranteed way for you to do it in the shortest time possible.
But first ... You'll want to keep your eyes glued to this page. Because the money making secrets you're about to discover are not only proven to work, but they're also guaranteed to cost you nothing! My name is is Lou Vukas and the first thing you should know about me is...I'm not some real estate guru or financial advisor. I never finished college and I don't have a degree in anything. In fact, the only thing I consider myself an "expert" in is... Teaching Average People How To Make Fast Cash In Real Estate...Without Risk, A Lot Of Money, Or A Lot Of Time! I know...because I do it everyday for my clients and for myself. Listen; not long ago, I was in the same place financially as you are right now. And probably worse. I wasn't born into money and in all honesty I never had much in the beginning. I had plenty of debt, but actual cash was very, very hard to come by. I finished high school, and got a job as a forklift driver in Gary, Indiana (right by the Trump Casino) at a sand blasting plant for $12.31 an hour. I stayed there for about a year, and then I went to work for a local bridge-building company where it was considered a privilege to work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. (Some privilege!) I had to do something about it... That's when I finally realized I would never achieve my life's dreams manhandling I-beams 90 feet in the air while the big boss sipped coffee and read the daily newspaper — and made twice as much money as me! A couple of brushes with death and almost losing a couple fingers finally pushed me over the edge. So I left that company with just $300 in the bank...a beat-up, rusty 1988 Toyota pick-up truck...trashed credit (a gross understatement)...and over $25,000 in debt. And I went out to stake my claim in real estate. And just like everyone else... I Bought Every Book, Program, Course... |
See, here's my rule. Once Thanksgiving comes, if I haven't gotten you a gift and what you want can't be purchased at a local non-chain shop, then you don't get anything or get something different than you wanted. Because that is the marker for me that says malls and shopping centers are off limits.
I don't get involved in the fighting over products, standing in line for two hours, being at the store at 3:00 in the morning, etc. There is no deal on this planet that is worth that kind of grief to me. There just isn't. And I don't understand people who enjoy this crap.
People, your kid will get over not getting the hottest toy on the market, and if he doesn't you probably should have spent more time showing him who was the actual boss of your household. I understand wanting your child to have a good holiday, but come on. We've all done without and still had a wonderful holiday.
Besides, think of it this way. You don't buy it for him, he cries for a while. You do buy it for him, he's thrilled, he breaks it 20 minutes later, and he cries for a while. Either way... the kid's gonna cry.
As for my adult friends, whom I will be shopping for, they don't seem to cry as much. Although there's that one guy...
Anyway, as I was saying. No deal is worth this grief. And I would be upset to find out someone went through it for me. Because I sure as hell am not going through it for anyone.
If you are shopping, please calm the hell down. Remember the world won't end if someone grabs it before you do. Life will actually go on. This is suppossed to be a nice, warm, peaceful time of year. So let's not go running into the stores for blood sport, sound good?
What was special about Noah? He was righteous in his generation. His name means "Rest".
Solomon was visitted by the Queen of Sheba. She questioned him intently and paid him a large sum of gold. She was pretty much amazed by his wisdom.
Who established the financial markets of the world? Who first came up with the idea that gold is more precious than copper? Who decided that we should earn a wage? Who decided that we should pay high prices for the things we need, and the things we just want?
In the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John at Patmos, great things are described. Many symbols are used. Some things are obvious, some things are not.
Do we really think that the government knows it is a puppet show? Does any one really believe that on each full moon the politicians who willingly serve go out in the woods dressed in dark mossy robes and burn incense to what god they chose to follow? Or is the reason so many politicians deny the existence of such a plot is because, if they acknowledged it, they would be admitting that they have no power or control, and they are only puppets...
John is told about a mark that people would recieve. John is told of kingdoms that would rise and fall. John is told that anti-Christ would be revealed.
We are given a clue: Here is wisdom... let him that understands count the number of the beast, it is the number of man, 666. Sheba paid Solomon 666 talents of gold. The number of the beast is not the actual mark. It is the financial system. The government is more or less a puppet in the grand scheme. Lucifer, the most beautiful angel has not yet lost his beauty. He has a plan to rule the entire free world by siezing control of the world financial market.
I have told people this for years. Now look at the mess were in because they would not listen to reason.
Lord Jesus, hurry up, please. Amen.
Showing 1 - 5. [ Next ]
