According to a CNBC article, there are a handful of rich athletes who live like they're broke. Read about these pro athletes who keep the millions of dollars they earn by being smart about their finances. It really is a testament to their frugal and savvy lifestyle.  Sigh... they're just like us :)  Read on, and maybe you can even learn some money tips along the way!
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Despite earning massive paychecks, a surprising number of former professional athletes end up broke. NFL players, for example, make an average of $1.9 million a year. Yet a full fifteen percent of them end up declaring bankruptcy. A handful of pros are working to make sure they won't fall into that category. Here are some athletes who earn millions, but you'd never know it based on their lifestyle.
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DANIEL NORRIS
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​When MLB pitcher Daniel Norris was drafted at age 18 in 2011, he scored a $2 million signing bonus that made him a millionaire overnight. But the Detroit Tiger doesn't live like a millionaire. Norris drives a $10,000 Volkswagen camper, which he converted into a tiny home and lives in during the off-season.

​He also lives off of less than $1,000 a month, ESPN's Eli Saslow reported in 2015: "His advisers deposit $800 a month into his checking account — or about half as much as he would earn working full time for minimum wage." "Just because money is there doesn't mean you have to have nicer things than you used to have," Norris told ESPN. "I'm actually more comfortable being kind of poor."

​KIRK COUSINS
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Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins earned $19.9 million last year and will take home $23.9 million this year. Yet the 29-year-old NFL star still chooses to live in his parents' basement with his wife during the summer. He also drives a dented GMC Savana passenger van that he bought from his grandma for $5,000.

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RYAN KERRIGAN
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Cousins isn't the only Redskin living on the cheap. Pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan, who signed a five-year, $57.5 million contract in 2015, shares an apartment with childhood friend Andrew Walker and drives a modest Chevy Tahoe. Kerrigan also keeps his food costs low, Walker tells the Journal: "He makes most of his own meals but when he does splurge, he's going to Chipotle." How awesome is it that he's not only frugal (like me), but he also loves bulldogs (like me), check out his English Bulldogs Franklin and George below.

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RYAN BROYLES

​Wide receiver Ryan Broyles, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2012 and is currently a free agent, has lived on a modest $60,000 a year throughout his NFL career. That's a fraction of his salary, which has been as high as $570,000. He prefers to stash the rest of his earnings in investments and retirement savings accounts. "I still splurge every now and then," Broyles writes on The Players' Tribune, but, in general, he keeps things cheap: "I don't have cable. I use Apple TV and Netflix. My wife and I don't go out to eat a lot, and I make sure I pay off my credit cards every month."

GLOVER QUIN

The Detroit Lions safety, who earns an average of $6.5 million a year, has been saving 70 percent of his take-home pay since he was drafted in 2009. Quin is also a savvy investor. He puts 10 to 20 percent of his savings in private equity companies, which could eventually double his income. The plan has always been to "save as much money as I can and spend as little as I can in the time that I have in the league," Quin tells CNBC, "so that I can maximize my future."

LEBRON JAMES

Everyone knows LeBron plays stingy defense, but it turns out that ~stinginess~ also leaks into his life off the basketball court, according to this BuzzFeed post. During an interview with his freind and teammate Dwayne Wade, ESPN's Rachel Nichols asked LeBron if it's tru that he's the cheapest guy in the NBA," as Wade says he is. LeBron admitted there's some truth behind that sentiment, listing a few examples of his frugalness, with comments such as ... "I still got Pandora with commercials" and "I'm not buying no apps" and below. Who knew LeBron and I have so much in common!

For more tips on savvy investments and living large on a frugal budget, click HERE.
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​I believe we can all benefit from what books billionaire Warren Buffett have read. After all, he is one of the most successful investment moguls in the world. Here is a list of 9 books Warren Buffet thinks everyone should read. These books are helpful guides to anyone looking to be a little more business savvy.

   

When Warren Buffett started his investing career, he would read 600, 750, or 1,000 pages a day. Even now, he still spends about 80 percent of his day reading. "Look, my job is essentially just corralling more and more and more facts and information, and occasionally seeing whether that leads to some action," he once said in an interview. "We don't read other people's opinions," he says. "We want to get the facts, and then think."

​To help you get into the mind of the billionaire investor, Business Insider rounded up his book recommendations over 20 years of interviews and shareholder letters.

1. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

When Buffett was 19 years old, he picked up a copy of legendary Wall Streeter Benjamin Graham's Intelligent Investor. It was the one of the luckiest moments of his life, he said, because it gave him the intellectual framework for investing.

"To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information," Buffett said. "What's needed is a sound intellectual framework for making decisions and the ability to keep emotions from corroding that framework. This book precisely and clearly prescribes the proper framework. You must provide the emotional discipline."

Click here for book details.

     

2. Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham

Buffett said that Security Analysis, another groundbreaking work of Graham's, had given him "a road map for investing that I have now been following for 57 years."

The book's core insight: If your analysis is thorough enough, you can figure out the value of a company — and if the market knows the same.

Buffett has said that Graham was the second-most influential figure in his life, after only his father. "Ben was this incredible teacher; I mean he was a natural," he said.

Click here for book details.

    

3. Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits 
by Philip Fisher

While investor Philip Fisher — who specialized in investing in innovative companies — didn't shape Buffett in quite the same way as Graham did, he still holds him in the highest regard.

"I am an eager reader of whatever Phil has to say, and I recommend him to you," Buffett said.

In Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits, Fisher emphasizes that fixating on financial statements isn't enough — you also need to evaluate a company's management.

Click here for book details.

    

4. Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crises 
by Tim Geithner

Buffett says that the former Secretary of the Treasury's book about the financial crisis is a must-read for any manager. 

Lots of books have been written about how to manage an organization through tough times. Almost none are firsthand accounts of steering a wing of government through economic catastrophe.

"This wasn't just a little problem on the fringes of the U.S. mortgage market," Geithner writes. "I had a sick feeling in my stomach. I knew what financial crises felt like, and they felt like this."

Click here for book details.

   

5. The Essays of Warren Buffett 
by Warren Buffett

If you want to get to know the way Buffett thinks, go straight to the Sage himself.

In this collection, he keeps it very real — in his signature folksy-intellectual fashion.

"What could be more advantageous in an intellectual contest — whether it be chess, bridge, or stock selection —than to have opponents who have been taught that thinking is a waste of energy?" he asks.

Click here for book details.

    

6. Jack: Straight From the Gut 
by Jack Welch

In his 2001 shareholder letter, Buffett gleefully endorses Jack: Straight From the Gut, a business memoir of longtime GE exec Jack Welch, whom Buffett describes as "smart, energetic, hands-on."

In commenting on the book, Bloomberg Businessweek wrote that "Welch has had such an impact on modern business that a tour of his personal history offers all managers valuable lessons."

Buffett's advice: "Get a copy!"


Click here for book details.

    

7. The Outsiders 
by William Thorndike, Jr.

In his 2012 shareholder letter Buffett praises Outsiders as "an outstanding book about CEOs who excelled at capital allocation."

Berkshire Hathaway plays a major role in the book. One chapter is on director Tom Murphy, who Buffett says is "overall the best business manager I've ever met."

The book — which finds patterns of success from execs at The Washington Post, Ralston Purina, and others — has been praised as "one of the most important business books in America" by Forbes.


Click here for book details.

      

8. The Clash of the Cultures by John Bogle

Bogle's The Clash of the Cultures is another recommendation from the 2012 shareholder letter.
In it, Bogle — creator of the index fund and founder of the Vanguard Group, now managing $2 trillion in assets — argues that long-term investing has been crowded out by short-term speculation. But the book isn't all argument. It finishes with practical tips, like:
1. Remember reversion to the mean. What's hot today isn't likely to be hot tomorrow. The stock market reverts to fundamental returns over the long run. Don't follow the herd.
2. Time is your friend, impulse is your enemy. Take advantage of compound interest and don't be captivated by the siren song of the market. That only seduces you into buying after stocks have soared and selling after they plunge.

Click here for book details.

    

9. Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales From the World of Wall Street by John Brooks

Back in 1991, Bill Gates asked Buffett what his favorite book was. To reply, Buffett sent the Microsoft founder his personal copy of Business Adventures, a collection of New Yorker stories by John Brooks. Gates says that the book serves as a reminder that the principles for building a winning business stay constant. He writes:

For one thing, there's an essential human factor in every business endeavor. It doesn't matter if you have a perfect product, production plan and marketing pitch; you'll still need the right people to lead and implement those plans. The book has become a media darling as of late; Slate wrote that it's "catnip for billionaires."

Click here for book details.

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

     

Do you or anyone you know have a hectic life? Do you feel overwhelmed at times? Anyone can make their lives a little less complicated and a lot more stress-free. I've listed some ways that I've personally done to simplify my life and in the process either saved money or even made some money:)

Here are 13 things you can do to simplify your life:

1. De-clutter and Purge - We all tend to accumulate "stuff". When it becomes a bit overwhelming, it's time to de-clutter your home, your car, your closet, your purse/wallet and your office. I allow myself to purchase one new (or vintage) item as long as I've purged one item out aka the "one in, one out" rule. I usually have a garage sale (extra money, yay!) or donate it to charity once I've edited things I no longer need or want.

2. Organize - Now that you've gotten rid of unnecessary clutter, it's time to get organized! I've found that baskets are a great way to keep things neat and tidy. I use baskets for towels in the linen closet, for office supplies, I even use baskets in my refrigerator. Keep paperwork, bills, invoices, etc.. labeled and filed in folders. You can also save a lot of time by organizing your closet so that you can see everything at a glance. By having a place for everything it will make it easier and simpler to find things when you need them.

3. Consolidate Finances - Although I believe in having a diversified investment portfolio, I think having one or two banking institutions has made my life a little more simple. I only use one credit card (linked to my checking account) which I always pay off each month. Plus it's a cash-back rewards credit card. I keep track of all of my expenses daily, so there are no surprises  (like fraudulent charges). I have my savings and CD's with Ally Bank, which is a great online bank that offers one of the best interest rates around.

4. Make a List - I'm a big believer of writing things down. Whether it's a grocery list, an errands list, a 5 year goal list, etc.. I think it's important to visualize your tasks or goals. For example, by having a list when I go food shopping, I tend to stick to the list and in turn save money along the way. It's a great feeling to cross something off my list once I've accomplished said item on list.

5. Eliminate Cable & Phone Landline - I eliminated both my cable/satellite and home phone line years ago. It's so freeing to not waste time flipping channels looking for shows I don't really care about. I now only watch my favorite shows online for free (on Tubi or Crackle) whenever I want to. I got rid of my landline and only use my cell phone, because my cell plan is unlimited everything, this saves me a lot of money!

6. Plan Errands Efficiently - When I run errands or go shopping, I try to do it all in one trip. Not only does this save me time and effort, but it saves on gasoline as well. If there's a coupon that's about to expire and it's something I am actually going to use, I plan my trip around that day.

7. Automate Payments - Most people already do this - by automating your bill paying online, you will never miss a payment, which means you avoid late fees plus you save money on postage. Set up auto payments for your mortgage, credit card, utilities, etc.. online. Make sure to keep track of your recurring expenses so that you know you're within your monthly budget. You should also automatically deposit a recurring amount to your savings account.

8. Don't Let Things Pile Up - The most overwhelming part of tidying up is when it's a big pile of mess! Don't let things get to a point where it seems too much to take on. For example, when the mail arrives, designate whether it's something to keep or toss in recycle bin. Also, when you have enough dirty clothes for a large load (in cold water to save energy) then it's time to do laundry. Rather than waiting till there's a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, wash them after each meal. By doing chores when they need to be done will seem less daunting. 

9. Pay Off Your Debt - This is easier said than done, but once you've eliminated or at least reduced your debt, you will feel a sense of freedom that's priceless! One tip I've already shared is to pay off your credit card balance at the end of each month, which means you don't incur interest charges. I have a set amount each month that I try to not go over (barring emergencies of course). Tackle your lower balanced loans or debts first and try to pay those off right away. If possible, use cash as much as possible and only spend what you can afford to pay off.

10. Eat Leftovers - I think it's a shame when perfectly good food goes to waste. Often times when we go out to eat, I or some of my friends have food they couldn't finish - I'm always the one packing it up to take home. By eating leftovers, it's just one more meal I don't have to worry about cooking, plus it's über frugal. Another simple tip that goes a long way is to make chicken soup in a slow cooker, this can make several cups of soup and clean up is easy!

11. Shop Around For Better Rates - Whether it's getting lower costs for your mortgage interest rate, mobile phone service, insurance rates, credit card interest rates or internet service, etc... it pays to shop around or better yet, if you are happy with your current provider, call them and ask to them to lower your payment. Most companies will give you a lower rate in order to keep you as their (happy) customer.

12. Sell Your Unwanted Treasures - When you are clearing out your home or office, you will most likely come across items that are a little more than "garage sale" material. I have sold many items on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp that I do not need anymore such as furniture, electronics, designer shoes, plants, books, purses, etc..

13. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle - Instead of throwing away paper, cardboard, plastic, or glass... take it to your local recycling center. Not only is it good for the environment but you get paid in cash! Make sure to have designated containers for each category at home, to keep things organized.

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Did you make any new year's resolutions? Have you ever dreamed and wished you were rich? This book by James Roguski will make everyone who reads it a better and greater person. It will equip you with a working knowledge of the inner power that enables each of us to achieve any worthy goal and to enjoy all the pleasures that life has to offer.

You can unfold all of the buried talents and powers that lie dormant within you and learn how to apply these powers to increase your effectiveness, your energy, your discernment, your vigor and your mental capacity. You will learn exactly how to succeed at anything and everything you choose to do.

When you apply the information in this book, you will take possession of long lost abilities and secure results that you may have never dreamed possible.  Amongst these are the recognition of opportunity, a strengthening of your will, better use of your imagination, improved reasoning, and a more controlled use of your intuition, desire and emotions.

You will increase your initiative, your tenacity and your wisdom as well as your enjoyment and satisfaction in life. This book will help to attune you with the Infinite Intelligence so that you will attract all that you need into your life, repel all that you do not want, and live in harmony with the fundamental laws of Nature and Sprit.

Every person who is blessed to discover and place into practice the knowledge that is found on the pages of this powerful book will have substantial advantages over everyone else on earth. Some people seem to attract success, power, wealth, love and happiness with very little effort. Why? Because they know something that you do not know.  Read the book.  Improve your life.  Improve the world.

Click HERE to read the book. Click HERE to buy the book.

     

Here are 30 positive things to include on your To Do list for a happier and better life. This article comes from MarcAndAngel.com - a site with practical tips for everyday living.  Many of these tips align well with the frugal lifestyle, especially #9 - Start Enjoying The Things You Already Have and #30 - Start Noticing How Wealthy You Are Right Now. On a personal note, I started planning towards one of my dreams... I finally booked our apartment in Paris for next summer - et oui, il est trés savvy! More about that in future posts:)

1. Start spending time with the right people – These are the people you enjoy, who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways.  They are the ones who make you feel more alive, and not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be, unconditionally.
2. Start facing your problems head on – It isn’t your problems that define you, but how you react to them and recover from them.  Problems will not disappear unless you take action.  Do what you can, when you can, and acknowledge what you’ve done.  It’s all about taking baby steps in the right direction, inch by inch.  These inches count, they add up to yards and miles in the long run.
3. Start being honest with yourself about everything – Be honest about what’s right, as well as what needs to be changed.  Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become.  Be honest with every aspect of your life, always.  Because you are the one person you can forever count on.  Search your soul, for the truth, so that you truly know who you are.  Once you do, you’ll have a better understanding of where you are now and how you got here, and you’ll be better equipped to identify where you want to go and how to get there. Read The Road Less Traveled.
4. Start making your own happiness a priority – Your needs matter.  If you don’t value yourself, look out for yourself, and stick up for yourself, you’re sabotaging yourself.  Remember, it IS possible to take care of your own needs while simultaneously caring for those around you.  And once your needs are met, you will likely be far more capable of helping those who need you most.
5. Start being yourself, genuinely and proudly – Trying to be anyone else is a waste of the person you are.  Be yourself.  Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths and beauty like no one else.  Be the person you know yourself to be – the best version of you – on your terms.  Above all, be true to YOU, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.
6. Start noticing and living in the present – Right now is a miracle.  Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  So stop thinking about how great things will be in the future.  Stop dwelling on what did or didn’t happen in the past.  Learn to be in the ‘here and now’ and experience life as it’s happening.  Appreciate the world for the beauty that it holds, right now.
7. Start valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you – Mistakes are okay; they’re the stepping stones of progress.  If you’re not failing from time to time, you’re not trying hard enough and you’re not learning.  Take risks, stumble, fall, and then get up and try again.  Appreciate that you are pushing yourself, learning, growing and improving.  Significant achievements are almost invariably realized at the end of a long road of failures.  One of the ‘mistakes’ you fear might just be the link to your greatest achievement yet.
8. Start being more polite to yourself – If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?  The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.  You must love who you are or no one else will.
9. Start enjoying the things you already have – The problem with many of us is that we think we’ll be happy when we reach a certain level in life – a level we see others operating at – your boss with her corner office, that friend of a friend who owns a mansion on the beach, etc.  Unfortunately, it takes awhile before you get there, and when you get there you’ll likely have a new destination in mind.  You’ll end up spending your whole life working toward something new without ever stopping to enjoy the things you have now.  So take a quiet moment every morning when you first awake to appreciate where you are and what you already have.
10. Start creating your own happiness – If you are waiting for someone else to make you happy, you’re missing out.  Smile because you can.  Choose happiness.  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Be happy with who you are now, and let your positivity inspire your journey into tomorrow.  Happiness is often found when and where you decide to seek it.  If you look for happiness within the opportunities you have, you will eventually find it.  But if you constantly look for something else, unfortunately, you’ll find that too.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11. Start giving your ideas and dreams a chance – In life, it’s rarely about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance.  You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Most of the time you just have to go for it!  And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.
12. Start believing that you’re ready for the next step – You are ready!  Think about it.  You have everything you need right now to take the next small, realistic step forward.  So embrace the opportunities that come your way, and accept the challenges – they’re gifts that will help you to grow.
13. Start entering new relationships for the right reasons – Enter new relationships with dependable, honest people who reflect the person you are and the person you want to be.  Choose friends you are proud to know, people you admire, who show you love and respect – people who reciprocate your kindness and commitment.  And pay attention to what people do, because a person’s actions are much more important than their words or how others represent them.
14. Start giving new people you meet a chance – It sounds harsh, but you cannot keep every friend you’ve ever made.  People and priorities change.  As some relationships fade others will grow.  Appreciate the possibility of new relationships as you naturally let go of old ones that no longer work.  Trust your judgment.  Embrace new relationships, knowing that you are entering into unfamiliar territory.  Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to meet someone that might just change your life forever.
15. Start competing against an earlier version of yourself – Be inspired by others, appreciate others, learn from others, but know that competing against them is a waste of time.  You are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself.  You are competing to be the best you can be.  Aim to break your own personal records.
16. Start cheering for other people’s victories – Start noticing what you like about others and tell them.  Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places.  So be happy for those who are making progress.  Cheer for their victories.  Be thankful for their blessings, openly.  What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.
17. Start looking for the silver lining in tough situations – When things are hard, and you feel down, take a few deep breaths and look for the silver lining – the small glimmers of hope.  Remind yourself that you can and will grow stronger from these hard times.  And remain conscious of your blessings and victories – all the things in your life that are right.  Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t.
18. Start forgiving yourself and others – We’ve all been hurt by our own decisions and by others.  And while the pain of these experiences is normal, sometimes it lingers for too long.  We relive the pain over and over and have a hard time letting go.  Forgiveness is the remedy.  It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened.  It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life.
19. Start helping those around you – Care about people.  Guide them if you know a better way.  The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.  Love and kindness begets love and kindness.  And so on and so forth.
20. Start listening to your own inner voice – If it helps, discuss your ideas with those closest to you, but give yourself enough room to follow your own intuition.  Be true to yourself.  Say what you need to say.  Do what you know in your heart is right.
21. Start being attentive to your stress level and take short breaks – Slow down.  Breathe.  Give yourself permission to pause, regroup and move forward with clarity and purpose.  When you’re at your busiest, a brief recess can rejuvenate your mind and increase your productivity.  These short breaks will help you regain your sanity and reflect on your recent actions so you can be sure they’re in line with your goals.
22. Start noticing the beauty of small moments – Instead of waiting for the big things to happen – marriage, kids, big promotion, winning the lottery – find happiness in the small things that happen every day.  Little things like having a quiet cup of coffee in the early morning, or the delicious taste and smell of a homemade meal, or the pleasure of sharing something you enjoy with someone else, or holding hands with your partner.  Noticing these small pleasures on a daily basis makes a big difference in the quality of your life.
23. Start accepting things when they are less than perfect – Remember, ‘perfect’ is the enemy of ‘good.’  One of the biggest challenges for people who want to improve themselves and improve the world is learning to accept things as they are.  Sometimes it’s better to accept and appreciate the world as it is, and people as they are, rather than to trying to make everything and everyone conform to an impossible ideal.  No, you shouldn’t accept a life of mediocrity, but learn to love and value things when they are less than perfect.
24. Start working toward your goals every single day – Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.  Whatever it is you dream about, start taking small, logical steps every day to make it happen.  Get out there and DO something!  The harder you work the luckier you will become.  While many of us decide at some point during the course of our lives that we want to answer our calling, only an astute few of us actually work on it.  By ‘working on it,’ I mean consistently devoting oneself to the end result.  Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
25. Start being more open about how you feel – If you’re hurting, give yourself the necessary space and time to hurt, but be open about it.  Talk to those closest to you.  Tell them the truth about how you feel.  Let them listen.  The simple act of getting things off your chest and into the open is your first step toward feeling good again.
26. Start taking full accountability for your own life – Own your choices and mistakes, and be willing to take the necessary steps to improve upon them.  Either you take accountability for your life or someone else will.  And when they do, you’ll become a slave to their ideas and dreams instead of a pioneer of your own.  You are the only one who can directly control the outcome of your life.  And no, it won’t always be easy.  Every person has a stack of obstacles in front of them.  But you must take accountability for your situation and overcome these obstacles.  Choosing not to is choosing a lifetime of mere existence.
27. Start actively nurturing your most important relationships – Bring real, honest joy into your life and the lives of those you love by simply telling them how much they mean to you on a regular basis.  You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people.  Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like royalty.  Remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of.
28. Start concentrating on the things you can control – You can’t change everything, but you can always change something.  Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control is a recipe for frustration, misery and stagnation.  Invest your energy in the things you can control, and act on them now.
29. Start focusing on the possibility of positive outcomes – The mind must believe it CAN do something before it is capable of actually doing it.  The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.  Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.  Regardless of how a situation seems, focus on what you DO WANT to happen, and then take the next positive step forward.  No, you can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you react to things.  Everyone’s life has positive and negative aspects – whether or not you’re happy and successful in the long run depends greatly on which aspects you focus on.  Read The How of Happiness.
30. Start noticing how wealthy you are right now – Henry David Thoreau once said, “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.”  Even when times are tough, it’s always important to keep things in perspective.  You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.  You didn’t go to sleep outside.  You had a choice of what clothes to wear this morning.  You hardly broke a sweat today.  You didn’t spend a minute in fear.  You have access to clean drinking water.  You have access to medical care.  You have access to the Internet.  You can read.  Some might say you are incredibly wealthy, so remember to be grateful for all the things you do have.

     

Today's post from LifeHack Money will make you "think" about your relationship with money and how you attract wealth in your life. 

You've heard the classic saying "wishful thinking", many books have been written on this subject. One of the best known is Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich".

What is the key to becoming rich? You have to "think" rich. Ask yourself  if you have the 8 qualities listed below. Be honest with yourself, you might be surprised by some of your answers.

You may not know this, but your thoughts can affect your life. Thoughts are things. Scientists have measured vibrations of people’s thoughts and emotions, and they have found that positive, happy thoughts like love and appreciation vibrate very quickly. However, thoughts like fear, frustration, and envy vibrate very slowly. 

The phenomenon called the Law of Attraction explains the connection between your thoughts and your life – even your financial situation. In order to become rich, you must first be aware of the thoughts you have about money. If you find that you have any negative thoughts, you need to change them ASAP if you want to become rich. Here are 8 ways you can do that.

1. Believe you are worthy
Many people in our culture have low self-esteem. We are constantly bombarded with messages about how we are “not good enough.” Whether you compare your beauty to super models or your bank account to Oprah’s, you need to believe that you genuinely have something to offer the world. You have a special gift and talent that will help you become rich. Rich people don’t have a problem promoting themselves, their services, or their business. That is because they believe they are worthy. You need to think that too.

2. Believe it’s possible
How many times did you hear your parents say things like, “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Or, “Do you think I’m made of money?” Many of us have been negatively programmed to think that money is scarce. It is not. There is plenty of money out there for the taking. You just need to believe that deserve your “piece of the pie.” Anything is possible. But you need to believe that before it happens.

3. Appreciate what you already have
If you sit around thinking, “I don’t like my house, I wish I had a bigger one.” Or, “I can’t wait to get a new car because I’m embarrassed to drive this one,” you are sending out negative vibrations with your thoughts. According to the Law of Attraction, negative, slow-moving thoughts will not create anything positive. Instead, you need to love your house or your car. Or simply be grateful that you have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, or food on your table. The more you give appreciation to what you already have, the more likely it will be that you will be able to acquire more.

4. Be happy for rich people
Sometimes people hear negative statements about rich people. Do any of these sound familiar: “Rich people are snobs” or “Rich people aren’t honest” or “Rich people are selfish.” If you heard this a lot growing up, then your subconscious mind is programmed with negative thinking about rich people. And your subconscious probably won’t let you become rich because you certainly don’t want to be a “snob,” “dishonest,” or “selfish.” Instead, realize that many rich people are very good human beings. Believe they deserve what they have. Bless them, and say a ‘thank you’ in advance for becoming rich yourself.

5. Use affirmations or vision boards
Writing out positive statements (affirmations) and repeating them over and over in your mind helps re-program your brain. If you found in #4 that you think rich people are snobs, then repeat an affirmation such as, “Rich people are generous, kind, and loving people. I am appreciative that I will be one of them someday.” Vision boards are helpful too. Get a poster board and cut out words and photos of things you want. It could be a new car, a big house, a private jet, or your own yacht. Whatever feels good and gets you excited is appropriate to put on the board. Use your affirmations and your vision board together for maximum results.

6. Love money
I’ve heard people say, “I hate money!” And my jaw always drops to the floor. How can you hate money? Well, the reason they hate money is because they don’t have any. That doesn’t mean that they really HATE money. They just hate the LACK of money. So you need to catch yourself if you keep saying negative things about money. Turn them around and say “I love money! Money is my friend! It brings me great joy!” The more that you put the positive vibrations of love towards the subject of money, the more you will acquire it.

7. Be happy paying your bills
I’m sure you have had a pit in your stomach before when you are paying bills. Most people have. That is because their focus is on the negative. All they think about is how much money is going out, not coming in. But you need to reframe that. Be happy when you pay your bills. Because guess what? That means that you actually have the money to pay them! If you weren’t paying them, that would mean you don’t have any money. So be grateful for having the money to pay out. After all, it does provide you with a place to live, a car to drive, and food on your table. That’s a good thing!

8. Commit to being rich
Finally, you just need to decide to be rich! Don’t take no for an answer! Don’t give up! In order to accomplish anything in life, you need to be committed. You can’t simply treat “getting rich” as a hobby, or something that you’ll just try out and see what happens. It doesn’t work that way. Rich people are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to make money and keep it! You need to do the same. Commit to your goal of being rich, and it will be yours.

Happy 60th birthday today to one of the most influential and inspirational women in the world. That's a photo of Oprah in her bedroom at her gorgeous farmhouse in Maui.

How I wish I was related to Oprah, after all we share the same last name!:)  All kidding aside, I also share her philosophy about money.

Here's some words of wisdom about money from birthday girl Oprah Winfrey...
"If you disrespect money it slips through your fingers".

The takeaway from this quote, according to SavvySugar is: 
Learn to respect money. Money deserves respect and your time and concern. Spend time managing it and being aware of it, instead of letting it run through your fingers without thinking about it.

For me, being aware with how I save and spend my money has been an important key in my daily lifestyle, which has resulted in an overall richer life.

Happy Thrifty Tuesday! I wanted to highlight some of my favorite thrift store finds. These are items I've scored from thrift stores throughout the years and have proudly displayed them in my home. They were all in pretty good condition. I only painted the stool and table to coordinate with the color palette of the bedroom. I've acquired these items from Goodwill, Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans, and others. Not only are these items frugal, but they are one-of-a-kind treasures!