Finance

"Whatever you possess, material, mental or spiritual, you must use it or lose it!" - Anonymous.

Director's Thoughts

This is an area that concerns me most. Avoid debt. Rediscover the joy and satisfaction of do-it-yourself projects. Save money. Always spend less than you make. Prepare a financial diet and stick to it. Look for ways to turn your hobby into a source of cash. Always have a backup plan.

Pattie S. Christensen, Director

Links

Women s Institute for financial education
Women s Institute for Financial Education – lots of information

msmoney.com
Tons of financial information for women

Personal MVelopes
Personal Mvelopes is for the 'Simple, smarter budgeting system.' Personal Mvelopes seems VERY helpful BUT, after the free, 30-day trial... it is $7.90/month.

Science of Getting Rich
This is essentially a full book on pdf.Worth reading. Worth considering. As with all things, add it to what you already know to be truth; it's not intended as a replacement for those truths.

National Womens Law Center
The National Women's Law Center works to increase the economic security of low-income women and children by helping them secure needed child support and improving other income support programs.

Msfinancialsavvy
Msfinancialsavvy is a personal finance website, about women and money, small business, careers, savings advice, understanding retirement, real estate buying, and college planning. Use a whole host of financial tools to bring your money, business, and career savvy up to par. Men are welcome too.

Book Reviews

Talking From 9 to 5, by Tannen, reviewed by TBD, This is a book that comes highly recommended but has not yet been reviewed by a member of our staff

Use Your Own Corporation to Get Rich, by McQuown, reviewed by Pattie, This book contains tax saving tips when you own your own corporation.

Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got, by Abraham, reviewed by TBD, This is a book that comes highly recommended but has not yet been reviewed by a member of our staff

The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, reviewed by Pattie, The basic concept of this book is that you attract that which you desire (whether good or bad). While a little commercial in nature, the principles appear sound and I personally put it to the test. I find that focusing on goals, visualizing your future and taking positive steps are great habits.

The Dip, by Godin, reviewed by TBD, This is a book that comes highly recommended but has not yet been reviewed by a member of our staff

The EMyth Manager, by Gerber, reviewed by TBD, This is a book that comes highly recommended but has not yet been reviewed by a member of our staff

Smart Women Finish Rich (on CD), by David Bach, reviewed by Pattie and LauraE, Pattie: This book / CD is a MUST-READ / MUST LISTEN for all women... and probably men too. It walks through the basics of financial awareness and intelligence. This is one that you will want to keep handy to fall back on. Because tax laws change, you will want to double check the tax limitations that he provides. I cannot stress enough the importance of fiscal responsibility and security and the peace that will bring to you life. LauraE: “We are all playing the money game whether we want to or not. Question is, are we winning?” This bold, yet true, statement rings so loudly we all need to stop and listen! When we are armed with even a bit more information than we had before, we are bound to make better financial choices. Need proof? Author David Bach points to the fact that women’s investment clubs have outperformed men’s nine out of the last 12 years. There is a place for women (YOU!) in the traditionally male world of finance. Using anecdotes (some very “cheesy” I have to admit), Mr. Bach uses things that often appeal to women to explain the need and benefit of learning and living a financially smart life. You’ll learn what the “Latte Factor” is. Is there an earth-shattering revelation to wealth and financial security in this book? No. We hear the same principles time and time again. However, I am always a fan of reading or listening to financial self-help books—I like the reminder! With each dose of information I achieve a greater understanding of the world of finance. I get invigorated to improve our financial life in my home in some way.

A Penny Saved, by Godfrey, reviewed by TBD, This is a book that comes highly recommended but has not yet been reviewed by a member of our staff

Value-Based Fees: How to Charge and Get What You’re Worth, by Alan Weiss, reviewed by Pattie, This book shows a business owner or professional how to charge fees based on perceived value -- how to set yourself apart from the crowd.

The Richest Man In Babylon (on CD), by George S. Clason, reviewed by Pattie, This CD provides financial guidance in the form of examples of individuals in Babylonian times. Because of this backdrop, I found the language/voice a bit annoying but the principles are very sound and definitely worth following.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high, by Kerry Patterson and others, reviewed by L. Ellis, We all have crucial conversations…daily! These are the conversations between spouses, coworkers, parents and children, friends, and family members that bond us and form our relationships. “They’re the day-to-day conversations that affect your life” (page 1). So, naturally, these are the conversations that we need to work our hardest at. We all long for the relationships in which our differing opinions can be a source of strength ? not its downfall. We all want to be able to articulate our thoughts, feelings, and desires openly ? no matter how unpopular. With the information in this book, complete with chapter summaries and a handy index for quick reference/refreshing, we can learn the skills to do just that. The goal is to be able to EFFECTIVELY hold difficult conversations about any topic with any person. With a little, or a lot, of help and some patience with the process we can all learn how. We can do this! As I read this book and consciously implemented its principles, I found my mind able to think more clearly through discussions while avoiding pitfalls that I regularly fall into. I found Crucial Conversations to be a very meaty book that should be read time and time again. Definitely one for your personal library that should be referred to often!

The Power of Intention, by Dr. Wayne Dyer, reviewed by Pattie, This is another book that I strongly recommend for every woman. It discussed how to be a better planner and doer and how to attract the right energy. This is another book that I recommend going back to over time.

The Courage to be Rich: Creating a Life of Material and Spiritual Abundance, by Suze Orman, reviewed by Pattie, Do you have the courage to be rich? I would have not thought that it took courage to be rich, but after reading this book (and taking lots of notes!), I believe it! Choices, my friends, choices– from the smallest (like upgrading your hand soap) to bigger (a 15-year vs. 30-year home loan and saving well into SIX FIGURES over the life of the loan), it all adds up. In The Courage to be Rich, Suze includes facts and stories that we can easily relate to, including some of her own. The book is conveniently broken up so it could be used as a reference guide if we are questioning something specific, such as funerals or home buying. Does it work?? Well, after I read this book, I talked to my husband and we have refinanced our home to a 15-year loan (ok, ok, I didn't even get through it before we started the process... I couldn't sleep knowing how much money we were losing!). I am also currently researching where the most ideal place is to put a small sum of money to “work” for us, AND I feel much more satisfied with my dollar store hand soap in the bathroom vs. the $3 smell good foaming one most of us know and love. I'm learning and finding my courage!

Difficult Conversations: How To Discuss What Matters Most, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Shiela Heen, reviewed by LauraE, “Asking for a raise. Ending a relationship. Giving a critical performance review. Saying no to someone in need. Confronting disrespectful or hurtful behavior. Disagreeing with the majority in a group. Apologizing.” (page xxvii)

Most of us say, “Ouch, ouch, and ouch!” These are extremely hard conversations to have be it with friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even our own children. A difficult conversation is anything you find it hard to talk about.

Clear and instructional, reading and implementing the strategies outlined in this book can help you navigate through even the toughest of conversations. In particular, I appreciate the checklist found on page 233. It could be used for a quick brush-up before entering a difficult conversation.

The 10th-anniversary edition includes the main text of the original publishing intact, and also includes “Ten Questions People Ask About Difficult Conversations.” This section is a great addition to the book.

Be brave!—and give this book a real, honest try.

The Writer’s Little Helper, by James V. Smith, Jr., reviewed by LauraE, Do you have a story to tell? One that you are sure is a great novel? You think you have the characters developed, plot line tightened, dialogue nailed. But…how do you take that story in your head to a best-seller? Perhaps The Writer’s Little Helper can help!

The Writer’s Little Helper covers all aspects of the writing experience, including character, plot,editing, word choice, and many more. Writer’s block?—it’s covered. This book is organized in such a way that you can read it from to cover to cover, or by one area that you may be struggling with at that time. The chapters are short (average 2-6 small pages with lots of space to not look or feel cluttered) and are packed with insight, dos, and don’ts.

I daresay that if you are writing a book, or want to begin writing a book, with The Writer’s Little Helper you’ll quickly be on your way to a published author (oh yah, there’s several chapters on that too).

How to Build a Business Warren Buffett would Buy: The R.C. Willey Story, by William H Child, reviewed by LauraE, Started in what was then a small farm town in Utah called Syracuse, Rufus Call Willey (better known as R.C.) jumped at the chance to do something other than farming when he was just 17 years old. With the desire to learn new things and take some risk, R.C. went from farming to selling refrigerators, and eventually furniture, out of a small building next to his rural home. His son-in-law, Bill Child, took it to the next level—any many beyond.

Great lessons and insight to how not only build a business, but also run it in such a way that customers keep returning, employees stay dedicated to their employment, and eventually grow the business in magnitude to receive the praise, and ultimate purchase of the company, by Warren Buffett. A Utah staple, R.C. Willey has been around for a long time, and is set to continue that path.

Entrepreneurs, historians, and curious minds alike will enjoy reading this book

The Grassfire Effect, by Steve Elliott, reviewed by LauraE, Have you ever seen a grassfire, or any fire, burn? Now imagine the way it grows, reaches beyond itself and catches onto everything in its path. To me, fire is mesmerizing and beautiful in its own right. Now, have you considered how that fire began? Yes, from one tiny spark. It just takes one spark and off it goes.

The is the same concept that the book, The Grassfire Effect, was created from. The idea that this book can “help people from all walks of life take the small spark of an idea or dream and turn that spark into a world-changing grassfire.” You may think that your idea is not world changing, but it is…your world.

I like the concept of this book. It seems that if you have an idea and need some encouragement and a little bit of structure this may be the thing that will propel you forward into action. The format includes “Key Effects” and “Fire Starters” that follow the chapters. This is a great way to quickly refresh what you have read and promote thinking and structure for your idea.

Discussion Board

how are you?