By Helen Georgaklis © 2008

Dear Readers,

Helen sent me the article below and I want to share it with you because I think you’ll find it valuable and because Helen is The Real Deal.  She’s a very high integrity person.  If you’re like me, it’s often easier to spend than to save, especially in today’s economy, yet articles like Helen’s inspire us to get back on track.

Enjoy!

Doris Helge, Ph.D., “The Joy Coach”

P.M.S.    (Planned Monthly Savings)

CRASH! That’s what happens every month to many women! And that what the market has done in the past. It did it again the day I wrote this article and it will do it again in the future! That’s what the market is; an emotional beast who has euphoric highs. It can come down crashing without a moments notice! Sound familiar??? Well, it should! The market often is compared to us when we’re PMSing….

It’s hot, it’s cold, it’s up, and it’s down…..you’re in, you’re out….

So now that it’s been labeled, what do you do about it? How do you avoid the emotional roller coaster ride and sail easily throughout the years without much conflict? How does it affect you?

How do we concentrate on the good times, let go the bad times, stay focused and balanced to avoid emotional meltdowns when there are market corrections?

It isn’t always easy to do, but it is possible. You cannot time the market, nor can you predict any future returns based on past history.

There are 3 simple steps to avoid that love affair that so many have embarked on and has cost so many hundreds of thousands of dollars because they were attracted to what they were told was to make them rich, feel powerful & would have the potential to make their dreams come true, take them to places they couldn’t imagine, but had they looked a little deeper, taken it slow, done their homework and had a step by step attitude, the crash would’ve been more padded and less painful!

How do you just start on the right foot and stay on the right path!?! Start by choosing an amount that you can afford every classifieds buy vitamins month to put aside. Your yearly savings should represent at least 5% of your earnings, up to 12% if you’re really good!

If you’re earning $45,000 a year, a 5% yearly savings would equal $ 47.00 a week saved. Your approximate net monthly income would be $2700.00 per month, $675.00 a week, don’t tell me you can’t afford $50.00??? Or maybe you want to deny yourself the chance to actually save money!?!

If we choose our investment/savings program, the way we choose our men/relationships, are we heading for a disaster zone? Some may be too risky, fly by night. Others may be way too conservative and offer little growth…bottom line, PMS!

If you feel that you can’t do it on your own, then you should be sitting with an advisor who can impose that discipline on you. You don’t have to choose the amount they’re comfortable with for you; you have to pick an amount that YOU know YOU can do!
Imagine this; if you had put $25.00 away a month starting at 21 yrs old, by the time you’re 60, you’re a millionaire. Obviously, that is a slow wealth accumulation, but that’s the whole point! You don’t become rich over night. Would you fly off to Vegas and marry the first guy that would ask you??? (If you answer yes, I have a good therapist to recommend). Again, bottom line PMS!

A financial advisor, who does true financial planning, can put together a sort of “map.” It’s a map that will help you keep a focus and stay on track as much as possible with the flexibility to fall off without falling out! Contrary to popular belief, you can actually put together a plan for the simple reason; it offers you a snapshot of what the future “may” look like if you choose.

At the end of the day, it’s your choice! You decide, are you worth the riches, or are you stickin’ to rags?

You don’t have to be a millionaire, and no one should sell you on that concept, but for your sake, at least be sold on the concept that you should reach for the sky even if you only end up reaching a sky scraper! At least you will have lived knowing you tried instead of living your life wondering what could have been!

Ask professionals; get opinions, get second and third opinions! We’re really strange creatures; we go to dentists for our teeth, gynecologists for check ups, mechanics to fix our cars, yet when it comes to our money, either we don’t do anything about it, or we let someone other than a professional take care of it! Do your homework! If you don’t, nobody will and you will fail! And you can’t afford to fail; it cost TOO MUCH!
It’ll cost you a lot less in every aspect if you do your homework rather than letting someone else do it for you!

Helen Georgaklis is a Financial Planner and co-founder of U-Go-U-Get.com. To contact Helen, email: hgeorgaklis@yahoo.com