Ordinary Living 6-20-12 How do you live? Do you live an ordinary life? By ordinary I mean similar to what everyone else does in their daily routine. You try to manage life to go as smoothly as you can and avoid all of the hassles and rough spots that may happen. I believe it is easy for us to fall into what everyone else is doing and shoot for a calm as possible lifestyle. Hey, who wants to take a risk in times like these, you could lose everything. At some point in your life you realize that, it’s hard to live an ordinary life when you are not ordinary. The world says get a steady job with good benefits, that’s the responsible way to live. Well as we have found out those are hard to come by nowadays; companies found out that being like the other ordinary companies is hard. I believe that each person is created uniquely different and are talented in different areas than others. Ok, so that is not rocket science to figure out that we are different. So why do we try to be like everyone else. We waste the person that we were designed to be when we try to be ordinary. Ordinary is living pay check to pay check, that’s what 7 out of 10 homes in America do. You could be different and actually use the budget you have written down somewhere, but never implemented. Start searching for that job or career you always wanted but didn’t think was for you. Hey, which life are you going to do these things in? Just start where you are at and draw a map to where you want to go. It is really more responsible to pursue what you were created to be. Make it impossible to for the life you want to refuse you. Create an environment to succeed. It’s not fast or easy, but it is where you find the extraordinary life you were meant to have. You are guaranteed to have an ordinary life if you do not try the out of the ordinary routine. Let me know if I can help! Tim West Go West Coaching

Taking Responsibility

Taking Responsibility We have heard this statement since we were kids; you have to take responsibility for your life. There is a lot in life that we have to take responsibility for. It is easy to get on cruise control and let the status quo take over and run things. For example, we can depend on the government to take care of us with social security. We all know how good the government is at handling money! Do you really want them saving for your retirement? We also depend on our employer to take care of our pension and our health insurance. I have determined one thing; other people looking out for their best interest will not make decisions in you, or your families, best interest. During the current economic times we hear about a lot of companies who have realized the promises they made to their employees, to provide a pension and health insurance, after they retire are not in the company’s best interest. When they determine this, they begin to take away the benefits from the employees because they cannot afford to support them or the retirees. If you have found yourself in this situation, or you have a job that does not provide these benefits you have to get a plan to provide these things yourself. I know most of us don’t like to do the uncomfortable things like, calling and get insurance quotes, learning about saving for retirement, but it’s worth the trouble when you need these things. Only you have you and your family’s best interest in mind. Determine what you need and create a plan to get there. There is no use in staying mad at the company or the government, which may have taken those benefits away because that doesn’t make you better but, it makes you bitter. Bitterness is like you drinking poison and hoping it hurts someone else. Determine what you need, map out your plan to get there and most importantly execute your plan! If you need some help with it let me know. I want you to get control of your life and make the best decision for your family. Tim West Go West Coaching 6-9-12 Go West coaching offers hourly coaching or 90-120 day coaching packages. Email or call 706-840-0992 for more information or a 30min free consultation. You're getting emails from me either b/c you signed up for them or we interacted on-line and I thought you'd like to get some insight from me. You can unsubscribe and it won't hurt my feelings. Just reply stop to this email. Or you can stay subscribed and help my self-esteem. Totally up to you.

Single Parents and Money

Single Parents and Money Well this is putting two challenging things together, single parenting and money. Being a parent has its challenges, but it can be one of the most joyous experiences you can have. There are many challenges you can have as a parent so I will try to help you with the money challenge. Here is a big revelation, men and women view money differently! I know it’s a shock but we do. Single parents have a lot going on and have a tough assignment. My parents were divorced when I was eight years old; although I did not realize it at the time, I can now see some of the things my mom had to face. Mothers try to nurture and create that loving safe home environment and train up a child in the way they should go. If you throw in bread winner and provider to their duties that makes for one busy day and can lead to a lot of frustration, fear and confusion. Women, as a whole, tend to get fearful when they don’t have the money they feel they need to take care of their household. Whatever is affecting mom is picked up by the rest of the family. Also when you get busy and begin to think you are not doing as good in some areas you may want to compensate for it with money. You may buy them something they want or take them on a vacation you cannot afford. Once you spend that money on those things the bills come around and it puts you in a bind then you panic. It is also easy for dads to overspend because dads feel, as the provider and bread winner, we can convince ourselves that if we provide this or that we can use it to substitute for mom. Now, single dad has money problems because he has spent too much trying to replace mom with cash. I have noticed one thing about kids, they love mom or dad and they forget about the toys and big vacations before they forget the time spent with them daily. Quantity time is quality time! When the kids get older they remember the struggles moms or dads had and appreciate them for the sacrifice. I did!! Don’t buy into the worlds systems of you need to get you child this or that to be a good parent. Being a good parent is saying no when you cannot afford something. Don’t spend the grocery money on a social class or a video game. Sometimes the things you need to do don’t give you the warm fuzzy feelings inside like doing what you think your kids would enjoy and make you feel like a good parent. The best way to solve a problem is to have a plan. Create a budget monthly and use it. When I say use it I mean follow it and set your spending amounts and stick to them. Sometimes you have to adjust the amounts so do it and stick to them. There is nothing wrong with buying your kids something they want or taking them on vacation, just plan for it. Don’t spend the money until you have it saved. Don’t spend it out of guilt. When you save the money for vacation and spend it on vacation don’t feel guilty, enjoy it. Disney has a plan for your grocery money, and it is not food! Have your cash saved and follow your spending plan not theirs. Set down every month spend every dollar on paper, and hey it’s okay to spend some of your money on a vacation or a build a bear! Enjoy your children, and don’t feel guilty because you cannot do everything they want. Children are like us, their wants are unlimited, and a budget gets that in order for your family. You can create a plan to enjoy your children and your money. Knowing what to do with your money before you get it helps you enjoy the time you have with your children more. Let me know if I can help. Tim West Go West Coaching 6/2/2012