Cinco de Quarantine

Today, #TalkingTuesday has fallen on Cinco de Mayo and even though quarantine is in full force, I have seen hundreds of pictures posted with families and friends celebrating in their respective homes. Sharing pictures, quotes and memes is a major way to keep communication live so use social media to your advantage and talk to one another often, network every chance you get, build your business and build lasting friendships. I wish everyone a safe and healthy Cinco de Mayo!

#TalkingTuesday

#LorisLoop

#TheMainHustle

#Entrepreneur

#Goals

#CincodeMayo

#WeAreAllInThisTogether

Be The Mystery

It is #MammothMonday and I have nothing to say except, be you, do you and love who you are. There is nothing more important than that and once you master it, everything else will fall into place. It is #MammothMonday so do something huge like being fierce.

#MammothMonday

#LorisLoop

#TheMainHustle

#Entrepreneur

#Goals

#WeAreAllInThisTogether

Challenge Your Money

Happy #FundMeFriday. I know that you know what I am going to ask you before I begin my blog. Have you funded yourself today? If you have been able to set aside small amounts of money each week this year for the #FundMeFriday event, by now you have a nice little savings account building. Kudos to you. If you have missed a few deposits, just keep trying and if you have not started at all, there is no better time than the present. Start that savings account today. Transfer those funds now even if it is only $1. Everything adds up.

It is time to get yourself in order and if you want to get ahead with your money, you have got to get it under your control. If you want to pay off all your debt, you have to get your money under control. Are you ready for a great vacation, get that money under control. How about your dream house or saving for retirement? You have the power to make all your dreams come true and all you have to do is get your money under control.

Here are five things you can do to get your finances under control:

Challenge 1: Buy a Piece of Amazon, Google or Other Companies

Take a look at the Forbes Richest People list, and you’ll notice almost all the billionaires have one thing in common, they own another company. If you work for a living and you do not happen to have millions of dollars lying around, owing another company or even shares in a huge company can sound totally out of reach for you. Nowadays, this is not a problem. Many people, including myself, are using special apps like Robinhood that allows you to be part of that is normally exclusive to the richest of the rich. Robinhood lets you buy pieces of other companies for as little as $1. Yes you read that right, you can invest in pieces of well-known companies, such as Amazon, Google or Apple, for as little as $1.

The best part? When these companies profit, so can you. Some companies even send you a check every quarter for your share of the profits, called dividends.

It takes two minutes to sign up plus Robinhood will give you a FREE share as a sign-up bonus once you. Here is the link to get you started >>> join.robinhood.com/lorid134.

Challenge 2: Start a mini savings

Here is how easy this challenge is. Get a jar or a can and for every day of the month, you put that number of quarters in it. For example:

May 1st, put 1 quarter in

May 2nd, put 2 quarters in

May 3rd, put 3 quarters in and so on. On day 30, you put 30 quarters in (i.e. $7.50) and at this point you have saved $116.25….WOW, just by putting quarters in a jar. If you did this challenge every month, you would have saved almost $1400.00 in one year. Come on, this one is so easy. If times are a little tough, do it with dimes or even nickels but strive for the quarters.

If in fact your budget is tight, that is not a good enough reason not to save.  Do a 365-day penny challenge, This works by setting aside a penny amount based on the day.  For instance, day 1 – one penny, day 2 – two pennies, so on a so forth until the end of the year.  At which point, you will have almost $668 in the bank. Can you believe how easy it can be to save money. This one is also a great challenge to do with your child.

Challenge 3: Pack your lunch

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average household spends approximately $3,365 on food outside of the home each year. That’s $280 per month! Buying lunch a few times a week may seem harmless in the moment (especially when your favorite restaurant is walking distance from your office), but you can save quite a bit of money just by packing a lunch! (This Information found on DaveRamsey.com)

Not only that, you can often purchase a week’s worth of groceries for the same price as two dinner meals out. Instead, prepare your food at home and watch your savings pile up, month by month.

Challenge 4: Sell everything (that doesn’t bring you joy).

Marie Kondo has the right idea. Get rid of the things in your home that you do not use, or that you are willing to let go of for the sake of your financial future. That vintage chair your aunt gave you? Sell it. That crystal vase you found at an antique shop? Sell it. You would be surprised at how much clutter you have in your home (that you do not even use or think about). And the cash you can make on those things can be the difference between living paycheck to paycheck and having a fully funded emergency fund.

Not sure where to sell your items, join eBay, Mercari, Letgo, facebook marketplace and you can even use Craigslist and so many other places. All you have to do is snap a picture and list.

Challenge 5: Check your credit score

Nowadays most banks give you your credit score for free but you need to be able to work with your report. Sign up with a company like Credit Karma, it is free and it is jam packed with all your pertinent information. Too many people ignore their credit reports which is a very costly mistake because many people have errors in their reports and those errors can cause you increased interest rates on car loans, mortgages etc.

You must get into the practice of checking your credit score and report on a constant basis. Companies like Credit Karma have apps that can be downloaded on your phone and you can set up alerts as well as having your credit profile at your finger tips.

I hope that you will find these money challenges interesting, fun and doable. These baby steps can lead to a very promising financial future. Get to saving.

My Loris Loop reading choice for this blog post is perfect for today. The book is called Money Management. Borrow a copy from your local library and if that is not an option, here is a link to get your own copy from Amazon >>> https://amzn.to/2NdxTMp

If you choose to shop in Amazon, I would greatly appreciate it if you could use the link I have provided. As an Amazon Affiliate, it is possible I can earn a bonus and therefore continue to provide continued content we all enjoy. Thank you in advance!

Finally, please stay in the know by subscribing to Lori’s Loop and never miss another posting.  You can’t go wrong with constant free life and business advise so please click to subscribe! www.themainhustle.com/subscribe

#FundMeFriday

#LorisLoop

#TheMainHustle

#Entrepreneur

#Goals

#MoneyManagement

#ScottWright

#WeAreAllInThisTogether

New Beginnings

As we get closer to approaching the beginning of our new normal, I urge everyone to remember to treat these last couple of months as a rebooting of life. On this #TrashItThursday, throw away all your bad habits and all your destructive behavior so that you can enter back into the world refreshed, revitalized and with a renewed sense of self.

April showers will surely bring those May flowers 💐 so remember to stop and smell the roses 🌹

#TrashItThursday

#LorisLoop

#TheMainHustle

#Entrepreneur

#Goals

#WeAreAllInThisTogether

A Real Perspective To Ponder

Today is #WisdomWednesday and as I was deciding what to write about today, I happened upon these thoughts by George Carlin. It really does not matter if you are unsure as to who George Carlin is, what matters is that you read, really read his words because regardless of who you are, what political party you belong to, how much money you have or do not have, what you own, how you dress or how you look, these words are deep especially for this time that we are currently trying to navigate through and not knowing what we will do when we finally are able to exit this nightmare at the other end. I hope you can appreciate these words.

George Carlin's wife died early in 2008 and George followed her, dying in July 2008. It is ironic George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate. The following is an observation by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

Those are his spoken words from many years ago and they are relevant today. Life is short, live well, love wholeheartedly and laugh at everything.

A beautiful book to enjoy that compliments this blog post is a book called The Book Of Joy. I have recommended it before so now is a great opportunity to reread it. If you have not gotten it yet, check it out at your local library. If that is not an option, here is a link to get your own copy from Amazon >>> https://amzn.to/2sJZjDx

If you choose to shop in Amazon, I would greatly appreciate it if you could use the link I have provided. As an Amazon Affiliate, it is possible I can earn a bonus and therefore continue to provide continued content we all enjoy. Thank you in advance!

Finally, please stay in the know by subscribing to Lori’s Loop and never miss another posting.  You can’t go wrong with constant free life and business advise so please click to subscribe! www.themainhustle.com/subscribe

#WisdomWednesday

#LorisLoop

#TheMainHustle

#Entrepreneur

#Goals

#TheBookOfJoy

#DalaiLama

#DesmondTutu

#WeAreAllInThisTogether

You-Me-Us

Today is #TalkingTuesday and really, the only thing I have to say is that I want you to remember that you are not the only one stressing and you are not the only one alone and or feeling lonely. We are all in this together. The rich have been affected by this Coronavirus, the poor and the middle-class too. Celebrities and every day normal people are suffering as well. Nobody is getting out of this unscathed but you hold the ability to come out complete. Be kind and be understanding.

#TalkingTuesday

#LorisLoop

#TheMainHustle

#Entrepreneur

#Goals

#WeAreAllInThisTogether

Quarantine Quarrels

Welcome to another weekly edition of #MammothMonday. So, how many times have you had an argument during this quarantine period? Let us discuss this interesting phenomenon.

Well, it is not really a phenomenon, it is more a version of stress relief. Here is what is happening in my house. I call my son Matthew for lunch and he ignores me. He ignores me after having had asked me three times to make him lunch while acting all annoyed that time was not moving fast enough for him. Finally, he comes downstairs and inhales his lunch then disappears back to his room. Now, I finished the laundry and I brought his folded laundry up to his room and place it on his bed. He then snaps at me and wants to know why I do not put his clothes away anymore. I tell him that I brought them to the laundry room, washed, dried and folded them for him so the least he could do was to put them away. What does he say? Stop cleaning my clothes! It was at this point that I realized the great level of my ability to restrain myself 🤣 It was a verbal battle of amazing wits that ensued, a boy with some special needs practicing his verbal arguing skills against his mom, a woman with the ability to complete hundreds of tasks yet has a pathetic ability to find the best words to win an argument without hurting feelings or crossing a line. The outcome, he put his clothes away and I allowed him to do so while he mumbled under his breath probably telling me off. I consider that a win win situation. 👍

Guess what? We still had to get through dinner. He asked me many times throughout the day what he was having for dinner. He is 15 years old and has had Kraft Macaroni and Cheese every Monday for about ten years. But he asked anyway and of course, I tell him with no surprise to him, each and every time. As I am cooking his dinner, he came down twice to ask if it was ready. So I say to him that when I call him then that means it will be ready. Well, here comes the next quarrel. Now he is mad because he did not like the way I answered him. Now we are arguing over how long it takes to cook the macaroni and that I am doing it to slow at which time I ridiculously argue about having to wait for the macaroni to get soft. It was the most ridiculous argument but with so much fuel that we were both annoyed at each other for the rest of the night.

Now, it is finally ime for Matthew to go to bed and like he does every single night, he comes and kisses me goodnight so I take the chance of starting another quarrel and I ask him calmly about what his problem was all day. No argument this time but the poor thing held his head and said, “Mommy I can’t take this quarantine anymore. I need school in my life and I want to go somewhere”. Those words coupled with the look on his face almost made me cry.

The moral of this story is that more and more people are complaining that being around their family day in and day out around the clock is causing endless quarrels. Well, please try to keep in mind that it is not about the people, it is about the fact that we were plunged into isolation without knowing how to handle our lives going through drastic changes and not being able to see the invisible monster that is keeping us from living. We want normalcy back and the only way to release the stress has been to lash out at one another. Please stop doing this to each other before you say or do something you cannot take back. Try and be aware of your words and hone up on your ability to be understanding and empathize with those around you who may have feelings accidentally slip through their mouths because their brain is busy questioning everything that seems to be going wrong in their life.

The best way to escape from your isolation is to escape through a good book. A great book is called Made In America. This book will teach you how it is possible to turn no money into millions as long as you have lots of determination and a strong will to succeed. If you have not already read this book, do yourself a favor and borrow a copy from your local library. If that option is not available, here is a link to get your own copy from Amazon >>> https://amzn.to/2MNUUFC

If you choose to shop in Amazon, I would greatly appreciate it if you could use the link I have provided. As an Amazon Affiliate, it is possible I can earn a bonus and therefore continue to provide continued content we all enjoy. Thank you in advance!

Finally, please stay in the know by subscribing to Lori’s Loop and never miss another posting.  You can’t go wrong with constant free life and business advise so please click to subscribe! www.themainhustle.com/subscribe

#MammothMonday

#LorisLoop

#TheMainHustle

#Entrepreneur

#Goals

#MadeInAmerica

#SamWalton

#WeAreAllInThisTogether

Grab a memory

I was not going to write a blog post today because today is one of those days that my head is killing me but then I received some horrible news and I decided to write a quick post because for me, writing is very cathartic. First though, welcome to another #FundMeFriday. I am hoping everyone has stayed focused and that you have all funded your savings accounts today knowing and keeping in mind that no deposit is too small. If you have not done so, make that transfer now.

Now, I am writing this while feeling heartbroken. I found out today, that a great man, a man I was proud to call Uncle Ed passed away. Life is crazy. You live to see and celebrate a 90th birthday only to be taken out by COVID19. This fact just enhances the sadness.

Anyway, I was always impressed by him. He spent his work career buying and selling money from around the world. From the first time I ever heard that was a thing, I was immediately impressed. I really did not know at the time what it actually meant but I thought it was fascinating and I thought he was amazing. The idea of buying and selling money has stayed with me most of my life as did the impression he left on me when he tried to explain it.

People come through our lives and we do not ever give them another thought but then, people come into your life and they leave an impression. Whether the impression is a single piece of advice, a lifetime of advice or just a passing smile, we need to cherish whatever it is that is meant to enhance and bring joy to our lives.

I dedicate this #FundMeFriday to Uncle Ed, the money man in my minds eye with a laughter that will not be forgotten. May he Rest In Peace. ♥️♥️♥️

Todays Loris Loop reading pick is very fitting. The book is called Saving Money. Try and borrow a copy from your local library but if you cannot, here is a link so that you can get your own copy from Amazon >>> https://amzn.to/32mDGpd

If you choose to shop in Amazon, I would greatly appreciate it if you could use the link I have provided. As an Amazon Affiliate, it is possible I can earn a bonus and therefore continue to provide continued content we all enjoy. Thank you in advance!

Finally, please stay in the know by subscribing to Lori’s Loop and never miss another posting.  You can’t go wrong with constant free life and business advise so please click to subscribe! www.themainhustle.com/subscribe

#FundMeFriday

#LorisLoop

#TheMainHustle

#Entrepreneur

#Goals

#SavingMoney

#AceMcCloud

#WeAreAllInThisTogether