Necessities While Enjoying Your Desires in Life

you deserve to be happy!

Sometimes, I roll down the street (in my Cadillac SRX)
thinking about how easy it is to make money. I know a lot of my friends and family find it hard to make money. However, believe me, one of the things that I have learned over 50 years on earth is that everyone in your circle makes money either at a $12 an hour or $300 an hour. Even homeless people make money when they beg others for spare change while out on the town. It doesn't matter, everyone in the United States earns money in small or large amounts.

So, what does that mean for your savings? Well, it means
"Control Thy Expenditures". That's right, very simple.
However, so many people in my circle want to have fun.
I like to have fun too! However, you have to have a "spending plan" to afford your necessities while enjoying your desires in life at the same time.

The keys are:
1. Balance
2. Discipline
3. Spending Plan

1. BALANCE:

George Clason, (who wrote the book* "The Richest Man in Babylon") teaches us how
not denying yourself the pleasures of life is very important while working hard to make money.
I agree, to reach true happiness you have to find pleasure in spending money on the things
you desire most in life and leave you fulfilled each day, week, month and year.
Otherwise, why are you working your "butt-off" to make money in the first place.

In other words, "Enjoy Spending Your Money, you earned it and you deserve to be happy!"

2. DISCIPLINE:

George Clason, also teaches us to maintain discipline while having fun.
What does that mean? Well, if you make $2,000 a month (for our example in this blog).
That means you have to plan on living and partying with $1,800 a month.
The other $200 dollars you put in an investment account of some kind and you don't
touch it until you "REALLY" need it. The key phrase here is "really need it".
If you could give yourself a pep talk every time you tried to spend that $200 dollars
it would go something like this:

"I agreed to a spending plan (a.k.a. Budget) for myself to have fun without going broke
every month. Living paycheck to paycheck is depressing me!"

Believe me, you say this to yourself enough times each week and you will start to
visualize that living off of $1,800 a month really does work for saving your money each
week, month and year. Again, this amount is an example for this blog. You should
apply the one-tenth rule to your specific monthly income model.

3. SPENDING PLAN
(nine-tenths of your earnings):

So, write down all the things you desire in life including your food, home, car, drinking
with friends, shopping for clothes/shoes, mini vacations, etc.

Then select those that are necessary and the ones that can be purchased through
nine-tenths of your income ($1,800). Anything that does not fit within the $1,800 dollars
must go unsatisfied until you can afford it. Don't regret this decision because your
greatest desire should be to save $200 dollars a month. Before you know it, a year
has gone by and you have $2,400 dollars in your savings (not bad, right?).

Believe me, this year is going by so fast, one year will speed right past your income
with or without your savings. Less stress equals some of your money in the bank for you
to fall back on, not living paycheck-to paycheck.

Go have fun people! Peace.

Jerry Flanagan
(The VIP Gypsy)

The Good Life

Most of my close friends know that music
moves me. When I'm smoking a cigar on
the beach while working on my laptop the
music gets me in the mood. Without
music to speed me along I would fall
asleep and no work would be done.

This post will focus on one of my all time
favorites "Frank Sinatra".

The song titled "The Good Life" reminds
me that my life is like a vintage wine.
With extra years you taste better.
Below are the song lyrics. Enjoy!



It's the good life, full of fun, seems to be the ideal,
Yes, the good life, lets you hide all the sadness you feel,
You won't really fall in love 'cause you can't take the
chance, So be honest with yourself, don't try to fake romance.

Yes, the good life, to be free and explore the unknown,
Like the heartache when you learn you must face them alone.

Peace be the Journey!

Sometimes Being Alone Is A Good Thing

Edits by:Rob S, animals rock, Flickety, Glutted

If you're reading this you're probably really bored and, at the moment, have no one to be with.

On the other hand, you may have spent the last 3 months partying (and spending a lot of money) with every friend in your social circle and you just need a break. Either way, "sometimes Being Alone Is A Good Thing".

Whether you long for a boyfriend or girlfriend,
miss your family and friends,or need a break,
this blog post will guide you on how to cope with living alone. Keep in mind that humans are indeed social animals however, that doesn't mean that we can't be perfectly happy outside of society too.

TIP 1: Be happy.

Easier said then done right? Remember, its a state of mind. Live a life of optimism.
Happiness comes from within regardless of your situation, so don’t use any excuses,
such as being alone. In fact, being alone gives you time to think about how cool you really are and what you bring to the table once you do hang out with your friends, family and co-workers.

TIP 2: Get out and do something on your own.

Do everything you would normally do with a partner or friend. Many times it
isn't the partner or friend you are missing, but the activities and hobbies you
shared. Take yourself out for a date. For example, if you would have gone out to
dinner or to a movie with someone, then take yourself out to a movie or to a nice
restaurant. Don't hold yourself back.

Also, don't be afraid to get out there on your own. A lot of people stay in doors
because they are afraid of what other people will think if they are out on the town
by themselves. Don't worry about other people, enjoy finding new places or doing
new things on your own first. Then later you can share with your friends.



TIP 3: Learn something new.

Learning is the most important aspect of living alone. It helps to keep
the boogeyman away, and also gives you something to talk about when you do
socialize.

Learning is also incredibly more efficient when you don't have social
responsibilities like family to take care of, or a girlfriend or boyfriend to
entertain.

Learning isn't just exclusive to books (although they are a great source of
knowledge). You can learn to do anything by just practicing. Enrolling in classes
is fun and also helps with your social life because you will meet new people in your
classes. If you're not so much into the "meeting people" thing, then the Internet is a great way
to learn pretty much everything (i.e. YouTube, eHow.com, Yahoo Answers, etc.).

Consider learning: Indoor Activities: A Foreign Language, Painting, Yoga,
Mathematics, Science, Art Appreciation, A Musical Instrument such as piano or flute.
Outdoor Activities: Gardening,Fencing, Tennis, Golf. Or Combination -
things you can do indoors and out: Photography, Drawing.

TIP 4: Get a pet.

Humans need affection, without it they become bitter and hate the world around
them. Pets are always a source of affection and will give loads of it endlessly.
Pets also provide someone to talk to. No, it's not weird that you talk to your pet,
it's weird if you don't. Just be cautious that your pet doesn't talk back. If so,
seek professional help.

If you are aloof and self-sufficient, tropical fish, hamsters, budgies or
finches are great choices. If you like a little interaction, but not a lot of
maintenance, try a cat. If you want to be very hands-on, spend lots of time and
get lots of feedback, a dog is for you.



TIP 5: Listen to lots of music.
If you are a music fan then you can enjoy being alone by listening to music
you enjoy or music that brings back memories of certain events (happy or sad).

This tip is great if you love all sorts of music genres like: Jazz, Blues, R&B,
Country, Hip-Hop, Salsa, Reggeaton and of course rock-n-roll (50s & 80s and
some 21st century songs)

Really good music will get you jumpin' and groovin' in your own home, at the beach,
bus stop or just standing in line with your iPOD headphones on. Your spirits
will be lifted real fast to a great song.

Finally, go outside.

It's a big world out there, and you're only seeing a small fraction of it.
Forget the people, just enjoy what life has to offer. Go to a new part of the city,
drive to the next city over from yours, drive two cities over from yours,
go to a different "county" or "country", go to different venues/restaurants/bars
in your town and other towns.

Once you do that, then people will want to know and be with you. Frankly, you won't
have a choice but to have friends!

Peace be the Journey,
- VIP Gypsy