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Posted by Ami Labels: , ,
I've been reading my parent's assorted trade magazines and books for the past
couple of days, since I broke my ankle at school practicing wrestling with
my coach. So it's given me alot of new perspectives on life and how I can make
things better for myself and my family this year. I was reading this article by
Suze Orman about "The dangers of doing nothing in 2009" and got
me thinking about the deepening recession in the United States and how
my parents are trying so hard to get by like other parents. I truly think this
is something good to read and take to heart.

These are the top four moves that Suze Orman suggests for 2009:

1. Pay off credit-card debt- If you have one and are still owing protect
yourself in 2009 by committing to paying down your credit-card debt.

2. Build a large emergency savings fund - Many families out there have
yet to build an emergency savings fund that can cover their family's
living cost for eight months +. In 2009, it's a huge risk to take, especially
when the unemployment rate has reached a 14-year high of 6.5 percent
by the end of October 2008. The layoff has continued to climb since
I last seen the news. So I wonder how families will be able to take care
of themselves if the main breadwinner loses his/her job and finding
a new job could take months. Like they say..always have a plan b
and c...

3. Get Honest..What she means is be very honest with yourself and
your family. If you care about your family's financial security, you'll
sit down w/ all of your bank statements and credit-card statements
and do a careful and thoughtful accounting of exactly what you're
spending money on each month. You must think through each item:
Is it absolutely central to your family's existene? If it's a want and
not a need, you must consider paring back or eliminating that
expense. Even if it is a need, take the time to think through how
your family might be able to spend less on it: It's time to scale back
the calling plan and the cable plan and take steps to save as much
on your utility bills as possible. No more lip service. do it. (I like that)

4. Keep investing for retirement
If your retirement is at least 10 years off, I can't stress enough how
important it is to keep up with your investing. At a minimum you
must keep contributing to your 401(k) to recieve your employer's
maximum company matching contribution. To turn down that match
is foolish; you wouldn't turn down a bonus, would you? At the
same time, push yourself to keep investing in stocks. Focus on accum
ulating shares today. When the markets ally- and it is a matter of
when, not if- the more shares you own, the better off you will be.
It may take years for a sustained rally to occur, but you've got the
time to be patient.
(Reading this makes me want to find a job and start saving..
don't know what the future is going to be like..I watch my mom
and she's struggling to pinch pennies..don't know if she's got a 401(k)
or not, but this article has taught me alot.)

Thanks to Suze Orman. You can find copies of her latest book,
Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound,
at your local Costco and on Costco.com
Posted by Ami Labels: ,