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Budgeting tip: Here’s a simple tip that uses one of your existing household items, that by using, can possibly save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars monthly!!

Use your wallet!!

This habit sounds too simple to make any difference, but the act of sliding dollar bills into your wallet can help bring awareness as to where all of your money is going and where you are spending it!!

Awareness is a key part of having the resolve you need in order to save money. When you stuff bills into a pocket or purse, you don’t always know what you have… it becomes easier not to think about how we choose to use it.

As we tell all of our radio listeners, clients, and PLJ family: planning for the future all starts with knowing where you are financially, knowing where you want to be, and taking a step toward doing something about it!!

PLJ is constantly ahead of the curve with new fully researched and approved PLJ retirement options that for most, are the missing puzzle piece to a complete financial strategy that will give them the income they desire for their future!!

In an effort to educate and guide our PLJ community to a successful future, we combine great financial information with great events to promote growth and ultimately to help you learn HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR EXISTING INCOME and turn it into WEALTH.

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Planning ahead for your finances is essential!! We see examples of financial missteps everywhere, especially when we look at some of our community’s highest earners: Celebrities!

Moral of the story: Start planning for the long term while you’re young – you never know how soon you might need the money.

CELEBRITY FINANCE MISHAPS: EVEN THE RICH NEED A BUDGET!

Click here to download your Financial Planning report!

Former Baywatch star Pam Anderson owed $1.1 million to various construction companies when she defaulted on payments for a renovation job in 2009, as well as back state taxes, according to L.A. County Records.

Nicolas Cage has run into a lot of problems for his overspending habits. After declaring bankruptcy due to overspending, Cage was in the news again for buying a ridiculous pyramid tomb!

Court papers during Britney Spears’s child-custody trial in 2007 revealed that the singer earned an average of $737,000 per month, but doesn’t allocate a penny toward savings, investments, or education funds for her two sons.

Gary Coleman was once one of the highest-earning child stars, but was forced to declare bankruptcy after his handlers mismanaged his $8.3 million trust fund.

Teen actor Corey Haim starred in a dozen hit movies in the 1980s, but had to file for bankruptcy in 1997 when faced with a $100,000 IRS bill and another $100,000 in debts; reportedly, his only assets at the time were a 10-year-old BMW, $100 in cash, and $7,500 in royalties.

Lesson Learned: Plan now for the long term no matter what your monthly income is. Living in the moment is a dangerous trend!!

Last week we gave you 7 do-it-yourself tips! Hope you enjoyed the tips and have already implemented them!!

At PLJ we believe a well-rounded life consists of a well-balanced life with proper care for the two most important factors in your life: Your Health & Your Wealth.

As promised, below you will find 7 household health remedies for a healthy life that have most likely been hiding under your nose! BUT REMEMBER, in order to have a well-balanced life, you must also make sure your finances are in order to enjoy your healthy life.

1. REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: EAT BANANAS

People whose diets are rich in potassium may be less prone to high blood pressure. Besides reducing sodium and taking other heart-healthy steps, eat potassium-packed picks such as bananas, cantaloupe, and oranges.

2. IMPROVED NIGHT VISION: BILBERRY

Studies are mixed, but some have found that bilberry, a relative of the blueberry, may improve night vision. During World War II, fighter pilots reported better night vision after eating bilberry jam.

3. TO REMEDY DRY SKIN: EAT AVOCADOS

For dry skin, incorporate more avocados into your diet. They’re rich in monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, both of which promote healthy skin. Try them on salads and sandwiches, and even in smoothies.

4. TO KEEP YOUR MIND SHARP: MAKE SMALL TALK

Engaging in casual conversation with others may help keep you as sharp as doing a word puzzle, according to some studies. Just 10 minutes of daily chatter appears to improve mental function and preserve memory.

5. TO PREVENT CAVITIES: EAT JAPANESE FOOD

In addition to following good dental hygiene, you can help prevent cavities by adding more shiitake mushrooms and wasabi to your diet. Both foods contain compounds that help fight the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities.

6. TO CALM A QUEASY STOMACH: TRY ACUPRESSURE

Calm a queasy stomach with this quick acupressure trick: Use your index and middle fingers to press down on the groove between the tendons that run from the base of your palm to your wrist.

7. TO STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART: CALL A FRIEND

Keeping your social networks alive and well may help benefit your ticker over the long run. Social support has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, and people who do have heart attacks fare better if they are socially connected.

In an effort to continually educate our PLJ community, I hope you find these great tips not only informative, but also useful!

Disclaimer: All information or material in this email is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your physician. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your condition.

They often say, “Small changes can add up to big savings.” We put together a list of 7 easy do-it-yourself financial moves that you simply must take advantage of!

With economic uncertainty all around us, we figured your best strategy for financial health is to control the things you can control.

1. TRIM YOUR WAISTLINE & YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS

Trim your wallet!

According to research done by eHealthinsurance, smokers pay an average monthly health insurance premium that’s 14% higher than those for nonsmokers.

Being heavy costs big too: Obese policyholders pay 22.6% more on average than their normal-weight counterparts.

2. BECOME A SMARTER SHOPPER

Try to stay one step ahead of the retailers who are forever luring you with clever marketing strategies. “Buy one get one” only saves you money if you actually need the second item!

Instead, this year, take advantage of sites such as GROUPON or LIVINGSOCIAL that offer deeper discounts with no strings attached!

3. SIMPLIFY YOUR DAY-TO-DAY FINANCES

What’s complex can be intimidating, and tempting to ignore. Vow to simplify your financial life.

Put bill paying on autopilot by setting up automatic payments from your bank account if you’re still writing and mailing checks.

4. INCREASE YOUR FINANCIAL LITERACY

If the last few years have taught us only one thing, it is that you can’t be in the dark about money matters. Focus on your financial education!

5. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Anyone who has ever been out of work for any length of time knows how quickly you can deplete your resources.

Start an EMERGENCY FUND if you have not already! Your emergency fund should have enough cash to cover at least 3 months of basic expenses.

6. PAY DOWN DEBT

Pay off your high-interest debt. If you’re getting charged 12.99% on your Visa, and are only making 1% in your money market account, take the money out of your money market to pay off your credit card. You will have 11.99% more in your pocket!

7. DO A BASIC BUDGET

Financial success starts with a household budget. Track your expenses and know where everything is going, then adjust your budget accordingly. You will likely be surprised where much of your money goes.

Now that you have the tools to get your financial health on track, keep an eye out for next week’s post. It will teach you common remedies and health secrets that may be the solution you’ve been seeking – and it’s been right under your nose!

Big news of the week was the nightmare of the BIG HACK ATTACK! Dun Dun Duuuun! It was actually quite scary, a few government officials and celebrities were hacked and had their personal and confidential financial information posted online! Can you imagine; their social security numbers, credit reports, personal addresses… all posted online for everyone to see! Some of the targeted people were Mel Gibson, Kim Kardashian, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden!

But the reason I am writing about this, is because in their situation, this was all quickly taken down. Now imagine if that was you or me!!! Do we have the same connections that they have? Of course not! So we would have been exposed for anyone to steal our identity, and no one would rush to help us out! So in the spirit of this, I highly suggest that if you don’t have some sort of credit protection like Life Lock, Identity Force, or ProtectMyID, for example, you might want to get yourself covered, because without the celebrity status, your exposure can cost you a lot more than just embarrassment!

I must say though, it would have been interesting to see how much credit card debt Hillary and Sarah have on those credit card reports, wouldn’t it? We all know what Kim Kardashian does, but let’s face it, she is not the best example of someone who budgets carefully, so who really cares! But Hillary and Sarah… would love to have seen how naughty or nice they really are when it comes to their finances. Let’s not forget, how you do anything is how you do everything, so seeing how a politician spends their own money would also tell us how they would spend taxpayer money!

Oh well! I guess let’s instead focus on our own spending habits this week! Remember, before buying something, always ask yourself if you really need it. Ask yourself if you genuinely want it. And if you do want it, then do you like it or do you LOVE it? If you stop for a moment to be honest with yourself when shopping, you’re guaranteed to make smarter decisions and save yourself some money! Remember, it’s not just about how much you make, but how much you save!