The Financial Follies: Heart Hits The Dirt Edition!

January 27th, 2012

The Friday Financial and Health Follies (FFHF)  summarize the important (or just fun) financial and health issues of the week.

  • Share the humor of  the funny
  • Make fun of the stupid.
  • Highlight  and explain new  financial and health news-so you don’t miss it!

Friday Financial Follies

This has been a busy week here at The Millionaire Nurse.  I attended a conference for us elected municipal officials in our beautiful state capital of Atlanta.  A thousand of my closest friends and I had the opportunity to eat breakfast with and hear the state of the state with the Governor, Lieutenent Governor, and Speaker of the Georgia House.

Our state budget remains tight, but for the first time in 3 years, it seems there is positive economic news.  Georgia remains one of just 8 states in the nation to retain it’s triple A bond rating during this crisis. Hoo Rah!

Now, on to this weeks follies:

Bad week for Google

Google pays half a billion dollars, yep that’s 500 million smackaroos in fines/forfeitures from the feds over allowing the sale of illegal or out of country pharmaceutical ads.  This after an earnings miss knocked the stock down this week.  I don’t know about you, but I’ll bet two circles  they’ll bounce back.

Apple, You’re welcome!

Apple thanks me for adding to the 37 million iPhones sold last quarter, their 98 billion in cash in the bank, and their almost 14bucks a share in profits.  (no they haven’t sent me a thanks yet, but I’m waiting… a new iPad 3 will suffice….)

Microsoft not dead yet!

Speaking of tech titans, Microsoft may be coming out of the doghouse on Wall Street after a good earnings announcement, and positive early reviews of  Windows 8, and surprising X-box sales.

David Bach, where are you when we need you?

American workers spend an average of $1,000 bucks a year on coffee, and $2,000 a year on lunch. New survey, not old, pre-recession data.

Entrepreneurism alive and well in Italy.

“Get Back On Board Dammit”, t-shirts a hit in Italy. The phrase screamed at the scampering Captain of the ill-fated Italian cruise liner by his disgusted second in command.

Work Rules Rewind!

Cable guy arrested for DWI while working on wi-fi at the Sheriff’s office.  You may able to do your job drunk, but remember, you have to get there…

Shifting gears to health news….

Can grief be considered “depression”?  The Psychiatrists are arguing about it….

Not Your Daddy’s preschool snack-time!

9 baggies of marijuana brought to pre-school snack time by 4 year old.  Oops, wrong brown bag!

3 Second Rule?

A human heart spilled to the ground during transport, was successfully transplanted in Mexico.Heart Transplant?

Weekend Reader: Reads I’ve enjoyed this week!

Do you have the courage to be wealthy? Roshawn at Watson Inc. has a great answer.

Sam @ Financial Samurai discusses the thought process to go through before quitting your day job.  The numbers for his friend may not be applicable to you, but the process is the same.

97 Ideas for building a better platform by Chris Brogan.  You probably didn’t even know you needed a platform.  You do!  The sooner you figure out what YOUR platform is, the happier you’ll be.

Suba @ Wealth Infomatics lays out 2012 tax changes/details here.  You may have to print this out for a reference.  good stuff.

Preventing lifestyle inflation is the topic at Life and My Finances.

“It’s up to you to choose”, is a great short read at Seth’s Blog.

Carnivals and Round-ups!

Carnival of Financial Planning

The Life and Business Coach Carnival

Yakezie Carnival

The Yakezie Blog Swap list is here at Fiscal Phoenix and here at Odd Cents.

Betty Kincaid liked my football and personal finance post, well I think she did…Lotsa sports metaphors flying, and other good reads here!

My Mushroom post, part two, was thumbs up at The Money for College Project, and at Len Penzo, and at the Free Financial Advisor!  I didn’t know so many people liked me, or is it the mushrooms they like, or are they eating too many magic mushrooms???? Whatever, I’m grateful!

Festival of Frugality

Baby Boomers Carnival

Thanks to all who carnivaled, rounded up, tweeted and otherwise spread the word about what I’m trying to accomplish here at the Millionaire Nurse Blog.

My goal is to teach others that building wealth isn’t about a big salary, or winning the lottery.  It’s about making wise financial choices, but enjoying the journey!

Anyone CAN do it, but few choose to.  I’m here to help if you’re ready!

{photo credit: charlotte astrid c.c.}

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You wanna be work-happy? or work sad?

January 25th, 2012

Workplace Stress

Imagine this conversation:  ” Hey Joan this is Tammy.”

“Tammy where are you, your shift started at 7 this morning and it’s almost 9.  You’re never late, is something wrong?”

“Joan, I just can’t do it anymore, I’m sorry to leave you shorthanded, but I had a panic attack when I got up to go to work.  My husband insists I stay home from work ’till I go to the doctor, he thinks I’m killing myself with the stress!”

I’m sure this conversation has occurred in many households throughout our country.

Not just in healthcare, the teachers I see in my practice say the same thing. The work environment has deteriorated with belligerent out-of-control students, to state and federal goals and guidelines, and pay-cuts and unpaid furloughs, and, and, ……

Burnout is the commonly used term for those whose “giver” got up and left.  You’ve given, given, given until your battery is not rechargeable by the routine weekend, or vacation.

I’m not a social scientist or neuro-behaviorist, but I’m someone who’s worked in healthcare for almost 35 years.

Remember Your Inner Child At Work!

One of the most common problems I see in my patients is the “I can’t do it all anymore” syndrome.

This Wall Street Journal article highlights tips on not letting work place stress get the best of you.  From the trenches where I work, here’s my take on these tips:

  • When you’re off your game at work, focus on helping others rather than focusing on your problems or job negatives.  Help a student or intern, mentor a younger worker.  Show someone the ropes.  By giving to others you will be the biggest beneficiary.
  • Ask yourself daily: ” Why do I do this?” ” What were the things I loved about this career?”  Take time to remember your goal or bottom line.  Are you in your job to help people?  Focusing on this rather than the day to day trials may help alter the negative thoughts rolling around your brain.
  • Limit Expectations: Don’t use your job as your soul/sole source of self-esteem. You are more than a ________(fill in blank).  Remember to develop friendships, hobbies, and other outside activities.  Do something fun every week, not just during a vacation week once a year.
  • Look for challenges, not problems.  Easy to say, hard to do-but worth the effort.  Recognize that every job has challenges and look at those as a way to grow/learn rather than as a personal attack or as a burden.

These tips can help you turn around work place stress before it becomes cynicism, ulcers, ruined marriage, or a job failure.

Reader Questions:

What do you say? What works for you to make you stay positive at work?

{Photo credit: tammramccauley c.c.}

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Posted in Nursing Profession, Quality of Life | 15 Comments »

Educate Yourself: Free!

January 23rd, 2012

College education: Costly!


by FDL, BSN

My object here is not to beat that dead horse.

It is instead to trumpet, make the case, testify,  about free courses offered by  famous, ivy league, top ten, world renowned,  (and normally expensive) institutions.

Audit or  download free online college courses from the comfort of your easy chair and on your own schedule.  How cool is that?

Many of the classes offered will have the same content as the exorbitantly priced variety.  The college credit received with the free classes?  Well, they rarely count toward a degree.

Why bother?  What’s the point?  Actually, the better question is:

Who?  Who would benefit from free college classes?

Free College courses: Who benefits?

  • Tired of the low end job market your current set of job skills offers you?
  • Is a college degree all that is standing between you and better pay?

Rather than spend those precious dollars taking a class just to see how you like that field, experiment with a free class.  The exposure to a new subject will be priceless.

The experience could be life altering.  You may find you like business, or the sciences.  Sometimes, even more important, you may find you hate what you thought was your dream.  Better to find that out after a free online course than after an expensive semester or year or 4 year degree…

Better job performance

My field, nursing, is one of the many areas where not one iota of business skills or management tools were taught in my bachelor’s program.

My 4 year degree qualifies me for advancement into management despite my lack of formal education in the area.

The online free classes offer me the perfect spring board into a better job performance.  How cool is that?  I’d do a better job, make more money, increase my job satisfaction and all through free online courses!

Your basic skills are rusty

You want to return to school.  The last time you solved an algebraic equation you also knew your times tables and you weren’t hiding the gray in your hair.

I love numbers and force myself to derive answers to simple math problems in my head.  Equations, division using fractions, no way.  If you’ve spent time in school, you know your weakest areas.  Brush up using the free classes.  Who knows, you may have changed.

That subject you used to hate when you were young, lusting for love or hanging with friends-You may love it now.

You’re unemployed

I know a twenty – something who is unemployed for the first time since graduating from college 7 years ago.  Adrift in a wretched job market, she is considering returning to school.

Her former job unearthed her aptitude for business, sales and managing people.  She wants to use the free online classes to help narrow the field of subjects she should consider for her next stent in education.  The price tag and flexibility are perfect.

Personal Growth

Not just to answer Jeopardy questions and fill in crossword puzzles.

Sometimes our job is fine, we like what we do, we get paid to do it, but we are passionate about an entirely different subject.

For me it’s history.  From high school forward, I dreamed of spending my life teaching history, immersed in academia.  My severely practical side said something else.

Free online classes in your area of passion can keep you happy with your reality while allowing you to pay the bills.

So, go ahead.  Get your feet wet.  Econ 101.  Art History.  Computer Science.

Listen to lectures while you exercise or drive.

Free is great.  It can let you relax and enjoy a subject.

Here is just a short list of websites to get you started:

Open Culture-400 free online courses from physics, to economics.  And computer science to philosophy!

Online Education Database-another 200 courses.

MIT’s Open Courseware-MIT lectures available.

Open Courseware Consortium: A group of many universities participate at this site.

And to help you get started, Lifehacker University, from  has organized many of these sites and have given suggestions on how to get started with your FREE online education.

Reader Questions:

What is it you’ve always dreamed of learning about, but didn’t want to spend the money?  What would be your first choice of a free online course if you could find it?

The author:

FDL BSN, is a frequent writer here at The Millionaire Nurse Blog.  She works in public health.

Photo credit: bgrad2

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Financial Follies: Kalishnikovs For Free Edition

January 21st, 2012

The Friday Saturday just for today-Financial and Health Follies (FFHF)  summarize the important financial and health issues of the week.

  • Share the humor of  the funny
  • Make fun of the stupid.
  • Highlight  and explain new  financial and health news-so you don’t miss it!

Welcome to another rousing edition of Friday – Saturday, this week only-Financial Follies, a full folio of fascinating facts and favorites for your reading pleasure/pain!  (because of an agreement to post the blog swap yesterday, my Friday Follies has moved to today.  If you missed it, I am sooo moved, but wonder about your sanity)

Lets get started!

This Weeks Financial and Health News, News too cool to miss!

What a deal!

In Russia when you buy 15 bucks worth of firewood, you might get a stash of automatic Kalashnikovs as a bonus…. Kinda like Storage Wars meets the Antiques Roadshow.

Probably not a Kalishnikov Rifle!

Gambling Jones on Steroids

Cock fighter owner killed by his fighting rooster.  Rooster is on the run from law enforcement…We don’t have to make ‘em up here.  (I chose to ignore my baser instincts to go crazy with “C–k” jokes…. )

Say it ain’t so!

It’s one thing to develop nuclear weapons, but to remove Barbie dolls from Iranian shelves...That’s un-American, Outrageous-oh yea it’s Iran, never mind…

Cocaine Cowboy?

FARC rebels in Columbia selling cattle as cocaine business income falls.  I have cows for sale, hmmm maybe I missed something…

Costly Cough!

Pneumonia costs  fellow 44 million.  Nahh, just a mistake…

USA Not too Neighborly

Canada is not too happy about President Obama’s decision on the Keystone Pipeline, and I don’t blame them.

How is this for “Helping”

Cholera in Haiti-spread from UN peacekeepers? The scientists aren’t sure.

One shot, cool!

A universal flu vaccine….It is in the works, and would be a lifesaver!

Enough already.

Good Reads for your weekend pleasure-some personal finance, some I just liked:

A book review of the Steve Jobs autobiography, aptly named Steve Jobs at Yakezie by yours truly.

Average Joe explains how to get average or below average returns.   Do it by buying mutual funds on  someones list of funds with above average returns.  You have to go read it, it does make sense-I promise.

If you’ve always wanted to make Hard Cider at home, Jeff at Sustainable Life Blog has the recipe and instructions-cheers.

Len Penzo has a semi-rant about pizza delivery fees and pricing transparency at the eponymously named blog.

 Surviving and Thriving-Donna saves Heckboy. 

Money Beagle shows how he does a to do list, only 500 plus items... No problem man, he’s got it covered.  It’s a great idea!

For one guy’s opinion (Caleb Wojcik) of ten bloggers who have used blogging to define their expertise in their field-check out this post.  Great list.

Brian Clark at Copyblogger teaches you the ins and outs of Google +.  Bloggers need to read this!

Carnivals And Roundups this week:

Carnival of Financial Camaraderie at My University Money

Top Personal Finance Articles this Week  the Carnival of Financial Planning

Life and Business Coach Carnival-Inagural Edition-cool!

Yakezie Carnival-hosted by Miss T at Prairie Ecothrifter.com

Money For College Roundup-liked my Millions in the 401k article.

My first  Growing  Mushrooms At Home post was liked by The Dog Ate My Wallet.

The Free Financial Advisor, Joe liked dissed my mushroom post too.

Thanks for reading, and being understanding to have my Friday Follies on Saturday.  If you like it better on Saturday, get over it!  I can’t compete with Penzo’s Black Coffee, I just couldn’t….

{photo credit: vectorportal c.c.}

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The Millionaire Mind And Your Child!

January 20th, 2012

I am participating in a Yakezie, the world’s largest network of personal finance writers,  blog swap today.  The blog swap is a fun way to introduce our readers to other bloggers in  the world of personal finance.  Each blogger is assigned the same topic.  I will link to the other bloggers efforts next week so you can get others’ take on this interesting subject. (Dr Dean)


My post on this subject is at Odd Cents-please check it out too!

How to Rear a Millionaire – Developing Your Child’s Entrepreneurial Aptitude

by Dannielle from Odd Cents

I can’t resist, and I know you can’t!  The vision of a  young child, peaking over the table with a precious- how can you not spend money here-smile, operating their own lemonade stand is probably my earliest memory of entrepreneurship.

A Lemonade Stand, a budding millionaire at work?

I remember watching television when I was young and seeing kids with their own lemonade stands and being amazed at how cool it was.

That was for me!  To this day I grin ear to ear when I run across a stand with a hand painted sign or read one of those Peanut cartoons with Lucy giving advice at her “stand!”

The Lemonade Stand: Model of Entrepreneurship!

The lemonade stand is a great model which contains many themes that are integral to entrepreneurship.

It can be a great tool for explaining the basics:

  • of income,
  • expenses,
  • overhead
  • the ins and outs of a business.

There are also those age old lessons of working hard and giving of your best.

Nobody likes bad-tasting lemonade!

What’s even better is the learning experience for all involved:  parents, grandparents, your kids, neighbor kids-the more the merrier!

Starting Your Own Business:

I’ve heard several stories of young people who have started their own businesses with the guidance of their parents. One little girl makes friendship bracelets and sells them for a dollar. She uses some of the money earned from her sales to buy gifts for her friends.

Her mother takes the remainder and sets aside a portion of it to buy the materials to make the bracelets and puts another portion in her daughter’s piggy bank.

I know of another youngster who sold baked peanuts to make money to buy a bicycle. It all started when his mother brought home a pound of roasted peanuts. He took that big  bag of peanuts and made fifteen small bags-he soon sold out.

The next day he asked his mother to double the  peanut order, using the proceeds from the previous day’s sale. The venture soon resulted in a new bike, and money in the bank!

Getting kids involved:

The best way to teach a child about entrepreneurship is to get them involved and excited.  Giving them tasks that they can accomplish gives kids a sense of financial responsibility.

There are many lessons to be learned:

  • How to make money by earning sales
  • Developing goals
  • Importance of  reinvestment  in the business
  • Savings for long term
  • Customer service
  • Importance of hard work and dedication

In those two scenarios above the parents played a key role in initiating and encouraging a child’s entrepreneurial ability. But not taking away the fun!

Encouragement is not necessarily limited to finances. Teaching business ethics is  a must, even more important than the dollars and cents.

A child’s interest in entrepreneurship usually starts with awe and wonder when they see other kids having fun, and earning their own money.  Be prepared to answer their simple questions.  Open that door we call entrepreneurship.

You never know what kind of business your kids, with creativity and ingenuity,  might dream up in that grungy garage or yours.

Just show them the way!

Reader questions:

What have you done to encourage, teach, expedite entrepreneurial behavior in your kids?  Any recommendations or precautions?

Thanks,

Dannielle

Dannielle writes at the personal finance blog: Odd Cent, A Penny Wise or Pound Foolish. Take a minute and make her feel welcome at The Millionaire Nurse Blog!

Remember my post on the subject of developing entrepreneurial skills in your kids is at Odd Cents today, go check it out!

{Photo credit: pinkpolka c.c.}

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Projects: Getting Started! A Growing Mushrooms at Home Case Study

January 19th, 2012

For background on The Mushroom Project, growing mushrooms at home, check this post.

The Mushroom Project:

OK, the Ayes have!  The Mushroom Project got the green light.  The bride (and editor-in-chief) was excited by the idea.

No rolling eyes,  no OK if you want to I’ll play along just ’cause I love you…..This was genuine “lit up eyes” excitement!  (Editor comment: I love working in the yard, stupid!)

Cool.

The Mushroom Project went from an idea to a goal.

The goal: grow mushrooms at home.

Secondary goal: Gourmet mushrooms at home at  a reasonable price.

Stretch goal: Grow gourmet mushrooms and save money over store prices/quality.

Now what?

Mushroom Project Steps

We’re going to buy fungi spawn and raise them.

Becoming ‘spore spawn diddys’ (SSD) entail no adoption fees and there are no legal battles to be fought.

No one is going to turn up at our neighbor’s doors questioning our past or run our fingerprints through databases.

Nope, we just have to figure out how to get this project going.

Growing stuff background

We’ve grown rare, not found in the wild trees named for Benjamin Franklin (native to our area, but not too happy in our yard), common sun loving, heart warming, hardy zinnias, finicky (‘stop the car, what is that?) clematis, and stunningly gorgeous camellias.

Fungi spawn?  SSD?  Not on purpose.  Though I used to make a pretty good ale years ago…

Project Starting Tips

Projects, large and small, come to fruition in the same way:

  • Research.  Even on tasks well-honed from years of experience, like growing those wonderful summer zinnias, we are open to new information.  On any new project, time spent reading, checking with the experts, ‘studying on it’, is time well spent.  A thorough and ongoing  Google search is a necessity.
  • Network-finding someone else that has ‘been there done that’ is a time and pain saver. They’ve made the mistakes.  Ask around for advice.  Luckily, a national audience here has already chimed in with helpful advice and contacts, and I’m sure more will come.
  • Lists are golden with a new project.

    Project spreadsheet, or pencil and paper-Your Call!

    For a tried and true task, the mental list may do the trick.  If time is a factor, say you have to get the toilet back together before guests arrive for the weekend, spend extra prep time making sure you have every item required before you begin. For our SSD project, a careful list with easy eraser access (pencil or computer document) is a must.

  • Cost Estimates.  This is where research and an accurate list of necessary items are funneled into a budget reality.   Bulk is better when your buying many things, small quantities is a better idea when you’re starting out.  Compromise (almost) always wins the day.  We will start small with this new adventure because we’re novices. Know what the cost will be.  Your cost estimate will be accurate only if you have done a good job with the first two items in this list.  If you’re pumped for a project, but the initial cost is too great-start small, or start slow.  Buying a few items as you can.  I know you’re excited, but remember the turtle usually wins.  Also, as we are well known to do (especially the editor), substitute for something you already have, reduce and reuse.
  • Timeline, with deadlines-Set a deadline to have the items amassed and to get started. SSD’s know there is a time lag from start to meal time.  Getting started is the first requirement of having an end.  With every project there will be parts you love and parts you hate.  To prevent procrastination, set deadlines and stick to them.   Don’t let a simple project become a disaster.  Like that rotten tree that is leaning towards your home?  The removal costs may seem ridiculous, but the physical danger to your family, and  potential home repair costs are far far far greater after it falls and slices your roof in half.
  • Get’er done.

We’re on our way.  Lists are underway and the timeline is coming together.  I won’t keep you in the dark-that’s for mushrooms, silly.

Reader Questions:

All you SSD’s (aka Mushroom Dads and Moms) out there there. Help us.  Comments/Advice?

{photo credit: ivanwalsh c.c.}

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Posted in goal setting, Planned spending aka budget, Quality of Life | 10 Comments »

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