$ 18,100,000.00?

Hello Friends!

I'm not sure what is going on, is there a leakage in our online systems? Is there still people who send emails promising you money, business opportunities, or free loans? Why do we have people calling us claiming that there is a gov free grant waiting for us to receive, and all what we need is to provide them with our personal info so that we can get this money?

Mr. Youichi

Were you one of these people who got these kinds of email frauds? Unfortunately I received many times suspicious emails, the last one was last week. Since then I've been wondering why these fraudulent activities  continued to happen in spite of all the cyber security systems we have, and the best way to handle them.

Here's what it came in that email:

"Subject: Business Proposal

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Youichi Kanno and I work in Audit & credit Supervisory role at The Norinchukin Bank, Japan.I am contacting you regarding the asset of a deceased client Mr. Grigor Kassan and I need your assistance to process the fund claims oF $18,100,000.00 (Eighteen Million, One Hundred Thousand, USD) , please can you be my investment partner?

If you could get back to me by end of day tomorrow, I would appreciate it. I hope to hear from you soon so we can discuss the logistic of moving the funds to a safe offshore bank.

Yours sincerely,

Youichi Kanno

Phone Number: +81345400962"

Eighteen Million! 

OMG! Eighteen Million! That was a lot but it was actually less that the offer I had before. Haha! All right, may be next time when it is 180 mil, I should accept it 😄😄

Serious Talk

Anyway our topic is about something else. It covers your financial decisions and how you should protect your money. 

During your lifetime, you must have had at least one wrong financial decision. It is not only

you. It happens to all of us due to lack of experience, wrong timing, or other reasons. You don't have to beat your brains up. What happened happened and it is now in the past.

Just focus on your future financial decisions from now on. Before you take any important decision, consult close friends or relatives, the type of people who would tell you the truth no matter what. Use a professional if you're a wealthy guy!

Realistic

Stay away from taking a decision for the sake of showing off. When it comes to financial matters or money matters, always be realistic. Do not make a guess, and do not live an illusion. Can you survive without this item in your life? Is it a necessity or a luxury? Don't mix up the two. Calculate things accurately and honestly. Do not deceive yourself. After all, it is

you who would pay for any mistake.

Try then buy 

A big item to purchase such as a vehicle or an RV, or a condo, better to try it then you buy it. Only if you felt comfortable about it and that you'd be enjoying it, then you can buy it. And only if you really need it, for whatever reasonable reasons you have. Many times things you buy fast, you lose interest in them faster.

A good money decision will take you exactly where you want. Study your decisions when a large amount of money is involved. If you can't take the time to do that, delegate to the honest person you have in your life.

Keep your eyes on your money

You don't have to be a millionaire or a billionaire to do that. If you are you would have your investment manager doing that for you. Still you'd follow up with your assets and you wouldn't just ignore your monthly statement or your daily revenue. keeping your eyes on your money no matter how little or big it is, is good. Bank errors happen all the time. Twice retail store charges or repeated transactions. Paying attention to your accounts and revising them periodically is excellent way to avoid any money taken by mistake from it.

Rambunctious Money!

Hello Friends!

The good news is you can have a complete control over your spending with some guidance. If it is really a serious matter for you, you will do it.

Remember: When you're using your credit cards, you're spending money which is not yours. This money you do not have. It is only a debt. You have good intentions to pay it, but this is not enough.

Be alert and conscious of how much you owe your credit card/s. And avoid being careless or assuming that the money will be miraculously available by the end of the month, or by the due payment time.

Using multiple number of credit cards is not wise. One is more than enough, unless there is a good reason for doing this.

Separate your money spending from your emotions. To impress your boyfriend, you realized that you tend to spend more while you are around him. No No. Stop this habit immediately. It is not fun at all to put more money in items that you do not really need.

Only use your credit card or your cash in purchasing things that you really need them, do not buy just because this item was on sale. 😲

Spending should be guided by your financial goals. If you're saving in order to have a down-payment for a home, do not go and buy a new car, or sponsor a welcome party for a friend. It is unwise to do similar expenditure.

Overspending is when you take the wrong decision contradicting your financial planning. It will always keep you far away from accomplishing your money goals.

If you are out of tricks and you really can not control yourself using your credit cards, pls get rid of them, and never carry them in your purse or wallet, since it is obvious for you that it is the only solution.

One of the key elements to control your spending is to have a plan, a goal, a management, and a follow-up for checking on results after implementing your plan.

Some people would advise you to go to professional consultant, but you really do not need that, unless you're dealing with millions. You are your own planner, manager, and best accountant.

For God's sake, it is your money, who would ever be better than you in taking care of your money?!

Watch yourself carefully to know what your good/bad habits are when it comes to spending money. Are you totally dependent on your ATM machine, withdrawing all the time, on a daily basis? Oh! If this is the case, there must be something wrong. Pay more attention. You should not see the ATM machine except once a month, when you deposit your checks.

Sit with yourself, and put on paper all the categories that you spend at: Food, home, travel, medicine, etc.. Know how much you spend every month on each of these categories. See if you're making enough money to spend that amount or not.

Are you spending all your income? If yes, this is also not right. You need to have savings. No one knows what may happen in the future. You better have some money stashed for emergencies.

Planning:

It is very important to know which spending is fixed (recurring in the same amount every month). For example, you pay $ 100 for your cellphone plan every month. Also changeable but recurring, you need to have an approximate figure. For instance, electricity varies every month according to your consumption, but it would be within the range of $50-$70/month.

Other expenditure could be for fun not required to be in your budget at all if you need to cut it off completely, but if you have extra money and you want to spend it on a sport you like or a hobby, it is still OK, but plan it too in you budget.

Stick to your plan, unless there is an emergency.

Management:

1. Manage Your Budget

There many ways to track and control spending. You need to be aware of everything related to your money. Do not leave it unattended, it is like your own kid. Can you leave her/him unattended if doesn't have a logic of her/his own yet. Money does not know any logic. It can go wild.

2. Follow Your Plan

Keep in mind your priorities.

3. Be Honest with Yourself

Do not deceive yourself. Be a good guard on your own money, and do not neglect it.

4. Befriend with someone who is wise with money, or you admire her/his decisions when it comes to money. We get along better with people who feel the same towards the same approaches.

5. Update and Maintain an Emergency Fund

Consider it untouchable, and act accordingly.

6. Continue Finding Methods of Saving

But do not live miserably, live within your limits, you will be happier, and start your saving journey, the sooner the better.

7. Educate Yourself about Money

Catch any chance that would provide you with more knowledge about money, and give up any habits that drag you to more spending.

Probably we should continue talking more about few more points, but until then, just remember that money has no brains; you can call it rambunctious, like my son's dog! 😨

References:
. What is budgeting?
. No Money Worries.