Even a small amount of money can be used to establish a solid foundation for financial success, but you need to make your cash work for you. Author Jim W. Mathe, a successful real estate investor and entrepreneur, helps everyday people achieve their financial dreams in this moneymaking guidebook. You'll learn what actions to take so you can use the law of attraction to your advantage, set and accomplish financial goals, profit from money-saving habits, and negotiate the best deals. Even if you have no money at all, you'll learn how to put cash in your pocket so you can secure your future. Discover how to secure a home without a down payment and how to invest in real estate without spending a dime. You'll also learn strategies to develop a successful small business. Start profiting form a practical, no-nonsense, easy-to-read workbook that will launch you into financial freedom. Stop wasting time and start living your dreams by applying the strategies and lessons in Easy Money Smarts.

easy MONEY SMART$

Quick and Practical Financial Help for All Income Levels and Age GroupsBy JIM W. MATHE

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Jim W. Mathe
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-3541-0

Contents

INTRODUCTION................................................XI1. WHO ARE YOU? REALLY!.....................................1MY HUMBLE PEBBLE............................................7PUT YOUR DREAMS ON PAPER....................................7THE LAW OF ATTRACTION.......................................10SET YOUR GOALS AND COMMIT TO THEM!........................12DAILY HABITS OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE.........................25THE GOOD HABITS PUZZLE......................................30CHAPTER 1 RECAP.............................................342. YOU – THE SAVER....................................37CHANGE YOUR SPENDING HABITS.................................3979 WAYS YOU CAN SAVE........................................42THE CREDIT CARD GAME........................................54GOVERNMENT SAVING INITIATIVES...............................59RECORD YOUR PERSONAL BUDGET.................................60THE FOUR JARS...............................................65BUILD YOUR TEAM OF EXPERTS..................................66BUILD YOUR SKILL SET........................................68THINK AND ACT SUCCESSFULLY..................................69CHAPTER 2 RECAP.............................................703. YOU – THE INVESTOR PART 1..........................73ABOUT JOINT VENTURES IN REAL ESTATE.........................75FINDING YOUR JOINT VENTURE PARTNER..........................76PITCHING YOUR IDEA..........................................78COMMON QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR INVESTOR.......................80YOUR INFO KIT...............................................81TIPS FOR NEGOTIATING YOUR DEAL..............................824. YOU – THE INVESTOR PART 2..........................85INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE....................................875. YOU – THE INVESTOR PART 3..........................99COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE......................................101THE CAP RATE................................................102OPENING A SMALL BUSINESS....................................104FRANCHISES..................................................105INDEPENDENT STORES..........................................106MARKETING YOUR BRAND........................................108CHECK LIST AND WATCH POINTS.................................1116. YOU – THE INVESTOR PART 4..........................115FORECLOSURE AND POWER OF SALE...............................117REHABBING...................................................119RENT-TO-OWN.................................................119LEASE OPTIONS...............................................121HOW BANKS LOOK AT REAL ESTATE DEALS.........................122INVESTING IN FARMLAND.......................................123REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS.......................................124BUYING PROPERTY IN THE U.S.A................................1267. LEARN HOW TO GET A CAR ... FOR FREE!.....................1278. MY BUSINESS STORY........................................1299. EASY MONEY SMARTSMENTORING PROGRAM.......................13510. USEFUL BITS.............................................143DIFFERENT BUSINESS STRUCTURES...............................145THE BEST TIME TO START INVESTING............................146ECONOMIC CYLES..............................................147THE INTEREST LADDER.........................................149TERMINOLOGY.................................................151

Chapter One

WHO ARE YOU? (REALLY!)

"No one remains quite what he was, once he recognizes himself." Thomas Mann, 1875-1955 German novelist

The first step to financial wealth is to know yourself – for real.

No joking, no kidding, no stories – nothing but the truth and the whole truth. If you are not going to be honest with yourself this book will not help you.

What are you afraid of when it comes to making or investing money? Is it your job, partner, health, family, poor credit, fear of scam artists? Or do you fear making a bad deal or decision? Maybe you lack the confidence to make a financial commitment, or perhaps you believe you don't have enough money to become financially successful.

These are valid considerations. But what if I help you overcome your fears? And find out that you don't need a lot of money (or any!) to get started.

Often the biggest obstacle in moving ahead is our selves. Some figment of our imagination has us on the run, and keeps telling us not to try – or that we will not make it anyway, so why bother? Do you have the desire to kill these fears? Knowledge builds confidence and confidence kills fear (and that's why you have this book).

So let's talk about your fears and get them out in the open. Take a look at them honestly and deal with them one at a time.

Let's take a look at your job. Are you happy with it? Does it give you personal satisfaction? Does it give you enough money to live like you really want to? Is it a dead end career? Are your peers really helpful or courteous? Are you appreciated? Well, I can tell you that not all my past jobs were pleasant BUT the one thing that kept me focused and extremely positive was I knew that I was getting ahead.

Good returns from my investments made me happy inside and I knew that eventually I would fulfill my dreams (and drive the car I always wanted!). I found that if I stayed focused on my investments and treated them like my best friend, a lot of trivial things in life would not matter so much.

I am here to tell you that you only need to think positively, and believe in yourself. I will not let you make poor investments or decisions. You are no longer alone, and don't need to feel afraid that you will do something wrong and lose everything you own.

Another obstacle that might be holding you back is thinking you don't have enough money to really get involved in saving and investing. There is something in life that is even worse than fear, and that is regret. Yes, REGRET.

Do you want to live the rest of your life regretting that you never really tried because you let your mind tell you could not do it? Do you want to take this to your grave? The days, months and years will fly by and one day you will wish you had tried even a little to make saving and investing work for you – instead of standing on the sidelines and watching life go by. Time is one of the most precious things we have. Use it well and you will reap the rewards. This is key to your personal success.

Take even the smallest amount of money that you can afford and I will show you how to invest and start making money TODAY!

Investing can be likened to building a house for you and your family. Once you dig the hole in the ground for the solid foundation the next steps get easier and take shape over time. Believe me, building your financial house is every bit as exciting as building the real thing. You will want to visit the site every day to personally monitor its growth. Even on days when nothing happens, it is still uplifting just to stand there and see your progress.

It's a motivating and unbelievable feeling to know you are on the path to success. It will make you feel like a different person! Happy and content regardless of what kind of day you are having. The best part of financial success is that you can pass it on to your family or anyone you choose – helping them be content and stress-free about money.

You need to think like the rich and act like the rich by changing your outlook on money. You need have your money work for you, not you working for the money. Just like the rich. And it's all in your attitude towards money.

If somebody earns a hundred thousand dollars a year they are considered to be doing very well in their life – even considered successful. But the truth of the matter is that many of these people do not have any savings or investments. They are often over financed with big mortgage payments, expensive car payments and all the monthly bills.

On the other hand the person earning forty thousand dollars a year who can save three thousand dollars is way ahead of the hundred thousand dollar a year guy.

If you can't take a little discomfort now, you will be feeling a lot of discomfort later in life.

Remember, the one thing worse than fear is regret.

Let me tell you about something very simple that changed my life.

MY HUMBLE PEBBLE

Once I was told to pick out a token – a little stone – and always carry it in my pocket. This pebble was to represent all the good fortune in my life, and every morning I was to look at it and give thanks for my good health, my wife and children, my worldly possessions, my job and everything else in my life that was wonderful.

At first this humble pebble idea seemed dumb, but it started to grow on me and I began looking forward to seeing it. When I paid for my lunch it was with my loose change and it became a silent reminder of the reasons to be happy with my life. When I bought gas, or flowers, or went to the local variety store it reminded me of what I was grateful for. Holding it in my hand seemed to give me strength and determination to get through any difficult situation.

After many years I still carry my humble pebble – a polished and colorful small stone. It has little value to others, but to me it stands for everything I own. When my brother died I held it in my hand for most of the day and I believe it helped me remember the good and happy things about his life. I not only felt close to him, but I also felt a strong appreciation for everything else in my life.

I highly recommend that you find a humble pebble and carry it with you at all times. It will give you amazing inner strength.

PUT YOUR DREAMS ON PAPER

We all have dreams. Some are bigger than others. But we all dream about what we would do if we won the lottery – yes, all that money – WOW! Financial freedom at last.

Well, let's take your personal dreams and put them on paper. Yes, write about them, draw them, or cut out pictures of what you dream about to create a vision board. Cut out that awesome holiday picture, and that fancy high priced car you always talk about and place it on your vision board next to your holiday picture. Now imagine the really big house and anything else your heart desires and place a picture of them on the board. This is your vision board. Place it somewhere where you will see it everyday – so you don't loose sight of your dream.

Your dream is everything and some people will achieve it quicker than others. But that's alright because you have to do it your own way. Everyone can feel happy knowing they are getting closer to their idea of success day by day. Never put your vision board out of sight because it goes hand in hand with your humble pebble. Both will reinforce your dream every time you see or touch them – and they will help you stay focused and on course, especially through trying times.

Look at your vision board every morning before you go to work and think positively about your future – keep telling yourself you will soon have the items on your board. Hold your token in your hand, rub it gently as you think about the gifts you already have – your family, your health, etc, and what is yet to come into your life.

Here's an example of a vision board. It shows a fancy car, a dream home, cash, a vacation to some tropical place, creative ideas, the wish to upgrade education and inspirational words. Nice!

Your vision board should represent all the things you want in life. Your dream come true! You can include anything your heart desires. The more personal, the better. Dream your own dream!

You will want to make your vision board attractive because YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT IT DAILY. The more attractive the board the stronger your feelings will be around achieving your goals.

This will be an important part of your new life – don't just throw something together, put some time and effort into it. Remember it's your life – it's your dream. Make it attractive so it inspires and motivates you.

Your vision board is your stepping stone to fulfilling your dreams.

THE LAW OF ATTRACTION

Many people want to get rich quick. Get over it. It does not happen except for lotteries, and what are the odds that it's going to be you? You can have wealth, but it does take time and some effort. Success will not just fall in your lap. You have to make it happen. And once it does start to happen you will notice everything in your life changing for the better as well. It is referred to as the law of attraction and it works! Set your goals and tune your mind with a focused passion to get you there and everything else will follow. That's the magic. People who have followed these steps know they work, and once that ball starts rolling it doesn't stop.

Your wish is your mind's command. If you say you can't reach your goal, your mind will grant you your wish! That's right – you won't achieve it.

You are what you think about. If you think about not having money – you won't have any. Focus on what you really to do want instead of what you don't want. Focusing on what you don't want will only attract more of the same. Focusing on what you do want will attract it. Making a personal vision board will help.

The good energy that your positive attitude gives off will cause positive actions to happen in your favour. For instance, if you walk into the bank to do a transaction with a cheerful smile and greet everyone in a pleasant and happy way, you will receive that same energy back in the form of more smiles and greetings from everyone there. This is a positive reaction to your first action. People who do this day after day will always get positive reactions in their favour. People looking at them will always say "Wow! That person is always smiling, in a good mood, and always very nice to talk to. He or she must have horseshoes in their back pocket because it seems that everything they touch seems to turn out right." Well, guess what? It has very little to do with luck, but only appears so. I believe that a combination of positive thinking along with positive actions pay off in positive rewards.

When you are positive, things will change in your favour. They have to, because positive energy gives off more positive energy. (Just as negative energy gives off more negative energy.)

Try to avoid people with negative attitudes. Like a bad cold, they are often hard to get rid of! They will bring you down, and keep you there for quite a while.

Energy flows where your mind goes. If it's negative, then the attraction will be negative. If you focus on the positive, then the attraction will be positive. Constantly think about your end results with a positive mind. Be thankful for the things you already have and for where you are. And be positive no matter what your day is like. Just keep smiling!

Whatever you believe, you will attract.

"Whether you think you can or not – you are always right." Henry Ford

To build a solid foundation for wealth you must set your goals and be diligent about wanting to obtain them.

SET YOUR GOALS ... AND COMMIT TO THEM!

Your plan does not have to be grand or elaborate – better to keep it simple and obtainable, so you won't get discouraged or frustrated. Your goals need to be something you can live with every day. It will be a wonderful experience to be able to see your plan grow from a seed into a flower. Exhilarating, motivating, and humbling all at the same time.

What do you really want? What's on your vision board? Affirm your dreams over and over (and over!) – get emotionally involved. Really start believing that you can make your dreams come true! Security comes from inside you. Write down the answers to the following questions. Beside each answer, state WHEN you would like to achieve your goal by.

1. What is your passion? What excites you? What motivates you?

2. What are your life's financial goals? Do you want to buy a house, car, apartment building, stocks, or go on a super holiday? Do you want to help out your family financially? Provide university or college education for your children?

Hop on board! Let's start this journey!

EASY MONEY SMARTS TRAIN RIDE TO SUCCESS

EASY MONEY SMARTS MY PASSIONS ARE:

1.

2.

3.

4.

EASY MONEY SMARTS MY FINANCIAL GOALS ARE:

1. GOAL:

I PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS BY:

2. GOAL:

I PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS BY:

3. GOAL:

I PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS BY:

4. GOAL:

I PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS BY:

5. GOAL:

I PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS BY:

6. GOAL:

I PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS BY:

EASY MONEY SMARTS MY FEARS ABOUT INVESTING ARE

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Your hidden treasure ... IS YOUR PASSION!

We all have some! We are born with it inside ourselves. Well, where is it? Show it to me! How much is it worth?

Your INNER PASSION is your hidden treasure, and it's worth a FORTUNE. All you have to do is bring it out and use it. There is nothing like it – nothing! It comes from the heart, not the wallet.

Let me tell you a story from the days when I ran a wholesale video business. One day a friend said he wanted to see me because he had something important to discuss. He was quite financially successful, and as it turned out, he wanted me to buy his commercial building – and deal with me directly without a real estate agent.

After our meeting he said, "Jim, I see that you are successful in business and perhaps more so than me in many ways. From the moment I stepped into your office, a warm feeling came over me. Your office is different than most – it has unique decor, is very cheerful and without a doubt, it puts you in a good mood! What really captures me is a silence of some kind. I can feel the passion you have for your business without you uttering a single word. It's a warm, secure, satisfying feeling that expresses your passion."

(Continues...)

Excerpted from easy MONEY SMART$by JIM W. MATHE Copyright © 2011 by Jim W. Mathe. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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