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by Jim Garnett, a/k/a Ask Mr. G. and a member of the
ICFE's Board of Educational Advisors
There is a very real sense in which Thanksgiving can have a
direct bearing on our financial health. What is the link between
the two? Being thankful for what we have is an attitude that
results in living within our means.
Think about it. Isn't it true that a spirit of discontentment
will prompt us to always keep spending? That certainly describes
many American families whose attitude seems to be "Never
Enough!" That attitude leads to an action - get more! Getting
more requires spending more. Could that be the reason the
average American family spends 14% more than it earns?
Maybe this Thanksgiving Season is a good time to turn our
Thanksgiving into "Thanks-Living?" Here are a couple of
suggestions of how to do that.
First, imagine that tragedy strikes today and you lose
everything you have. All your possessions are burned up in a
fire and destroyed. You have no clothes, no house, no TV, no
food, no money, and no keepsakes! Everything you have is taken
away!
Now imagine that the next day, all of that which was taken
away is now given back to you! Can you sense the amazing thrill
of appreciation and thanksgiving you would experience? How happy
you would be to have it all back! The point is obvious. We ought
to be that happy and appreciative to have it all to begin with!
If we were, we would not constantly be on a quest to have more.
Contentment would substitute for complaining. (This principle
applies to all our health woes too.)
Secondly, take a trip to visit someone who has less than you
do. It might be across the world, across town, or across the
street. Whenever we can see those who have less than we do, it
makes us appreciate what we have.
My son just visited Zambia, Africa on a church trip to
provide housing for the people there. He told me that these
people have dirt floors, no electricity, and no plumbing and
have no idea each morning what they will eat for their first
meal. Yet, he said, they are the happiest people he has ever
met! If they can be contented living with so little, can't we be
content living with so much more?
The bottom line is that being thankful can affect your
"bottom line." Being thankful for what we have brings
contentment, and contentment results in living within our means.
Living within our means creates financial health. Since most
attitudes are a matter of choice, why not choose to turn your
Thanksgiving into a year-'round spirit of Thanks-Living. It will
good for your pocketbook!
For more information about hosting the AskMrG Library on your
website contact Jim Garnett at 515-577-1799 or email him at
askmrg@yahoo.com.
Please mention you heard about Ask Mr. G through the ICFE.
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About the ICFE:
About the
ICFE:
The Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE), founded in 1982 by the
late Loren Dunton (creator of the “certified financial planner” (CFP)
designation) and it is dedicated to helping consumers of all ages to improve
their spending, increase savings and use credit more wisely. The ICFE trains and
certifies Personal Finance Instructors for its own curriculum. It also trains
and certifies Credit Report Reviewers and Identity Theft Prevention Specialists.
The ICFE is an award winning, nonprofit, consumer education organization that
has helped millions of people through its education programs and resources. It
publishes the Do-It-Yourself Credit File correction Guide, now in its 16th
printing and has distributed over one million “Credit/Debit Card Warning Labels”
and “Credit/Debit Card Sleeves” world wide.
The ICFE became an official partner with the Department of Defense/Financial
Readiness Campaign in June of 2004.
The ICFE is also a partner in the national Jump$tart Coalition for Financial
Literacy and the California Jump$tart chapter. The ICFE staff is also active
with San Diego Saves, an offshoot of America Saves, and the California Student
Debt Resource Awareness Project (CASDRAP) (studentdebthelp.org).
The ICFE’s on-line help for consumers who spend too much was featured in PARADE
Magazine in the Intelligence Report section. The money helps and tips are from
“The Money Instruction Book,” a course in personal finance, positioned to become
among the premier programs in the new bankruptcy and debtor education
initiatives.
The ICFE Web site at:
http://www.icfe.info helps consumers with mending spending, learning about
the proper use of credit, budget and expense guidelines, how to set up and
implement a spending-plan and also how to access financial education courses and
videos and how to teach children about money. Other ICFE services include a free
eNewsletter, and an online resource center of financial education learning
tools, including videos, books, software and personal finance courses.
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