Notice I said work hard and make smart decisions - not sit around with your hand out, waiting for someone else to give you something for nothing.
SPONSORED BY:
Bailout Buddies
Email To A Friend
Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.
SPONSORED BY
Now Baxter and her fellow money group members are hoping to inspire millions of others who are now struggling with financial problems. They've launched a Web site (smartcookies.com) and collaborated on a new book, "The Smart Cookies' Guide to Making More Dough," which hits shelves this week. The timing seems fortuitous. With stocks and home values plummeting, banks failing and consumer prices climbing, Americans everywhere are being forced to reassess their finances and make some difficult choices. The support that comes with being part of a money group may be just the antidote to the stress-inducing prospect of facing such daunting financial challenges alone.
Just keep these tips in mind:
Be prepared. Before the first meeting, the Smart Cookies read books and articles on personal finance, gathering the best tips. They sought out mentors: Baxter approached a former boss she admired, for example, and Dunsworth enlisted the help of a successful salon owner. They took notes on how they made and managed their money, and they collected months' worth of their bank and credit card statements, bills and pay stubs (not an easy task!).
Be candid with each other. At their first meeting, the Smart Cookies members each revealed how much they made, owed, saved and had invested, and, over the following weeks, they set new goals in each of those areas. But first, they each made a promise to support and respect each other and to keep all conversations from the meetings confidential.
Be selective about your members. These should be people whom you trust and respect, or people who have been recommended by someone you do. They should truly want to make improvements in their finances and to learn more about saving, investing and attracting more money.
Be consistent. Establish ground rules and a schedule at the first meeting. (You can meet as frequently as you want, but it's good to meet at least monthly to stay on track.) Try to keep the same time and day for meetings. At each meeting, stick to an agenda of key items.
Discuss