Fall eFinPLAN Newsletter
Many of you are used to a monthly financial newsletter, but over the past few months we have been working on a lot of new changes that we think you will like, including a new website, a quarterly newsletter, increased software capability, and new ways to provide you with more up-to-date personal finance news – more often. We will keep you posted. Prepare Now for a Debt-Free and Stress-Less Holiday
How to have all-cash and joy-filled Holidays
Mary Hunt’s book “Debt Proof the Holidays” inspired this month’s eFinPLAN newsletter headliner. This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to save at least hundreds of dollars from their budgets, and it would be an excellent investment for anyone – but hurry, Christmas is only 11 weeks away (from 10/9/09). Pick up the book at your local bookstore or go to http://www.debtproofliving.com/ . The book is jammed packed full of hundreds of ideas that you can immediately put into action to help you avoid the dreaded credit card bills that start to arrive mid-January. In Chapter 3 Mary points out that a good financial decision is one in which we have a plan. A plan helps you thoroughly analyze the options, seek counsel from trusted advisors, and try to take emotions out of the equation. Yet when it comes to Christmas, a time when we spend a significant amount of our extra income, strangely most people do not have a real plan that they follow, and when January 15th arrives they discover that they have spent over budget and are in greater debt than ever. Fewer times of the year are more emotion charged than Christmas, so if we don’t have a plan, emotions (and merchants) will affect our budgets, and our debt will mount. Lack of planning means more chaos, and adding debt into the mix will make your stress level reach new heights. Your plan will help you have less gift guilt and obtain reasonable expectations, and you will end up in better financial health than you have had in the past. One of the key things Mary advocates is using cash instead of plastic, because countless studies prove that you spend more money when you use plastic. Many people put a predetermined amount of cash in envelopes for each person on their shopping list. Other highlights of the book (over 18 chapters) include:
- Shaping your attitude
- Finding the Cash
- Family and Other Holiday Dilemmas
- Countless gift ideas (4 chapters)
Are You a Financial Advisor?
Financial Advisors often use eFinPLAN for their clients. If you are one who is already using eFinPlan, or you would like to consider using it for your clients, please contact us right away. Soon we will be expanding our capability, which should prove very appealing to some advisors. Blog Roll
I follow about 22 financial blogs; you can see links to them and read specific articles that I think are interesting at: . Here is a sampling of the blogs: - How to Get Out of Your Cell Phone Contract from Five Cent Nickel
- Budgeting Tips for Getting a Pet from Free Money Finance
- 21 Financial Lessons Learned From The Economic Events Of 2008-2009 from Moolanomy Personal Finance
- 1 Year’s Supply Of Food For $800 from Costco from My Money Blog
- Minimalist Money: 6 Steps to Simplify Your Financial Life from Get Rich Slowly
- 7 Ways to Save on Cat Care from Wise Bread
Connect and Spread the Word
Tell others about eFinPLAN and this newsletter by forwarding this to others — thanks. eFinPLAN reports, newsletters, software and Web site are designed to increase your knowledge of financial matters and permit you to take greater control of your financial future. The resources provided are to assist you as you advance up the financial learning curve. No single company or person has all the financial knowledge you need or can address everyone’s individual situation and show all possible solutions. Therefore, we encourage you to utilize other resources, and when appropriate, rely upon trusted professional advisors. This is not intended to, and does not provide specific legal, tax, accounting, and insurance, and investment, financial or other professional advice. eFinPLAN is not your financial planner or investment advisor and does not provide or sell investment advice. For specific advice on these aspects of your overall financial plan we encourage utilizing trusted professional advisors (e.g., insurance, legal, tax, investment). This is not an advertisement or solicitation for any specific investment or investment strategy. Information contained herein is not a substitute for consultation with a competent legal professional or tax advisor and should only be used in conjunction with professional advice. Copyright 2009 All rights reserved. eFinPLAN, LLC, & Taking the mystery out of financial planning are service marks of eFinPLAN, LLC | 
