It's 2010 already?

No it's not a typo. I'm inviting you to Write your December 31, 2009 personal journal entry Today!

You create your future today! Over the first 7 days of 2009 I will be accessing 2008 and confirming my Goals for 2009.

One way I will do that is by writing a journal entry dated December 31, 2009. In this journal entry I will review all of the things that I have (will) accomplish in 2009! So I am creating my future today and attracting all the people, tools and favor I need to make it happen!

Faith is "calling those things that be not as thou they already are"!

Here are the areas that I touch in my December 31, 2009 Journal Entry:

1. Spiritual (daily prayer and reading of the Bible)
   
2. Family (Weekly date with beautiful wife, Weekly Tradition and Vacation)
   
3. Giving (I love being a giver!)
   
4. Physical ( Man I look good and feel good!)
   
5. Business (how many people lives my business positively impacted)
6. Books (3 books published in 2009!!!! Thousands sold!!!!!)
   
7. Vacation (Cruise and Disney World. Man I had fun!)
   
8. Financial (Income Goal, wow!!!! God is Good!!!)

So I invite you to do the same! Take time and sit down in a quite place where you can focus and meditate on what you want to enter into your journal on December 31, 2009! And write it out today!

Carlos Frank
Your Personal Financial Coach
http://www.nextmoneystep.com

Is part of your Journal entry about, financial freedom? If so and if you are in the Charleston area check out the following website and get info on the classes I will be teaching in January 2009!
Click Here for More Information on the Classes!

I've got a problem with the Mortgage Modifications

I've been reading a lot about these mortgage modifications and how they are supposed to be helping keep Americans from losing their homes to forclosure. I've truly believed that a majority of the people who are seeking these modifications had no business getting these loans to begin with.

Anyways......now I have the numbers to back up the issues I had with mortgage modifications:

"a recent report issued by the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) found that 53% of borrowers who had their mortgages modified in the first half of 2008 were already at least two months" (CNNFN.COM)

Why, you ask? Why are half of the loans that are being modified going right back into distress and foreclosue? Because all that the government and the banking institutions are doing is dealing with the product and not the real issue at hand which I believe is the actual consumer and their spending habits. The history of consumer debt and paycheck to paycheck living proves that most people are always going to live beyond their means!

To fix any issue you have to go to the root of the problem! I believe the roots to this problem goes all the way down to the the lack of financial literacy being taught in our school systems. Ignorance is very dangerous. You show me a person who is ignorant of a certain fact and I'll show you a person that I can manipulate!

We have to teach financial literacy to our children, teens and college students! And you have to take charge and be proactive as a consumer and learn as much as you can! Go buy a book, take a class! It's never to late to learn! Modifications are more like bandages on a scab that keeps on getting picked!

What are your thoughts on this, do you really think modifications are the answer?

Carlos Frank
Your Personal Financial Coach
http://www.nextmoneystep.com

Get what you Need without Spending Money!

What our Great-Great Grandparents did to get what they needed is coming back in style!


People are looking for ways to save money like never before. From gas to their next house, I've never seen more people looking for bargains!

Well I (Re)discovered the oldest way in history to get products and services that you need.

BARTER!

The dictionary defines the word "barter" this way - "To trade goods or services without the exchange of money."

I am currently working with a client who offered to do a couple of hours of research for my new book, in exchange for Personal Financial Coaching and I agreed. By doing so I am saving hours of research on my side and at the same time she is getting the financial coaching she is needing.

So the bottom line is you don't always need money to get the things that you need. So think about what service or product you can provide then find someone who has a product or service that you need and begin bartering today!

Have you ever "Bartered"? I'd love to hear your story!

Carlos Frank
Personal Financial Coach
www.nextmoneystep.com

Do this to protect your money when buying from the internet!

I recently found a program that I wanted to purchase off of the internet but I was not familiar with the company that was selling it. The only way that I could purchase it was by my Visa Debit card. So I was a little skeptical but I wanted the program.

I've coached several people who have had their account info and identity stolen by making purchases over the internet. My wife and I was also a victim of this about 5 years ago.

Here is a way that I've discovered that pretty much is a 100% way to protect your bank account from being drained by a online thief!

When you find something you want on the internet and your not 100% comfortable about the security of the online sale go out and get a Visa Gift Card to make the purchase!

Here are the benefits of doing so:

1. You can use the card to make purchases on the internet
2. Even if someone steals the info all they have access to is the amount on the card not all the money in your account
3. Some banks offer this for free so it can cost you $0.00 to do this
4. If something does happen Visa offers a free service that will help you track down your money!
   

Here's what you do:

1. Find out the total cost of the purchase (include shipping and handling and taxes)
2. Go out and get a Visa Gift card for that amount. I usually just round to the nearest dollar.
3. Register your gift card online. You will have to put your name and mailing address so you can make the purchase online. (So some of your Identity is still out there, but at least your money isn't)
   
4. Make the purchase!

If your unsure about an internet purchase try this method out and tell me how it goes!

Carlos Frank
Personal Financial Coach
www.nextmoneystep.com