Interesting Rock Festival Statistics

Have you ever attended a rock festival? I've never been to one but I've heard about them my entire life. Who, like me at the ripe old age of 47, hasn't heard of 'Woodstock'?? I'm the youngest of 5 kids so this infamous rock festival was something I learned about years ago.

Then several years ago I was a fan of the hit TV show on MTV 'The Ozbournes'. Watching that I learned about 'Ozzfest' which is a music festival for heavy metal fans.

Here's a very interesting graphic detailing the statistics and demographics of rock festivals.

Infographic Provided by EquipSupply

I have to say that I can't help but scratch my head and wonder why people go to these events. They're obviously for the young...or at least the young at heart! I know I'm getting old, but have no desire to go and plant myself in a sea of strangers! Talk about claustrophobia and germophobia! I'd be freaking out in a matter of minutes!

And also in reading this graphic I'm flabbergasted at the ticket prices! If I wasn't panicking about the millions of people and germs surrounding me I'd certainly be freaking out over the cost just to walk through the gates! And I can't imagine the cost of any food or drinks once you get inside. The companies that provide the event supplies and concession machines must salivate at the idea of being part of these festivals. I'm sure they rake in the bucks at such events!

I don't want to be a downer. I was young once and went to concerts all the time. These festivals are similar to concerts...they just last longer...days longer. I'm sure those who attend these events have a great time and have lots of fun. But I think in my old age I've become too prudent and uptight! Rock festivals aren't created for an old and frugal mama like me!

Regardless if you'd ever attend any kind of rock festival I did find the graphic very informative!

Okay...more fun and interesting information coming soon...until then,

The Financial Aid Process

Since our oldest child recently graduated from high school and  will be heading off to college soon we've had a full year of learning about how to navigate the financial aid system.

While it is a very intimidating process my husband has a good understanding of how it all works. Plus our local high schools offer financial aid workshops for parents and students. We attended our first workshop when our son was in his junior year. Then we went to another one when he was a senior.

We all know that obtaining a higher education is costly. Over the past couple of years we've learned that our home state, Pennsylvania, is one of top states where the cost of tuition for a public 4-year institution of higher education is the most expensive. What a frightening statistic! We do not want our children to be burdened with thousands upon thousands of dollars of student loan debt hanging over their heads for 20+ years beyond college!

So we--mostly my husband--hunkered down over the past year or so and went to work to figure out the financial aid process. Here's a very informational graphic provided by snhu.edu that will help guide you through the process:


Brought to You by SNHU.EDU Online College Programs


This is a very large graphic but if you take some time to look it over I'm sure you'll find it helpful. The financial aid process can cause worry, but if you take your time and research the process then it isn't quite as bad as you might think!

Okay, more sharing to come soon...until then,

Online Coupons for Frugal Folks Like Us

I've said it before and I'll say it again, "My husband and I are a couple of tight wads!" Some people will find that irritating, but many will have a bit of respect for us. We've managed for the past several years to survive on a tight budget and the only way we've been able to do that is through frugal living.

With that being said I want to share my thoughts on online coupons, where to look for them and how we've fared with them in the past.

Best Online Coupons has a huge variety of online coupons shared on their site and I'm confident you'll find some of your favorite stores listed there. I see Macy's, Old Navy, QVC, Dell, 6pm, Target, Best Buy and Dicks Sporting Goods just to rattle off a few. They offer newly released online coupons, expiring online coupons and a variety of hot online coupons. And what makes it so easy is you can see the online coupon code right there along with the expiration date. I added that site to my Favorites right after I discovered it!

And how about travel coupons? Over the past few years my husband and I saddened our children by announcing that we weren't able to take a family vacation because money was too tight. However, by mid summer we seemed to have a change of heart only because we were able to find some pretty good travel deals. If you are like us in that manner of thinking then check out this link--Expedia coupon code 2012. You find a large number of discounts offered on airfare, hotels, car rentals and more. In a brief scan of the page I see lots of 'last minute' deals which are right up my husbands alley! I saw one for Las Vegas and got a bit excited. We went there two times many years ago before our kids were born and we always talk about going back. Now that the kids are growing up and becoming more independent I would definitely feel more at ease leaving them at home with my sister or mother-in-law.

Over at Deals2.com it's unreal the online coupons and coupon codes you'll find to help save a few bucks. Regarding travel they also have a large variety of links and I saw quite a few listed that we've used in the past. Their Expedia coupons range from Disneyland Resorts and Maui Hotels to car rentals. Right from your computer you could check out a vacation package and book it, Then click back and book your car rental! Or if you like to take cruises they have cruise packages as well.

Another list of Expedia coupons includes offers for destinations such as Galveston Island, Los Angeles and a few more deals for Las Vegas! Woo! I'm really going to have to take a look at these offers. My sister just got back from Vegas last week and hearing her talk about her trip and share her stories really has me ready to get back there.

I'll be sure to share my decision with you soon. Although I'm drooling over the thought of a trip to Vegas for just my husband and I, I have a feeling we'll be doing our regular family vacation this summer. I've shared with you that my oldest son is heading to college in the fall and the thought of taking a vacation with out my kids at this major life turning point doesn't seem likely. But who knows? Maybe we'll take two vacations! With all the deals I'm finding we might be able to swing it!

Okay, more sharing on the way soon...until then,

   

Omaha Bankruptcy Attorney

Bankruptcy. It's an intimidating word. I get a knot in my stomach just typing it. Thankfully my husband and I haven't had to deal with bankruptcy, but being self employed I have to admit that the subject creeps into the back of my mind every so often and I get nervous...very nervous. As the saying goes, "No one knows what the future holds", and with a high anxiety personality like mine I've contemplated the subject and how we would handle it if it were to become a reality for our family.

Though not an issue for us we have a family friend who has had to live through bankruptcy. And we have another friend who could be headed down this same path if he can't work out his debt issues. In talking with these friends over the past few years I've learned a little bit about the different types of bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy can completely wipe out credit card debt, medical bills and utility bills, but the bankruptcy court could order you to sell some of your property so you can repay your creditors. However, this practice varies from state to state.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to work out a repayment plan in bankruptcy court regarding your mortgage and auto loans. And if you have credit card debt or medical bills you may be able to reduce or eliminate those bills as well.

Although I shouldn't generalize I blame the bad economy for one friend choosing to file for bankruptcy. He and his wife were self employed as mortgage brokers and they basically lost everything in the drastic economic tumble from a few years ago. But many people have gotten in over their heads financially through a variety of means and many times it can only be blamed on reckless financial decision making. No matter the reason bankruptcy occurs more often now than ever before and it doesn't seem to have the stigma attached to it as it did in the past. Just about everyone I know has had to deal with looming debt of some sort. Many friends have made great changes in the way they handle their money and worked very hard to get their financial lives back on track. Others feel they have no other option but to consider bankruptcy. Since there is no 'one-size-fits-all' answer everyone has to choose the path that works best for them.

Bankruptcy laws were created to help you get out of debt. If you are feeling completely overwhelmed and nervous and need some guidance you can find relief. Contact an Omaha Bankruptcy Attorney for advice on the subject. They have the expertise and experience in helping people figure out a solution to their debt issues.

Bankruptcy can be an intimidating subject, but there is help out there so don't be afraid or too embarrassed to ask. You certainly are not alone.

Okay...more discussions to come...until then,

"You Should Only Have To Get Rich Once" by Russell E. Holcombe

I just finished reading a book called "You Should Only Have to Get Rich Once" by author Russell E. Holcombe. As a Certified Financial Planner, Russell Holcombe's goal is to help wealthy clients better understand how to manage their money and to stay wealthy.

I'll be candid with you, when it comes to talking about investing I get very confused. My husband and I have a few small accounts but nothing that amounts to putting us into the 'wealthy' category. I certainly hope that someday we'll be in a much higher tax bracket, but for now I'll settle for where we are.

Regardless, I began reading this book feeling a bit nervous that I might get lost or overwhelmed with discussions about financial matters and the "how to's" about investing. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.

For starters  let me say that I try very hard to live my life honestly. I'm not only honest with others, but I'm also honest and true to myself. I try to make decisions that take me in the direction that "I" want to go and not the direction that I am expected to go. I have my own home based business and believe me when I tell you that I didn't have many cheerleaders rooting for me when I made the decision to forge my own path.  Everyone seemed to be a 'Doubting Thomas' and their words of encouragement were few. But I'm an entrepreneur and I think differently. I wanted (and still want) different things for my family. I want to run my life the way I see fit. I don't want to live out my days according to what others' opinions may be.

That kind of honesty coupled with a conservative mentality toward money puts me in the right frame of mind to appreciate Mr. Holcombe's advice and teachings. And let me add that, like me, my husband is a sole proprietor and even more conservative with money than I am.

As a financial professional Mr. Holcombe has seen many wealthy persons that have fallen for the "traps of the financial factory". Sadly many of these people have lost a good portion of their wealth when it really wasn't necessary. While the author began writing this book many years ago, he was still writing it during the economic disaster of 2008. He believes that some of the wealth that was lost in that downturn was simply due to over-investing.

He explains that if you only focus on making a profit then that's where your trouble lies. Unfortunately, "Profit can be an addictive narcotic. Everyone wants it. People will do anything to get a hit of it in their portfolio."

He wants people to change the way they think about money. In his opinion when a wealthy person reaches a certain level of wealth he or she needs to stop over-investing. Now understand, he doesn't say to stop investing, just stop over-investing. There is a difference and in my opinion it makes complete sense. His comparison is that of running a race. You've run the race and you've reached the finish line. Common sense says that's the point when you stop running. Right? But what would you think if you saw someone running a race yet once they've passed the finish line they continue to run? Most people would consider that person as crazy!

So how do you figure out when to stop over-investing? The author explains that one needs to find their "Point of Independence" (POI) which he defines as:

"Your Point of Independence is the intersection in the road where the money you need to do whatever you want to do in life is funded without your labor."

Wow! That sounds like a wonderful intersection! It's a very interesting concept and the book shares a variety of stories of people who figured out their own personal POI, who were wise and stayed in control of their money. And it also shares stories about some wealthy people who weren't so wise. It really has helped to change the way I think about my money and what I hope my money will do for me someday.

As I stated earlier, my husband and I have a long way to go to reach the level of income where we should begin this line of thinking. But there's nothing wrong with preparing, right? And it's a great feeling to know that you shouldn't fall for or believe everything your financial advisor tells you. Prior to reading this book my husband and I had a meeting with our financial advisor. My husband is much more outspoken than I and he was feeling frustration with what our advisor was trying to tell us. We left the meeting feeling uneasy and disagreeing with the numbers and comparisons our advisor was sharing with us.

Magically a few days later this book appeared in my mail box. How about that! Talk about the universe trying to send us a message!

So I've learned that just as my entrepreneurial mind set told me I must forge my own path I also have to do the same from a financial perspective. Be your own pioneer and figure out what suits your life best. Be honest with yourself and figure out what you want your money to do for you. There is no need to jump on every bandwagon that comes along and agree with every one else's opinion of how you should handle your wealth.

I highly recommend this book!

***And one final note: The author was kind enough to send me a second copy of his book to use as a give away to one of my followers. Immediately after this post goes live I'll be sharing the link on Twitter and my Facebook Page. I'll continue to promote this contest over the next several days. The tenth person to contact me will be the winner. You can contact me via Direct Message on Twitter, message me on Facebook or comment on my blog. It's very simple! Good luck!***