A new year has begun and many people will be thinking about purchasing a house this year. That will be a resolution that people set for themselves this year for several reasons: 1) they are tired of renting; 2) family has expanded; or 3) they cannot pass up the opportunity to get into a home for little or nothing down. Do you fall into one of these categories? Before you begin the journey to the American Dream, understand if you are not prepared, it will turn into the American Nightmare.
For example you could be tired of renting because you think you are throwing your money away and not investing in yourself. This could be true, but have you prepared to become a homeowner? Do you have a budget of your current expenses? Do you have a budget of future expenses? If you answered no to these questions, can you see how this could end up being a choice with devastating consequences? Therefore, you should continue to rent until you can say you have considered all of the financial obligations that come with home ownership.
If you are renting and your family has expanded due to pregnancy or even marriage, some times you end up purchasing a home before you are ready. In this situation, you might end up choosing a starter home that will meet your needs versus that dream home that you cannot afford at this time. Or should you move up to a bigger size apart for six months to a year and then purchase a home? Understand there are always options out there and you should not be driven by emotions of a circumstance. Weigh all of your options.
If you are not tired of renting, family has not expanded but you continue to see those commercials that say no money down and you are a shopper?. STOP what you are doing and do not pick up that phone. Impulse shopping has led to major destruction, distress and even divorce. These ads that say no money down or bad debt no problem for example are nothing but trouble. What is happening is most people in financial trouble are the ones that are applying for the loans. The problem with this is they do not know how to manage money. Therein lies a dangerous problem with long-term consequences.
As a person that thinks about and wants the American Dream, understand there are long-term consequences for not being educated about the entire process. Home ownership is not just about buying the home, but also being able to own the home comfortably for a life-time. There is no benefit to being house-poor when you waited years to own your first home. Do your research it could save you thousands of dollars and peace of mind in the end.
Use different approaches: Walk, use cardio machines, swim, and use weights. If you are bored, jump into a group fitness class such as Yoga, Pilates, cardio kickboxing, spinning, aerobics, body shaping, or something else. You may find one of them to be your "calling."
Don't knock anything until you have tried it. Many people perceive an exercise to be one thing, until they are deeply involved in it. There's nothing wrong with being the only man in a Yoga class. Also, there's nothing wrong with being the only woman in a martial arts class.
Fitness is an equal opportunity environment, so get the stereotypes out of your head and don't buy into classic excuses. I had a client with Cerebral Palsy on one side of her body. She had also been involved in a traffic accident, which caused permanent damage to her knee and ankle, on the other side of her body.
She used to drive an hour from her home in Massachusetts to our location in North Providence, Rhode Island. She was around 60 pounds over her ideal weight. She never made excuses or missed an appointment. She lost all of that weight within two years, and she is now a personal trainer.
Make sure the people you surround yourself with are supportive of your goals. For example: It's hard to lose weight if your husband insists on bringing home a supply of Big Macs every night. Your resolution may turn into a disaster if this is the case.
You may have to adjust your lifestyle to be persistent, positive, and goal oriented. Once you carry through, and succeed with one resolution, it will be a fantastic experience. This is the beginning of using goal-setting skills to enhance the quality of your entire life.
Lastly, remember this all started with writing down a plan that I mentioned in Part One. Your resolution should be as detailed as possible. Clearly define your resolution with realistic time frames and deadlines. Your odds of following through, making progress, and reaching your goals, will exponentially increase just by putting it in writing. Consider this a contract with yourself.
Both Taffy Wagner & Jackie are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Taffy Wagner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marriage, Finances and How To Grow Wealth. Dr. Taffy Wagner is a published author and an inspirational/motivational speaker. Her latest book is Homebuyer's Helper (How to Have and Hold on to your House). Dr. Taffy is the financial coach for Christian Business Talk Radio. Visit her at her website h. Taffy Wagner's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.
Jackie has sinced written about articles on various topics from Yoga Practice, Anger Control and Yoga Practice. Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga t. Jackie's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.