The Hard Working Dollar Weekly Roundup 08/09/09 – 08/15/09

This past week was a pretty slow one as far as posts, news and capital markets go.  My view is that despite the fact that summer is about  a month from being over, people are getting more into the fall mindset.

The following articles were published last week (oldest posts first):

1. 5 Ways To Save Money In This Economy
   Over the last year, lots of people have said that saving money in this economy is difficult, if not impossible. However, there are several small things you can do to make it easier for you to save.
2. Hard Working Deals 08/11/09
   Hard Working Deals: A collection of product and travel deals from around the web.
   Highlights:
   DSW.com – $10 off $49 Purchase or Free Shipping
   Home Depot – Clearance Sale: 20% to 50% off Select Items
   $499 — Ireland: 6 nights in B&Bs & castle with air
3. Cutbacks in the Kitchen
   As times have gotten tougher over the last year Americans have been spending less and less on groceries.
4. Subscribe To This Blog
   By subscribing to this web log dedicated to personal finance, investing, trading and frugality you will be provided with daily and weekly content updates that will help your money work harder.

(Image Source: Flickr user Flow Design Studio)

Success, One Cake At A Time

It is when faced with our most difficult times and trying situations that we truly discover who we are as individuals and what we are willing to do to not only survive, but thrive.

I recently read an article that depicted the story of a woman who when faced with unemployment, a mountain of debt and the prospect of foreclosure and homelessness, decided that she would not let circumstances impact her personal desire to provide for herself and her family.  As a result, she literally decided to bake cakes and sell them for $40 in order to pay her mortgage.

While this idea probably would not have crossed her mind if she weren’t 10 days from having to make a $2,500 mortgage payment, the way she opened her mind and considered what her skills were and how to make money off of them, is amazing to me.  Even if stories like this happen all the time.

The fact is that regardless of what outside actions may happen, you are still in control of your life.  Granted, you may not be able to control when you get hired, fired, how much you make, when you die and several other outside influences beyond our control.  You can control how you let these external influences affect your internal mood, goals, dreams and desires. This is because we subconsciously project our own internal state onto the world around us.  Therefore, if you make a conscious decision to not let external influences drastically affect you internal mood you won’t be as mentally and emotionally affected when negative external influences come across your path.

There are two analogies that I like to use when motivating myself and others through tough times and they are as follows:

Be the duck
While it may seem funny to imagine yourself as an actual duck.  Imagine your life as the duck instead and think of situations, obstacles, and hindrances as the water that tries to weigh the duck down when it is swimming and when it attempts to fly through the rain.  Then remember that the water is going to be there and that it is always going to rain at some point, but as a duck your feathers were made for repelling water.  As long as you keep swimming (i.e. don’t sink  mentally or emotionally) and keep flapping your wings, you will make it through the water/rain that life throws your way.

Be a chameleon

“Change is the only constant.“ Heraclitus

This is one of the most undeniably true statements every made.  That is because as long as time goes on, your life, the world and the universe will be constantly changing.  So in order to move forward in life, you as an individual also have to be able to change and adapt to new situations and information.  This doesn’t mean being a pushover or a door mat, but simply means being open to new ideas, options and possibilities.

I’m guessing that you never thought that this article would have included an exercise where you imagine yourself as a duck or a chameleon, but in my opinion these are applicable analogies for self motivation.  Plus, they are easy to understand and remember.

I hope this article helped or informed you and if it didn’t, share it with someone you think it could help.  Also, read the rest of the story about the woman who baked her way out of foreclosure.  It is really inspiring. (Today Show: She Baked Her Way Out Of Foreclosure).

Image Source: Lotustuol