Here is a guide on setting your 2010 goals:

Set SMART Goals

SMART goals are those that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. You want your goals to be clear and concise, instead of vague like, “I want to be happy.” Measurable goals allow you to gauge your progress along the way. Attainable and Realistic goals are those that you can commit to and that you have the skills or ability to attain, while still challenging you beyond your limits. And Timely goals have a time frame in which you should achieve them so that they hold you accountable.

You can tell when you set the right goals when they seem almost impossible, but exciting at the same time when you think about the possibility of achieving them. Good goals are emotional ones and they may even scare you a little.

Prioritize Your Goals

I don’t know about you, but I hate feeling overwhelmed. Too many big goals at one time can feel like too much and end up ensuring that you fail. Fewer goals at one time is better. In order to ensure that you succeed in achieving your goals, pick just two or three goals at a time to strive for and stick with them until you’ve achieved them.

Your major personal and professional goals should be those that, if you were to accomplish them in 2010, would make you feel like the year was well spent.

Focus on Your Goals

Focus is one of the most important things to do when trying to achieve your goals. You need to stay committed to them, write them down, and focus on them every day. In order to achieve your goals, you must refuse to accept anything less than achieving them. So, stay committed and stay focused.

Break Up Your Goals Into Smaller Ones

This goes back to being overwhelmed, which is something we definitely don’t want because it encourages you to procrastinate. Feelings of stress often transform into positive focus when you are working. So, always try to push the stress and anxious feelings you may have and just start doing it! You will feel better when you do.

To achieve a major goal, break it down into smaller tasks or
projects. Then, prioritize which tasks need to be done first and get to work. When you’re done with all the tasks in the first part of your goal, start on the next one. It’s like that old riddle “How do you eat an elephant? One bit at a time.” The meaning behind that is trying to swallow an elephant whole is impossible, but taking it in small chunks makes it easy (not that anyone would really eat an elephant!). The same applies to our goals - take one step at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be closer to reaching your goal than you ever though you’d be.

As 2009 comes to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year. I’m wishing you an abundance of happiness and joy in coming year!

There are some jurisdictions that have banned such loans and forbid loan companies from servicing their residents. Some people feel that the fees that are assessed on these loans, even for the short duration, have a draining effect on lower income groups. In some cases, payday loans can be detrimental when used as a long term monetary solution, since that is not what pay day loans are meant for.

These loans are usually expected to be paid back on the subsequent pay-day (although some lenders have extended loan periods). These loans are usually known as cash advances as they’re in essence an advance on the income a n applicant is due to get.

Online payday loans are a big hit with various lenders thanks to the serious returns to be gained in a short term. The loan amounts are usually less than $1000 and the lender may require pay stubs or a bank statement as evidence that the applicant has got a steady source of revenue with which to pay off the loan. Some companies ask the borrower to write a post dated check for the loan amount as well as the loan fee that will be charged.

The lender will then deposit the check on the day of loan maturity if the borrower has not yet repaid the loan amount with whatever interest and fees that have accumulated. Borrowers who lack sufficient funds in their bank account at that time run the risk of their loan repayment check being returned unpaid and incurring insufficient funds fees. Often, the due date for the loan amount can be moved to a new date with the same terms so the borrower has an alternative if they find themselves in this situation.

The incontrovertible fact that online payday loans are in true demand has become more obvious. There may be countless fiscal emergencies that a person can experience between paydays. These temporary financing help alleviate some of the monetary burden on the shoulders of people that are facing immediate money emergencies.

The online payday loan application process isn’t complicated at all, in fact, it’s rather straightforward in comparison. To secure a conventional, long term loan one has to go thru the cumbersome process of getting their bank statements validated or notarized and getting copies of their pay stubs for the benefit of the usual long term loan company. This is generally preceded by long waits before your application can eventually be processed. Even then there’s no guarantee that you will finish up with a loan. Usually there’s not much time on the hands of the borrower and they are often in a rush to get the funds they require.

Many pay-day loan companies are now available online, which makes finding a lender much easier. Borrowers customarily are spared the hassle of going through several forms, unnecessary paperwork, and notaries. Borrowers simply have to go to the web site and apply online for a loan. Many online lenders only require one or two supporting docs that will faxed or emailed from the comfort of one’s home. The loan is then authorized the same day and the loan funds can be found in the customers bank account by the next morning.

Payday cash advance suppliers are often readily available thru many cities. Whether or not it is an online payday loan company or a traditional check cashing service, they serve an important purpose. Providing a method to make funds available to those who may not have access to the cash they need otherwise is a very important service.

When applying for a payday cash advance, it is obligatory that a borrower be prepared to show that they’re actively employed. A30-day bank statement or recent pay stub from an employer will provide sufficient proof of employment. The documents also show what amount the person brings home on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. This also helps determine how much can be made available for a loan.

In many cases, a borrower also needs a checking account so there is a way for funds to be credited to the borrowers bank account. The checking account serves a double function by acting as a method for repayment of the loan at the end of the term. Thru an electronic transfer process, money is credited to the borrowers bank account on approval. This same EFT process is utilized to remit the loan amount for repayment.

The amount that any person is allowed to borrow is based on their pay. It is also based primarily on the frequency of their pay, whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. A borrower could be allowed to borrow $100-$500 dependent on how much they bring home. The total borrowed should be kept within their immediate needs and no more than that. Loan providers are allowed to charge fees (or interest) on the sum borrowed. The total loan amount that is due on the due date includes the total borrowed in addition to the loan fee.

Most lenders will try to collect their loan amount on the subsequent pay date, which ranges from 2-3 weeks from the borrow date. A borrower who isn’t able to pay the amount in full on the date due may attempt to extend their payday cash advance agreement. This is usually allowed but should be done with caution. A new loan period will end up in new costs being assessed by the lender.

States and other jurisdictions may have rules in place regarding these types of loans. A borrower should carefully research the payday loan company they decide to deal with and not be scared to ask questions. An educated borrower helps avoid problematic eventualities in the long run.

Payday cash advances gives a valuable financing bridge for many borrowers. If you find yourself in a cash bind, these loans might be a method to salvation. Read all terms of the loan before signing your name on the dotted line. Understand your rights as a customer and ask lots of questions. An educated borrower is the best way to make sure that you are not taken advantage of. The payday cash advance should be seen as a short lived solution to meet unexpected money emergencies.

Christmas is this Friday, so if you’re not done with your shopping yet then you may need some last minute gift ideas. You might be buying a last-minute gift for your brother-in-law, a parent, or even a child. Some people rush to work on the day of the office holiday gift exchange and suddenly remember that they had secret Santa duties.

Don’t panic! If you’re not done with your Christmas shopping yet, you’re not alone. There are all sorts of last-minute gift ideas for those on your Christmas list. The Internet can be your best friend when it comes to finding solutions for Christmas gifts. You can almost always find something suitable for everyone. For instance, a gift card to a major store will always be a hit.  Plus, it’s suitable for both genders and almost all ages.

You can buy online gift cards to places like eBay, Amazon.com, Target, Best Buy, and more. Most people who are in a panic for a last-minute Christmas gift usually stop by a 24-hour drugstore, such as Walgreens or CVS pharmacy. All that you’re going to find in places like these are cheap substitutes for a much better gift that you could have purchased online instead.

When you buy an online gift certificate, the company will usually give you the option of having an announcement emailed directly to the recipient. Or, print out the purchase details, stick it in an envelope, and give that as a Christmas gift.

No one needs to know that the gift that you purchased was a last-minute one. If you don’t have access to the Internet at the exact time that you need the gift, you can always stop by your local grocery store and find gift cards there too. Many of the major grocery store chains such as Ralphs and Albertsons carry credit cards for places like Starbucks, Olive Garden, and more. It’s best if you can tailor your gift card to the person’s interests.

For example, for the do it yourself man, you might pick up a $50 gift card to Home Depot or Lowe’s. Another great option, for a sports fan, might be to get a gift card to the MLB shop online, where they can purchase their choice of fan gear.

Teenagers will love a gift card to Best Buy. This electronics store is a place where they can buy video games,  game systems, cell phones and accessories, movies, and many more technical gadgets of their choosing. This type of gift card is great for the adults on your list too.

Another perfect type of gift car is a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express gift card. When you buy this type of gift certificate, it works just like a debit card – and your recipient can use it anywhere that Visa, MasterCard, or American Express is accepted.

Another great last minute gift idea is cold, hard cash. While it sounds impersonal, kids and teenagers will LOVE it. They prefer to get money over having an uninformed grown-up buy them a gift they won’t like. And you can pick up a simple Christmas card to put it in, write a nice sentiment inside, and you’re done!

Frankly, it makes a lot of sense to secure a fast loan in moments of immediate financial crisis because it doesn’t take a lot of time. A loan of this nature takes just a few days to obtain in relation to weeks at an ordinary bank. To make this possible the process of applying for one is short and doesn’t involve too much paperwork. Quite simultaneously the process of getting it approved isn’t lengthy either. In addition, you can even get a fast payday loan approved and issued to you online as an added convenience.

With a payday loan the chances of getting turned down are much slimmer. For instance, the credit checks that they carry out during approval are less involved and you will be able to get away with the occasional blemishes on your credit record because most lenders don’t even pull it. Instead, you will usually be asked to show proof of employment and a current bank account statement. Almost all banks that offer traditional loans carry out thorough credit checks and at the end tell you they cannot help you if your credit score isn’t high, which is very frustrating.

Furthermore, you will not be obliged to provide collateral or an asset to attach to the loan in case you fail to pay the loan back. Producing security will not be required of you; you can rest assured that not having assets will not be a factor that is considered when applying for a fast cash payday loan.

Online fast cash payday loans like this have higher interest rates than traditional bank loans. Independent financial institutions like these have regular lending fees and more risk is involved since they don’t pull your credit report or ask for collateral on your loans. Therefore, you must carefully review your loan agreement to be sure you understand the terms before you sign. Often times, late fees can be avoided and money can be saved if you can talk to your creditors and ask for postponement of payment, if that is needed.

The penalties for late payment may be harsh in some instances, depending on the lender. Hence if you’re not careful you can get caught up in a cycle of credit you may not have anticipated. This is why you have to sit down and think about the amount you need to borrow and how you plan to pay it back in the time-frame required. Careful planning and only borrowing what you need will help alleviate the chances of extraneous fees.

Over and above, fast cash pay day loans are very helpful if you’re caught up in the muddy waters of financial emergencies and unexpected expenses. They are much easier to obtain than bank loans and other registered credit providers. It wise, however, that before taking a loan of this nature that you put take the time to consider the amount you need, the urgency of the matter, and your ability to meet the terms and penalties.

This got me interested in the coupon policies for the three major grocery stores in my area. As I was doing this, I thought it might make a good blog post to share with all of you. Below are the main points of the coupon policies for Ralphs, Vons, and Albertsons.

[Please note that the following coupon policies are as I have interpreted and understand them. Please refer to the company websites for complete details and any changes that may have been made to these policies since my writing of this post.]

Ralphs Coupons

Ralphs doubles coupons only if they are $0.50 or less. That is, they only double coupons up to $1, so if you’ve got a $1 off coupon, there will be no doubling on that at Ralphs.

Vons Coupons

Vons double coupons only if they are $1 or less. That is, they only double coupons up to $2, so coupons valued at more than $1 will be taken at face value.

Albertsons Coupons

Albertsons does not regularly double coupons, at least my area. In fact, in doing  a little research online I have found that Albertsons doubles coupons in some areas, but in others only offers “double coupon savings” when they do special promotions. Some areas (like mine for example) never see these promotions or their effort to double coupons.

So, who has the best double coupon policy? Well, it seems that Vons does! When I did my case study last summer to determine which grocery store offered the most value, Ralphs was the clear winner. However, when it comes to double coupons, Vons definitely has the better doubling policy.

One way to save on home repair costs is to do a lot of the work yourself. You do not have to be an expert with a hammer and a drill to save enormous amounts of cash on your home repair projects either. All that it takes is a desire to learn a couple of things you may have employed some other person to do for you in the past.

You will also find doing your home repairs is fun and provides with a nice sense of accomplishment as well. If you do not have the right tools, they can often be purchased for less than you would pay a professional for an hour of their time to do a consultation or repair. A drill, some screwdrivers, a hammer, and other basic tools can usually be acquired for slightly less than $100.

When you have the tools you need, naturally, they can be reused in the future when other repairs might be needed. To save the most money that you can on your tools, go shopping at garage sales, shop on eBay, discount stores, and other venues where they may offer used tools. Many of these used tools are still in great condition and will most likely be half-price or less.

Then, hit the web and do some research on the most effective way to repair your leaky pipe or replace that problematic faucet. You can find articles that offer information about the best way to replace a tile without destroying your floor. You can also find details and even videos explaining how to do things like lay carpet. Most of these types of home repair tasks can be done by anyone - male or female. And, the great thing is that professional results are within the reach of anyone that wants to take the time to learn the right way to do it.

That information gathering step is critical and only costs your time. Diving into a project before you have a basic idea of how home fixtures, floors, and more are put together can be a recipe for disaster. And, as one savvy pro put it : “If we fix it, the price is $100. If you have recently ‘fixed’ it, it is going to be $500.” So, take the time to learn what to do before you try and do it yourself. It can definitely be done, but experimentation without education is a really bad idea.

There are some areas where you’ll have to seriously consider whether it’s smart to save cash by doing it for yourself. If it is extremely dangerous or you actually lack the talents that may be learned for years of experience, you may end up with an expensive disaster on your hands.

Roofing or electrical repairs are a good examples of the types of home repairs you may want to carefully consider. Some simple repairs are well within the means of a professional do-it-yourselfer to accomplish. Laying roofing paper or tiles needs patience and some knowledge, but it can be done. However, if you are not an athletic person, roofing may be best left to professionals.

Emergency room visits after a home repair accident are usually much expensive than simply hiring a professional home repair person. Even if you do not harm yourself, but make costly mistakes on your roof repair, it can end up costing you much more in the long term. Think about the first rainfall and the water damage that could result if your roof is leaking. The issues could come up with electric work, or plumbing, or - worst of all - electric work around plumbing fixtures. You must do your research, decide what is reasonably something you can handle, and always be careful as you proceed.

Still, there are lots of home repair projects that take nominal talent with only one or two tools and few materials. Save money and gain the pride of accomplishment at the same time by tackling them the old-fashioned way - do it yourself!

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Dell Computers - Great deals including Inspiron 15 Laptops for Only $449

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The very first step is to make the decision to manage your money instead of letting it manage you. Many people feel helpless when it comes to money. They don’t know how much they have, how much they spend, or how to use money to their own advantage. But when you take control of your money, you improve your life exponentially.

Start by tracking your spending. That means writing down every penny you spend. Even if you’re spending 50 cents on a newspaper, write it down. After a month, you can really get a picture of where you’re money is going. At this point, you may find out that you’re spending too much money in one area of your life and not enough in another.

For example, many people are spending money on clothing and entertainment, but only paying the minimum balance on a high interest credit card. You need to start by looking at the cold, hard truth of how you spend your money. You also need to track all of your income. You may have a paycheck from a single employer, or you may have other streams of income you need to understand.

After you know how much money you bring in and how much goes out, it’s time to trim expenses or make more money so that you bring in more than you spend. That’s the bottom line. When you spend more than you make, you end up in debt. And while that may not seem like a big deal, debt makes you a slave to a company or another person.

Finally, you need to do all you can to learn how money works and how you can improve your wealth. You can read books (free from the library), watch financial experts on television, and even take classes at your local college or community center on managing money.

When you begin to make your money work for you by saving, investing, and planning for retirement, your stress levels will decrease. You also will feel empowered as you get out from under any debt you have accumulated such as credit cards, auto loans, and even your home.