Success in Building Personal Finance by Ronald O. McCants, M.Div., M.Ed. TIME: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. May 19, The Building Blocks to Achieving Personal Finance Success June 2, Effective Strategies in Finding Your Job June 16, Financial Statements, Tools, and Budgets to Become Your Best June 30, Managing Your Income Growth July 14, Wise Steps to Obtaining Affordable Housing July 28, The Big Picture on Credit Cards and Consumer Loans August 4, How to Win with Vehicle and Other Major Purchases PLACE: Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library

Kiplinger Poll Some argue the federal government should stop promoting programs that help homeowners avoid foreclosure or refinance underwater homes. Do you agree or disagree?

Kiplinger Poll Some argue the federal government should stop promoting programs that help homeowners avoid foreclosure or refinance underwater homes. Do you agree or disagree?

Spread the Word When you're looking for work, you want your network to know it. "Spread the word about your job hunt to everyone you know, including family members, friends, professors and former coworkers," says Messmer, author of Job Hunting for Dummies. "Make use of networking and reach out to your local business community and staffing firms."friendsauthor Job Hunting for Dummies businessstaffing

The Big Picture Financial success and happiness come from using the building blocks of personal finance, such as having a foundation of regular income to provide basic lifestyle and savings, and establishing a financial base using employee benefits and checking and savings accounts. (29)

Financial Peace Through knowledge and discipline financial peace is possible for us – all of us. (5)

Detective Work One resume does not fit every job opening, so don't use the same document or stock cover letter when you apply to different companies. "Tailor each resume and cover letter to the particular opportunity, and try to obtain the name of the hiring manager so you can personalize your cover letter," Messmer says. "A little detective work can go a long way in helping you stand out."stock cover letterTailormanager

Money Moves Finance and money are always moving. Time, interest rates, amounts, cash flows, inflation, and risk all intermingle to create a current that is ever flowing. (19) Money has no morals. That is it is neither good nor bad. First Timothy 6:10 does not say “Money is the root of all evil.” What it does say is “The love of money is the root of all evil.” (20)

Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs His theories parallel many other theories of human developmental psychology, all of which focus on describing the stages of growth in humans.developmental psychology

Economic Indicator It is any economic statistic, such as the unemployment health, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or the inflation rate that suggests how well the economy is doing now and how well it might be doing in the future. (9)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) The nation’s broadest measure of economic health; it reports how much economic activity (all goods and services) has occurred within the United States borders during a given period. (9)

The Way We See the Problem Is the Problem Can you see the old lady? If you have a problem, the actual problem is that you are looking at it as a problem. It could be something else, such as an opportunity. When it rains lemons, make lemonade. You just need a paradigm shift.

MONTHLY BUDGET by Ronald O. McCants, M.Div., M.Ed. IncomeAmount (How much money coming in from Job, Gifts, other.)$________ Total Income$________ ExpensesAmount Charity or donations$________ Savings$________ Rent or mortgage$________ Utilities$________ Phone$________ Insurance$________ Food$________ Clothing$________ Cleaning items$________ Automobile Payment$________ Automobile gas$________ Loans$________ Recreation$________ Miscellaneous$________ Total$________ Net $________ (Net - Substract total Expenses from Income)

Some people define financial success as being able to actually live according to one’s standard of living. (5) People who are happy about their finances are likely to be spending within a budget and taking steps to achieve their goals, and this happiness spills over in a positive way to feelings about their overall enjoyment of life.

Be Proactive Being proactive means taking initiative, not waiting for others to act first, and being responsible for what you do. The opposite of proactive is reactive. Reactive people react to what goes on around them. Proactive people act based on principles.

Financial Markets During sluggish economic times, consumer confidence may slide, unemployment may rise, and the stock market may decline 5 percent in a week or just a day or two; however, this does not mean that people should stop saving and investing for their futures. Every generation has faced similar uncertainties. You should be optimistic about the long-term economic future and make decisions that are best for your personal finances. (9)

Financial Peace Through knowledge and discipline financial peace is possible for us – all of us. (5)

Martin Luther King, Jr. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” (25)