5 Expenses You Can Do Without
If You Want Financial Freedom
Monthly bills turn many Americans into jugglers. Paying for rent, food, or other necessities is a common problem, with 40 percent of Americans struggling to pay for at least one basic need, according to a recent survey by the Urban Institute.
For some consumers, spending too much on luxuries can make it difficult to pay for all of their necessities on time; a Pew study found that close to half of Americans spend more money than they make every month. Many people consider ways to cut monthly expenses, but then balk at eliminating certain items because the thought of doing without them seems too painful.
Has something you deemed a necessity actually been a money-draining luxury? Hard as it may seem to live without some monthly comforts, Daniel Ameduri says such rigid discipline can prove rewarding long-term – especially to millennials and younger generations planning toward their financial future.
“Let’s face it, the economy has changed, and the pension system and conventional retirement are in the past,” says Ameduri (www.futuremoneytrends.com), co-founder of the Future Money Trends newsletter. “If you really want to get ahead or make the choice to become wealthy, it will require you to do things that are not normal.
“It starts with sacrifice in your personal finance life, and ideas that might seem drastic are ways to save real money.”
Ameduri lists five effective cost-cutting measures to save money every month:
Get rid of your smartphone. “I know, that’s like asking people to get rid of a body part,” Ameduri says, “but ditching your smartphone can be a big cost-saver. There’s the high cost of the phones plus a basic cell phone plan; the latter would rid you of $500 or more a year.” Flip phones are a far cheaper alternative while providing basic functionality, Ameduri says, and tablets, also considerably less expensive than smartphones, have similar features.
Cancel the cable bill. “Who doesn’t pay too much for cable, or cable and internet in the same package?” says Ameduri. “Replace the cable bill with Netflix and Hulu, or search around for what you want to watch on YouTube.”
Avoid car payments. Ameduri says one of the worst mistakes people make is having a car payment, which is usually, next to mortgage or rent, the highest monthly expense. He recommends diligently shopping for a reliable used car, owning it, making sure it gets great gas mileage and keeping it properly maintained. “Your life is too short to be making payments for something that depreciates daily and costs so much per month,” Ameduri says. “A car shouldn’t be a matter of pride, especially if you are just borrowing money to drive it.”
Don’t be a fashion plate. Getting too caught up in what we wear can get expensive, Ameduri warns. He says it makes sense to shop at discount stores, which more people are doing. “You can look nice buying clothes for half or two-thirds of the cost of top-line brands,” he says. “Avoiding high-end brands is a smart way to save money. Someone who truly wants to change their financial position won’t care about the perception of shopping at a second-tier store.”
Stop eating meat. Meat can eat up much of a food budget, and Ameduri says there are smarter alternatives for main courses. “It’s overpriced and it really isn’t that healthy for you anyway,” Ameduri says. “Instead, eat beans and raw nuts for your protein. Think of all the money you will save by grilling vegetables and eating salads.”
“Some sacrifices may seem difficult early on,” Ameduri says, “but when you don’t feel the monthly pinch of financial pain anymore, they’re definitely worth it.”
About Daniel Ameduri
Daniel Ameduri (www.FutureMoneyTrends.com) is co-founder of the Future Money Trends newsletter, an authority for financial freedom and economic research in commodities, cryptocurrencies, personal finance and income ideas. A self-made multi-millionaire, Ameduri also has a YouTube channel, VisionVictory, that has received 10 million video views. He’s also been featured in The Wall Street Journal and ABC World News.
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Global Warming Is Not Damaging Our World - The Global Warming Movement Is
By Jay Lehr and Tom Harris
For many of the entities driving the global warming debate, the goal has never been about climate. Their long-term goal is to unite the world under a single socialistic government in which there is no capitalism, no democracy, and, ultimately, no freedom. United Nations’ treaties such as the Paris Agreement on climate change are the flagships of the global governance agenda. By controlling carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, they are in fact controlling the world’s energy since over 80% of our energy comes from CO2-emitting fossil fuels. And controlling the world’s energy effectively controls the world.
Individual freedom is fueled by access to affordable energy. So, for those seeking global governance, a shorter-term goal has become to limit the amount of energy that is available and place it under government control. The wide availability of inexpensive fossil fuels is a serious obstacle to this vision.
Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power are incapable of ever meeting the world’s energy needs. Their cost, which must be heavily subsidized by the taxpayer, their intermittency (power generation is interrupted when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun goes behind a cloud), and their limited capacity rule them out as major energy sources. The public needs to wake up to this reality because energy impacts every facet of our lives and the war against fossil fuels is already taking a high toll.
Yet, in many states, energy costs are rising because public utilities are being forced by governments to replace some existing economical power with solar and wind farms. As usual, low-income families and small businesses are the biggest losers.
Under the Obama administration, nearly 75,000 new federal regulations restricting energy providers were created, costing America hundreds of billions of dollars per year. The good news is that President Trump has reversed this dangerous trend, weakening or outright cancelling many of the Obama era rules.
This may be difficult to sustain beyond the Trump presidency since the objectivity of major government agencies has been seriously compromised by the global warming movement. All agencies that handle activities relating to climate, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency have become so heavily politicized that any project, scientist, or activity that can be remotely connected to global warming is forced to align with the alarmist movement.
The integrity of science and scientists has also declined in recent years. Scientists understand that, if they want to receive research funding, publish papers, and even retain their jobs, they must support the global warming movement. The net result is a loss of credibility for all scientists and the propagation of numerous falsehoods regarding global warming. Even so, a broad spectrum of meteorologists and other scientists have spoken out to say that there is no compelling evidence to support the hypothesis that humans are the cause of any climate changes observed in modern times.
Personal freedoms are declining as a result of the climate scare as well. Socialists are using global warming to attack freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Several U.S. states are trying to pass unconstitutional legislation that would make it a crime to speak out against man-caused global warming. The California Climate Science Truth and Accountability Act of 2016 would have permitted prosecutors to sue think tanks, fossil fuel companies, and others that have “deceived or misled the public on the risks of climate change.” After passing two state Senate committees, it was finally taken off the Senate floor but can be reconsidered at a later date.
Socialists are also trying to place all energy sources under government control using a ‘smart grid’ that will eventually be able to monitor and dictate the energy use of all Americans.
Global warming represents the most pervasive and damaging example of scientific fraud in history. It has already seriously damaged the United States and other free market economies. While our economy is booming now, it will continue to be threatened as long as our government bases any of its policies on the global warming movement.
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Dr. Jay Lehr is the Science Director of The Heartland Institute which is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Tom Harris is Executive Director of the Ottawa, Canada-based International Climate Science Coalition.
Portions of this article have been excerpted with permission of the publisher and author of the 2018 book THE MYTHOLOGY OF GLOBAL WARMING by Bruce Bunker, Ph.D., Publisher: Moonshine Cove.
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A weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else — from the nation’s leading voice on education innovation and opportunity.
(Washington, DC. November 7, 2018) The results of the 2018 election cycle will be deeply reviewed and analyzed for days, months and years to come, but the initial results among the states demonstrate that education opportunity is a winning issue. Candidates that embrace policies that empower parents, provide more flexibility for schools and teachers, and foster innovation and opportunity in education overwhelmingly won their gubernatorial elections. Anti-education reform groups failed to measurably impact the states and legislatures that they targeted. This was a rejection of the teachers unions who shut down schools to advance their political agenda. As CER’s recently released analysis of candidates for Governor and state Education Superintendent reveals, winners tended to embrace expanding alternative education options and innovative approaches for students of all backgrounds.
According to the analysis of yesterday's elections, more than half of all elected Governors strongly support real education reform, and a third support some aspect of it. Only 10, or less than a third, are opposed to any substantive changes that would empower parents, and create transformative changes in education.
New England governors Charlie Baker and Gina Raimondo handily won their races, as did others who aggressively pushed back on the status quo and embraced 21st century education. New Governors like Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Jared Polis (D-CO) can be expected to fill out an increasingly bi-partisan group of pro-education opportunity governors. The question remaIns whether second term winners (like NY Governor Andrew Cuomo) will - now free from political risks - pursue the right approaches to solving educational malaise and failure.
Said CER's Founder & CEO, Jeanne Allen:
“Ensuring excellence in education for every student is a non-partisan endeavor. Yet for years the education establishment, including school boards and teachers unions, have thrown roadblocks in the way of education innovation, and have tried annually to abolish life-saving programs and policies for kids, families and teachers who don't walk in lock step with them. They failed again to make the case that educational failure is acceptable. #RedforEd is, well, pretty dead.
"The state leaders Class of 2018 is on the leading edge of innovation and opportunity in education and preparing a road to the future for all of America’s students. CER congratulates all the winners and will continue our 25-year tradition of working with all office holders who seek new and better ways to prepare our students for success from their earliest days in school to their careers and higher ed pathways.”
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LISTEN TO THE MAINE COVER "TRANSATLANTICISM" (ORIGINALLY
MADE FAMOUS BY DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE) FROM
SONGS THAT SAVED MY LIFE
HOPELESS RECORDS ALONG WITH THEIR NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION SUB
CITY'S NEW PROJECT TO BENEFIT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS
COMPILATION ALBUM TO BE RELEASED TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 9
THROUGH HOPELESS RECORDS
ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
STREAM THE SONG NOW VIA FORBES
NOVEMBER 8, 2018 - Fans can stream The Maine's cover of "Transatlanticism" (originally made famous by Death Cab For Cutie) now via Forbes. The song is taken from Songs That Saved My Life, a brand centered around music that has played a pivotal role in the lives of artists and fans and that benefits mental health and suicide prevention charities. The compilation will be released this Friday, November 9 through Hopeless Records and includes covers from bands like Neck Deep, Against Me!, Taking Back Sunday, Dan Campbell and Ace Enders, Movements, The Maine, Dance Gavin Dance, and more. Full track listing can be found below.
Listen to the song: https://bit.ly/2DaRvNH
Speaking to their cover of "Transatlanticism", lead singer John O'Callaghan said, "This song didn't single-handedly save any of our lives, but it certainly changed them in a major way. We attempted to stay out of our way and tried to maintain the integrity of the arrangement and vibe of the tune so as to not ruin it for ourselves (or hopefully any who listen). We hope you enjoy!"
Songs That Saved My Life looks to engage current artists with cover versions of those songs and share those stories with the world. This project benefits a variety of mental health and suicide prevention organizations. Currently, this project benefits Crisis Text Line, Hope For The Day, The Trevor Project, and To Write Love On Her Arms.
In September, the Songs That Saved My Life grant was announced. The $10,000 grant will be awarded to a fan or band partnering with a non-profit organization related to mental health awareness and/or suicide prevention.
Songs That Saved My Life Track Listing:
1. Neck Deep - Torn (originally made famous by Natalie Imbruglia)
2. Movements - Losing My Religion (originally made famous by R.E.M.)
3. Stand Atlantic - Your Graduation (originally made famous by Modern Baseball)
4. Dance Gavin Dance - Semi Charmed Life (originally made famous by Third Eye Blind)
5. Against Me! - People Who Died (originally made famous by The Jim Carroll Band)
6. Taking Back Sunday - Bullet With Butterfly Wings (originally made famous by Smashing Pumpkins)
7. Dream State - Crawling (originally made famous by Linkin Park)
8. As It Is - Such Great Heights (originally made famous by The Postal Service)
9. Oceans Ate Alaska - Shape of my Heart (originally made famous by Sting)
10. Too Close To Touch - Let It Be (originally made famous by The Beatles)
11. Dan Campbell & Ace Enders - Broom People (originally made famous by The Mountain Goats)
12. The Maine - Transatlanticism (originally made famous by Death Cab For Cutie)
Songs That Saved My Life is now available for pre-order at www.songsthatsavedmylife.com. When fans pre-order digitally through iTunes, they will receive and instant grat download of Neck Deep's cover of "Torn". It is also now available to stream through Apple Music and Spotify. Fans can watch the music video for Neck Deep's cover of "Torn" here:http://smarturl.it/TornVideo
###
Sub City, the 501(c)(3) non-profit arm of Hopeless, donates funds and raises awareness for various non-profit organizations by connecting artists, fans and causes they are passionate about. Sub City has raised over 2.5 million dollars for more than 50 non-profit organizations including Living the Dream, It Gets Better Project, A Place Called Home, DoSomething.org, and New Directions for Youth.
Learn more about the benefiting organizations from Songs That Saved My Life:
Crisis Text Line :
Crisis Text Line offers free, 24/7 support for people in crisis via text. We support people across a range of crises from anxiety and depression, to self-harm and suicide, and lots of crises in between, to help them get from a hot moment to a cool calm.
Text HOME to 741741
For more information visit: https://www.crisistextline.org
Hope For The Day:
Hope for the Day achieves proactive suicide prevention by providing outreach and mental health education through self-expression platforms. It's ok not to be ok, have hope.
For more information visit: https://www.hftd.org
The Trevor Project:
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. The mission of The Trevor Project is to end suicide among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning young people.
For more information visit: https://www.thetrevorproject.org
To Write Love On Her Arms:
To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.
For more information visit: https://twloha.com
For more information on Hopeless Records:
@hopelessrecords (twitter & instagram)
For more information on Sub City:
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will visit Clemson University and attend a luncheon with Commissioner Weathers, President Clements, and Clemson University agriculture students and leadership. Following, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Friday, November 9th beginning at 12:00pm ET
WHERE: Clemson University, Hendrix Center, 720 McMillan Road, Clemson, SC 29631
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will tour the T. Ed Garrison Arena and LaMaster Dairy Center with Clemson agriculture students and leadership. Following, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Friday, November 9th beginning at 1:40pm ET
WHERE: Clemson University, T. Ed Garrison Arena, 1101 West Queen Street, Pendleton, SC 29670
*NOTE: Tour begins at the T. Ed Garrison Arena and ends at the LaMaster Dairy Center, 800 Old Stone Church Road, Clemson, SC 29634
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will visit Nickles Farm and hold a town hall with Commissioner Weathers, agriculture leaders, and stakeholders. Following, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Friday, November 9th beginning at 3:20pm ET
WHERE: Nickles Farm, 199 Nickles Road, Seneca, SC 29678
