Twila Van Leer

Compulsive Shopping May Be Sign Of Trouble

May 23, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

How do you know if you have a problem with compulsive shopping?

If you start shopping and can’t quit, there could be serious complications ahead. Losing control of shopping habits indicates an impulse control disorder that is similar to addictive disorders, but without the drugs.

Factors That May Increase Behavior

A multiplicity of social and cultural factors may enter the picture by increasing the addictive behavior. One is today’s easy access to credit and society’s general focus on material things. People are encouraged to accumulate possessions now and pay later. Online shopping and television stations that focus on sales day and night add to the possibility.

What Are The Signs That Your Shopping Is Out Of Control?

Spending and shopping to offset disappointment, anger, discomfort or fear tops the list. If you are stressed by your own habits to the point of emotional distress, be concerned. Arguing with a spouse or other significant person over spending is a clue. Also on the list are feeling lost without credit cards, buying items on credit that you wouldn’t buy if you were paying cash, getting a “rush” from spending, experiencing guilt, shame or embarrassment after a spree, lying about how much you spend, thinking excessively about money or spending time trying to reconcile your accounts and bills.

How Do You Know If You Have A Problem?

Four or more of the above indicate a problem. You might get a feeling or happiness and power while spending, but you have to keep shopping to maintain that feeling. The brief but intense emotional high doesn’t last long.

Consequences Of Addiction

Researchers have related compulsive spending with interpersonal difficulties, occupational consequences, and family/financial problems. Anxiety and depression may be more troublesome as spending gets out of hand. Borrowing money to cover credit buying exacerbates the problem. Too often, the extent of an addict’s spending doesn’t become apparent until the debt becomes overwhelming. Then a drastic change in lifestyle becomes an absolute necessity, and the emotional effects come home to roost.

How To Get Help

If you suspect you may have gone too far in your spending, contact a certified addictions counselor. Your regular physician may be able to help in locating one. Check your state health agency or a local hospital to see if they can direct you to the help you need. The American Psychiatric Association also has resources that are useful.

Better at this stage of things to spend a little time rather than any more money.

Political Campaigns Spawn Economic Fallout

May 22, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Political uncertainty causing economic angst. — Political uncertainty causing stagnant economy.

The rancorous 2016 election campaigns are having a negative effect on the country’s economy, the experts are concluding.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing has taken a dip, with the smallest improvement in sales since 2009 and the companies are blaming the political uncertainties for the difficulties. The Markit Economics manufacturing index fell to 50.8 in April, the lowest it has been since September 2009.

American Households

American households also seem to be retrenching as consumer confidence slides to the lowest level since last September. The unusual and more confrontational nature of the debates, rampant dissatisfaction with the major parties and the uncertainty of where the country would head under pending leadership all are factors.

Business Spending And Investing

Some businesses are delaying spending and investment decisions until there is more clarity about what might be on the minds of the various candidates vis a vis business regulation. Policies that might make a difference in bottom lines are still pending.

Presidential Nominees Positions

Donald trump, likely Republican presidential nominee, has thrown out such possibilities as putting big tariffs on Chinese imports, while Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton has waffled on some of the positions she has championed in the past that were pro-business.

Other Indicators

This sort of flux in political positions has caused a lull of sorts in business activity, economic experts say. Among other indicators, orders for business equipment were down by almost 3 percent in February. The Federal Reserve also has noted signs of increasing unease about the political situation as it makes surveys for the Beige Book. Eight mentions of the campaign were made in the three reports that have been published by the central bank so far this year. In 2012, the last general election year, there were two such mentions. In 2008, there were none.

consumer Angst

The University of Michigan’s monthly confidence survey also indicates more consumer angst about the direction of the country’s politics. The economy may be stagnant as it waits the outcome of the November balloting.

Plan Ahead For Retirement

May 21, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

What you should already be doing in planning for your retirement. — What you should already be doing in planning for retirement.

The decisions you make early in life can make a huge difference in what your retirement cushion will look like. Waiting until you are about to head out the door of your employment is way too late to start thinking about it.

Stay Married

It’s common to hear from both parties to a divorce that he /she “lost everything” in the process. That isn’t mathematically possible, but it’s safe to say that it’s rare that either partner benefits financially when there is a split. If you fall into the divorce pit (and some 50 percent of American couples do) remember to calculate the future needs of retirement as you divvy up the goods. Applying some sound common sense in the relocation process will help. Wiping out the entire proceeds from a divorce while setting up independently may leave little for the retirement years. A smaller living space, fewer immediate “wants,” a more economical car may be good alternatives.

Spend Less Than You Make

This bit of wisdom has been bandied about forever, but not enough Americans pay attention. Debt is simply impatience expressed through money. If you save the amount of a monthly payment for as many months as the purchase takes, you can pay cash and avoid interest.

Live Frugally

Used vehicles serve well for every day getting where you’re going. Mow your own lawn, make your own repairs when possible, make eating out a rare option. Just keep thinking about how good life will be when you are retired if you don’t spend it all when you aren’t.

Invest

Take what is left when you have lived frugally and put it into a savings plan that will offer some tax advantages. An investment counselor is a good idea if you aren’t really savvy about the market. Making changes in your savings program just for the sake of change may be counter-productive. It can be tricky. Before you sign up for something new, think first if it will fit into the long-standing plans you have been pursuing.

The Best Work-At-Home Opportunities

May 20, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

How to find a job that will pad your family’s income while you remain at home? There has never been more opportunity, but also there have never been the number of scams. Used to be the best chances lay with stuffing envelopes, now there are dozens of at-home jobs that are just a mouse click away.

Legitimate Or Scam

How do you sort out the legitimate opportunities from those that will end in disaster? With 4,500 to 5,000 ads for in-home jobs screened weekly, The Rate Race Rebellion, which tracks such things, found that there were 30 scams for every legitimate opportunity.

Competition For Job

Who’s your likely competition for the jobs that are available? Durst, whose company Staffcentric LLC develops home-based and virtual career training programs, identifies them as: Parents with small children, military spouses who face moving every few years, retirees and people with disabilities.

Disadvantages

Work-at-home is not particularly an ideal option for parents with small children who are likely to create diversions during the day. Consider deadline-oriented jobs rather than those that demand schedule-oriented work.

Who It Benefits

Social introverts may do very well with at-home work. They prefer interacting with others at a remove, working through email or on the phone, to being obligated to work with a lot of other people directly.

Personal Characteristics

The characteristics that usually are demonstrated by good at-home employees are self-motivation, discipline, well-developed job skills and independence.

Check Your Credit

If you apply for work at home, a prospective employer may check your credit. Check yourself at myBankrate.

Reduces Overhead

From the employer’s perspective, hiring workers who don’t come regularly into the office has some advantages. It reduces overhead and provides access to talented workers who are not available locally but make great telecommuters.

Opportunities Available

Ten job opportunities that now are available to at-home workers include virtual assistants, medical transcriptionists, translators, web developer/designer, call center representatives, tech support, travel agents, teachers, writer/editors or franchise owners. Look at the possibilities, but check with the oversight agencies to be certain you aren’t involving yourself with a scam.

Returning To Work Post-Divorce?

May 15, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Divorce is a difficult, life-changing event and when a newly single mom must return to work, it can be challenging. She will be competing with people who are more settled and more emotionally secure, including men who often get first dibs on the available jobs in the best of times.

These suggestions may be helpful if you find yourself in this situation:

Don’t Hamper Yourself With Conventional “Realism”

Be open to a wider potential. When people with good intentions come up with discouraging comments about the difficulty of finding jobs “at your age” or predict that your earning ability will have nose-dived, don’t listen. Put up a shield against the negatives and don’t let yourself be boxed into limiting your possibilities before you even get started. Allow yourself to think in terms of success and even happiness.

Starting Over Again May Invite A Whole New Direction

If you were a project manager before marriage, there is no reason to think you can’t look at something different. Reinvent yourself. Write a list of the all the jobs you have ever considered and jobs that other women have that your find attractive and give them some thought. Then follow your heart, even if it means more training.

Beware Of Inner Dialogue That Is Fearful And Cautious

Grabbing the first job that is available is a defeatist approach. Picture yourself as confident and proactive and imagine you have super powers. Have fun with the notion.

Cast The Net Wide

When you are considering college, the advice is to have three tiers of choices: the one you really want, a second choice and a fall-back position if the first two don’t materialize. Approach the job search in the same way. A human resources person may not offer the job you had your heart set on, but might see another opportunity in your resume. Be flexible.

Be Excited

Imagine yourself as a powerful woman who goes after what she wants. Focus on that objective. Expect to be excited and look forward to what will make you happy. Then aim for that goal.

Do The Routine

Study the listings and send resumes. But have other possibilities as well. If there is a business in which you are interested, make an effort to talk with people who work there. Invite a manager to have an informal discussion. Go to job fairs, be creative and keep an open mind.

Don’t Distress Over Resume

A resume is, of course, essential, but don’t fret over it. If you think you need advice, set up an account with Linkedin.com or another aid to the job search. Get your name and a brief description of your work experience into circulation and begin to build contacts.

Don’t Pass Up A Job Opportunity That Calls For Some Skills

Don’t confuse your comfort level with your true ability when it comes to technical skills. If a job description says you have to be Microsoft Word proficient, that doesn’t mean you have to be a genius. You can improve on your base understanding of technology through a little additional training. Cheap or free classes are available through community colleges, public school systems and other resources.

Network Like Crazy

Use your friends and family, professional associations, old co-workers. Use anyone in your acquaintance who might be useful in finding the job you want.

Keep The Vision

It may take longer than you had hoped, but don’t settle for less than you know you are capable of. Stay positive and keep the faith. You can succeed.