10 Essential Steps To Manage Your Money during this lockdown

Bad money management. It sounds nasty and you probably want nothing to do with it.

However, a good portion of Americans don’t properly manage their money. Some sources report that Americans are pretty bad when it comes to their finances as compared to other developed countries.

Yet, there is hope for you if you find yourself among this group.

There are some great tried-and-tested strategies you can learn how to manage your money the right way.

Let’s take a look.

Having a sound money management plan can be the light at the end of the tunnel for people trying to get their financial life in order.

If you are like me and have several bank accounts, credit cards, an IRA, and the like, often times getting a grip and fully understanding your personal finance state might seem daunting and an uphill struggle.

But if you don’t take the proper steps to get organized and actually learn ways for better managing your finances, you’ll feel like you are swimming against the current.

Managing your money—like anything—takes time to understand and to improve on. And to master, it also takes commitment and a solid understanding of your financial situation. These are the first steps in effective money management.

Everyone and anyone who ever took control of their finances went through this; and getting your financial life in order, sooner rather than later, is of utmost importance.

Here are 10 fundamental steps to help you manage your money the right way:

 

1. Create a budget

 

First things first: create a budget if you haven’t already. Is it necessary? Are windshield wipers necessary in the rain? Trust me, you need one.

Creating and sticking to a budget might seem a little tough to achieve at first but it pays off in the end (no pun intended). Budgeting helps us see with clarity and full transparency our financial situation and this is of most importance for better managing your money.

It’s the first step to help us pay off debt and start saving for future expenses such as a mortgage, a car, and your retirement. It’s what will bring balance to your financial life and give you peace of mind.

To begin, you will need to understand your expenses and your income to better manage your money. This is addressed in the following 2 steps:

 

2. Understand your expenses

 

Ask anyone off the top of their head to tell you how much they spend a month on everything and they might not be able to do so. This isn’t rare.

Many people actually don’t know the total amount of expenses they generate on any given month. This is a problem but there is an easy solution for it. Here it is: for one month, keep track of all your expenses. Easy-peasy. Take all your receipts (groceries, restaurant bills, utilities, etc.) and look at your bank statements and add up all of your expenses. Remember to keep track of expenses paid by cash as well as credit cards.

The idea is to have all your expenses (both variable and fixed) accounted for to get a total amount. This will allow you to see the whole picture and know how to manage your expenses going forward. You will also want to compare your historical performance over time.

 

3. Understand your income

 

Ask anyone off the top of their head to tell you how much they make a month and although they probably won’t tell you, internally they know. This is the difference between income and expenses, most people know their full monthly income but have less knowledge of their full monthly expenses.

Nonetheless, the point is to figure out your total expenses and subtract that from your total income for the month in question. Here is how the results should pan out:

• If you end up with a negative number this means you spent more than you made.  Actions to take? Reduce your spending and expenses until the total reaches zero.
• If you end up with a positive number this is good (high five!) and means you spent less you made.  Actions to take? You could increase your debt payments or increase your savings.

Once you understand your expenses and income and have a firm understanding of the money coming in and out of your life, it’s time to take some additional steps to best manage your money.

 

4. Consolidate your debt

 

Debt, the dreaded word. No one likes debt. No one. And most people that need help managing money actually need help getting out of debt. Sound familiar? If you are like the majority of Americans (~80%), then you most likely have debt.

The first thing to do is to get it under control and work on getting rid of it. If you have credit card debts, student loans, and other debts; look to consolidate them and try to get the lowest interest rate possible.

Again, its all about taking the proper steps to control your money. There are options out there that allow you to combine several unsecured debts such as credit cards, personal loans, and payday loans, into one bill rather than pay them individually.

If you only have a single credit card debt and are on a tight budget, try paying at least the minimum amount as soon as you get the credit card bill. Then, if your finances permit it, and you come across some more money, try to make the same payment a few weeks later.

Try keeping this payment cycle going until your debt is fully paid off.

 

5. Slash or remove unnecessary expenses

 

Big fan of Starbucks? If you are buying a Venti Caffe Latte every day (as delicious as they are) that’s around $4 out of your wallet. Multiply that out and you could be spending about $1,400 a year just on that. Maybe, just maybe, consider making your own blend at home to pinch those pennies?

Paying for a gym membership but doing yoga in your backyard? Cancel it. Think long and hard of other memberships, subscriptions, accounts that you are paying for but could live without.

Remember, the idea is to learn how to manage your finances better by taking everything and every penny into account.

So, do some spring cleaning and slash expenses wherever you see an opportunity and especially if it’s something that doesn’t affect your life to a great extent.

 

6. Create an emergency fund

 

S*** happens and it’s good to be prepared. Emergency funds are an important part of a healthy personal finance plan.

In almost all cases, you shouldn’t touch or take money out of the fund, rather, let it sit there earning interest. If you lose your job or an unfortunate or unexpected expense arises—such as your car breaking down or a tree falling on your roof—this is when you should tap into it.

 

7. Save 10 to 15 percent for retirement

 

I know it’s far off, but if you want to be sipping margaritas in Miami under a sun umbrella, the sooner you start saving for retirement, the better off you will be in your golden years.

First thing should be to establish a savings target—one that tells you approximately how much you should set aside over time to meet your retirement goals that will allow you to live the sort of lifestyle you envision.

Let’s say you are 21 years old and don’t have anything saved up but just got offered a job paying $40,000 a year. If you save 10% of your income annually then by the retirement age of 67, you will have $2.5 million saved up! Cha-ching!

If you need a calculator to run your own numbers, check this one out.

 

8. Review and understand your credit report

 

Why are credit reports so important? Because they are.

A credit report is a number roughly between 150 and 900 that serves as a score/grade which factors in your present and past loans, credit cards, mortgages, and any other reported debts.

It serves to determine how creditworthy you are and this score has a direct impact on your future borrowing ability. It’s important that you review and understand your credit report to assure it has all your updated information and to identify any possible errors (it’s estimated that 2-3% of reports contain some errors that could affect your overall score).

If you want to aim for a great credit score, keep your credit card balances low and work on paying off your debt instead of moving it from account to account.

 

9. Use a tool or personal finance app

 

Your finances are already complicated, lets uncomplicated them.

How?

Begin by getting with the times and putting away your abacus or Casio calculator. There are new and free tools out there that will show you ways to manage money as well as do all the hard budgeting and computational work.

Many tools such as Quicken for Windows or the free MoneyStrands app will allow you to safely consolidate, manage and control your money all in one place.

With MoneyStrands you can get access to your all your account balances, financial transactions, spending habits and budgets, and take all that information to start making smarter decisions and achieve your financial goals.

 

10. Follow money management resources

 

Knowledge is power. Every financial guru we know today started off like you and me. They just continuously learned and educated themselves and turned their passion into their profession.

Financial pros can give you some much-needed advice on how to manage your cash the right way, as well as some inspiring stories to get you focused on being the best version of yourself in terms of crushing it financially.

The key when researching which expert to follow is to carefully pay attention to what they say, absorb it, and only take the pieces of advice or guidance that can really help your case.

Some of their financial jargon might be out of your league, so look more for those kernels of wisdom that might apply to you and yours.

Overall, stay well-informed, practice sound financial management, and perhaps one day you will be the next personal finance guru and have thousands, if not millions, of people sharing your content and seeking your expertise on the best way to manage your money. Anything is possible.

Being able to effectively manage your money will make life flow much more smoothly, not to mention help lower your stress levels. Being well-organized will also save you time and save you potential headaches in the future. And no one wants those.

So, get out there and take the first steps mapping out your personal financial strategy with the ever-present goal in mind of being able to manage your finances better than before. Many others have done it and so can you

You Have Set Personal Goals For The Lockdown—Now What?

Using proven techniques you can achieve. 

With half of the world currently hunkered down at home, hundreds of millions of people have set goals for what they want to achieve during this lockdown period and beyond. The goals we have set for ourselves relate to mastering a new skill or getting in the best shape of our lives, or anything else related to personal or professional growth and excellence.

If you are like most people, you have set lockdown goals for yourself. Take a moment to think about what you have committed to yourself. My goal is to use this forced time at home to finish the first draft of the manuscript for my new book. Regardless of what your goals are, certain proven techniques can help you achieve the extraordinary targets you have established for yourself.

Clarity leads to commitment

Bjorn Borg, as an eight-year-old, knew he specifically wanted to play on Center Court at Wimbledon, which led him to become a five-time Wimbledon champion. Tiger Woods has always been a goal setter, growing up, Woods had a list of age-related records set by Jack Nicklaus that he wanted to best.

Borg and Tiger understood that having a clear goal is the first step towards achieving it. When you know exactly where you want to go, you are more likely to get there—a lack of clarity results in confusion, efforts that go nowhere, frustration, and poor performance. Every exceptional individual knows what they want to achieve and the steps they would take to get there.

The first step in achieving momentous goals is to ensure that they are specific and clear. Most people are unable to think about the future or are unable to set clear goals for what they want to achieve and end up setting vague and wishy-washy targets. When you can’t clearly articulate what you want from your life, and you lack clarity of purpose, there is little chance for achieving excellence.

Set the goal, but focus on the process

Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, meets every criterion of being extraordinary in his profession as a writer. Fleming not only created James Bond but assigned an unmistakably unique character, lifestyle, and adventure that has been part of our culture for generations.

Fleming started late; he was 44 years old when he began his first book, Casino Royale. He was fortunate to be able to draw ideas from his prior experiences serving as an officer in the British Naval Intelligence Department and also from his natural gift of having a vivid imagination. But in creating James Bond, he knew that imagination and experience alone were not enough. He would need to go through the process of writing an entire book, and the thought of writing three hundred pages was daunting.

Fleming established a process, which involved setting aside a specific time every day to write. He would write every morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then write for another hour in the evening from 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. He spent four hours a day writing. That was it. At the end of the four hours, he would celebrate a productive day, much in the manner Bond would have done. He stuck to this method, which yielded him 2,000 words a day, and within six weeks, a new James Bond novel was born.

A focus on the process helped Fleming and just about everyone else who has achieved something extraordinary. If you focus on the routine or the daily steps you go through towards achieving your goals; big outcomes take care of themselves. For Fleming, it was turning time into words for four hours a day, every single day.

While having a clear goal is essential, remember that the act of setting goals is easy. Everyone has the same goals and dreams of achieving the highest level of success. But only the rarest of people attain them. Those that reach their goals separate themselves from everyone else by committing to a process that works for them. For Fleming, it was time-based; for you, it could be a time-based, activity-based, process-based, or milestone-based approach, or it could be anything else. But without an ongoing and repeatable technique that keeps moving you ahead, you will not achieve your goals. An easy way to start is to give yourself a daily target for what you want to accomplish every day and stay true to it.

Use a commitment device

Now that we understand that the most successful people have observed a fixed process, we also need to realize that for most people committing to a routine takes a lot of discipline and is difficult, so they give up. It is hard to stay motivated, and it is hard to remain committed, and it is especially hard to stay focused when you have your phone next to you, screaming for your attention.

Commitments are hard to keep because there is an inherent conflict between what we know is good for us in the long term versus what we want to do right now. There is an ongoing battle between the present and the future.

For example, we know we want that promotion at work, or want to make the select team in our sport, or we want to complete an Ironman triathlon, or want to write a book. We know each of these is a long-term commitment that will require effort and sacrifice. Fighting these long-term commitments is the immediate desire that prevents us from attaining what we know is good for us. For example, we get caught up in thoughts like “it’s raining, and I feel like sleeping in instead of training,” or I want to go out with friends rather than complete the assignment at work.

As illogical as it sounds, even though we know what is good for us, we consciously select an alternative that we know goes against us attaining our goals. We give in to our immediate desires because that is more satisfying and instantly gratifying. But there is a tool you can use to help you prioritize your long term gain over short term pleasure, called a commitment device.

A commitment device is something that forces you to not give in to your immediate desire. It takes away the temptation, often by punishing yourself. A simple example is cutting up your credit card into pieces to prevent you from the lure of spending money needlessly. Or perhaps if you don’t practice your activity for two hours a day, you pay someone you don’t like ten dollars. Handing over cash will hurt and is one way to keep you motivated. Or maybe your commitment device is training daily with a partner or a coach. You can’t take the day off when you know someone else is there waiting for you.

There are a countless number of commitment devices that you can use. You have to pick one to help you stay true to your process, and it is this adherence to your routine that will lead to achieving untold heights in your field.

Commitment Devices have been responsible for some of the most significant feats in history. Celebrated author, playwright, and poet, Victor Hugo, in 1830, continually found himself being distracted and tempted to go out and party instead of focus on his writing. Later that year, Hugo decided to lock away his formal clothes. He had nothing to wear except a grey shawl. Without his clothes, there was nowhere he could go, and all that remained for him to do was write. Which he did, and in January 1831, his masterpiece, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was born. His commitment device, which was not having access to his clothes, forced him to stick to his daily routine of writing. Once he did that, the output he achieved has been at the forefront of the literary world for centuries.

Become Future-Oriented:

As you sit at home and dream of mastering new skills and attaining significant objectives, remember that you need to have a future orientation, which is the ability to set a long-term goal and plan specific actions along the way towards achieving your goal.

Future orientation gives you the discipline required to achieve your dreams. Avoid being “present-oriented” where you live solely for the moment, want immediate gratification, and quickly give in to temptations. Becoming exceptional is reserved for the people who are okay with delaying their gratification because they know their future rewards are far greater than anything they can achieve today

14 Fun And Fruitful Things To Do At Home During The Quarantine Period

14 Fun And Fruitful Things To Do At Home During T

The clock will no longer tick slowly.

• By: YUKESHWARAN DEVADAS
• streetzgossips.blogspot.com

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PINTEREST & UNSPLASH

Do things that make you happy!

Quarantine is, by its very name and nature, an experience that can make you feel alone.

Which means, you may be tempted to be shackled on the bed all day, go lost in thoughts and be physically unproductive. On the flipside, it’s the time to treasure moments with your family and yourself.

We have rounded up 14 seize-the-day, heart-warming things to do at home:

1. Unleash the games of yesteryear

GAMBAR: TWITTER/MALAYSIA AIRPORTS

Remember this game, guys?

Enough of being a couch potato with your PlayStation and mobile games. Relive the 80s and 90s fun times with Malaysian-favourite games like Batu Seremban, Pepsi Cola, Ice Man, Eraser Battle, The Conquer (Tiktik), Bottle Cap and more.

If you still have traditional games like gasing and congkak, even better. So much fun guaranteed with so less effort to prepare. The current generation may be a little puzzled at first but once they get a hang of it, they would finally agree that fidget spinner is the definition of boredom.
 

2. Personal art gallery

Finding an old photo that triggers a memory instantly brightens the face of parents and grandparents, so imagine being surrounded by hundreds of them.

Gather all those photo albums and look through them together. Each picture comes with a story, pick a few favourites and hang them on the wall.

And parents, just make sure your report cards don’t sneak out together.

3. Family bake-off

Remember the dish you always craved for or promised to cook for your family? The time has arrived.

Ditch the monotony in the kitchen by cooking as a family, split into teams and try new recipes. Make sure the dishes are big on flavours and bigger on immune-boosting properties. How about spiced pepper and corn soup, grilled salmon with tomatoes and basil, mango-ginger smoothie topped with cashews?

Educate your kids that such ingredients can go a long way in terms of warding off cold and viruses. And who knows, you and your family could be just one video away from becoming YouTube sensations. Get the camera rolling!

4. Write a gratitude journal

Start your day by writing what you are grateful of. Even if it as simple as staying together with your loved ones, the gentle rays of sunlight that woke you up, and thank the productive food delivery operations and dedicated medical staffs who are working around the clock.

This would also rewire your kids’ mind to be naturally grateful every day.

5. Call your old friends and distant relatives

Forget messaging and social media tagging. Sometimes a good conversation with a good friend just makes our day better. Drop a call or go face on-screen with former colleagues, high school friends, beloved teachers and far-flung relatives to make a big difference to their day.

Or spice things up a little: how about tackling the same recipe and cooking together while you’re on a video call?

6. Learn new things online

The internet is a goldmine to obtain online classes of various interests. Take up a photography course, master a new language, discover new cuisines or concoct a soap or alcohol-based hand sanitiser yourself.

7. Declutter your home

Quarantine serves as a grand opportunity to ensure your living space is spick and span. Go through old and disused items and decide the ones that can be sold or given away. Not only you will be surprised by the space you have after the clean up, but also find possessions that are worthy to you.

ALSO READ:
Here’s Where You Can Send ALL Of Your Items That Don’t Spark Joy Anymore For Recycling
 

8. Treasure hunt with the kids

Kids love to find hidden objects, particularly when there’s a prize waiting at the end. Place clue papers that lead the little ones to next spot on the mini trail at home.


Alternatively, to keep them excited, leave coins or candies at each point and finally, a gift. Keep the camera on standby to capture their rib-tickling reactions as they confront each clue.

Here’s an example:

“I'm filled with feathers or other soft fluff.

To sleep without me can be quite tough.

Bring me to grandma and kiss her to get your next clue.”

9. Build a fort

Build one with your family.

A classic that can never go wrong. Together with the kids, build a fort out of couch cushions, pillows, blankets and small movables.

Once all are cosy on the inside, stock up cookies and chips, then exchange spooky stories.

10. Plan your next eco-conscious holiday

How about planting corals?

Get your whole family together and discuss your next holiday. Remember to emphasise the importance of giving back to the community and nature.

Here are some ideas - Practise permaculture principles at Pulau Bidan Kedah, help turtles at Lang Tengah Turtle Watch and volunteer to repair coral reefs at Pom Pom Island, Sabah.

ALSO READ:
Holiday For The Soul: Top Volunteer Holidaying Destinations In Malaysia

11. Perform yoga and exercise together

With work, meetings and social commitments all bidding for our time, workouts have always slipped to the bottom of our to-do list. Not this time though.

Check out YouTube for family exercise videos, or play soul-soothing music to synch into a yoga session. Laugh the day away with those missed moves and poses.

12. Play 'Camera Hot Potato'

A perfect game for those who can’t stay off their phones. Gather everyone in your family and sit in a circle. Set your camera’s self-timer and pass it to the next person as they hold the camera at arm’s length.

Keep going until the camera goes off and you shall get amusing pictures that your loved ones will beg you not to tag on social media. As any good brother or sister would do, promise you won’t and let the world know anyway.

13. Get to know other families

Getting to know new people is a foolproof way to survive quarantine. During work-related video calls, feel free to introduce your family members to your colleagues.

Go on a video tour around your home, show your collections and get everybody at home to say some nice words. This warm bonding shall come to mind each time you meet your workmate.

14. Discuss news

Without a doubt, it’s the news channels that are turned on these days. A lot is going on in the world and some stories take the toll on our mental health.

COVID-19: Buhari charges Nigerians to endure restriction more

Apr 11, 2020 10:07 PM

President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday urged Nigerians to comply with the restriction directive “once more” in order to defeat the coronavirus.

The President in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also promised more interventions for vulnerable citizens.

Buhari had on March 29 ordered a total cessation of movement in Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory for an initial period of 14 days in a bid to check the spread of the disease in the country.

He thanked Nigerians for their patience, resolve and strong determination to defeat the COVID-19 outbreak.

The statement read: “But we must ask you – once more – to observe restrictions on movement where they are in place, and follow the instructions of our scientists and medical advisers: stay home, wash your hands, save lives.

“The freedoms we ask you to willingly forsake today will only last as long as our scientific advisers declare they are necessary. But they are essential – world over – to halt and defeat the spread of this virus.

“For those who suffer most egregiously, the Government has announced multiple measures to assist: 70,000 tonnes of grain is being released from the National Strategic Grain Reserves for distribution to those in most need; distribution of small cash payments are also being made, and will continue to be made by the federal government in the states and local government areas.”

The President urged members of the public to follow public announcements via the mass media for instructions as to how to receive government support, and learn of more public assistance in the coming days.

The statement added: “All that the government is asking you to endure is because nowhere in the world today is there any known way of defeating this pandemic. There is no vaccine. And that means there are choices to be made: between continuing as usual, or accepting the restrictions even when they come with unintended consequences.

“But at this darkest hour, it remains our duty to offer you the full and unvarnished truth: This is a global pandemic — 210 countries and territories across the globe are affected. We cannot expect others to come to our assistance. No one is coming to defeat this virus for us.

“Instead, the defeat of the virus in our country will be in our hands, alone. We cannot wait for others. We can only depend on ourselves now. And so we must — and we will — end this outbreak ourselves as Nigerians, together.

What is your reaction. 

U.S. media reveals the truth behind black men ’s high mortality rate of new coronavirus

Apr 11, 2020 10:05 PM

In the United States, the number of new diagnoses of new coronary pneumonia has skyrocketed. Some media have disclosed that the mortality rate of African American patients with new crowns is much higher than that of white patients. Some people think that this is because black people are worse off and more likely to die. it's not true……

According to a comprehensive report by foreign media on April 9, African Americans are suffering from "racial discrimination" in the epidemic. In some parts of the United States, African Americans are not allowed to buy and wear masks, and do not give virus reagents to test, while Caucasians Can have the right to test first.

A woman of African descent recently called for help on the Internet: "Please protect the vulnerable groups, protect the people who clean up the garbage, protect the sanitation workers, they are more vulnerable in the face of the epidemic."

According to the US epidemic prevention data, Chicago ’s African-Americans accounted for only 30% of the city ’s population, but 72% of the city ’s new coronary pneumonia deaths were black.

In Louisiana, African-Americans account for only 32% of the state ’s population, and more than 70% of new coronary pneumonia deaths are black. This also occurs in other states of the United States.

When asked why the infection rate of African-Americans is much higher than that of Caucasians, US President Trump blamed the physical problems of dark-skinned people.

To make matters worse, African-Americans experienced more than just “susceptible” physical problems during the epidemic. The impact of the epidemic caused millions of Americans to suddenly lose their jobs. Most African-Americans are engaged in jobs that are vulnerable to unemployment This has caused African Americans to suffer multiple blows and is in dire straits.

Michael McAfee, chief executive of a research institute focused on racial equality in the United States, said that if the situation is allowed to continue like this, African Americans may face a more serious crisis.

Fans Rain Insults On Halima Abubakar After She Confessed She Stole Another Baby’s Photo Because Her Own Son Was Born Premature

Nollywood Actress, Halima Abubakar, who has been under so much steam, since announcing the birth of her baby boy, a week ago, is under fire again.

This time, her fans are bashing her for lying about the photo she used to announce the arrival of her baby, and are also saying the new photo she out up of her actual baby is also a fabrication.

Recall that Halima had shared a photo of a baby holding someone’s thumb, but deleted the photo after the real Mom of that baby found out and called her out for stealing her baby’s photo.

The Actress then posted another photo of her own baby and explained he was born premature and could not share photos of him in that delicate state.

Nonetheless, Nigerians still went at her, accusing her of stealing another photo, the second time round. They also pointed out that the baby was wearing a pink cap which is meant for a girl

Coronavirus: Why We Sent Doctors To Nigeria – Chinese Ambassador, Zhou Pingjian

Apr 11, 2020 8:43 AM

Zhou Pingjian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to African nation, has aforementioned that the 15-man COVID-19 medical team that arrived in African nation on weekday, came to reciprocate the gestures incontestable by African nation throughout China’s making an attempt times in fighting Coronavirus.

He conjointly aforementioned that the COVID-19 medical examiners area unit expected to remain in African nation for a month.

Pingjian aforementioned this whereas chatting with newsmen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airdrome, Abuja, weekday whennoon after a chartered Air Peace craft arrived with the doctors and medical provides.

We received the support of all suggests that from African nation, and it's time for United States to reciprocate the friendly relationship and kindness,” Pingjian aforementioned.

We appreciate the support from the Minister of Health and therefore the Government.

We want to share the China expertise and see what we will do for African nation.

The Government, trans-business, private, public, and what we have a tendency to try to try and do is to deal with the priority of the Nigerians friends.”

He added, “Preliminarily, i feel the Chinese doctors have a month to remain in African nation.

As the Minister assured Nigerians, the doctors for the primary fortnight can place themselves in self-quarantine, although they'll go through video conferencing. Meanwhile, the amount of COVID-19 cases in African nation is 276, per authority.

3 Sacrifices You Need to Make to Escape Poverty

Apr 8, 2020 12:1

50 AM

If the journey to becoming a millionaire was as straightforward as keeping 10% of your income and dropping it into a mutual fund, wouldn't we be blessed with 60 and 70-year-old billionaire tycoons at this point?

If your life is not what you envisaged it to be at this point, then you must be eager to do something about it and don't let me sweet talk anything here; it won't be that simple. It involves patience.

Poverty is horrible. It is bad and cruel—I am sure many can consent to that. Generally, people are naturally born into it, sometimes, poverty hits them all of a sudden, but the most terrible is the point at which it crawls up into the lives of individuals completely undeserving of such a life.

These are three sacrifices that you need to make to help you escape poverty:

1. Entitlement mentality

It's not conditions that keep us where we are; it is the thing that we say to ourselves. Seeing yourself to be somebody worthy of success is certainly something; getting others to see you that way is another. You may feel you have the right to be given a job simply because you went through five years of difficult work learning at the college. However, for others, you are simply one more millennial that has a long way to go.

2. Develop a reading habit

You can too conquer each roadblock on your way to accomplishing a significant life by developing an extraordinary reading habit. Finding out about other people who experienced similar money related hindrances like you are currently confronting and still went ahead to become financially prosperous, will motivate and push you to accomplish that million-dollar dream you believe in.

3. Attempt new things

It sounds straightforward right? Making steps to do new things implies venturing out of your comfort zone and us humans don't always like the sound of that. But if you must break the hover of poverty in your life, you need to face challenges, step out of your comfort zone. 

If you make used of Public transport be are and watch for this red flag one chance uses.

One chance is the name given to the activities of those robbing and kidnaping passengers who ignorantly enters their vehicles. 

This crime is mostly common in towns like Lagos, Abuja and other hustling states. In this article I'm going to show and reveal to you the tricks they use to lure people and rob or kidnap them. 

If you come to Abuja, One chance drivers are everywhere. If you are not careful, and you fall into their trap, they will either rob you or kidnap you depending on their mission. 

Red flags you must take note of.

What is red flag? 

Red flag is a sign of danger. It shows signs that you are about to fall into their hands. This is how to identify One chance drivers

1: If the car you are about to enter has tinted glass or it is not painted, do not enter....that's a red flag

2: If you stop a car and the people in it come down telling you to enter their middle, don't enter. It is their trick to lure you into the middle so that you won't have the opportunity to raise alarm for people outside the car to see and rescue you....it's a red flag

3: If you stop any car and all you see are men, don't enter. It's a red flag. Some of them now employ girls among them to convince passengers but mostly it won't be more than 1 to 2 girls. Becareful when you see such

4: If you enter any car and the driver is not concerned about money, it's a red flag. What do I mean by getting concerned about money?? If you enter and the driver did not tell you price or when you ask him of the price and he said N200 for instance and you decide to price N100 knowing fully well that the price is N150; if he didn't complain, it's a red flag. The one chance drivers don't charge high to scare you away. All their focus is how to carry you and complete their mission.

How do they convey their guns in the cars?

One chance drivers moves with guns but you will never see them. They will hide them so that you and the police won't see them. They bring them out as soon as they want to rob or kidnap victims.

This is how they hide their guns. 

Look at these pictures very well, you will see how they hide their guns.

Can you believe guns can be hidden there?? May God save us.

Additional Tricks applied by one chance drivers.

10 Ways To Spot Guys Who Have No Girlfriends

Apr 5, 2020 8:33 AM

These are 10 Ways To Spot Guys Who Have No Girlfriends and i am sure if you read through this post you will find out its a fact about them

You might want to know the attitudes exhibited by guys who have no girlfriends. Just sit back, relax and read along with me the ways to spot guys who have no girlfriends.

1 His Relationship Status is "Hidden"

Guys with no girlfriend relationship status on social media like facebook are always hidden

2. You Can operate his phone without him freaking out

Yes if he is in the midst of friends he is free to give out his phone to people to go through without him feeling unsecured

3. He prefer you coming to his apartment most of the time

Friends can even visit him at any time and can even share the room with him

4. He keeps you away from his friends, especially the handsome ones.

Guys dont want to get close to handsome people for fear of being terms as being Gay and such type of guys with no girlfriend wont like to be accused of being one

5. His right arm has more muscles than his left arm or his tissue paper is almost empty always cry

You know what this means i just dont want to elaborate

6. They have the photos of Jesus or Quoran everywhere in their apartment

Since they have no girlfriend they become auto religious and can find picture of Jesus and bible and qua ran in their room

7. No traces of a woman's belongings in his apartment

yes this is a sure suspicion, when a guy have no girlfriend you wont even see traces of any female hair or clothes forgotten in his room

8. Just one bucket and sponge and towel in his bathroom

This is just factful if he is in a relationship he may have two buckets and two towels and sponges but since he is single he has only one

9. No traces of long, big combs in his drawers

Sometimes having a girlfriend assures you to bear with seeing a long comb in a draw used by females but if a guy has no girlfriend you cant find any

10. They remain Indoor on Valentine's Day

Another way to spot them is that they're locked up in their rooms on valentine's day, and when you ask them if they are taking their girlfriends on rendezvous, they will give you reasons as to why no girl on earth is worth celebrating val with. 

Comments below. 

Never sleep facing upwards. Things to avoid and keep off evil

1 PM

When badluck befall us, we see it as the Will of God, but God does not wish bad luck on anyone.

Some times, our actions unknowingly contribute to our fate.

Doo Some people may see this as superstitious, please try to avoid them to keep off bad luck.

Never sleep facing upwards -

Demons easily enter your body that way.

Never walk on the same path with a black cat - A black cat's company bring badluck.

Do not whistle indoors or at night -

Evil spirits view this as praises and an invitation to come indoors.

When an owl hangs around your house, pray fervently - Owls bring death.

Never place your wallet or purse on the ground -

It signifies giving your wealth to the dead and buried.

Never ever walk backwards -

Demons have eyes both in front and at the back so they walk either ways.

Never trim your nails at night -

It is same as a blood offering to demons who loiter around at night.

Do not break a mirror -

Mirrors show ones reflection and it's breakage, the shattering of ones life.

Above all Pray endlessly and evill shall flee from thee.

Save a friend. Share, comment and like.

You Can Never Be Poor In Life If You Are Doing Any Of These Three Things

 PM

Everyone deserves a better life but the far truth is that god has giving us that authority over our own life and we have the ability to decide on what we do with it. Have all have the power to turn ourselves into millionaires or billionaires but the truth is that the journey is never going to be easy and only those who can fight through that pain period are those who can achieve anything from life.

If you start building wealth, it is great you start early especially in your twenties because then you have greater time ahead of you and the strength is still there. The truth is success is not just about the destination and the goal but the process of reaching that height. How you can be persistent and fight through, that self confidence that you can be able to achieve anything even when others don’t believe in your dreams. Here, I will be talking about three necessary things to do if you want be rich and escape poverty. Even the plan of god for for our lives is the plan of good and not of evil.

Here are the things below:

1.    Be prayerful

In everything you do , let us try and put god first. Whatever progress and hard work you are making, there are forces that must work against you, and that is why to overcome those force god needs to be involved because he is the ultimate. Hence to succeed in life, prayer is the key and remember to put god first.

2.    Be hardworking

You cannot just pray and go and relax, for prayer without work is useless. You need to do your own part and that is by working hard. No success in life is achieved without work. For god promise to bless the works of our hands and if there is not work, what will god bless. So work hard and god will bless your struggle.

3.    Always help others

From the little you have, try and help others who are not opportune. No matter how small, try and help those in need. For to who much is giving, much is expected. For there is a universal law of nature that says give and it shall be giving unto you. So try and give and you will see how you will receive abundantly.

Aloe Vera: The miracle plant and it's benefits

Apr 6, 2020 12:08 AM

Aloe vera is a natural healer and has quality antioxidant properties that helps the body heal naturally.

Inside the Aloe Vera leaf, we have vitamins, minerals, over 22 amino acids, and it's penetrative ability to reach deep inside the skin to detoxify the body.

It can serve as an antibacterial, effective against viruses, fungi, yeast such as candida or other infections of the private part, and a powerful anti-microbial.

Uses

1. Stretch marks and wrinkles removal

2. Removal of dental plaque and mouthwash for healthy gums

3. Immunity booster

4. Repairs the skin, especially for women giving birth.

5. For hair growth, thickens the hair texture and can be used as hair gel.

6. Fight obesity

7. Clears pimples and acne

8. Natural laxative (clears constipation)

9. Lightens dark skin, especially the pubic area.

10. Keeps the skin moisturized

Remember, this is one of the most powerful healing plants on Earth and the gel is the essential ingredient inside the leaf that performs all these tasks.

Thanks for reading. Don't forget to subscribe, click that like button, share your thoughts, share with others and have a great day.

How Long Does the Coronavirus Live on Surfaces?

Get the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic here.

The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person. When someone who is infected coughs or sneezes, they send droplets containing the virus into the air. A healthy person can then breathe in those droplets. You can also catch the virus if you touch a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Coronavirus: What you Need to Know

The coronavirus can live for hours to days on surfaces like countertops and doorknobs. How long it survives depends on the material the surface is made from.

Here's a guide to how long coronaviruses -- the family of viruses that includes the one that causes COVID-19 -- can live on some of the surfaces you probably touch on a daily basis. Keep in mind that researchers still have a lot to learn about the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. For example, they don't know whether exposure to heat, cold, or sunlight affects how long it lives on surfaces.

Metal

Examples: doorknobs, jewelry, silverware
5 days

Wood
Examples: furniture, decking
4 days

Control Spread of Coronavirus

As COVID-19 spreads, what habits should we practice in our daily lives to avoid infecting others? WebMD’s Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, speaks with U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams to address common questions and misinformation about this virus.

Plastics

Examples: packaging like milk containers and detergent bottles, subway and bus seats, backpacks, elevator buttons
2 to 3 days

Stainless steel
Examples: refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some water bottles
2 to 3 days

Cardboard
Examples: shipping boxes
24 hours

Copper
Examples: pennies, teakettles, cookware
4 hours

Aluminum
Examples: soda cans, tinfoil, water bottles
2 to 8 hours

Glass
Examples: drinking glasses, measuring cups, mirrors, windows
Up to 5 days

Ceramics
Examples: dishes, pottery, mugs
5 days

Paper
The length of time varies. Some strains of coronavirus live for only a few minutes on paper, while others live for up to 5 days.

Food

Coronavirus doesn't seem to spread through exposure to food. Still, it's a good idea to wash fruits and vegetables under running water before you eat them. Scrub them with a brush or your hands to remove any germs that might be on their surface. Wash your hands after you visit the supermarket. If you have a weakened immune system, you might want to buy frozen or canned produce.

Water

Coronavirus hasn't been found in drinking water. If it does get into the water supply, your local water treatment plant filters and disinfects the water, which should kill any germs.

Coronaviruses can live on a variety of other surfaces, like fabrics and countertops.

Coronavirus Transmission: What You Need to Know

What You Can Do

To reduce your chance of catching or spreading coronavirus, clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects in your home and office every day. This includes:

• Countertops
• Tables
• Doorknobs
• Bathroom fixtures
• Phones
• Keyboards
• Remote controls
• Toilets

Use a household cleaning spray or wipe. If the surfaces are dirty, clean them first with soap and water and then disinfect them.

Keep surfaces clean, even if everyone in your house is healthy. People who are infected may not show symptoms, but they can still shed the virus onto surfaces.

After you visit the drugstore or supermarket, or bring in takeout food or packages, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water. Do the same thing after you pick up a delivered newspaper