Post 101-What Rich and Poor People Do With Tax Returns

Good Morning to the Millions and Millions of Readers out there, I always like to laugh in the morning!

I first want to congratulate myself for sticking with this and getting to my 101st post.  It was almost 3 years to the day since I started my first post.  I was not as consistent as I could have been, skipping 2011 entirely and a 6 month stretch in 2012-2013, but life and priorities happen, but I'm certainly glad I'm here today.  I just want to thank those who read or comment, I hope it has helped or made you think about finance and fitness along the way.

I think the post below is the question that everyone asks as I did in my first post, well the journey continues.

                      What do I need to do to get fit and wealthy?

                                                

TAXES-The Rich and the Poor

Let me first start by saying I don't know what the Rich or Poor do with the money they receive from a refund from there tax returns.  Here's a few things from friends and family that I have seen along the way(no judging....yet)

• I'm buying a new big screen TV(I have seen more empty big screen boxes on my daily walks now than I have seen during black Friday/Christmas time)
• Buying a new/different car(Chances are your refund isn't big enough for a new car, so they are putting some money down and financing the rest)
• I'm not sure what I'm going to do, probably just save it(doesn't seem like a bad idea at all)
• I'm paying down my debt(I'm sick of paying the regular payment for what feels like the rest of my life.)

I look at the first 2 and think a couple things.  One is you know what I paid the government this whole year and I deserve this money, I have been saving the whole year I deserve something nice.  Another part of me thinks that's got to be the stupidest thing you can do with your money right now!  You have been paying the government extra all year long not earning any interest or paying down any extra debt and what did you do with the money, you couldn't get it out of your hands fast enough.  It's called delayed gratification.  I'm sure you want a new phone, new TV, new computer, new car, trip to Vegas.

As you can see by the length of each rant, I'm not a huge fan of the first 2 bullet points.  What do I think about the last 2 bullet points?

One is that this person must be making the right choices they are getting a return and saving the money or at least trying to eliminate some of there debt.  This person must be rich or know about how to handle there money and will be rich one day.  Another part of me says this person only thinks they know what is going on, why are they getting a refund, they decided it was a good idea for the government to hold on to there money while they had credit card debt at 19%, a car loan of $500 month, and eating ramen noodles so they didn't go over there grocery budget, they might be as blind as the person buying the new car!  

While this rant was similar to the above, I think they are making "weatlhy" decisions in the end.  While in theory I do think that it is a poor decision to loan the government money at 0% return, I believe that most Americans including myself find it a struggle to save money, so even though we are giving the money to the government to hold on to, we know they are pretty reliable and will give us what we have saved and feel pretty good about ourselves.

So in the end if you are waiting on your tax refund or already spent it on a big screen TV, keep this post in mind on your decision today and for the future.  If you think I'm crazy here's a post over at Get Rich Slowly that has a couple ideas as well.  

What Makes You Consistent?

So I would say my most difficult problem is getting in a ritual or a routine and being consistent.  I think it affects me on a daily basis.  How do I challenge myself to stay consisten or more importantly how do you?

My understanding is people who are skinny or in shape for the most part have a ritual or a routine on when they workout or what they eat, I lack that.  It is difficult for me to do anything without getting results in a short period of time.  I think for this reason, I am not in top shape, workout regularly, or stay focused one item.

I feel like I am all over the place with things, almost easily distracted.  A great example would be this blog, I would love to write 1x a week or more, but I have trouble being consistent.  I started setting a reminder on my phone to write a blog, so this is my attempt to be consistent with this.

I think alot of this comes down to a little old saying that Nike has "Just Do It".  I think then you create a ritual or routine out of habit.  This blog article is all over the place, but what do you differently that makes you consistent?  Whether it's going to the gym, not eating cookies for dinner, or whatever makes you consistent, share with me please!!!!

Be Consistent

One of my biggest enemies is consistency. I can eat great all week Monday-Friday and then come Saturday I have had 6 beers, Ate 7 hotdogs(impressive right), ate a whole wheel of cheese(thank you Will Ferrell), and had a late night snack of a bag of Doritos. So whether it is eating, excercising, job/business ideas I lose my focus.

I am perfect for spending 8 hours researching a business idea and then doing one part of it and moving on to another idea. A great example is my jwallhoops.com website(I have not forgot about you baby) I have worked hours on putting it together and was consistent for a small portion of time, but I have not touched it in over a week. Now I’m sure I have some valid excuses but that’s all they really are is excuses. I am putting it on hold right now, with other more important matters.

So I have to start somewhere and regain the grip known as consistent. This topic does have some involvement in developing a routine, because if you do something over and over you are being consistent.

My Model Example My Guru-Nathan

I want to give an example of consistent and a developed routine involving excercise. My friend Nathan is in great shape, I mean borderline abs model(yes you are that attractive, lol yes i did it don’t judge me). But what he does is the same thing every day. He wakes up does some pushups, stretches, cardio type excercise for about 15-30 minutes. He eats healthy and often, but for breakfast it’s usually the same thing cereal. He rides his bike to work/school he competes in tri-athlons(yes his real name is Clark Kent). Then on a daily basis he works out whether it is running, biking, swimming, lifting weights or a combination of 2 or 3 of them he works out religously. He is athletic, but he is so consistent that he is great shape. That is my goal to be in great shape. Learn from the best, learn from a guru.

SideNote

Ok really boring day at the mall, but I have seen excitement in small parts today. I saw security(not uniformed so you know they were like detectives) catch a thief and then accuse them and ask questions right in front of me, my heart was racing a little. It also made me realize why I gave up stealing guns and running drugs at the age of 8.

Next I look up and I’m not sure but I think the entire Abercrombie model catalog just walk by I was caught a little off guard because in Miami I see models and people who literally dress up in the same clothes they go the club in as they go the mall.

Last and hopefully not the last thing today. I saw a break up in front of Pac Sun. Not the only one I have seen, but when it’s an employee it ups the fight. Not really any yelling(boo thats no fun), but some loud talking about how I don’t want you followed by some following and then the (always my favorite) the "fine F*** you or I don’t need you anyways or I’m glad we are done". Classic simply Classic.