3 Smart Ways to Spend Your Economic Stimulus Check

Some of us have received them and some are still waiting, but everyone seems to have an idea of how they’ll be spending their IRS economic stimulus checks. Before you go off the deep end with all that money burning a hole in your pocket, consider three ways your chunk o’ change can be better invested.

1. Slash Credit Card Debt.
Admittedly, MP3 players and flat-screen TVs are way sexier than paying down debt, but with the average American household carrying a debt load of around $10K, it’s a worthy spend. Economic stimulus checks start at $300 for singles and $1200+ for families with children. If you make the minimum payments on a card with a $10K balance and an 18 percent interest rate, you’ll end up paying thousands in interest. Use that money now to pay down your principal and you’ll save generously in the long run.

2. Target Your Mortgage.
Now’s the time to focus on your humble abode, especially if you have an adjustable rate mortgage—the same kind that caused the subprime lending crisis. If you’re having trouble with your monthly payments, don’t consider spending your rebate on anything else. Keep in mind you can always apply the money to refinancing your home, if that’s an option.

3. Invest in You.
Whether we’re in a recession or not is open for debate. The fact is, finding employment and keeping a job during a recession can be a strain. Make yourself more valuable by enriching your professional development. Crunched for time? There are plenty of CDs and DVDs that can help you expand your skills. If you have the time, look into taking an informal class at a local college. It never hurts to make yourself more marketable, especially in uncertain times.

Profiles in Excellence: Jim Rohn

During the past 40 years, Jim Rohn has addressed more than 6,000 audiences and 4 million people worldwide. He is the recipient of the 1985 National Speakers Association CPAE Award, has written several books, and audio and video programs and has been hailed as one of the most influential thinkers of our time. A household name as a business philosopher and motivational speaker, Jim is personally invested in bettering the lives of those around him.

“I’d like for you to discover some strong feelings about your life and about what you want to do with that life. You probably have the knowledge, experience and skills to become successful. What you may be lacking are the strong feelings about what you want and what you want to do. You may be one of those who have become so involved in the process of earning a living that you’ve forgotten about the choices and the chances you have for designing your own life.”

Experience Jim’s message LIVE, and find out how to cultivate a richer, fuller life by attending the SUCCESS Symposium II in Anaheim, Calif., July 12, 2008. Jim Rohn will be joined by special guests John Maxwell, Jeffery Gitomer, Denis Waitley and many more.

Reserve Your Tickets NOW!

5 Ways to Fight Fair in Your Marriage

Keeping your spouse happy, and maintaining your own sanity in a marriage, can be challenging enough. Remembering to fight fair when tempers boil over is another story. There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy disagreement, and researches say fair fighting can strengthen a marriage. Follow these steps when you’re at odds with each other and avoid all-out nuclear war.

1. Come Clean.
If something bothers you, say so. It’s a good idea to express your feelings in a calm and mature manner instead of bottling them up until something minor sets you off. That’s not fighting fair and will probably lead to you say something you don’t mean.

2. Schedule It.
Do you really need to get something off your chest but your spouse has no desire to address it? That’s OK. Make time. Pencil in a time when you both can sit down and talk about the issue. Cool heads will prevail and the extra time will give you both greater perspectives.

3. No (Pet) Name Calling.
Obviously, fighting fair means no name-calling. Keep in mind that the tone and inflection behind pet names can be hurtful when used sarcastically. Granted, this doesn’t mean you must address your partner by the full legal name on their birth certificate, just be responsible enough to know that it’s not what you say but rather how you say it.

For steps 4 and 5, please visit www.success.com/fightfair where you’ll find more great articles on relationships and well-being.