Money School for Parents AND Teens

If you could have a money coach come to your home and teach you how to become financially savvy, create long term wealth and avoid money pitfalls, all for less than 50 cents a day, would that interest you?

Imagine having the peace of mind, knowing you are able to manage your money wisely, having the tools to create a prosperous life and being able to share this with your kids.

In reality, having a money coach come to your home and take you through a money school, would cost you thousands of dollars, perhaps even tens of thousands of dollars.

But, you have the next best thing, for pennies a day.

Hi, my name is Patti Handy. I am a Money Coach, Author and Speaker. My passion is empowering and teaching money skills to teens, and their parents, so they may experience the life they deserve.

Here’s a bit of my ‘why’…

As one of five kids, I was raised in a family with parents who were masters at money management. They had to be. With one income and seven people under one roof, we learned how to make, manage and respect money.

I never really gave this ‘money wisdom’ much thought, until I was blindsided much later in life. With an 18 month old child, I suddenly found myself in the middle of a divorce that completely rocked my world. Through the emotional turmoil, I found a place of peace, knowing I had the tools to take care of myself, and my son, financially.

I want this sense of empowerment and peace for you and your family. Regardless of what is happening in your world right now, having a handle on your money is an invaluable life skill. Passing this on to your kids is priceless.

As much as I would love to see this life skill taught in our schools, it hasn’t made the core curriculum just yet. This is where my Online-Learning Money School comes in.

In the comfort of your home, at your convenience, you watch one, 10-15 minute, video lesson per week. Every week you will receive an email with that week’s video lesson. You will also have access to the PDF download of the lessons with action items. Below is a list of what we cover in the program.

Don’t let the low cost fool you…there’s a good reason. Read on.

I understand this is a challenging time for many, especially financially. Yet, this is the information parents and teens need most. I want you to have access to this life changing material, yet I don’t want you strained financially.

For this reason, I am offering this program for just $13.99 per month! That’s not a typo. Many have told me I should add a zero to that figure, but my goal and intention is to reach at least one million families. In order to do that, I have made this extremely affordable.

This program literally costs you less than 50 cents a day, yet can potentially save and make you thousands of dollars over time.

There are no long term commitments or contracts. You may cancel at anytime without any type of penalty. You will be billed each month you receive the video lessons.

No gimmick, no hassles, no kidding!

Change the path of your family’s finances today and generations to come and sign up now!

This is the perfect money school to incorporate into your homeschool as well!

Learn more and sign up here

Help, I can’t get out of credit card debt!

I was recently asked a question about credit card debt that I think many people can resonate with, so I decided to post my response. The question was, “I have about $8,000 in credit card debt and I’m making payments, but it seems I’m not making any progress. Should I just declare bankruptcy?”

Here is my response:

Your question is a common one, especially in these challenging economic times. People are using credit cards to buy groceries, gas and other necessities. I’m happy to hear that you are making payments and taking a proactive approach.

You aren’t seeing much of a dent because most of your monthly payments are going towards interest, not the principal. Take a look at what interest rate you are paying and try to get that down. Contact your credit card company and speak to a supervisor. Tell them you are doing everything you can to make these payments, but you are having a tough time. Ask them if they can reduce your interest rate or have any type of special programs for people in your situation. Bottom line, it’s in their best interest to work with you, because if you decide to declare bankruptcy, they may never get a dime. (By the way, bankruptcy should be avoided at all cost, as it creates havoc to your credit score for years).

Fortunately, there is a lot of help for consumers who are overwhelmed with their debt. Some of the ‘debt help’ or ‘debt consolidation’ businesses aren’t exactly legitimate. They will typically ask for a nice chunk of money up front and oftentimes, can create more of a mess than what you started off with. Only work with debt counselors that are recommended by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (www.nfcc.org- 800-388-2227).

These counselors will sit down with you and work out a repayment plan. Typically, they will gather all your debts and you will make one single payment to the counseling agency. Oftentimes, the counselors will negotiate deals where some of your credit is forgiven or they can get your interest rate reduced. This service isn’t free though, so be sure to ask what their fee is.

Again, much of this can be done on your own. Don’t be afraid to contact your credit card companies and push a bit. If they say no, call them back in one month. Always speak to a supervisor or manager.

On the other side of the coin, let’s talk about ways you can make larger payments every month. Take a hard look at your spending habits and find items you can cut out of your monthly expenses. This part of the equation is always challenging, as we have certain habits that can be tough to break. Here’s a few simple ways to cut back:

• If you eat lunch out at work, consider taking a sack lunch
• Make coffee at home in the morning rather than hitting the coffee shop
• Check your cable TV and cell phone plans and see if you can cut back on services
• Watch the ‘emotional spending’ going on (buying something to feel better)
• When purchasing something, ask yourself “do I need this or want this”. If you answered ‘want’, put it back.

I realize this can feel like sacrificing quite a bit, but consider how great you will feel when your credit cards are paid off. Plus, the interest that you will be saving over time can be applied towards building your financial freedom account! I know you can do it!!

Local newspaper covers story on teens and money

The Signal, a newspaper in the Santa Clarita Valley, published a great article about teens, money and entrepreneurship. View the online version here:

http://www.the-signal.com/section/45/article/33370/

It is what you say! 3 Tips when talking to your kids about money

We’ve often heard the saying, “it’s not what you say, but how you say it that matters.” I agree with that statement; however I have a slight twist to it.

With the present state of the economy, we have watched many families struggle, if not our own family. People are fearful, worried about their future, their kids future, finding a job, paying the mortgage or putting food on the table. As parents, we are concerned that our kids will be traumatized by these experiences and somehow lead a life of ongoing challenges.

The language you use when speaking with your kids can dramatically affect whether they see “challenges or opportunities”, “tests of strength or life as unfair”, “tests of courage or I give up.” Here are three tips that can help you when speaking to your kids.

Tip #1

When the kids are pleading with you to buy something, rather than saying, “we can’t afford that” respond with, “that is not a good use of our money right now.” This statement shifts the mindset from ‘living in lack’ to ‘living with choices.’ We all have choices; we just need to be aware they exist.

Tip #2

Empower your kids by shifting the opportunity to them. In the above example when your kids are asking you to buy something, your response could be something like “what can you do to afford buying this for yourself?” Now your kids have an opportunity to think about how they can make their own money and become independent from mom or dad.

Tip #3

Perseverance in life is a crucial life skill to teach your kids. Whether you are following your dream or getting out of debt, never giving up is a powerful message to give your kids. When talking at the dinner table or on a drive, bring up this important topic and discuss examples in your own world.

Kids are watching you and how you respond to life. Give them the gift of a strong mindset by shifting your own thoughts and beliefs.