Child: Look at what I did mommy! Mom: Wow, that’s nice dear…good job! It is funny how as we grow older, we outgrow many things such as bibs, recess, training pants, and naptime. However, one constant appears to be our need for approval. Even as adults, psychologists note that we have an overwhelming desire to… Continue reading Even Adults Need Those “Look What I Did!” Moments
Category: Personal Finance
Why You NEED Blow Money
By Roshawn Watson There’s an EPIC battle going on. The stakes have never been higher. Your very destiny hangs in the balance. Both sides have experienced warriors, and only ONE will emerge victorious. I’m speaking of the battle between your self-control and your desires. One of my biggest exposures to this conflict occurred when I… Continue reading Why You NEED Blow Money
When Lattes Are NOT Your Problem
By: Roshawn Watson People sometimes get so overwhelmed that they don’t know where to start with investing for retirement, especially while trying to simultaneously invest for a college education for children, pay for adequate insurance, and pay off their homes. This is where the Latte Factor comes into play. It is deceptively simple. By siphoning… Continue reading When Lattes Are NOT Your Problem
Does Wealth Reduce Compassion?
By: Roshawn Watson Most of us are familiar with Scrooge, the wealthy businessman who is high on ambition but short on compassion. Unfortunately, Scrooge isn’t a fictional anomaly; businessmen are frequently depicted negatively in Hollywood. Michael Medved found that since 1970, businessmen have been portrayed as “villains” twice as often as “good guys.” Could there… Continue reading Does Wealth Reduce Compassion?
Why Do We Worry About Money?
By: Roshawn Watson Some of us regrettably major in worry. Worry is sometimes easier than picking ourselves up off the ground, scraping together good solutions, and having faith that things will work out. Although financial worries are very prevalent, particularly due to the economy, they are in no way innocuous. According to a poll on… Continue reading Why Do We Worry About Money?
Do Americans Know What Poverty Is?
By: Roshawn Watson (special note at the end of post) Increasingly, I’ve become aware that the definitions of “poverty” and “low income” have changed. Fortunately, long gone are the times during the Great Depression where the typical poor would get into bread lines for rations. During the Great Recession, it is a decidedly different portrait… Continue reading Do Americans Know What Poverty Is?
Are You A Financial Liar?
By: Roshawn Watson We often espouse honesty as an important societal virtue. We tend to agree that trust underscores our relationships, and lies erode that trust. The implications of lying extend beyond its effect on relationships though. Sometimes in the name of protecting ourselves, facts about our circumstances are conveniently distorted in order to make… Continue reading Are You A Financial Liar?
Breaking Bad Financial Habits
By: Roshawn Watson How often do we find ourselves in the same financial ruts over and over? With the best of intentions, we proclaim that we’ll never be in these positions again. Unfortunately, while the precise circumstances change, for the most part, history repeats itself. Our financial lives consist of patterns. That likely won’t change.… Continue reading Breaking Bad Financial Habits
Be Your Own CFO (Part 1): The Dreaded “B-word”
By: Roshawn Watson As the semester’s end draws near, I have been extremely busy (oral and take-home exams, multiple assignments due, presentations, proposal due, etc). In group projects, members have failed to contribute and even plagiarized published articles. Additionally, some faculty have been inordinately insensitive to my other obligations, assigning new work at the… Continue reading Be Your Own CFO (Part 1): The Dreaded “B-word”