I used to get very excited about receiving a big (or any size for that matter) refund check each year at tax time, but then I learned some things that made me re-examine that mindset.  Click on the link below and take a few minutes to watch my recent FOX 26 clip and ask yourself if you could stand to adjust your thinking too! Charlotte Stallings on FOX26 Morning News

Tax refund check

It’s great that several restaurant chains have offered free or heavily discounted menu items during this economically challenging year.  What a break for me and so many others who wanted good food on the cheap.  So last week when a friend emailed a Boston Market coupon (a meal for $1.00) I jumped on it. 

Middle of the week when I pulled through drive-up I was told they were out of one meat item, I gladly accepted what they had and was on my way.  So thrilled was I to get a healthy, hot meal (I like Boston Market) for a buck, I went back two days later, way before the promo ended.  This time the line of people snaked through the lobby and into the dining area; I saw old friends and made new ones. 

When I was ready to order, the lady behind the counter announced, “we’re out of chicken, you can have meatloaf or turkey!”  “But my coupon is for a quarter chicken or three pieces”, I mumbled.  “Ma’am this is all we have, we didn’t expect so many people.”  No worries, I had a taste for meatloaf anyway.

While I was enjoying my meal I couldn’t help but wonder what the planning meetings at the Boston Market corporate offices looked like.  Had they not studied and analyzed the Denny’s Grand Slam freebies much earlier in the year?  Had they missed the mangled parking lots at every KFC in the country this summer with the new grilled chicken launch?  I’m just saying, maybe they could have planned a little better.  And yes, I know unforeseen variables can wreak havoc on the best laid plans, but to be completely out of the item your promoting with three days left makes you raise an eyebrow. 

It reminded me to have a plan for the unexpected… with my business and my personal finances. 

What’s your plan for the unexpected?

No, I’m not talking about relationships – I mean ‘breaking up’ with the bad habits we may have, especially when it comes to spending.

Everyday I struggle with old, bad habits while trying to make healthy food and lifestyle choices.  And sometimes the old, bad “snap-spending” (I could buy something quicker than you can snap your fingers) habit sneaks up on me too.   It becomes very easy to justify an extra purchase especially since “we’ve all been tightening the belt” for awhile.

When the urge hits to revert back to my old ways, I’ve had to learn to ask myself, “Is it a need or a want?”  I even created a little card to keep in my wallet; I pull it out before I grab a credit card to force me to think.

When I take a few minutes to answer this question, and think the purchase through, I feel better because I’m in control.  I make thoughtful spending decisions.  Then there’s no guilt for deciding to spend…or not.

I’ve lived in Texas for almost 15 years, but I’ve never been to South Padre Island – until today that is.  I was here speaking at The 16th Annual Juvenile Justice Title IV-E Conference.  I had a ton of work to do after my last session, but everytime I peeped out my hotel window, I  swear I heard the beach calling me.  I grabbed my  flipflops and sunglasses, and scurried down to the soft, beige sand.  “Just a few minutes here”, I thought, “and then I’ll break out the laptop.”

Two hours later I’m making my way back to the room, with feet and ankles covered in sand and a huge smile on my face.  I had a blast!  Just walking, and feeling the warm Gulf water and the not-too-bright sun, and seeing the clear sky…. and all the other people doing the same.  It was calming and exhilarating at the same time.  And best of all, it didn’t cost me a dime!

And to think, I was going to make a ‘mall run’ after finishing my work, because I wouldn’t dare visit a new city without checking out the local shopping!  I shudder to think what I might have spent on knick knacks, and trinkets in exchange for a priceless experience.

I’ll admit it, the whole social media thing (blogging, Twitter, FB, etc.) has had me in a tizzy.  I just didn’t get it.  How was any of this going to help me personally or professionally?  I couldn’t answer the question, so I did nothing.

Then one day I decided to take a ‘flying leap’ – I joined a group on LinkedIn and posted a question about a company that was pestering me for money to do business with them (doesn’t sound quite right, does it?).  I wanted to know if anyone had experience with this outfit.  Within minutes of  hitting enter, there were a dozen comments from people warning me to steer clear.  Not only did I receive responses in the LI discussion thread, but people emailed me directly, while others called to warn me.  Two great folks, Michael Benidt and Sheryl Kay chimed in and wrote about all of this on their own blog.

I was overwhelmed by the fact that people reached out to me and shared their wisdom and mistakes.  Because of their willingness to help, I saved a bunch of money and many headaches.  None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t taken that initial ‘flying leap’ into the unknown.

Taking that ‘leap’ helped me learn that social media is about sharing and community (among other things), but most importantly I learned that growth often times comes by delving into some areas head-first.  Be assured, I’m not trying to convince you to open a Facebook account if you don’t have one – not from moi, who has a Twitter account and never tweets!  No, this ‘flying leap’ thing is beyond social media, it’s about any and every area of our lives where we’ve chosen to sit on the sidelines because we don’t get it, maybe it’s challenging or just plain old hard.

For me this time it was social media where I had to take a ‘leap’, but there are so many other areas I could tell you about.  One of those is money.  Actually handling, understanding and managing money felt like the bane of my existence for much of my life.  Growing up it wasn’t something we talked about.  In college I struggled with it because of the need/want pull, and never having developed good money habits or discipline.  And well into adulthood, I felt the most overwhelmed because I was making a lot of money, but in debt up to my eyeballs.

I didn’t recognize it as such back then, but I took a ‘flying leap’ by attending a financial workshop my church was hosting.  “I didn’t need to go”, I thought,  “this is for people with financial problems.”  (I was in such deep denial).  But I went anyway, and what a life-changer!  Some things I heard were new, others were not.  But it was more about how the ideas and information were conveyed.  No mental ‘beat downs’ or finger pointing about how terrible I was with money, but rather, simple,  down-to-earth explanations and examples that were enlightening and fun.  Encouragement and support filled the room.  I left there truly inspired and motivated to  make changes in my financial life, and I did!

That was over 18 years ago and the experience continues to fuel me today; it is one reason why I started my speaking business giving money talks.   Bringing the same type of inspiration and motivation, I felt years ago, to your money life is my goal in speaking and blogging.  If I can help you move forward, even one inch in your financial life, then I’m a happy camper!

What about you and your money?  Have you taken a ‘leap’ to learn more, explore new or old information to enrich your financial life?  The ‘leap’ could be attending a financial workshop, reading a money book, posting a question on a discussion board, maybe even having a discussion with your spouse or significant other about your financial goals.  Or are you possibly missing out on a world of information, ideas, goal achievement and satisfaction because you’re sitting tight and  doing nothing?

Take the leap and watch happens.