#As for the kids… sorry but the U.S. is also one of the leading destinations for child sex trafficking

[former-leftist-jew]

... I literally spent hours crafting long, detailed, heavily sourced response, and you summed it up beautifully in one sentence.

“Iran is funding Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis! Do you have any idea how evil Iran is? Do you know about their history and what they did in the past???”

— a state that’s currently being funded by America, the United Kingdom and…..Germany.

[timelesstempo]

salt water | bang chan

(1/9) stray kids u.s destinations series

destination: Hawaii, U.S.A

wc: 2.8k

genre: fluff, super tiny bit of angst bc of fear

a/n: i really hope you guys enjoy this! please please tell me if you like it! as stated above, this is the start of a series! each member will have a place in the u.s. that i’ve visited! thank you for any feedback and i love you all! 

summary: snorkeling in Hawaii isn’t all it is cracked up to be; good thing you have the best hype man/boyfriend in the world to help you overcome your fears and join you in one of the most magical experiences of your life

| woojin | chan | minho | changbin | hyunjin | jisung | felix | seungmin | jeongin |

stray kids masterlist | main masterlist 

  ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ 

“Babe, come on! The water feels so good!” your boyfriend Chan exclaims while reaching back to take your slightly shaking hand. 

The crystal waters of a Hawaiian tidal pool, bustling with life and tons of interesting creatures to gaze at, sits before you. However, you are not prepared to do what it takes to view that underwater world; snorkeling. 

The thought of sticking your face into water already terrifies you, let alone the unnerving mask and mouthpiece you have to wear and the possibility of brushing up against any unknown creatures that could be lurking around you. 

You had avoided snorkeling throughout your entire trip to the gorgeous Big Island, opting for kayaking on the private waters that came along with the house Chan rented for the week, keeping your head above water. He had immediately jumped into the large lagoon with a snorkel mask attached to his handsome face the minute you arrived at the house and were given the OK from the landlord. 

You envy your boyfriend’s nonchalant and excited attitude towards snorkeling. It really does look fun, especially after hearing his tales of the gorgeous schools of  fish that swim between the rocks. Growing up swimming in Australia definitely gave him a natural love for the sea; there’s practically salt water in his veins. 

The worst part of your fear is that you desperately want to do it; you want to see the ocean and share this wonderful experience with the man you love, but you just can’t bring yourself to stick your face in the water despite wearing the goggles that are supposed to protect it. 

Not only do you want to see the colorful little fish that inhabit the lagoon, but also the sea turtles and small shark you know reside in the lagoon next door. More than anything though, you want to be able to see the enormous manta rays that you have scheduled to visit at the end of the week. The experience of swimming with manta rays is something you seriously do not want to miss out on due to your fear of something as simple as salt water in your eyes. 

Chan knows about your fear and has tried his best to encourage you and comfort you throughout the trip. Today he made the decision to help you get over your fear. He wanted to see your bright smile when you realize that snorkeling isn’t scary and that you can now see a whole new world because of it. He convinces you to come with him down to the lagoon and ditch the kayak paddle for a snorkel mask. 

“Chan, I seriously don’t think I can do this,” you announce to him as you slowly step into the water closer to him and take his outstretched hand. 

“I know you can, my love. It’s all in your head. I’m right here to make sure you’re safe, okay? And you know I only want you to do this because I know how upset with yourself you will be if you don’t,” Chan answers. His Aussie accent seems thicker, perhaps because of the homey feeling he gets in the ocean. 

“You’re right. Okay, please just don’t... don’t let go of my hand,” you beg. 

“I wouldn’t even dream of it,” he replies with a smile. “Are you ready?”

You take in a shaky breath and softly nod. He pulls your hand, leading you further into the cool water toward the rocks where most of the fish are usually gathered. Soon the water is up to your chest.

Chan stops and turns to you. “Okay, let’s put your mask on.” 

Those words alone are enough to make your heart beat faster. Chan helps adjust the strap so the mask fits your head, looking into your panicked eyes when he deems it secure. 

“Hey, you’re okay. I’m right here. Nothing is going to happen to you, I promise. You can do this.” 

He smiles in an effort to encourage you and then leans down to place his now masked face in the water, gesturing for you to do the same.

You put your face as close to the water as possible but stop before dunking your head under. You can’t do this. It’s too much. Chan notices that you haven’t come under and lifts himself back up to look at you. 

“(y/n), hey baby, you can do this. I believe in you. What is scaring you so much? Can I help?” He asks pushing stray hairs caught in your mask away. You take the mask off to explain. 

“I don’t even know. You know how much I don’t like water in my face. I feel like I’ll drown or something if I open my eyes even though I have the mask on,” you answer with your head down. 

“That’s okay, honey. Just take a deep breath and try again. You will get it eventually. It might take practice, but this is the only way to conquer your fear, yeah?” He glances at you for confirmation that you understand him. You nod in answer. 

“Okay, let’s try again. Try opening your eyes. I promise it’s not scary and I’m right here.” You nod again and he ducks his head under once more. 

You take a few deep breaths in an effort to calm yourself and just go for it. You place your face in the water and stay there for a second with your eyes closed. Unbeknownst to you, Chan isn’t watching the water around him, but watching your face for signs of fear. 

You open your eyes and instantly regret it. Your breathing stops and you whip your head up quickly, ripping your snorkel mask off. You immediately begin to cry out of fear but mostly frustration. Before you can process it or even open your eyes, Chan has his arms wrapped around you and your trembling body pulled close to his bare chest. 

“Hey, hey, hey. It’s okay, sweetheart. You did a great job. I’m so proud of you. You’re alright. I’m here.” He shushes you and rubs your back. He hates seeing you so upset, especially because he’s the one that encouraged you to do this. 

“I-I’m sorry Chan. I c-can’t do it,” you sob into his chest. 

“Don’t be sorry, honey. It’s alright. You were so brave.” He holds you for a few minutes and then pulls away, wiping the salt water from your cheeks that he wishes was from the sea instead of your beautiful eyes. 

“Do you... want to stop? We can keep trying if you want or we can just call it done for today,” he questions. 

You think for a few seconds. You can’t just give up. You want to make Chan proud and you really want to see the fish and the manta rays. With fear and anxiety still swimming in your heart, you look up at him. 

“I want to do this.” 

He smiles. “Okay, let’s do this!”

After an hour of working your way into being comfortable snorkeling, you finally get the hang of it. Though you can still feel your heart beating out of your chest, you’ve conquered your fear and feel on top of the world. Chan can’t contain his excitement and pride, attacking you with kisses with praises falling from his lips left and right. 

He takes you over to where he knows all the fish linger. A school of bright yellow fish swim around each other as if moved by the ocean’s current rather than their own self-influence. A small black and white eel moves out from its hiding place behind a lava rock to see what the two large visitors are doing in its territory before swimming away out of sight. 

You spend the rest of the afternoon with Chan introducing you to the underwater world he previously familiarized himself with and wants to share with you. 

You notice later that night that, just like he promised, at no point during the time you were in the water did he ever let go of your hand.

~ | ~ | ~ | ~ 

The warm summer wind blows your hair every which way as the small boat that is taking you to visit the manta rays speeds across the Kona reef. The sun is beginning its descent and the moon peaks out of the pink clouds.

You and Chan, along with the other passengers, are dressed in tight wet-suits that make you feel life a human marshmallow. Chan somehow still manages to look attractive in the awkward outfit. 

The boat is small and intimate, creating a family-like atmosphere with the small group of strangers. The family towards the back of the boat takes pictures with one another and the small children squeal as the water splashes on their faces. The only other person besides you and Chan, the family, and the two-man crew, is one of the crew member’s great aunt, an elderly lady who appears to be a natural on these excursions. You catch her multiple times smiling over at you and Chan with stars in her eyes and an almost reminiscent look on her face. You’re suddenly very grateful that Chan booked this smaller tour rather than the larger 50-person tours. 

The captain slows his vessel to a stop after about 20 minutes, killing the engine then preparing for the excursion. He and his younger mate hand out snorkel masks and flippers. Your nerves spike for a moment when you are handed your mask until your boyfriend grabs your hand and places a calming kiss to the back of it. 

Once everyone is ready to enter the water, the captain gives the okay and one by one all of you hop off the back ladder into the cold ocean. Chan goes before you so he can be there to catch you despite you wearing a buoyant suit and holding a lime green pool noodle. After the both of you are in the water, you follow the rest of the party toward the young guide to begin what will be one of the most magical moments of your life.

Somehow you are not as nervous as you were a few days ago with snorkeling; maybe its the comfort of the curly blonde-headed man next to you holding tightly onto your hand. Chan already has his goggles on and his face in the water. You join him, taking a deep breath and trying to calm your rapidly beating heart.

Your breath is taken away, not because of fear, but because you’ve never seen anything as amazing as what you see in front of you. Ginormous manta rays glide through the water just under you in the deep blue ocean. Their graceful movements look like a choreographed routine, flipping and turning to the beat of the ocean waves. The small sun rays that still penetrate the water glisten off their black and white bodies. Among them, hundreds of tiny colorful fish drift through the water, most of them in and on out of the rocks behind you. 

You pull on Chan’s hand, pointing to any and every thing you see that you don’t want him to miss. He looks at you with a smile and a nod when he notices what you’re referring to. 

Sure, he loves this underwater world and seeing creatures he never even knew he would in his lifetime, but his favorite part of the experience is seeing you overcome your fear and the sparkle and pure joy in your eyes as you take in the ocean life. 

Soon the free snorkel time is over and its time to begin the manta ray “feeding.” You, Chan, and the other members of your tour all follow the instructions of the guide, grabbing onto the modified surfboard’s handles. The surfboard has a light on the bottom that attracts plankton, a manta ray’s only food source. 

Once the sun has gone down, leaving only small streaks of light left on the horizon, the guide leads the group over a specific spot and then tells your group to lay as flat on the water as possible. 

You give Chan an excited but equally nervous face and he mirrors the expression. He places his hand on top of yours that holds tightly to the rope handle. He keeps it there to calm you both. 

For a little while, nothing happens and you wait anxiously for whatever is supposed to happen. Then suddenly you hear your guide yell so everyone can hear.  “Okay, everyone! There’s one coming from my right! Stay completely still and don’t touch it!” 

You try your best to turn your head and see the creature, but before you even have the chance, the largest animal you’ve ever seen comes up from under you. It’s upside down, its stomach all you can see. It’s mouth could swallow you and Chan both whole in one bite but it won’t. You lightly squeal in a mix of fear and excitement. The fascinating creature is just 2 feet from your face. 

Once it flips back over, its mouth full of its dinner, it swims back into the dark depths of the sea. You look at Chan again with an awestruck look. You hear him exclaim in excitement. Your beach boy looks like a kid in a candy store right now and you couldn’t be happier to experience this with him. 

The graceful, almost magical, creatures continue to feed off the plankton your light board provides for close to 30 more minutes until your guide decides it is time to leave the reef and head back to shore. 

Chan lets you onto the boat first, helping you as you go. The two of you resume sitting near the front of the boat by the captain after putting away your gear and grabbing a complimentary drink from the cooler. 

Both you and Chan unzip your dripping suits, leaving you in your swimwear, letting the wind dry your skin and salty hair. Chan leans back in his seat and wraps his arm around you, prompting you to lay your head on his wet shoulder. The boat starts back up and takes off from the reef. 

The sun is almost completely gone now, a pink tint to the sky reflects on Chan’s handsome face and clusters of stars begin to appear above you. He turns his head that was watching the water to you and places loving kisses on the top of your head. 

“I’m so proud of you, baby. I knew you could do it. I’m so glad I got to experience that with you.”

“Me too. Thank you for helping me over my fear. I couldn’t have done it without you. You know, you really are a natural in the water. Are you sure you’re not a merman?” you tease him. 

He scoffs, “I’m sure, sweetpea. I’m just that talented.” He smirks at you, letting out a laugh when you lightly punch his arm for being cheeky. 

The elderly lady that had resumed her place across from you two smiles over at you. 

“I remember what it was like to be young and in love. You two are a beautiful couple.” 

Your heart warms at her kind words. The two of you engage in a conversation that lasts for the remainder of the ride. Meanwhile, your boyfriend stares at you in awe: from the way you smile when you talk to your new friend, to the way your hair is now frizzy and slightly tangled due to the weather and wind. He’s never been more in love with you. 

The boat arrives at the dock sooner than you thought it would. You stand on the old wooden walkway as you say a goodbye to your new friend. Before leaving, she slips you two pieces of wrapped lychee candy. 

“These were my husband’s favorite candy. I wish you and this handsome young man happiness for the rest of your lives. Thank you for provoking this old woman to take a trip down memory lane.” She grabs both yours and Chan’s hands, giving you a warm smile before walking away to find her nephew. 

You turn to Chan with small tears in your eyes, wrapping your arms around his neck. He places his hands around your waist on your lower back. Your hands reach up to run your fingers through his curls. 

“I love you,” you whisper. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you swimming with manta rays, eating lychee candy, and everything in between.” 

Chan places his forehead against yours. “I love you too, and I want nothing more in the world than to be with you forever.”

You reach up and place your lips against his, pouring every ounce of love and gratefulness for this man into it. He reciprocates your kiss quickly, pulling you closer to him. 

The sound of waves crashing on the dock echo in your ears. The wind chills your skin and you feel the recently familiar sprinkles of rain begin to fall over you. 

You pull away from Chan with a giggle. 

“What is it?” he asks with a smile. 

You reach up and give him another peck on impulse, unable to resist him. You smile at him again, twisting his curls between your slightly pruned fingers. He sighs into your touch.

“Your lips taste like salt water.”

[petersshirts]

Abroad | Part 7

Pairing: Tom Holland x reader

Summary: all is fine for once and when December comes, it’s time to visit those famous Christmas markets; but you still wonder where Tom and you stand

Warnings: none

Words: 3,4 k

A/N: hello peeps, i hope you’re all good and you’re ready for the next year to start!! i hope you like this and as always, feedback is greatly appreciated! x i’m sorry for any mistakes, i only read this once cause i’m in quite a rush :(

“Yes I’m fine Mum, don’t worry.” Tom murmured into his phone and looked down at your sleeping form on his lap. It had been one week since you arrived in the Bretagne in the little Cottage. To your joy, Tom had booked the small house for two weeks and it was so nice to be all alone, just the two of you.

You spend the last week mostly in the house due to the cold weather, but you also walked to the sea and walked along the shore hand in hand. It felt so good to be here with Tom without a care in the world. You always had to touch him or stare at him while you prepared dinner. Tom could always feel your burning gaze on him and only smiled, loving the attention you so shamelessly gave him.

“What‘cha looking at, love?” He turned around with a big smirk and heat crept up your cheeks, causing you to blush. You focused back on cutting the onions but you were interrupted when two arms wrapped around your waist and Toms face nuzzled into your neck. You giggled when he pressed a kiss on your cheek and laid his head in your shoulder.

“Did you check me out?” You formed your lips to a tight line, trying not to smile. Suddenly, Toms' hands ran down your waist and he started to tickle you, causing you to scream and twist yourself free.

Everything felt so easy and light, that you didn’t even talk about putting a label on your relationship. And honestly, you didn’t care. Cause you knew that you were the only one that Tom had on his mind and he was definitely the only one you could think about. But you also wanted to tell him that you were his, just as he was yours. But you were way too shy to tell him that.

“Are you alone?” Nikki, Toms mother asked and grabbed the attention of Harry and Sam who sat on the sofa, right next to her. “Hm, no,” Tom mumbled and blushed, feeling so happy and warm inside, his heart still beating fast in his chest. He swore that he had never felt that happy before, not even the day when he found out that he was going to be Spider-Man.

“Wait what, there’s a girl??” He heard his brother yell through the phone but Tom could only roll his eyes, tired of his two annoying brothers. “Okay Harry that’s none of your business,” Nikki said and there was a rumbling on the other side of the phone, meaning that Toms’ mom wandered off into another room of their family home.

��And you’re happy?” was the only thing Nikki asked and Tom could only grin and nod, a bubbly feeling in his stomach. “Yes Mom I am, I really am. But I also miss you guys. How’s Tessa?” Yes, he missed his dog more than the other members of his family but they had a pretty close connection, alright?

Nikki chuckled, knowing that her son had other things on his mind than his family. He was an adult now but she still loved to hear from him from time to time and his adventures. “She’s fine but I can tell that she misses you.” Tom pouted but when he looked down at you, the smile crept back on his lips. “It’s not that long anymore. I will talk to you soon, okay?” He said when he noticed that you started to stir, announcing that you were waking up.

“Okay bye Tom and say hi to her from me!” And with that, the call ended and Tom looked tight into your tired eyes, slowly blinking. “Did I wake you?” Tom whispered and put a few of wild strands of your hair behind your ear, sending you a warm smile. “Hm, no, the only thing I do is sleep.” Your voice was laced by the sleep, quiet and low and Toms' heart jumped in his chest, not believing that he had you here in his arms. “I like watching you sleep.”

You slowly sat up so you sat next to Tom, trying to rub the sleep out of your eyes. “You’re a creep.” Tom grinned and you ruffled his hair, the two of you not sharing a word. You slowly moved forward and kissed his lips slightly, your eyes closing in pleasure. You never wanted to go back into civilisation where you had to face real life. Tom whined when you pulled back and pouted, like a small child when somebody took his favourite candy from him. You just grinned and got up, closely followed by Tom, on the search for some food.

___________________________________

The last few days in the cottage went by in a bliss. There was a small town nearby where you spend a day in a coffee shop and walking through the streets, hand in hand. It had gotten a lot colder in the past few days and since it was the end of November, you were officially in the Christmas mood. Christmas music was always playing in your house and Tom could only grin when he heard you hum along.

Slowly, it dawned on you that you would spend Christmas together with Tom in a new place you didn’t know about yet. Whenever you asked him about your next destination, he only wiggled his eyebrows and said: „You will see.“

And that made you crazy. Even though you liked surprises, you wanted to celebrate Christmas in the snow but Tom didn’t slip one word. But he distracted you from all your worries - always cuddling you whenever he could and he held you so close at night that you were not sure where he ended and you started.

On the morning of your departure, you were woken up by Tom pressing feverish kisses on your neck. It stung a bit and you tried to turn around, but Toms’ grip was holding you close. „What are you doing Tom?“ You mumbled, getting Tom to look at you while he licked his lips. „Just making sure that everyone knows you’re mine.“ He blushed when those words slipped out of his mouth automatically because he didn’t want to admit that to you so early. But when you looked at him with eyes full of love, he knew that you wanted to hear it. That you belonged to him just like he belonged to you.

„I’m yours too, you know,“ you mumbled shyly, feeling like you were back in kindergarten, admitting your feelings to your crush. But now, it was way more serious. This was Tom you were talking about, not some weird little kid that peed his pants. Tom grinned at you and softly pressed his lips on yours, the two of you closing your eyes in pleasure. Why couldn’t you stay like this forever?

Tom slowly pulled back and you pouted, feeling like there had been not enough. But the look in Toms’ eyes was serious. „I’m sorry, babe, but we actually have to leave very soon. We have a really long drive ahead.“ You grumbled but slowly stood up, making your way to the bathroom.

„It better be worth it!“ Tom chuckled at your answer and walked towards the kitchen to make the last breakfast for the two of you in the cottage. He was sad to leave the peace and quiet, but he was also excited for your travels ahead. Just like you, he was a sucker for Christmas and loved to be in the Snow so he had a lot of stuff planned. During this week, he had spent a lot of time on the internet while you were sleeping, finding romantic things to do to make your time together special.

He didn’t even want to think about the fact that he had to leave you in January and would jet off to the U.S. for a few months, leaving you behind. And he was not ready to do that before you told him everything. Yes, you talked about your life and your family, but Tom had noticed that you barely had any friends even though you were so nice and sometimes shy, but you could come out of your shell. But he could sense that there was something prominent that had happened in the past that you didn’t want to talk about.

And Tom was fine with that because you needed boundaries; but with him being with you, he also wanted to know everything about you; what made you happy; what made you cry and what you really wanted in life. Some nights, he laid awake with you sleeping on his chest, thinking about what made you so sad and sensitive sometimes. But he knew that when he told you about it, you would freak out and most likely close up again, and that was definitely not the way Tom wanted to go. So as usual, he had to wait until you would trust him enough to talk about this. And he hoped that would be before he had to leave.

It didn’t take you long to eat the pancakes Tom had made and pack all your stuff; the two of you moved around like you had known each other for ages. It only took an hour to put your stuff in the Jeep and leave the cottage that was full of new memories. The two of you stood in front of the little house for a few minutes arm in arm while the cold wind blew your hair around. „Come on, let’s go.“ Tom murmured in your ear and you nodded and let him lead you to the car where you jumped into the driver seat, receiving a weird look from Tom.

„I can’t let you drive the whole way, can I?“ You smirk at him, so happy to be completely normal again and talking like an old couple. „Well then, my Lady lead the way.“

_________________

Tom was right; it was a long ride. You changed seats after 5 hours when Tom told you that you had only driven half of the route. It was only noon because you had left so early, but driving on the highway had made you tired. You could only assume where you were going - there had been a sign for Paris so you were not driving to the South, causing you to sigh happily. Going into the East meant Snow and Mountains, just like you wanted.

You put on some music and Tom hummed with the songs, lulling you back to sleep.

„Hey, Boo.“ Toms words woke you up and you slowly opened your eyes, looking right into his brown ones. „Hm, hi.“ „We’re here.“ Your eyes slowly adjusted to the light and Tom helped you out of the car. You stood in a street that was lined by beautiful houses. It was a lot warmer than it had been in North France, but nothing gave away where you were.

While you had tried to find out where you were, Tom got your stuff out of the back of the car and walked towards you with a grin on his face. „Could you please tell me where we are?“

Toms’ grin got even bigger and he pressed a light kiss on your forehead. „We’re in Lausanne, darling.“ You raised an eyebrow at the name, knowing it from somewhere. „So we’re still in France?“ Tom nodded and grabbed your hand softly and tugged you to one of the houses.

In the house, there was a small apartment that Tom had booked for a few days. Tom told you that Lausanne was in the Far East Of France, right by the Swiss border. Some friends of his had stayed here once and told him to definitely visit the place. And after you had spelled into the place, you walked through the small town that was significant because of the huge Lake. Fairy lights were everywhere and it felt like Christmas even though it was not that cold yet. Sadly, there was no Christmas market but it had a completely different feeling than the Bretagne.

Tom had such a good taste to find beautiful places and you had noticed pretty quickly that he had the same taste as you. The two of you were not the biggest adventurers; you didn’t need an Adrenaline kick to have fun - it was enough to walk through the streets with Tom, hand in hand and a casual conversation between the two of you.

But when you checked your phone for messages that evening, reality started to kick in. You had two missed calls from your brother and you immediately called him back, worried that something had happened.

„Oh hey, you’re not dead!“ When you heard the sound of his voice and his chuckle, you knew that nothing bad had happened. But it still took a few minutes to calm down your heartbeat while you talked. „Why would I be dead??“ You grinned and sat down on the bed. Tom was in the shower so there was no chance in slipping your fathers’ dead or hearing him say anything. It felt good to have one person in your life that didn’t know about it; that didn’t look at you full of pity.

„Hm, I don’t know because you haven’t texted or called in three weeks?“ Your eyes widened and you realised that you, in fact, didn’t have any contact with your family for a long time. When you were at home, you saw them every day and if not, you send them a message just to make sure that they were okay. A guilty feeling settled in your stomach and you frowned.

„I’m sorry, we did a lot of stuff these past weeks and I got a bit lost. I will…“ you started to apologise but Chris interrupted you. „Y/N, Y/N, stop!! Don’t worry about it, it’s a good thing that you didn’t talk to us! That means you’re doing stuff for you and maybe also with that guy??“ You could hear his smirk through the phone and even though you rolled your eyes, you also blushed.

„And why would you assume that? You tried to sound neutral but it was pretty hard to keep a straight face. You desperately wanted to talk about someone about Tom and how happy he made you. But before that, you needed to tease your brother for a bit.

„Oh come on, I know that something happened! The way you described him, he was way too handsome that you wouldn’t fall under his spell. I bet you that I’m right!“ You blushed at his words, still not believing that your brother knew you better than you knew yourself.

„Hm, maybe?“ „Ha, I knew it!“ He yelled it and you could only shake your head and smile. „I’m really happy,“ you admitted and Chris chuckled. „And I’m happy for you, too. If he makes you happy, then I’m happy too okay? Unless he’s an asshole.“ „He’s not, Chris! He’s kind and he’s all I want.“ you murmured, scared of your own words. You had never admitted that, not even to yourself. You knew that your feelings ran deep towards Tom but it was way too hard to admit them. Also because you knew that these voices would come back if you started to question your feelings and how deep they went.

„That’s great, Y/N. But tell him that he needs to take care of you. But I gotta go, okay?“ You nodded just as Tom entered the room, a towel around his waist and his chest bare. You could only mumble a small goodbye, your eyes now fixated on Tom. Tom was turned away from you but as soon as he heard that you had ended the phone call, he turned towards you with a slight smile on his face. Yo tired not to drool and fixated on his face.

„I actually changed our plans.“ Tom walked towards you with the towel still around his waist and it seemed even harder to keep your eyes on the upper part of his body. You only raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

„We’re leaving tomorrow for another city. I’ve got something big planned for Christmas but before that, we need to get in the Christmas mood first.“ You just nodded along because you were happy as long as you were with Tom. „And will you tell me where we’re going?“

Tom grinned at you and pressed a quick kiss on your nose. „Just to a bit colder place.“ His eyes glinted mischievously and you laughed, knowing that he was up to no good. With Tom, you never knew where you were at. But secretly, you loved that he did so many things to make you happy and you hoped that you made him happy too.

The next day was a bit hectic because the guy you had rented the apartment from spoke only a few words English and it was pretty hard to tell him that you were leaving a few days early to do whatever Tom had planned. But after an hour, he had finally understood what you had been trying to say so you were on your way to another place, hopefully in the snow.

„So I checked the weather forecast for the city we’re going to, and it’s snowing tomorrow,“ Tom spoke up when you had left Lausanne and were back on the highway. You grinned at him, happiness coursing through your whole body. Your hometown was not famous for snow because it was pretty close to the sea and you hadn’t seen snow for a long time. The last time you had seen snow was when you went to your Austria a few years ago after Christmas. with your whole family, before your father had gotten sick.  

Tears threatened to fall down your cheeks again, but you managed to keep them in for your sake. You didn’t want Tom to see you cry nearly every day without telling him what was going on. But you also know that it was time to tell him about your dead Father and the hard time it had caused for you and your family.

But it never felt like the right moment; whenever you thought about spilling the truth, Tom distracted you with a cuddle or a passionate kiss, and you completely forgot what you wanted to do. And he was really good with distracting you.

The drive was very quick and you arrived in Bern only an hour later. It was the funniest thing for you to hear To try to say the name right. You giggled and nearly cried of laughter when you jumped out of the car in front of the hotel that Tom booked last minute. It was a lot colder than in Lausanne and it felt like you could already smell the sweets and food you could get on the Christmas Market.

Your eyes were literally lightened up when you entered the Hotel and everything was full of Christmas Decorations. For a minute, you thought back to your home and how your mom and Chris were decorating your home. You hoped that they would make it as beautiful as always, even though you were always the one that motivated them because you knew that that was what Dad wanted. Christmas was his absolute favourite holiday, just like it was yours. Nad it was your task to keep the tradition.

„Y/N?“ Toms’ voice ripped you out of your thoughts and you slowly looked up to him with a lazy smile. Toms' heart leapt out of his chest when you looked at him with that smile, you looked so effortless but still so beautiful.

„Hm?“ His hands snaked around your waist and pulled you close, even though you stood in the middle of the hotel lobby. „Are you alright?“ You nodded immediately because you were happy. Even though there was still something bugging you, you felt happy. Because Tom was here with you and Christmas was just around the corner, with him by your side.

Permanent Taglist and mutuals:

@smexylemony // @ive-got-more-wit // @lou-la-lou // @loxbbg // @seanna313 // @underoos-shield // @hollandfieldblurbs // @supernatural-strangerthings-1980 // @ixchel-9275 // @thejourneyneverendsx // @sideeffectsofyou // @teenwolfbitches2 // @mywinterwolf // @alex--awesome--22 // @wronglanemendes // @keithseabrook27 // @tomshufflepuff // @sarahshersh // @theraggedwerewolf // @madon566 // @angelbabymed // @miraculousparker // @feyrearcheron44 // @learning-howto-be-myselfx3 // @myhealingstar // @josierosie

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[showlexsite]

Listed here are All Of Your Pupil Debt Concerns Answered in one single Destination

Listed here are All Of Your Pupil Debt Concerns Answered in one single Destination

What goes on to your financial troubles whenever you die? And it is refinancing ever a great option?

About 44 million individuals when you look at the U.S. Involve some as a type of student debt, but also though numerous of us make monthly loan repayments, fundamental understanding of exactly just how these loans work is frighteningly scarce. VICE frequently gets email messages from individuals eager for a bare minimum of information. That is probably because in a method with many going components, it is simple to get tripped through to the main points.

A lot more confusing is that the device of loan servicers, forgiveness plans, and odd loopholes might be undergoing a change, with Democratic presidential applicants mass loan cancellation that is openly discussing. During the exact same time, current debt-forgiveness programs appear to in fact gain hardly any individuals thanks in component to loan providers presumably misleading borrowers. And based on the government that is federal not enough university students have the economic literacy necessary to comprehend the loans they’re taking out fully.

Tright herefore right here’s a primer that is up-to-date pupil loans—answers to concerns VICE is often expected, along side information individuals need to have gotten, but most likely didn’t, in university.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have actually both stated they wish to expel my financial obligation. Performs this mean I should stop spending?

No way: For those who have a federal loan, the federal government will simply take the funds from the paycheck if you stop having to pay. You might make an application for forbearance, which will be to express get authorization to just take a rest from your own loans, you only have three months maximum, and that is meant for instances when the debtor has lost their job or faces other style of economic difficulty. Additionally, any kind of utilization of financial obligation cancelation will probably just simply take an extended, very long time if it ever also occurs.

“That’s one of many difficulties with proposals similar to this, ” stated Mark Kantrowitz, a writer and leading expert that is national student education loans. “to start with, that knows then who knows if they’re going to be successful in getting Congress to pass their proposals if they’re going to get elected, and? You might be waiting around for Godot if you’re looking forward to your loans to vanish. “

Will there be any real way i can reduce my education loan re payments?

The way that is best to lower your payment per month by a substantial amount is to find on an income-driven payment (IDR) plan. You need to apply online throughout your servicer to see in the event that you qualify, after which after that, your repayment is likely to be capped at a particular portion of the income. (there are many various kinds; here’s a helpful breakdown. ) There are lots of other important benefits that result from getting for an IDR, such as for example financial obligation forgiveness. Which means in the event that you make on-time re payments for 20 or 25 years, the federal government will wipe balance clean. The actual only real catch here is that the erased amount will likely to be taxed as earnings, and that means you will owe the IRS a amount of money at the conclusion of every thing. Specialists relate to this big bill, which just comes if you do not submit an application for forgiveness through a particular program for general general public solution workers, because the “tax bomb. ”

The 2 most widely used kinds of these plans are known as PAYE and REPAYE, and though they could seem comparable, you will find a lot of tiny nuances which make a difference for some individuals. Even specialists can disagree on which is way better, and that means you should get personalized advice and select carefully

I even worry about paying all my debt back if I get on an IDR, should?

It might maybe maybe not seem sensible to create a lot more than the minimum re re payments https://speedyloan.net/installment-loans-ms if for example the financial obligation is more than increase your earnings, based on Travis Hornsby, an accountant whom assists individuals with student loans. “However, if your debt-to-income ratio is below 1.5 to at least one and you also work in the sector that is private you likely have little to no shot at forgiveness, ” he said. “You’ll spend your whole thing down because your 10 % ‘tithe’ to your federal government for the training are going to be a higher sufficient quantity so it will eliminate of all you owe. “

Just how do I figure out which of my debts to pay back first?

Kantrowitz said so it’s actually an easy task to figure this away: fall into line your entire debts and investment possibilities by their after-tax interest levels. Whatever has got the greatest is really what you wish to repay or spend much more quickly. Therefore because you’re saving money over time by avoiding that high interest if you have a 14-percent interest rate on your credit card, you want to pay that off more quickly than a 5-percent student loan. However if you have got a 5-percent rate of interest in your student education loans but can earn 6 or 7 per cent within the stock exchange, it may possibly be more straightforward to decide to decide to try maxing out your retirement plan rather than spend down your student loans faster. In the event the boss fits efforts to your retirement plan, you need to optimize those efforts.

The sole drawback is that this way, you could end up getting pupil financial obligation long into adulthood, which may provide a monetary conflict for those who have kids whom wind up wanting to head to university too. As Kantrowitz place it, “That’s not an excellent feeling. “

Will student that is having harmed my credit rating?

Really, in the event that you make regular re re payments, having loans will in actuality assist your credit rating.

What the results are if we die with massive education loan debt?

When it comes to part that is most, absolutely absolutely nothing, though like the rest being forced to do with student education loans, this will depend on specific circumstances. Only a little lower than 1 / 2 of private loans is likely to be charged against your property once you die or will have to be compensated by way of a co-signer in the event that you had one, although the remainder will fade away. Exact Same with any loans that are federal.

We heard that the majority of individuals got rejected loan forgiveness this past year to be in the “wrong plan”? Just how do I know if I’m from the right one?

This past year, out from the 30,000 those who sent applications for what’s called general public service loan forgiveness (PSLF), a course designed to assist those who went into civic-minded jobs after college, only 96 qualified. The great majority had been told they certainly were on the incorrect plans or discovered that their servicer hadn’t been recording specific re re payments. “the matter with PSFL is that there are a great number of details you must get appropriate, ” stated Kantrowitz. “One of the keys things are that they need to be within the direct loan program and never into the old bank-based system by consolidating them. ” Here’s a list which explains tips on how to qualify.

We understand I can’t declare themselves bankrupt to my figuratively speaking, but can We refinance my student education loans with a business like SoFi and then file for bankruptcy?

No, loans that are sorry—those SoFi and comparable organizations are often made to be academic loans, so that they won’t be erased in a bankruptcy. Even though you took down your own loan to cover down your education loan, bankruptcy wouldn’t be described as a way to avoid it. “Bankruptcy judges have actually lots of latitude to reject you you’re gaming the system, ” Kantrowitz said if they think.

Therefore is refinancing ever an idea that is good? Several of those organizations promote you money guaranteed that they can save.

This past year, SoFi settled case filed because of the Federal Trade Commission according to inflated claims regarding how much it conserved customers. That said, refinancing continues to be beneficial to a slim course of individuals who might create money to be eligible for IDR and would like to lower their attention rates. Simply be careful in regards to the claims, Kantrowitz said, because sometimes the cost cost savings businesses promote simply originate from suggesting a payment plan that is faster than normal—say, 5 years.

“Anyone doing your research for less rate of interest should go shopping one or more business, ” said Hornsby. “choices like Earnest, Commonbond, Laurel Road yet others often have actually reduced rates than Sofi but numerous just store the main one destination they will have found out about. “

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حجز فنادق قطر Tremendous Tips For Traveling In The Right Way

Choosing exactly where and how to journey can pose a few tough questions and difficulties, even to the most savvy worldwide traveler. This write-up describes a handful of confident-fire approaches to book accommodations, prepare excursions, conduct company conferences on the highway, and typically make the most of your sojourns outside the nation. Pack your baggage in this kind of a way that it can be simply carried, even for pretty lengthy distances. You are going to be walking with your luggage a lot more افضل فنادق قطر frequently than you may well believe. A lighter bag will make your trip less difficult, safer and a lot more fun for you than if you are lugging a heavy circumstance. When touring abroad, you should make certain to have a photocopy of your passport and other critical paperwork in a different area from the originals. Obtaining a copy of your passport will tremendously velocity up the procedure for getting it changed at the nearby U.S. consulate or embassy. You might also want to depart a copy with a pal at house. حجز فنادق في قطر If you have the time, travel by car instead of traveling. Driving by way of the states is a fantastic way to see the nation. You will pass by quaint towns and points of interest that are usually ignored by travelers. Traveling by car offers you far more versatility in case you need to have to adjust your itinerary at the final minute. Consider a great ebook with you to go through when touring. If you usually have anything interesting to do, you will be significantly less most likely to get discouraged or bored throughout layovers and other time delays that are over and above your management. Get a new title that you have been seeking to study so that you have one thing to appear ahead to. Spend attention to your intution when touring. If a specific keep, man or woman, or neighborhood gives you "poor vibes", just wander absent. Your intuition may be telling you one thing that you haven't consciously observed. Even if you happen to be incorrect, it really is much better to be risk-free than sorry when it arrives to your protection. Family and pals can be very gracious in letting you stay in their property, whilst you are browsing. Display your appreciation by having a tiny thank you present for them. شقق فندقيه قطرIt will demonstrate your gratitude and make them far more open to allowing you to remain there once more, in the potential. A traveler need to attempt to understand some of the language spoken at his or her destination if there is enough time to do so. Fluency in any language is hard to obtain, but any dedicated traveler can get familiar with some beneficial phrases. Understanding a little bit of the lingo will increase the traveler's experience or even demonstrate helpful in case of surprising issues. Although Spanish is the lingua franca in most international locations in the Western hemisphere, remember that Brazil is not a single of them. Brazilians talk Portuguese. If you intend to visit Brazil, learning a minor Portuguese can flip out to be a great deal of assist understanding Spanish will be substantially much less worthwhile to you. When likely on a cruise, use your place important around your neck, on a lanyard or related merchandise. Dropping your space important on a cruise ship can value you greatly, not only in افضل فنادق قطر cash, but in misplaced time. Retaining your key with you wherever you go can insure that you, and your belongings, will be risk-free. When it will come to exchanging your currency, it is all about area. Do not be a last minute forex exchanger managing through the airport to attempt and get your foreign money. Airports can be a extremely costly resource of currency exchange, and the rates might not be to your advantage. Exchanging must be one of the early things you do in your organizing, as it also secures the income you intend for overseas spending. Prior to your trip, sign up for some forums exclusively relevant to journey. These communities are crammed with knowledgable folks who can be of great service before, throughout and soon after your vacation. Continue to be active in what ever community you have decided on through the yr, as you may possibly find some fantastic travel ideas for following season's journey! Do not travel with all of your luggage when you are on a road journey. Hold a laundry basket in the automobile with you that has most of your clothes. Qatar Travel Pack necessities like pajamas and toiletries in an right away bag. Only have this bag into the hotel area with you, saving yourself the headache of bringing in a large sum of unnecessary things. Eradicate the costly intermediary in vacation arrangements. If you use a big identify web site, there is a good chance that they will demand you an added transaction payment on leading of the cost of your ticket. This can be prevented when you guide directly by means of the airline or the hotel. حجز فنادق الدوحة You can conserve time in the stability line by getting a Clear Safety Go. Several big airports, and a handful of more compact a single, are giving this high-tech go to pre-screened tourists. The original price can save a traveler hrs expended in stability strains and the tension related with the normal screening procedure. Carry back again toiletries from the hotels that you continue to be at even though traveling. Issues like soap, shampoo and lotion can be some of the very best souvenirs of your holiday, and they are fully totally free. Since your room charge includes the cost of these objects, do not come to feel poor for using them house with you. Use them to remember the wonderful time you had although you were away. If you are touring with your children in the car, give them the prospect to sit in your seat. حجز فنادق في قطر Your kid will come to feel specific and appreciate getting some high quality time sitting down with the driver. It will also preserve the excursion interesting for the two the older people and the youngsters. By adopting the foregoing approaches, you can make positive that your trips by no means disappoint. Whether or not you locate yourself worrying about airline prices, floor transportation, hotel fees or any array of other problems, this post can manual you into generating the proper selections for your particular حجز فنادق قطر trip. Have entertaining, be secure and don't forget these tips.

[andrewdburton]

What the rich do differently: 61 habits that foster wealth and success

I’m fascinated by the differences between rich people and poor people. Are the differences mostly a matter of class and economic mobility? Are people born to wealth and poverty and destined to remain there? Or are there observable differences in attitude and action that tend to lead people to specific levels of affluence?

From my experience, it’s some of both.

I believe that there are absolutely systemic issues that contribute to wealth and poverty. But I also believe that there are attitudes and habits that foster wealth and success. These attitudes and habits can be learned. They can be applied to our own lives, allowing us to build better futures.

My Story

I grew up in a family that had always been poor, a family that had lived for nearly 100 years in rural Oregon, barely getting by. The things we had and said and did were “lower class”, even if I didn’t know it at the time.

I was raised in this trailer house:

My father was a serial entrepreneur and the primary breadwinner for the family. Occasionally his businesses did well. Mostly, they didn’t. But even when our family did have a decent income, Dad spent that money on boats and airplanes and computers. He didn’t save. Then when hard times came — and hard times always came — he had to sell those toys to put food on the table.

The boom times were rare though. During the 1970s and 1980s, Mom and Dad spent most of the time living paycheck to paycheck. They fought about money. When Dad’s businesses weren’t doing well (which, again, was the norm), he worked as a salesman for various industrial companies. Or he was out of work. He spent long stints unemployed. We had to have help from extended family and from our church. (I can’t recall that we were ever on government assistance, but it’s certainly possible.)

Just before he died in 1995, Dad pulled me aside to apologize for how poor we were when I was a kid. “I remember that one Christmas when we didn’t have enough money for presents,” he said, “You and your brothers wrapped your existing toys and gave them to each other. I felt so ashamed. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you guys a better life.”

So, I’ve experienced poverty. Maybe not poverty as extreme as some others, but poverty.

I’ve also experienced wealth.

Today, my life is very different than it was when I was growing up. I’m fortunate (and grateful) to have a solid financial foundation. I achieved that financial success through a combination of hard work and luck. (And make no mistake: There was definitely good fortune required to get me where I am today.)

My brothers too have managed to work their way to a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. We have it better than our parents did. At the same time, it’s clear that the three of us retain some of our old habits and attitudes. (So too, I think, do other members of our extended family who also grew up poor.)

From my experience, I believe that poor people have certain habits, attitudes, and expectations. I think that these habits, attitudes, and expectations differ from those of wealthy people. Sometimes these qualities are a result of being poor (or wealthy); sometimes these qualities lead to being poor (or wealthy). In other words, it’s neither the “chicken” or the “egg” — it’s both.

What do I mean? Let’s take some time today to explore the types of habits that foster wealth and success.

Important note: Before we go any further, I’d like to acknowledge that this is a complex subject, one weighted with political, economic, and social issues. I don’t expect for one blog post to be a definitive exploration of the topic. I do, however, hope that this article can highlight some insights from myself and others — including you. This piece is not meant as a takedown of the rich or a takedown of the poor. It’s meant to highlight habits and attitudes that can improve the odds of success.

The Secret Language and Behaviors of Wealth

First up, here’s Chelsea Fagan from The Financial Diet sharing eight things wealthy people do differently. Fagan breaks down what she calls “the secret language and behaviors of wealth”.

At first I thought this video would be cheesy. It’s not. It’s excellent — which is why I’ve placed it at the top of this article. Fagan’s observations are astute, and she offers lots of practical advice for her intended audience: young women.

“Wealth isn’t just about how much money you accumulate,” Fagan says. “Particularly in America, there’s a whole different approach to life — not just the financial parts of it — when you’re wealthy.”

She continues: “There are many specific behaviors that wealthy people tend to practice which are adapted to perpetuating their wealth. The good news is there are many of these habits ane techniques that you can adopt even if you’re on a serious budget.”

According to Fagan, these are the eight things wealthy people do differently from the rest of us:

They don’t wait for permission. From a young age, we’re conditioned to get permission to do the things we want. As a result, most of us enter adulthood with the idea that we still need permission to pursue our desires. Wealthy people have shifted their mindset from permission to control. Echoing my friend Chris Guillebeau, Fagan tells her viewers, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” (This is one of CG’s mottos. He lives by it.)

They know the landscape around them. In the U.S., for instance, we’re taught that it’s bad manners to talk about money. Most people don’t. The wealthy, however, do talk about money — at least amongst themselves. (From my experience, this is very very true.) Talking about money helps wealthy people better understand the financial world around them so that they’re able to make better decisions. Plus, wealthy people actively seek advice and information about money.

They ask for help with what they don’t know. This one is huge. From my experience, when poor people don’t know something, they tend to shrug their shoulders and go on with life, never seeking an answer. Wealthy people aren’t satisfied to remain in ignorance. They have what I call a personal board of directors, a small group of trusted advisors to which they can turn for information and advice. I just emailed my accountant the other day, for instance, asking for help with a financial issue. This morning, I’m driving an hour to meet with my friend Michael, who has acted as both a friend and advisor for a decade now. Even if you can’t afford to have an accountant, attorney, and/or financial advisor, much of the info you need is available for free online. You just have to take the time to search for it.

They put a specific (and growing) value on their time. “Wealthy people decide that every hour of their life has a value,” Fagan says, “and they stick to that value while constantly trying to raise it.” Wealthy people are aware time is money — and money is time. As a result, they try not to waste time. This is an area where I struggle. That’s why I did a time inventory last year (and discovered I spent twice as much time playing videogames as I did writing about money). Fagan urges viewers to treat every hour of their lives as if it has value — because it does.

They speak the language of money. Wealthy people are more financially literate than the poor. They’re better educated about personal finance. Because they know what they’re talking about, they’re better able to advocate for themselves. They’re able to make better decisions.

They understand that money is a long game. Or, put another way, wealthy people recognize that there’s no reliable way to get rich quickly but that almost anyone can get rich slowly. They keys are persistence and patience. Do the right things for a long time and you will achieve your financial goals. “The choice is not between this $5 Starbucks that will make me happy or this $5 sitting in a sad bank account making me feel bad,” Fagan says. “The choice is between this $5 Starbucks today or the hundreds of dollars it has the potential to be when it comes time for retirement.”

They outsource, outsource, outsource. Wealthy people are aware of where their skills and talents lie, and they play to those strengths. They know when it’s better to delegate a task to somebody who’s better at it. Or they know when to outsource because their time is better spent elsewhere. (This is another area where I suck. I’ve never really figured out how to outsource, so I often find myself doing things that I’m not good at or that I’d rather pay somebody else to do.)

They know the importance of recharging. While you might not have the ability to jet off to a beach house in Florida, we’re all able to make time in our lives to “sharpen the saw” as Stephen Covey put it in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed. Deliberately dedicate time to self-renewal in your physical life (exercise, proper nutrition), social life (spending time with friends), mental life (reading, education), and spiritual life (meditation, church).

This video is truly excellent. If I had a college-aged daughter (or a college-aged son), I’d urge her to watch it. But I think it contains good info for anyone at any stage of life.

The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals

Tom Corley is the author of a book called Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals, which summarizes his research into the habits of the rich and poor. (He defines “rich” as those having an income over $160,000 per year and net liquid assets of more than $3.2 million. To him, poor means a gross income of $35,000 or less and no more than $50,000 in liquid assets.)

Corley’s approach is unique because he took time to interview people from both ends of the financial spectrum. While I haven’t yet read the book, I did manage to track down a piece he wrote for Success magazine that gives some insight into the results of his study. According to Corley:

Rich people live within their means. “Wealthy people avoid overspending by paying their future selves first. They save 20 percent of their net income and live on the remaining 80 percent.”

Rich people don’t gamble. “Every week, 77 percent of those who struggle financially play the lottery.”

Rich people read every day. “Among wealthy people, 88 percent read 30 minutes or more every day.”

Rich people spend less time in front of screens. “Two-thirds of wealthy people watch less than an hour of TV a day and almost that many…spend less than an hour a day on the Internet.” On the other hand, “77 percent of those struggling financially spend an hour or more a day watching TV, and 74 percent spend an hour or more a day using the Internet recreationally.”

Rich people control their emotions. “Loose lips are a habit for 69 percent of those who struggle financially. Conversely, 94 percent of wealthy people filter their emotions.”

Rich people network and volunteer regularly. “Almost three-quarters of wealthy people network and volunteer a minimum of five hours a month. Among those struggling financially, only one in 10 does this.”

Rich people work harder. “Unsuccessful people have ‘it’s not in my job description’ syndrome…Successful people work hard to achieve the mutual goals of their employers or their businesses.”

Rich people set goals; poor people make wishes. “Every year, 70 percent of the wealthy pursue at least one major goal. Only 3 percent of those struggling to make ends meet do this.”

Rich people avoid procrastination. “Successful people understand that procrastination impairs quality; creates dissatisfied employers, customers or clients; and damages other nonbusiness relationships.”

Rich people talk less and listen more. “Wealthy people are good communicators because they are good listeners. They understand that you can learn and educate yourself only by listening to what other people have to say.”

Rich people avoid toxic relationships. “Of wealthy, successful people, 86 percent associate with other successful people. But 96 percent of those struggling financially stick with others struggling financially.”

Rich people don’t give up. Wealth individuals “simply do not quit chasing their big goals. Those who struggle financially stop short.”

Rich people set aside limiting beliefs. “Almost four out of five wealthy people attribute their success in life to their beliefs.” They pursue personal development.

Rich people have mentors. “Finding such a teacher is one of the best and least painful ways to become rich.”

Rich people make their own luck. “Successful people create their own unique type of good luck. Their positive habits lead to opportunities such as promotions, bonuses, new business and good health.”

Rich people know their main purpose. “It’s the last Rich Habit, but it might be the most important. Those people who pursue a dream or a main purpose in life are by far the wealthiest and happiest among us.”

I’d love to see the raw data that led Corley to make these conclusions but I don’t think his book includes that info. From what I can tell, it’s written as a story, sort of like The Wealthy Barber. His website does give some background on his methodology, however.

I found other articles about Corley at Business Insider (some stats included) and Entrepreneur. Corley also appeared on an episode of the Afford Anything podcast. Finally, here’s Corley’s appearance on the Art of Charm podcast:

The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

When I first decided to dig out of debt in 2004, I devoured every book about personal finance that I could find. One volume that had a profound influence on my future financial philosophy was The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker.

Eker believes that we each possess a “financial blueprint”, an internal script that dictates how we relate to money. Our blueprints are created through lifelong exposure to money messages from people around us, especially our family and friends, and from our country’s culture and mass media. (I agree with Eker. See my recent article about money blueprints.)

Eker says the unfortunate truth is that most of us have faulty blueprints that prevent us from building wealth.

“Money is a result, wealth is a result, health is a result, illness is a result, your weight is a result. We live in a world of cause and effect,” writes Eker. “A lack of money is never, ever, ever a problem. A lack of money is merely a symptom of what is going on underneath.” (This echoes my advice that debt reduction is a side effect of doing the right things and ought not be a goal in and of itself.)

At the core of Millionaire Mind are Eker’s “wealth files”, a list of seventeen ways in which the financial blueprints of the wealthy differ from those of the poor and the middle-class. According to Eker:

Rich people believe: “I create my life.” Poor people believe: “Life happens to me.”

Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.

Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.

Rich people think big. Poor people think small.

Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.

Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.

Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.

Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.

Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.

Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.

Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.

Rich people think “both”. Poor people think “either/or”.

Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.

Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.

Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.

Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.

Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think they already know.

Eker says that most people are motivated to make money out of fear. People don’t call it fear, though. They say they’re motivated by security. Eker notes — correctly — that fear and security are essentially two sides of the same coin. The tough truth is that money doesn’t dissolve fear.

Eker writes:

Fear is not just a problem, it’s a habit. Therefore, making more money will only change the kind of fear we have. When we were broke, we were most likely afraid we’d never make it or never have enough. Once we make it, however, our fear usually changes to “What if I lose what I’ve made?”

“When the subconscious mind must choose between deeply rooted emotions and logic, emotions will almost always win,” writes Eker. Even if you know what you ought to do intellectually, it can be tough to do it because your money blueprint controls your thoughts and behavior. To change your habits, you have to work consciously and constantly to create a new plan. This takes time and practice.

Want to read more about how fear affects our decisions? Check out my article on how to build confidence and destroy fear.

Millionaires vs. the Middle Class

In The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class, Keith Cameron Smith also makes an attempt to delineate the difference between the rich and the rest of us.

His ten “distinctions” — in order of importance — are:

Millionaires think long-term. The middle class thinks short-term.

Millionaires talk about ideas. The middle class talks about things and people.

Millionaires embrace change. The middle class is threatened by change.

Millionaires take calculated risks. The middle class is afraid to take risks.

Millionaires continually learn and grow. The middle class thinks learning ended with school.

Millionaires work for profits. The middle class works for wages.

Millionaires believe they must be generous. The middle class believes it can’t afford to give.

Millionaires have multiple sources of income. The middle class has only one or two.

Millionaires focus on increasing their wealth. The middle class focuses on increasing its paychecks.

Millionaires ask themselves empowering questions. Middle-class people ask themselves disempowering questions.

Some of the items on Smith’s list seem to be derived from Eker’s philosophy. But although there are similarities, Eker’s list gives me warm fuzzies and Smith’s list doesn’t. I’m not sure why.

Maybe the difference is this: From my experience (and your experience may be different), Eker’s many distinctions hold true (at least in the U.S.). I’ve seen the differences he describes in my own life. But I’m not convinced that the differences Smith lists do hold up.

For instance, I know lots of poor people who talk about ideas rather than things and people, and many of the same folks embrace change. A lot of my friends love learning but they’re not millionaires. And haven’t we seen statistics that show, based on a percentage of income, poor people give more than the rich do?

There are differences between the mindsets of the rich and the poor, of this I’m sure. But I think they’re closer to Eker’s list than to Smith’s.

A Brief Rant Without taking anything away from personal responsibility (which you all know I think is vital to success), I’d like to suggest that both Eker and Smith are too quick to dismiss systemic causes of poverty. Perhaps neither of them knows what it’s like to be poor? Some of their observations make sense, but some seem to come from people who’ve lived lives of privilege.

“Rich people act in spite of fear,” Eker writes. “Poor people let fear stop them.” Why is that? Could it be that the rich can act in spite of fear because they have a safety net? Could it be that when you grow up poor, a scarcity mindset becomes so deeply ingrained that it’s almost impossible to shake? (That’s been my personal experience, by the way.)

There’s no question that wealth brings opportunities, both in the U.S. and in other countries. Those with money have more choices. The rich can take risks, and they’re often rewarded for taking them. (Thus, “the rich get richer”.) I have so many more options now than I ever did when I was a boy, when my family was poor. I think this element of “luck” is something ignored by both Eker and Smith (and many other people).

Ten Habits of Successful People

Instead of defining the differences between rich people and poor people, I think it’s more constructive to look at what separates successful people from unsuccessful people. Maybe I’m picking nits, but in this case I think focusing on a financial scorecard misses the point. It’s possible to be successful and poor, and it’s possible to be rich and a fool.

I’ll admit there seems to be a strong correlation between wealth and success, but the two qualities don’t overlap precisely.

From looking at my own friends, and from thinking about the stories readers have sent me during the past decade — especially stories about how people have moved from debt to wealth — I’ve seen the following patterns.

Successful people surround themselves with positive people. They limit their exposure to negativity and naysayers, preferring to spend time with folks who have can-do attitudes. They don’t have time to listen to the reasons something can’t be done; they’d rather find ways to make it happen.

Successful people aren’t flummoxed by failure. They know that mistakes are inevitable and should be treated as stepping stones to success rather than signs of weakness or reasons to stop trying. (This is why it’s important not to praise achievement, but to praise effort. The former breeds fear of failure.)

Successful people manage their time effectively. They recognize that minutes and seconds are a precious non-renewable resource. So, they set priorities and pursue them with passion. My successful friends seem to watch less television (and play fewer videogames) than my unsuccessful friends, for instance. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Game of Thrones or Hearthstone, but they suck up time that could be spent exercising or reading or taking a class.

Successful people ignore the opinions of others. They march to the beat of a different drum. They don’t feel compelled to “keep up with the Joneses”. They limit their exposure to mass media not only because it allows them to be more productive, but also because it reduces the influence of advertising and the pressure of cultural norms. When investing, they don’t follow the herd. The wealthy people I know all drive older cars (many of them bought used!), dress modestly, and avoid conspicuous consumption.

Successful people have direction. They act with purpose. They know why they’re working hard and saving money. They have a mission, even if it’s as simple as putting their kids through college, and their daily actions are aligned with their long-term goals. None of the folks I know who struggle with money have a clear idea of what they want to do with their lives.

Successful people focus on big wins. Sure, they develop smart habits and pay attention to the small stuff. But they also understand that if they’re diligent with their dollars, then the pennies will take care of themselves. The average person economizes on the small things but isn’t willing to make sacrifices when it comes to housing, transportation, or career. And the folks who are broke all of the time? Well, they fritter away their pennies and their dollars.

Successful people do what’s difficult. They don’t procrastinate. My friends with money work longer, harder, and smarter than my friends who have less. (This is an unpopular observation with some folks, but it’s true.) They practice deferred gratification, sacrificing small comforts today in order to obtain greater rewards tomorrow.

Successful people make their own luck. They practice awareness so that they can recognize opportunities when they come along. Moreover, they act boldly, seizing these opportunities where others might hesitate to act.

Successful people believe they’re responsible for their future. They’re proactive. They have an internal locus of control. That is, they understand that although it might not be their fault they’re in a given situation, it is their responsibility to change it.

Successful people grow and change over time. They adapt. They evolve. They’re not afraid to entertain different points of view. Most importantly, they’re not afraid to change their minds. They seek knowledge and experience, and they allow the things they learn to mold them.

None of these differences is absolute, of course. Most people (including me) follow a few of these rules but not others. Or we adhere to certain rules only part of the time. The most successful people I know do all of the things on this list; the least successful people do none of them.

The Bottom Line

That’s a lot of words — almost 5000! — about how the mindsets of the wealthy and the poor differ. And while I do agree with these generalizations, I think it’s important to note that they are generalizations. These principles aren’t applicable to all people.

There are plenty of poor people who have the right mindset but struggle because of external factors. There are plenty of rich people who do not have these attitudes but have managed to obtain wealth anyhow.

For me, the real takeaway from discussions like this is that regardless your circumstances, you can increase the odds that you’ll achieve your goals if you model your actions on those of the people you want to emulate. If you want to be rich, look for common themes in the lives of the wealthy. Do what you can to incorporate them into your own life. If you want to be successful, learn from the lives of successful people.

“If you don’t change direction,” my father used to tell me, “you’ll arrive where you’re going.” I didn’t really undersand what he meant when I was in high school. Now I do.

In life, there are often default options. If you don’t consciously and deliberately choose something different, you get the default. Most people live their lives in default mode. They accept the default without question.

My aim for myself — and for you, the readers of Get Rich Slowly — is to both be aware of the defaults and to question them. Sometimes they’re fine. A lot of times, however, there are better ways to live. By examining the habits of the wealthy and successful, I think we can all find ways to change direction so we reach a better future.

What do you think? From your experience, what are the differences between the rich and the poor? What qualities separate successful money managers from those who remain broke? Given roughly similar backgrounds, why do some folks build wealth and others struggle to make ends meet? How do the rich think differently? What behaviors to the poor and the middle-class have that the rich do not? Or is it even possible to create distinctions like this? Does it all just come down to luck? (Please keep conversation civil and respectful. No poor shaming — but no rich shaming either.)

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What the rich do differently: 61 habits that foster wealth and success

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What the rich do differently: 61 habits that foster wealth and success

I’m fascinated by the differences between rich people and poor people. Are the differences mostly a matter of class and economic mobility? Are people born to wealth and poverty and destined to remain there? Or are there observable differences in attitude and action that tend to lead people to specific levels of affluence?

From my experience, it’s some of both.

I believe that there are absolutely systemic issues that contribute to wealth and poverty. But I also believe that there are attitudes and habits that foster wealth and success. These attitudes and habits can be learned. They can be applied to our own lives, allowing us to build better futures.

My Story

I grew up in a family that had always been poor, a family that had lived for nearly 100 years in rural Oregon, barely getting by. The things we had and said and did were “lower class”, even if I didn’t know it at the time.

I was raised in this trailer house:

My father was a serial entrepreneur and the primary breadwinner for the family. Occasionally his businesses did well. Mostly, they didn’t. But even when our family did have a decent income, Dad spent that money on boats and airplanes and computers. He didn’t save. Then when hard times came — and hard times always came — he had to sell those toys to put food on the table.

The boom times were rare though. During the 1970s and 1980s, Mom and Dad spent most of the time living paycheck to paycheck. They fought about money. When Dad’s businesses weren’t doing well (which, again, was the norm), he worked as a salesman for various industrial companies. Or he was out of work. He spent long stints unemployed. We had to have help from extended family and from our church. (I can’t recall that we were ever on government assistance, but it’s certainly possible.)

Just before he died in 1995, Dad pulled me aside to apologize for how poor we were when I was a kid. “I remember that one Christmas when we didn’t have enough money for presents,” he said, “You and your brothers wrapped your existing toys and gave them to each other. I felt so ashamed. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you guys a better life.”

So, I’ve experienced poverty. Maybe not poverty as extreme as some others, but poverty.

I’ve also experienced wealth.

Today, my life is very different than it was when I was growing up. I’m fortunate (and grateful) to have a solid financial foundation. I achieved that financial success through a combination of hard work and luck. (And make no mistake: There was definitely good fortune required to get me where I am today.)

My brothers too have managed to work their way to a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. We have it better than our parents did. At the same time, it’s clear that the three of us retain some of our old habits and attitudes. (So too, I think, do other members of our extended family who also grew up poor.)

From my experience, I believe that poor people have certain habits, attitudes, and expectations. I think that these habits, attitudes, and expectations differ from those of wealthy people. Sometimes these qualities are a result of being poor (or wealthy); sometimes these qualities lead to being poor (or wealthy). In other words, it’s neither the “chicken” or the “egg” — it’s both.

What do I mean? Let’s take some time today to explore the types of habits that foster wealth and success.

Important note: Before we go any further, I’d like to acknowledge that this is a complex subject, one weighted with political, economic, and social issues. I don’t expect for one blog post to be a definitive exploration of the topic. I do, however, hope that this article can highlight some insights from myself and others — including you. This piece is not meant as a takedown of the rich or a takedown of the poor. It’s meant to highlight habits and attitudes that can improve the odds of success.

The Secret Language and Behaviors of Wealth

First up, here’s Chelsea Fagan from The Financial Diet sharing eight things wealthy people do differently. Fagan breaks down what she calls “the secret language and behaviors of wealth”.

At first I thought this video would be cheesy. It’s not. It’s excellent — which is why I’ve placed it at the top of this article. Fagan’s observations are astute, and she offers lots of practical advice for her intended audience: young women.

“Wealth isn’t just about how much money you accumulate,” Fagan says. “Particularly in America, there’s a whole different approach to life — not just the financial parts of it — when you’re wealthy.”

She continues: “There are many specific behaviors that wealthy people tend to practice which are adapted to perpetuating their wealth. The good news is there are many of these habits ane techniques that you can adopt even if you’re on a serious budget.”

According to Fagan, these are the eight things wealthy people do differently from the rest of us:

They don’t wait for permission. From a young age, we’re conditioned to get permission to do the things we want. As a result, most of us enter adulthood with the idea that we still need permission to pursue our desires. Wealthy people have shifted their mindset from permission to control. Echoing my friend Chris Guillebeau, Fagan tells her viewers, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” (This is one of CG’s mottos. He lives by it.)

They know the landscape around them. In the U.S., for instance, we’re taught that it’s bad manners to talk about money. Most people don’t. The wealthy, however, do talk about money — at least amongst themselves. (From my experience, this is very very true.) Talking about money helps wealthy people better understand the financial world around them so that they’re able to make better decisions. Plus, wealthy people actively seek advice and information about money.

They ask for help with what they don’t know. This one is huge. From my experience, when poor people don’t know something, they tend to shrug their shoulders and go on with life, never seeking an answer. Wealthy people aren’t satisfied to remain in ignorance. They have what I call a personal board of directors, a small group of trusted advisors to which they can turn for information and advice. I just emailed my accountant the other day, for instance, asking for help with a financial issue. This morning, I’m driving an hour to meet with my friend Michael, who has acted as both a friend and advisor for a decade now. Even if you can’t afford to have an accountant, attorney, and/or financial advisor, much of the info you need is available for free online. You just have to take the time to search for it.

They put a specific (and growing) value on their time. “Wealthy people decide that every hour of their life has a value,” Fagan says, “and they stick to that value while constantly trying to raise it.” Wealthy people are aware time is money — and money is time. As a result, they try not to waste time. This is an area where I struggle. That’s why I did a time inventory last year (and discovered I spent twice as much time playing videogames as I did writing about money). Fagan urges viewers to treat every hour of their lives as if it has value — because it does.

They speak the language of money. Wealthy people are more financially literate than the poor. They’re better educated about personal finance. Because they know what they’re talking about, they’re better able to advocate for themselves. They’re able to make better decisions.

They understand that money is a long game. Or, put another way, wealthy people recognize that there’s no reliable way to get rich quickly but that almost anyone can get rich slowly. They keys are persistence and patience. Do the right things for a long time and you will achieve your financial goals. “The choice is not between this $5 Starbucks that will make me happy or this $5 sitting in a sad bank account making me feel bad,” Fagan says. “The choice is between this $5 Starbucks today or the hundreds of dollars it has the potential to be when it comes time for retirement.”

They outsource, outsource, outsource. Wealthy people are aware of where their skills and talents lie, and they play to those strengths. They know when it’s better to delegate a task to somebody who’s better at it. Or they know when to outsource because their time is better spent elsewhere. (This is another area where I suck. I’ve never really figured out how to outsource, so I often find myself doing things that I’m not good at or that I’d rather pay somebody else to do.)

They know the importance of recharging. While you might not have the ability to jet off to a beach house in Florida, we’re all able to make time in our lives to “sharpen the saw” as Stephen Covey put it in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed. Deliberately dedicate time to self-renewal in your physical life (exercise, proper nutrition), social life (spending time with friends), mental life (reading, education), and spiritual life (meditation, church).

This video is truly excellent. If I had a college-aged daughter (or a college-aged son), I’d urge her to watch it. But I think it contains good info for anyone at any stage of life.

The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals

Tom Corley is the author of a book called Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals, which summarizes his research into the habits of the rich and poor. (He defines “rich” as those having an income over $160,000 per year and net liquid assets of more than $3.2 million. To him, poor means a gross income of $35,000 or less and no more than $50,000 in liquid assets.)

Corley’s approach is unique because he took time to interview people from both ends of the financial spectrum. While I haven’t yet read the book, I did manage to track down a piece he wrote for Success magazine that gives some insight into the results of his study. According to Corley:

Rich people live within their means. “Wealthy people avoid overspending by paying their future selves first. They save 20 percent of their net income and live on the remaining 80 percent.”

Rich people don’t gamble. “Every week, 77 percent of those who struggle financially play the lottery.”

Rich people read every day. “Among wealthy people, 88 percent read 30 minutes or more every day.”

Rich people spend less time in front of screens. “Two-thirds of wealthy people watch less than an hour of TV a day and almost that many…spend less than an hour a day on the Internet.” On the other hand, “77 percent of those struggling financially spend an hour or more a day watching TV, and 74 percent spend an hour or more a day using the Internet recreationally.”

Rich people control their emotions. “Loose lips are a habit for 69 percent of those who struggle financially. Conversely, 94 percent of wealthy people filter their emotions.”

Rich people network and volunteer regularly. “Almost three-quarters of wealthy people network and volunteer a minimum of five hours a month. Among those struggling financially, only one in 10 does this.”

Rich people work harder. “Unsuccessful people have ‘it’s not in my job description’ syndrome…Successful people work hard to achieve the mutual goals of their employers or their businesses.”

Rich people set goals; poor people make wishes. “Every year, 70 percent of the wealthy pursue at least one major goal. Only 3 percent of those struggling to make ends meet do this.”

Rich people avoid procrastination. “Successful people understand that procrastination impairs quality; creates dissatisfied employers, customers or clients; and damages other nonbusiness relationships.”

Rich people talk less and listen more. “Wealthy people are good communicators because they are good listeners. They understand that you can learn and educate yourself only by listening to what other people have to say.”

Rich people avoid toxic relationships. “Of wealthy, successful people, 86 percent associate with other successful people. But 96 percent of those struggling financially stick with others struggling financially.”

Rich people don’t give up. Wealth individuals “simply do not quit chasing their big goals. Those who struggle financially stop short.”

Rich people set aside limiting beliefs. “Almost four out of five wealthy people attribute their success in life to their beliefs.” They pursue personal development.

Rich people have mentors. “Finding such a teacher is one of the best and least painful ways to become rich.”

Rich people make their own luck. “Successful people create their own unique type of good luck. Their positive habits lead to opportunities such as promotions, bonuses, new business and good health.”

Rich people know their main purpose. “It’s the last Rich Habit, but it might be the most important. Those people who pursue a dream or a main purpose in life are by far the wealthiest and happiest among us.”

I’d love to see the raw data that led Corley to make these conclusions but I don’t think his book includes that info. From what I can tell, it’s written as a story, sort of like The Wealthy Barber. His website does give some background on his methodology, however.

I found other articles about Corley at Business Insider (some stats included) and Entrepreneur. Corley also appeared on an episode of the Afford Anything podcast. Finally, here’s Corley’s appearance on the Art of Charm podcast:

The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

When I first decided to dig out of debt in 2004, I devoured every book about personal finance that I could find. One volume that had a profound influence on my future financial philosophy was The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker.

Eker believes that we each possess a “financial blueprint”, an internal script that dictates how we relate to money. Our blueprints are created through lifelong exposure to money messages from people around us, especially our family and friends, and from our country’s culture and mass media. (I agree with Eker. See my recent article about money blueprints.)

Eker says the unfortunate truth is that most of us have faulty blueprints that prevent us from building wealth.

“Money is a result, wealth is a result, health is a result, illness is a result, your weight is a result. We live in a world of cause and effect,” writes Eker. “A lack of money is never, ever, ever a problem. A lack of money is merely a symptom of what is going on underneath.” (This echoes my advice that debt reduction is a side effect of doing the right things and ought not be a goal in and of itself.)

At the core of Millionaire Mind are Eker’s “wealth files”, a list of seventeen ways in which the financial blueprints of the wealthy differ from those of the poor and the middle-class. According to Eker:

Rich people believe: “I create my life.” Poor people believe: “Life happens to me.”

Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.

Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.

Rich people think big. Poor people think small.

Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.

Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.

Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.

Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.

Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.

Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.

Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.

Rich people think “both”. Poor people think “either/or”.

Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.

Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.

Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.

Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.

Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think they already know.

Eker says that most people are motivated to make money out of fear. People don’t call it fear, though. They say they’re motivated by security. Eker notes — correctly — that fear and security are essentially two sides of the same coin. The tough truth is that money doesn’t dissolve fear.

Eker writes:

Fear is not just a problem, it’s a habit. Therefore, making more money will only change the kind of fear we have. When we were broke, we were most likely afraid we’d never make it or never have enough. Once we make it, however, our fear usually changes to “What if I lose what I’ve made?”

“When the subconscious mind must choose between deeply rooted emotions and logic, emotions will almost always win,” writes Eker. Even if you know what you ought to do intellectually, it can be tough to do it because your money blueprint controls your thoughts and behavior. To change your habits, you have to work consciously and constantly to create a new plan. This takes time and practice.

Want to read more about how fear affects our decisions? Check out my article on how to build confidence and destroy fear.

Millionaires vs. the Middle Class

In The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class, Keith Cameron Smith also makes an attempt to delineate the difference between the rich and the rest of us.

His ten “distinctions” — in order of importance — are:

Millionaires think long-term. The middle class thinks short-term.

Millionaires talk about ideas. The middle class talks about things and people.

Millionaires embrace change. The middle class is threatened by change.

Millionaires take calculated risks. The middle class is afraid to take risks.

Millionaires continually learn and grow. The middle class thinks learning ended with school.

Millionaires work for profits. The middle class works for wages.

Millionaires believe they must be generous. The middle class believes it can’t afford to give.

Millionaires have multiple sources of income. The middle class has only one or two.

Millionaires focus on increasing their wealth. The middle class focuses on increasing its paychecks.

Millionaires ask themselves empowering questions. Middle-class people ask themselves disempowering questions.

Some of the items on Smith’s list seem to be derived from Eker’s philosophy. But although there are similarities, Eker’s list gives me warm fuzzies and Smith’s list doesn’t. I’m not sure why.

Maybe the difference is this: From my experience (and your experience may be different), Eker’s many distinctions hold true (at least in the U.S.). I’ve seen the differences he describes in my own life. But I’m not convinced that the differences Smith lists do hold up.

For instance, I know lots of poor people who talk about ideas rather than things and people, and many of the same folks embrace change. A lot of my friends love learning but they’re not millionaires. And haven’t we seen statistics that show, based on a percentage of income, poor people give more than the rich do?

There are differences between the mindsets of the rich and the poor, of this I’m sure. But I think they’re closer to Eker’s list than to Smith’s.

A Brief Rant Without taking anything away from personal responsibility (which you all know I think is vital to success), I’d like to suggest that both Eker and Smith are too quick to dismiss systemic causes of poverty. Perhaps neither of them knows what it’s like to be poor? Some of their observations make sense, but some seem to come from people who’ve lived lives of privilege.

“Rich people act in spite of fear,” Eker writes. “Poor people let fear stop them.” Why is that? Could it be that the rich can act in spite of fear because they have a safety net? Could it be that when you grow up poor, a scarcity mindset becomes so deeply ingrained that it’s almost impossible to shake? (That’s been my personal experience, by the way.)

There’s no question that wealth brings opportunities, both in the U.S. and in other countries. Those with money have more choices. The rich can take risks, and they’re often rewarded for taking them. (Thus, “the rich get richer”.) I have so many more options now than I ever did when I was a boy, when my family was poor. I think this element of “luck” is something ignored by both Eker and Smith (and many other people).

Ten Habits of Successful People

Instead of defining the differences between rich people and poor people, I think it’s more constructive to look at what separates successful people from unsuccessful people. Maybe I’m picking nits, but in this case I think focusing on a financial scorecard misses the point. It’s possible to be successful and poor, and it’s possible to be rich and a fool.

I’ll admit there seems to be a strong correlation between wealth and success, but the two qualities don’t overlap precisely.

From looking at my own friends, and from thinking about the stories readers have sent me during the past decade — especially stories about how people have moved from debt to wealth — I’ve seen the following patterns.

Successful people surround themselves with positive people. They limit their exposure to negativity and naysayers, preferring to spend time with folks who have can-do attitudes. They don’t have time to listen to the reasons something can’t be done; they’d rather find ways to make it happen.

Successful people aren’t flummoxed by failure. They know that mistakes are inevitable and should be treated as stepping stones to success rather than signs of weakness or reasons to stop trying. (This is why it’s important not to praise achievement, but to praise effort. The former breeds fear of failure.)

Successful people manage their time effectively. They recognize that minutes and seconds are a precious non-renewable resource. So, they set priorities and pursue them with passion. My successful friends seem to watch less television (and play fewer videogames) than my unsuccessful friends, for instance. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Game of Thrones or Hearthstone, but they suck up time that could be spent exercising or reading or taking a class.

Successful people ignore the opinions of others. They march to the beat of a different drum. They don’t feel compelled to “keep up with the Joneses”. They limit their exposure to mass media not only because it allows them to be more productive, but also because it reduces the influence of advertising and the pressure of cultural norms. When investing, they don’t follow the herd. The wealthy people I know all drive older cars (many of them bought used!), dress modestly, and avoid conspicuous consumption.

Successful people have direction. They act with purpose. They know why they’re working hard and saving money. They have a mission, even if it’s as simple as putting their kids through college, and their daily actions are aligned with their long-term goals. None of the folks I know who struggle with money have a clear idea of what they want to do with their lives.

Successful people focus on big wins. Sure, they develop smart habits and pay attention to the small stuff. But they also understand that if they’re diligent with their dollars, then the pennies will take care of themselves. The average person economizes on the small things but isn’t willing to make sacrifices when it comes to housing, transportation, or career. And the folks who are broke all of the time? Well, they fritter away their pennies and their dollars.

Successful people do what’s difficult. They don’t procrastinate. My friends with money work longer, harder, and smarter than my friends who have less. (This is an unpopular observation with some folks, but it’s true.) They practice deferred gratification, sacrificing small comforts today in order to obtain greater rewards tomorrow.

Successful people make their own luck. They practice awareness so that they can recognize opportunities when they come along. Moreover, they act boldly, seizing these opportunities where others might hesitate to act.

Successful people believe they’re responsible for their future. They’re proactive. They have an internal locus of control. That is, they understand that although it might not be their fault they’re in a given situation, it is their responsibility to change it.

Successful people grow and change over time. They adapt. They evolve. They’re not afraid to entertain different points of view. Most importantly, they’re not afraid to change their minds. They seek knowledge and experience, and they allow the things they learn to mold them.

None of these differences is absolute, of course. Most people (including me) follow a few of these rules but not others. Or we adhere to certain rules only part of the time. The most successful people I know do all of the things on this list; the least successful people do none of them.

The Bottom Line

That’s a lot of words — almost 5000! — about how the mindsets of the wealthy and the poor differ. And while I do agree with these generalizations, I think it’s important to note that they are generalizations. These principles aren’t applicable to all people.

There are plenty of poor people who have the right mindset but struggle because of external factors. There are plenty of rich people who do not have these attitudes but have managed to obtain wealth anyhow.

For me, the real takeaway from discussions like this is that regardless your circumstances, you can increase the odds that you’ll achieve your goals if you model your actions on those of the people you want to emulate. If you want to be rich, look for common themes in the lives of the wealthy. Do what you can to incorporate them into your own life. If you want to be successful, learn from the lives of successful people.

“If you don’t change direction,” my father used to tell me, “you’ll arrive where you’re going.” I didn’t really undersand what he meant when I was in high school. Now I do.

In life, there are often default options. If you don’t consciously and deliberately choose something different, you get the default. Most people live their lives in default mode. They accept the default without question.

My aim for myself — and for you, the readers of Get Rich Slowly — is to both be aware of the defaults and to question them. Sometimes they’re fine. A lot of times, however, there are better ways to live. By examining the habits of the wealthy and successful, I think we can all find ways to change direction so we reach a better future.

What do you think? From your experience, what are the differences between the rich and the poor? What qualities separate successful money managers from those who remain broke? Given roughly similar backgrounds, why do some folks build wealth and others struggle to make ends meet? How do the rich think differently? What behaviors to the poor and the middle-class have that the rich do not? Or is it even possible to create distinctions like this? Does it all just come down to luck? (Please keep conversation civil and respectful. No poor shaming — but no rich shaming either.)

The post What the rich do differently: 61 habits that foster wealth and success appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.

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What the rich do differently: 61 habits that foster wealth and success

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What the rich do differently: 61 habits that foster wealth and success

I’m fascinated by the differences between rich people and poor people. Are the differences mostly a matter of class and economic mobility? Are people born to wealth and poverty and destined to remain there? Or are there observable differences in attitude and action that tend to lead people to specific levels of affluence?

From my experience, it’s some of both.

I believe that there are absolutely systemic issues that contribute to wealth and poverty. But I also believe that there are attitudes and habits that foster wealth and success. These attitudes and habits can be learned. They can be applied to our own lives, allowing us to build better futures.

My Story

I grew up in a family that had always been poor, a family that had lived for nearly 100 years in rural Oregon, barely getting by. The things we had and said and did were “lower class”, even if I didn’t know it at the time.

I was raised in this trailer house:

My father was a serial entrepreneur and the primary breadwinner for the family. Occasionally his businesses did well. Mostly, they didn’t. But even when our family did have a decent income, Dad spent that money on boats and airplanes and computers. He didn’t save. Then when hard times came — and hard times always came — he had to sell those toys to put food on the table.

The boom times were rare though. During the 1970s and 1980s, Mom and Dad spent most of the time living paycheck to paycheck. They fought about money. When Dad’s businesses weren’t doing well (which, again, was the norm), he worked as a salesman for various industrial companies. Or he was out of work. He spent long stints unemployed. We had to have help from extended family and from our church. (I can’t recall that we were ever on government assistance, but it’s certainly possible.)

Just before he died in 1995, Dad pulled me aside to apologize for how poor we were when I was a kid. “I remember that one Christmas when we didn’t have enough money for presents,” he said, “You and your brothers wrapped your existing toys and gave them to each other. I felt so ashamed. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you guys a better life.”

So, I’ve experienced poverty. Maybe not poverty as extreme as some others, but poverty.

I’ve also experienced wealth.

Today, my life is very different than it was when I was growing up. I’m fortunate (and grateful) to have a solid financial foundation. I achieved that financial success through a combination of hard work and luck. (And make no mistake: There was definitely good fortune required to get me where I am today.)

My brothers too have managed to work their way to a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. We have it better than our parents did. At the same time, it’s clear that the three of us retain some of our old habits and attitudes. (So too, I think, do other members of our extended family who also grew up poor.)

From my experience, I believe that poor people have certain habits, attitudes, and expectations. I think that these habits, attitudes, and expectations differ from those of wealthy people. Sometimes these qualities are a result of being poor (or wealthy); sometimes these qualities lead to being poor (or wealthy). In other words, it’s neither the “chicken” or the “egg” — it’s both.

What do I mean? Let’s take some time today to explore the types of habits that foster wealth and success.

Important note: Before we go any further, I’d like to acknowledge that this is a complex subject, one weighted with political, economic, and social issues. I don’t expect for one blog post to be a definitive exploration of the topic. I do, however, hope that this article can highlight some insights from myself and others — including you. This piece is not meant as a takedown of the rich or a takedown of the poor. It’s meant to highlight habits and attitudes that can improve the odds of success.

The Secret Language and Behaviors of Wealth

First up, here’s Chelsea Fagan from The Financial Diet sharing eight things wealthy people do differently. Fagan breaks down what she calls “the secret language and behaviors of wealth”.

At first I thought this video would be cheesy. It’s not. It’s excellent — which is why I’ve placed it at the top of this article. Fagan’s observations are astute, and she offers lots of practical advice for her intended audience: young women.

“Wealth isn’t just about how much money you accumulate,” Fagan says. “Particularly in America, there’s a whole different approach to life — not just the financial parts of it — when you’re wealthy.”

She continues: “There are many specific behaviors that wealthy people tend to practice which are adapted to perpetuating their wealth. The good news is there are many of these habits ane techniques that you can adopt even if you’re on a serious budget.”

According to Fagan, these are the eight things wealthy people do differently from the rest of us:

They don’t wait for permission. From a young age, we’re conditioned to get permission to do the things we want. As a result, most of us enter adulthood with the idea that we still need permission to pursue our desires. Wealthy people have shifted their mindset from permission to control. Echoing my friend Chris Guillebeau, Fagan tells her viewers, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” (This is one of CG’s mottos. He lives by it.)

They know the landscape around them. In the U.S., for instance, we’re taught that it’s bad manners to talk about money. Most people don’t. The wealthy, however, do talk about money — at least amongst themselves. (From my experience, this is very very true.) Talking about money helps wealthy people better understand the financial world around them so that they’re able to make better decisions. Plus, wealthy people actively seek advice and information about money.

They ask for help with what they don’t know. This one is huge. From my experience, when poor people don’t know something, they tend to shrug their shoulders and go on with life, never seeking an answer. Wealthy people aren’t satisfied to remain in ignorance. They have what I call a personal board of directors, a small group of trusted advisors to which they can turn for information and advice. I just emailed my accountant the other day, for instance, asking for help with a financial issue. This morning, I’m driving an hour to meet with my friend Michael, who has acted as both a friend and advisor for a decade now. Even if you can’t afford to have an accountant, attorney, and/or financial advisor, much of the info you need is available for free online. You just have to take the time to search for it.

They put a specific (and growing) value on their time. “Wealthy people decide that every hour of their life has a value,” Fagan says, “and they stick to that value while constantly trying to raise it.” Wealthy people are aware time is money — and money is time. As a result, they try not to waste time. This is an area where I struggle. That’s why I did a time inventory last year (and discovered I spent twice as much time playing videogames as I did writing about money). Fagan urges viewers to treat every hour of their lives as if it has value — because it does.

They speak the language of money. Wealthy people are more financially literate than the poor. They’re better educated about personal finance. Because they know what they’re talking about, they’re better able to advocate for themselves. They’re able to make better decisions.

They understand that money is a long game. Or, put another way, wealthy people recognize that there’s no reliable way to get rich quickly but that almost anyone can get rich slowly. They keys are persistence and patience. Do the right things for a long time and you will achieve your financial goals. “The choice is not between this $5 Starbucks that will make me happy or this $5 sitting in a sad bank account making me feel bad,” Fagan says. “The choice is between this $5 Starbucks today or the hundreds of dollars it has the potential to be when it comes time for retirement.”

They outsource, outsource, outsource. Wealthy people are aware of where their skills and talents lie, and they play to those strengths. They know when it’s better to delegate a task to somebody who’s better at it. Or they know when to outsource because their time is better spent elsewhere. (This is another area where I suck. I’ve never really figured out how to outsource, so I often find myself doing things that I’m not good at or that I’d rather pay somebody else to do.)

They know the importance of recharging. While you might not have the ability to jet off to a beach house in Florida, we’re all able to make time in our lives to “sharpen the saw” as Stephen Covey put it in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed. Deliberately dedicate time to self-renewal in your physical life (exercise, proper nutrition), social life (spending time with friends), mental life (reading, education), and spiritual life (meditation, church).

This video is truly excellent. If I had a college-aged daughter (or a college-aged son), I’d urge her to watch it. But I think it contains good info for anyone at any stage of life.

The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals

Tom Corley is the author of a book called Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals, which summarizes his research into the habits of the rich and poor. (He defines “rich” as those having an income over $160,000 per year and net liquid assets of more than $3.2 million. To him, poor means a gross income of $35,000 or less and no more than $50,000 in liquid assets.)

Corley’s approach is unique because he took time to interview people from both ends of the financial spectrum. While I haven’t yet read the book, I did manage to track down a piece he wrote for Success magazine that gives some insight into the results of his study. According to Corley:

Rich people live within their means. “Wealthy people avoid overspending by paying their future selves first. They save 20 percent of their net income and live on the remaining 80 percent.”

Rich people don’t gamble. “Every week, 77 percent of those who struggle financially play the lottery.”

Rich people read every day. “Among wealthy people, 88 percent read 30 minutes or more every day.”

Rich people spend less time in front of screens. “Two-thirds of wealthy people watch less than an hour of TV a day and almost that many…spend less than an hour a day on the Internet.” On the other hand, “77 percent of those struggling financially spend an hour or more a day watching TV, and 74 percent spend an hour or more a day using the Internet recreationally.”

Rich people control their emotions. “Loose lips are a habit for 69 percent of those who struggle financially. Conversely, 94 percent of wealthy people filter their emotions.”

Rich people network and volunteer regularly. “Almost three-quarters of wealthy people network and volunteer a minimum of five hours a month. Among those struggling financially, only one in 10 does this.”

Rich people work harder. “Unsuccessful people have ‘it’s not in my job description’ syndrome…Successful people work hard to achieve the mutual goals of their employers or their businesses.”

Rich people set goals; poor people make wishes. “Every year, 70 percent of the wealthy pursue at least one major goal. Only 3 percent of those struggling to make ends meet do this.”

Rich people avoid procrastination. “Successful people understand that procrastination impairs quality; creates dissatisfied employers, customers or clients; and damages other nonbusiness relationships.”

Rich people talk less and listen more. “Wealthy people are good communicators because they are good listeners. They understand that you can learn and educate yourself only by listening to what other people have to say.”

Rich people avoid toxic relationships. “Of wealthy, successful people, 86 percent associate with other successful people. But 96 percent of those struggling financially stick with others struggling financially.”

Rich people don’t give up. Wealth individuals “simply do not quit chasing their big goals. Those who struggle financially stop short.”

Rich people set aside limiting beliefs. “Almost four out of five wealthy people attribute their success in life to their beliefs.” They pursue personal development.

Rich people have mentors. “Finding such a teacher is one of the best and least painful ways to become rich.”

Rich people make their own luck. “Successful people create their own unique type of good luck. Their positive habits lead to opportunities such as promotions, bonuses, new business and good health.”

Rich people know their main purpose. “It’s the last Rich Habit, but it might be the most important. Those people who pursue a dream or a main purpose in life are by far the wealthiest and happiest among us.”

I’d love to see the raw data that led Corley to make these conclusions but I don’t think his book includes that info. From what I can tell, it’s written as a story, sort of like The Wealthy Barber. His website does give some background on his methodology, however.

I found other articles about Corley at Business Insider (some stats included) and Entrepreneur. Corley also appeared on an episode of the Afford Anything podcast. Finally, here’s Corley’s appearance on the Art of Charm podcast:

The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

When I first decided to dig out of debt in 2004, I devoured every book about personal finance that I could find. One volume that had a profound influence on my future financial philosophy was The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker.

Eker believes that we each possess a “financial blueprint”, an internal script that dictates how we relate to money. Our blueprints are created through lifelong exposure to money messages from people around us, especially our family and friends, and from our country’s culture and mass media. (I agree with Eker. See my recent article about money blueprints.)

Eker says the unfortunate truth is that most of us have faulty blueprints that prevent us from building wealth.

“Money is a result, wealth is a result, health is a result, illness is a result, your weight is a result. We live in a world of cause and effect,” writes Eker. “A lack of money is never, ever, ever a problem. A lack of money is merely a symptom of what is going on underneath.” (This echoes my advice that debt reduction is a side effect of doing the right things and ought not be a goal in and of itself.)

At the core of Millionaire Mind are Eker’s “wealth files”, a list of seventeen ways in which the financial blueprints of the wealthy differ from those of the poor and the middle-class. According to Eker:

Rich people believe: “I create my life.” Poor people believe: “Life happens to me.”

Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.

Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.

Rich people think big. Poor people think small.

Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.

Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.

Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.

Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.

Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.

Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.

Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.

Rich people think “both”. Poor people think “either/or”.

Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.

Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.

Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.

Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.

Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think they already know.

Eker says that most people are motivated to make money out of fear. People don’t call it fear, though. They say they’re motivated by security. Eker notes — correctly — that fear and security are essentially two sides of the same coin. The tough truth is that money doesn’t dissolve fear.

Eker writes:

Fear is not just a problem, it’s a habit. Therefore, making more money will only change the kind of fear we have. When we were broke, we were most likely afraid we’d never make it or never have enough. Once we make it, however, our fear usually changes to “What if I lose what I’ve made?”

“When the subconscious mind must choose between deeply rooted emotions and logic, emotions will almost always win,” writes Eker. Even if you know what you ought to do intellectually, it can be tough to do it because your money blueprint controls your thoughts and behavior. To change your habits, you have to work consciously and constantly to create a new plan. This takes time and practice.

Want to read more about how fear affects our decisions? Check out my article on how to build confidence and destroy fear.

Millionaires vs. the Middle Class

In The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class, Keith Cameron Smith also makes an attempt to delineate the difference between the rich and the rest of us.

His ten “distinctions” — in order of importance — are:

Millionaires think long-term. The middle class thinks short-term.

Millionaires talk about ideas. The middle class talks about things and people.

Millionaires embrace change. The middle class is threatened by change.

Millionaires take calculated risks. The middle class is afraid to take risks.

Millionaires continually learn and grow. The middle class thinks learning ended with school.

Millionaires work for profits. The middle class works for wages.

Millionaires believe they must be generous. The middle class believes it can’t afford to give.

Millionaires have multiple sources of income. The middle class has only one or two.

Millionaires focus on increasing their wealth. The middle class focuses on increasing its paychecks.

Millionaires ask themselves empowering questions. Middle-class people ask themselves disempowering questions.

Some of the items on Smith’s list seem to be derived from Eker’s philosophy. But although there are similarities, Eker’s list gives me warm fuzzies and Smith’s list doesn’t. I’m not sure why.

Maybe the difference is this: From my experience (and your experience may be different), Eker’s many distinctions hold true (at least in the U.S.). I’ve seen the differences he describes in my own life. But I’m not convinced that the differences Smith lists do hold up.

For instance, I know lots of poor people who talk about ideas rather than things and people, and many of the same folks embrace change. A lot of my friends love learning but they’re not millionaires. And haven’t we seen statistics that show, based on a percentage of income, poor people give more than the rich do?

There are differences between the mindsets of the rich and the poor, of this I’m sure. But I think they’re closer to Eker’s list than to Smith’s.

A Brief Rant Without taking anything away from personal responsibility (which you all know I think is vital to success), I’d like to suggest that both Eker and Smith are too quick to dismiss systemic causes of poverty. Perhaps neither of them knows what it’s like to be poor? Some of their observations make sense, but some seem to come from people who’ve lived lives of privilege.

“Rich people act in spite of fear,” Eker writes. “Poor people let fear stop them.” Why is that? Could it be that the rich can act in spite of fear because they have a safety net? Could it be that when you grow up poor, a scarcity mindset becomes so deeply ingrained that it’s almost impossible to shake? (That’s been my personal experience, by the way.)

There’s no question that wealth brings opportunities, both in the U.S. and in other countries. Those with money have more choices. The rich can take risks, and they’re often rewarded for taking them. (Thus, “the rich get richer”.) I have so many more options now than I ever did when I was a boy, when my family was poor. I think this element of “luck” is something ignored by both Eker and Smith (and many other people).

Ten Habits of Successful People

Instead of defining the differences between rich people and poor people, I think it’s more constructive to look at what separates successful people from unsuccessful people. Maybe I’m picking nits, but in this case I think focusing on a financial scorecard misses the point. It’s possible to be successful and poor, and it’s possible to be rich and a fool.

I’ll admit there seems to be a strong correlation between wealth and success, but the two qualities don’t overlap precisely.

From looking at my own friends, and from thinking about the stories readers have sent me during the past decade — especially stories about how people have moved from debt to wealth — I’ve seen the following patterns.

Successful people surround themselves with positive people. They limit their exposure to negativity and naysayers, preferring to spend time with folks who have can-do attitudes. They don’t have time to listen to the reasons something can’t be done; they’d rather find ways to make it happen.

Successful people aren’t flummoxed by failure. They know that mistakes are inevitable and should be treated as stepping stones to success rather than signs of weakness or reasons to stop trying. (This is why it’s important not to praise achievement, but to praise effort. The former breeds fear of failure.)

Successful people manage their time effectively. They recognize that minutes and seconds are a precious non-renewable resource. So, they set priorities and pursue them with passion. My successful friends seem to watch less television (and play fewer videogames) than my unsuccessful friends, for instance. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Game of Thrones or Hearthstone, but they suck up time that could be spent exercising or reading or taking a class.

Successful people ignore the opinions of others. They march to the beat of a different drum. They don’t feel compelled to “keep up with the Joneses”. They limit their exposure to mass media not only because it allows them to be more productive, but also because it reduces the influence of advertising and the pressure of cultural norms. When investing, they don’t follow the herd. The wealthy people I know all drive older cars (many of them bought used!), dress modestly, and avoid conspicuous consumption.

Successful people have direction. They act with purpose. They know why they’re working hard and saving money. They have a mission, even if it’s as simple as putting their kids through college, and their daily actions are aligned with their long-term goals. None of the folks I know who struggle with money have a clear idea of what they want to do with their lives.

Successful people focus on big wins. Sure, they develop smart habits and pay attention to the small stuff. But they also understand that if they’re diligent with their dollars, then the pennies will take care of themselves. The average person economizes on the small things but isn’t willing to make sacrifices when it comes to housing, transportation, or career. And the folks who are broke all of the time? Well, they fritter away their pennies and their dollars.

Successful people do what’s difficult. They don’t procrastinate. My friends with money work longer, harder, and smarter than my friends who have less. (This is an unpopular observation with some folks, but it’s true.) They practice deferred gratification, sacrificing small comforts today in order to obtain greater rewards tomorrow.

Successful people make their own luck. They practice awareness so that they can recognize opportunities when they come along. Moreover, they act boldly, seizing these opportunities where others might hesitate to act.

Successful people believe they’re responsible for their future. They’re proactive. They have an internal locus of control. That is, they understand that although it might not be their fault they’re in a given situation, it is their responsibility to change it.

Successful people grow and change over time. They adapt. They evolve. They’re not afraid to entertain different points of view. Most importantly, they’re not afraid to change their minds. They seek knowledge and experience, and they allow the things they learn to mold them.

None of these differences is absolute, of course. Most people (including me) follow a few of these rules but not others. Or we adhere to certain rules only part of the time. The most successful people I know do all of the things on this list; the least successful people do none of them.

The Bottom Line

That’s a lot of words — almost 5000! — about how the mindsets of the wealthy and the poor differ. And while I do agree with these generalizations, I think it’s important to note that they are generalizations. These principles aren’t applicable to all people.

There are plenty of poor people who have the right mindset but struggle because of external factors. There are plenty of rich people who do not have these attitudes but have managed to obtain wealth anyhow.

For me, the real takeaway from discussions like this is that regardless your circumstances, you can increase the odds that you’ll achieve your goals if you model your actions on those of the people you want to emulate. If you want to be rich, look for common themes in the lives of the wealthy. Do what you can to incorporate them into your own life. If you want to be successful, learn from the lives of successful people.

“If you don’t change direction,” my father used to tell me, “you’ll arrive where you’re going.” I didn’t really undersand what he meant when I was in high school. Now I do.

In life, there are often default options. If you don’t consciously and deliberately choose something different, you get the default. Most people live their lives in default mode. They accept the default without question.

My aim for myself — and for you, the readers of Get Rich Slowly — is to both be aware of the defaults and to question them. Sometimes they’re fine. A lot of times, however, there are better ways to live. By examining the habits of the wealthy and successful, I think we can all find ways to change direction so we reach a better future.

What do you think? From your experience, what are the differences between the rich and the poor? What qualities separate successful money managers from those who remain broke? Given roughly similar backgrounds, why do some folks build wealth and others struggle to make ends meet? How do the rich think differently? What behaviors to the poor and the middle-class have that the rich do not? Or is it even possible to create distinctions like this? Does it all just come down to luck? (Please keep conversation civil and respectful. No poor shaming — but no rich shaming either.)

The post What the rich do differently: 61 habits that foster wealth and success appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.

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The Secret Origin of Halloweentown Revealed: How a Little Girl Inspired a Beloved Franchise

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The Secret Origin of Halloweentown Revealed: How a Little Girl Inspired a Beloved Franchise

For almost 20 years, Halloweentown has been an annual destination for many people.

The cult favorite Disney Channel Original Movie first debuted in 1998, introducing a world most kids (OK, and adults) can only dream of: Halloweentown, the whimsical place where all the supernatural creatures live every other day of the year. Four movies later, the Halloweentown franchise is one of the most beloved seasonal offerings, with fans even flocking to the town of St. Helens, Oregon, where the first movie was filmed, to live out their childhood fantasy. (Consider it the original Hogwarts.)

E! News spoke to executive producer Sheri Singer and star Kimberly J. Brown about the film’s legacy, the controversial recasting of Marnie in the fourth film and the magic of Debbie Reynolds, the legendary star who played Grandma Aggie. 

Sheri Singer first heard of Halloweentown when she was an executive at Walt Disney Television just after the Wonderful World of Disney programming had ended in 1991, transitioning into a six-movie deal with NBC. As part of that new deal, she was set to collaborate on up to three movies with producer Steve White, and wanting to spread out the projects to other people, she tried to convince him to duck out of the deal. He almost did, but then decided not to at the last minute. Then…fate stepped in.

Singer: What ended up happening to the man that I had tried to fire was I married him. And toward the end of my time at Walt Disney Studios, he came in one day to me and said…”I don’t know where to go with this but my daughter said to me, ‘Dad, where do all the creatures from Halloween go the rest of the year when it’s not October 31?'” And that’s how it was born.

After dubbing it Halloweentown and coming up with a seven-act structure, Singer and White pitched the project to NBC as part of the six-movie deal.

Singer: It had to have a little bit more adult appeal because they were airing these movies at 9 o’clock at night. [NBC] bought it, we developed it in 1994, and we had a writer write the script, and NBC passed. They decided they didn’t really want to do anything, even though we put in adult characters.

A few years later, they brought it to Disney Channel, who initially passed. But after airing their first successful original movie in 1997, Under Wraps, they wanted Halloweentown after all. The movie was quickly redeveloped so that it was more of a kids’ movie.  Singer: Doing it at the Disney Channel, which was really the best possible home for the idea, we were able to be very whimsical. We needed to create these really interesting characters. They were fun and slightly scary, but not too scary.

After getting the go-ahead from Disney Channel, casting began. First up, legendary star Debbie Reynolds. Singer: I think right about this time, Debbie had decided she wanted to open herself up to doing some television. When we saw the list, we took one look at her name and said, oh my god, would she really do it? This is absolutely unbelievably blessed and terrific idea for casting. And she did. We never went to anyone else.

When it came to the rest of the roles, the casting directors read everybody, from the leads to characters with only one line, as the Disney Channel had yet to establish a field of talent to pull from. A 13-year-old Kimberly J. Brown eventually landed the lead role of Marnie.

Singer: She came in and she wasn’t who we had visually pictured, but she was the role. She blew everyone else away. She was great.

Brown: It was so exciting when I found out I got it because I remember loving the script and loving the idea of playing a teenage witch. And then hearing Debbie Reynolds was signed onto it, it was like, oh my gosh, I’m going to play Debbie Reynolds’ granddaughter!

Singer: Debbie was coming in with the blonde look and Judith [Hoag] was reddish blonde, so I thought it would maybe be a lighter girl. Of course, this is so politically incorrect today, but they were all related…I had just envisioned a Blondie. But she came in and she was it.

The role of Kalabar, the mayor-turned-villain, was the hardest to cast, as he had to be scary-but-Disney-Channel-scary. Robin Thomas, who had worked with White on an indie film, Amityville Dollhouse, was cast.

Singer: Of all the actors I’ve worked with in my life, he’s in the top five of doing his homework and really prepares. There was a lot of discussion about how do we do this. I think part of what we did…in his role as the mayor, he was more charming and likable, so that the audience would get used to him not being that scary so when he was, he really was.

To create Halloweentown, production chose a small town, St. Helens, outside of Portland, Oregon. In 1980, Mount St. Helen erupted, and was one of the most disastrous volcanic eruptions in U.S. history. 

Singer: Because of the volcano from a few years before that, it was kind of a ghost town. In terms of making the store fronts and getting the location and making a huge town square, there’s not a lot of places in LA you can do that. They were so grateful to have us there and so easy to work with. We had a good crew up there and it fit the demands of the movie. We made all these storefronts. It was really fun and became very iconic.

Disney Channel was heavily involved in establishing the look of the town. “Whimsical” was the goal and the big pumpkin in the town square was always the focal point.

Singer: It needs to almost look like a Disney ride for young kids. One of the nice things about doing something for Disney is you know there are certain tent poles and goals you want to reach in terms of giving kids a lot of eye candy that’s appropriate for their age and is sort of wish-fulfillment.

Brown: The town square really did feel like Halloweentown. I enjoyed the hell out of it.

The costumes were also a major part of the process, with some of the cast members even keeping their wardrobe to use for Halloween. Brown: I have Marnie’s outfit from the second Halloweentown. Debbie gave me the idea, but she had Aggie’s cape and the purple dress and she used to answer the door for Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween in the outfit. I started doing it, too, one or two years in a row, I put on Marnie’s outfit, and gave out candy. It would take some kids a second, but it was really fun. But then it started getting out of hand where some people would come other parts of the year, knock on the door and ask for Marnie.

Working with Reynolds, who passed away in December 2016, just one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher died, was a memorable experience for everyone on set. Singer: We were doing this scene in a theater…and Debbie had to dance and she pulled a muscle doing the dance. She got up and she said, “You know what, I’ve been doing this for years and years. I’ve dance with pulled muscles and pain and I’m not going to hold you up. I’ll do it.” It was so impressive for the young actors, to see what a real work ethic is. Obviously, she went on for the rest of the show and was fine, but it was very interesting and everyone was applauding.

Brown: I just remember how incredibly warm and vivacious she was and very welcoming. She was just so sweet and trying to make us laugh and just very excited. Her energy was infectious. She treated as us peers and not just like, “You’re the kids.” She wanted everyone to shine and succeed and it was so inspiring to watch.

Singer: Debbie Reynolds…started telling us, she had a granddaughter at the time, who’s Billie Lourd, and she said that put her on the map with her granddaughter and all of her granddaughter’s friends and she started getting stopped in airports and all over the place. 

Disney Channel

In the fourth and final installment of the franchise, 2006’s Return to Halloweentown, the role of a college-bound Marnie was played by Sara Paxton.

Brown: I’ve been in the entertainment industry since I was five or six years old and there have been many, many things along the way that have come and just been things that have happened and decisions that are out of your control. That was one of those things where they chose to use somebody else instead of me. I was definitely disappointed for the fans and a little personally disappointed because I love Marnie and have loved being able to participate in her adventures as much as people have seemed to love watching her go through them. 

Singer: It was not something we wanted to do. We could not come to terms that we felt were fair. We just weren’t able to. We couldn’t make the deal work. That was why and we didn’t want to not do it. I know people didn’t like it, but it’s not like people haven’t been recast before. I always was sorry. That’s how it went.

Brown: I can’t say that I’ve seen the entire movie…but I do appreciate over the years how much the fans have continued to make memes about it and just really want to talk about it and support me in that sense. It’s been very touching over the years.

facebook.com/Halloweentown.OR

Halloweentown lives on in St. Helens. The town dedicates the month of October to the film. In 2015, media outlets picked up on the tradition, letting fans know they could visit Halloweentown. (The first Twilight film also filmed in St. Helens.)

Crystal Farnsworth, communications office for the City of St. Helens: The festival first started in 1998 to celebrate the release of Halloweentown. With the exception of a few years when a lack of funding and volunteers meant that no celebration occurred, the festival has happened every year since then.

Brown: It spread like wildfire [in 2015]…they ended up calling me and that was the year 15,000 people showed up. It was incredible. 

. It was the first time the core cast members of the family have been together since I believe we did Halloweentown High. That was their first time back in St. Helens, so that was really cool. We all keep it touch over social media, but it was the first time all of us were together and it was really nice.

Farnsworth: Not only do we see tens of thousands of extra people in the city during the month of October, but we also have people who travel here at other times of the month to see the filming locations. We have people that show up all year long looking for the giant pumpkin in the Plaza Square (although we only put him out during the month of October). We start getting calls at City Hall in the early spring from people wanting to know what events are happening which weekend in October because they are already trying to plan their trip to Spirit of Halloweentown for the fall. We estimate that this year, we will have had around 40,000–50,000 people attend the festival during October 2017.

The original cast of Piper-Cromwells, including Brown, Hoag, J. Paul Zimmerman, and Emily Roeske, reunited at 2017’s Spirit of Halloweentown festival on Oct. 14.

Brown: It was the first time the core cast members of the family have been together since I believe we did Halloweentown High. That was their first time back in St. Helens, so that was really cool. We all keep it touch over social media, but it was the first time all of us were together and it was really nice. It was nice to go back and honor Debbie. It’s such an honor that people want to come and hang out and see where it was filmed. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this is what we would be doing.

  Singer: I realized [Halloweentown] was just one of those things that spoke on so many levels. Beside just the holiday theme, it was about family, and family connections and family secrets and allowing kids to be themselves and come into their own. It just had many, many themes that at the time did not feel overused or seen too many times. When you’re making a movie and you’re post-producing a movie, you get so sick of looking at the movie. I never got tired of seeing the movie.

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[agentnico]

Top 10 BEST Movies of 2016

So I have finally seen all the 2016 films that I was planning to see, so now it’s time to talk about my favourite 10 films of this year. And what a year 2016 has been! It started really badly, as until about April there were hardly good films coming out, then the Summer season came which was also very disappointing *cough cough* ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ *cough cough*. And then the Oscar season came along, and this is where al the good movies came in, which made it really tough for me to make a final top 10 best movies of the year list, as I kept switching different films around and deciding which ones deserve or don’t deserve to be in my top 10. The only movie that I was 100% sure would be in my top 10 is my No 1 film of the year, which by far overpowers any other movie I have seen in 2016. So here you go, my favourite films of 2016, as well as a few honourable mentions that only just missed the list...

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: High-Rise, Silence (didn’t make it into the top 10 because of the disappointing ending), Manchester by the Sea, Moana, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Sing Street

10) Deadpool – There were quite a few superhero flicks that came out this year, but the one that actually impressed me was in fact ‘Deadpool’ (sorry ‘Civil War’ fans!). It’s just that what this film was able to accomplish, from bringing back a character that was ruined before and making him cool again to also proving that just because a film is R-rated doesn’t mean it will underperform at the box office, this film is worth all the praise and more.

9) Swiss Army Man – For a film that was referred to at the film festivals as ‘the farting corpse film’, this is a surprisingly touching tale that was filled with both great comedy as well as a strong emotional core. In addition, we have Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe giving exceptional performances, and I just can’t give this film anymore praise. It definitely is an odd movie, but somehow it works.

8) Deepwater Horizon – Possibly one of the most surprising little gems of 2016. A story set on the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, which exploded during April 2010 and created the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Why do I think this film is so good? Because it wasn’t Hollywood-ised. By that I mean that this isn’t a happy fairy-tale action movie where everyone’s a bad-ass and do everything whilst looking super cool. No, all the characters in this film act like actual any-day working men. Thus you are able to connect more as an audience member to all these people, and morally support them as they fight for their survival and for the survival of others. This is a very inspiring film about men and women of true courage, and is definitely worth seeing.

7) Kubo and the Two Strings – This stop-motion epic is the perfect film for children that, instead of having yellow creatures running around shouting “BANANA!!”, actually tries to tell an intelligent story by using ideas from myths and legends of the Japanese culture, and the result is this beautiful tale that I had so much fun watching. I’m not the biggest fan of animated films, but this one definitely sold me.

6) Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping – I can say with ease that this Lonely Island mockumentary is the funniest film of 2016 that I have seen, as it perfectly pokes fun at all the pop culture clichés and possibly has the best cameo line-up this whole year. Also filled with some great catchy songs, from the ‘Equal Rights’ song where Samberg tries to show how much he supports rights, however at the same time trying to emphasise how not gay he himself is, to the shocking Bin Laden song, the music alone makes this film worth a watch.

5) A Monster Calls – A family film that manages to perfectly blend and balance the dark realistic themes with the fantastical, making a great gateway for those unfamiliar with the coming-of-age genre. This is the perfect movie that teaches kids what to expect from life, and that not everything is just sunshine and rainbows.

4) 10 Cloverfield Lane – Well this one was a massive surprise for everyone, wasn’t it! The original ‘Cloverfield’ film, which I happen to actually enjoy, came out back in 2008, after which many rumours were surfacing about a possible sequel, however nothing major seemed to be happening with this franchise. But then suddenly in January 2016 a surprise trailer hit for a film that had the Cloverfield tag in its title. And though this is more of a spiritual sequel rather than a proper continuation, this movie was a great little confined movie about these three people stuck in a bunker hiding away from what might be an alien invasion. This is a suspenseful film that is definitely worth seeing for sci-fi fans, especially for John Goodman’s incredible performance.

3) The Nice Guys - Shane Black, who most of you will probably know as the director of ‘Iron Man 3′ is really at his best when he does his own passion projects, and not big studio films. Which is why ‘The Nice Guys’ works so well. This is an original film, which is quite rare nowadays with all the remakes, sequels, prequels, resequels and what-not, but this is indeed an original film set in the 1970s, a setting that is perfectly captured in this film with the costumes and soundtrack, and its simply pure joy to watch this thing. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe share hilarious banter as they buddy up to solve this mystery of a missing prostitute, and this results in an extremely entertaining film. Thank you for this one Shane Black, it is a real shame that such a good movie underperformed at the box office. No wonder we aren’t getting a lot of original films. People simply don’t go out and see them.

2) Nocturnal Animals – No other film this year left me as speechless as ‘Nocturnal Animals’. This movie…it’s hard to explain it. It’s one of those films that you just have to watch yourself and realise how great it is. The directing along by Tom Ford is a big enough reason to see this one. ‘Nocturnal Animals’ is one of the most intelligent thrillers I’ve seen in the past few years.

1) La La Land – Ever since I saw this film, I knew that nothing else would beat it this year. This is an utter masterpiece, as it pays homage to the old school musicals as well as giving an emotionally filled realistic look at how difficult it is to be successful in Hollywood, that is if you are trying to be an actor or a musician, and that when it comes to it, what is more important: love or career? Also the dancing sequences are choreographed spectacularly, and there is also the use of what ‘Birdman’ did, which is filming long takes all in one shot. Also Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling both shine in the lead roles, and……well, I can praise this film endlessly. All I’ll say is that if you’ve been living on the moon this past year and missed out on seeing all the films, the one movie you definitely 100% must see is ‘La La Land’. This is destined to be a modern classic!

So let’s hope 2017 will bring us as many good films as 2016, if not more. One thing I’m hoping for is a better summer movie season, as 2016′s summer films were an utter disaster!

[showlexsite]

Listed here are All Of Your Pupil Debt Concerns Answered in one single Destination

Listed here are All Of Your Pupil Debt Concerns Answered in one single Destination

What goes on to your financial troubles whenever you die? And it is refinancing ever a great option?

About 44 million individuals when you look at the U.S. Involve some as a type of student debt, but also though numerous of us make monthly loan repayments, fundamental understanding of exactly just how these loans work is frighteningly scarce. VICE frequently gets email messages from individuals eager for a bare minimum of information. That is probably because in a method with many going components, it is simple to get tripped through to the main points.

A lot more confusing is that the device of loan servicers, forgiveness plans, and odd loopholes might be undergoing a change, with Democratic presidential applicants mass loan cancellation that is openly discussing. During the exact same time, current debt-forgiveness programs appear to in fact gain hardly any individuals thanks in component to loan providers presumably misleading borrowers. And based on the government that is federal not enough university students have the economic literacy necessary to comprehend the loans they’re taking out fully.

Tright herefore right here’s a primer that is up-to-date pupil loans—answers to concerns VICE is often expected, along side information individuals need to have gotten, but most likely didn’t, in university.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have actually both stated they wish to expel my financial obligation. Performs this mean I should stop spending?

No way: For those who have a federal loan, the federal government will simply take the funds from the paycheck if you stop having to pay. You might make an application for forbearance, which will be to express get authorization to just take a rest from your own loans, you only have three months maximum, and that is meant for instances when the debtor has lost their job or faces other style of economic difficulty. Additionally, any kind of utilization of financial obligation cancelation will probably just simply take an extended, very long time if it ever also occurs.

“That’s one of many difficulties with proposals similar to this, ” stated Mark Kantrowitz, a writer and leading expert that is national student education loans. “to start with, that knows then who knows if they’re going to be successful in getting Congress to pass their proposals if they’re going to get elected, and? You might be waiting around for Godot if you’re looking forward to your loans to vanish. “

Will there be any real way i can reduce my education loan re payments?

The way that is best to lower your payment per month by a substantial amount is to find on an income-driven payment (IDR) plan. You need to apply online throughout your servicer to see in the event that you qualify, after which after that, your repayment is likely to be capped at a particular portion of the income. (there are many various kinds; here’s a helpful breakdown. ) There are lots of other important benefits that result from getting for an IDR, such as for example financial obligation forgiveness. Which means in the event that you make on-time re payments for 20 or 25 years, the federal government will wipe balance clean. The actual only real catch here is that the erased amount will likely to be taxed as earnings, and that means you will owe the IRS a amount of money at the conclusion of every thing. Specialists relate to this big bill, which just comes if you do not submit an application for forgiveness through a particular program for general general public solution workers, because the “tax bomb. ”

The 2 most widely used kinds of these plans are known as PAYE and REPAYE, and though they could seem comparable, you will find a lot of tiny nuances which make a difference for some individuals. Even specialists can disagree on which is way better, and that means you should get personalized advice and select carefully

I even worry about paying all my debt back if I get on an IDR, should?

It might maybe maybe not seem sensible to create a lot more than the minimum re re payments https://speedyloan.net/installment-loans-ms if for example the financial obligation is more than increase your earnings, based on Travis Hornsby, an accountant whom assists individuals with student loans. “However, if your debt-to-income ratio is below 1.5 to at least one and you also work in the sector that is private you likely have little to no shot at forgiveness, ” he said. “You’ll spend your whole thing down because your 10 % ‘tithe’ to your federal government for the training are going to be a higher sufficient quantity so it will eliminate of all you owe. “

Just how do I figure out which of my debts to pay back first?

Kantrowitz said so it’s actually an easy task to figure this away: fall into line your entire debts and investment possibilities by their after-tax interest levels. Whatever has got the greatest is really what you wish to repay or spend much more quickly. Therefore because you’re saving money over time by avoiding that high interest if you have a 14-percent interest rate on your credit card, you want to pay that off more quickly than a 5-percent student loan. However if you have got a 5-percent rate of interest in your student education loans but can earn 6 or 7 per cent within the stock exchange, it may possibly be more straightforward to decide to decide to try maxing out your retirement plan rather than spend down your student loans faster. In the event the boss fits efforts to your retirement plan, you need to optimize those efforts.

The sole drawback is that this way, you could end up getting pupil financial obligation long into adulthood, which may provide a monetary conflict for those who have kids whom wind up wanting to head to university too. As Kantrowitz place it, “That’s not an excellent feeling. “

Will student that is having harmed my credit rating?

Really, in the event that you make regular re re payments, having loans will in actuality assist your credit rating.

What the results are if we die with massive education loan debt?

When it comes to part that is most, absolutely absolutely nothing, though like the rest being forced to do with student education loans, this will depend on specific circumstances. Only a little lower than 1 / 2 of private loans is likely to be charged against your property once you die or will have to be compensated by way of a co-signer in the event that you had one, although the remainder will fade away. Exact Same with any loans that are federal.

We heard that the majority of individuals got rejected loan forgiveness this past year to be in the “wrong plan”? Just how do I know if I’m from the right one?

This past year, out from the 30,000 those who sent applications for what’s called general public service loan forgiveness (PSLF), a course designed to assist those who went into civic-minded jobs after college, only 96 qualified. The great majority had been told they certainly were on the incorrect plans or discovered that their servicer hadn’t been recording specific re re payments. “the matter with PSFL is that there are a great number of details you must get appropriate, ” stated Kantrowitz. “One of the keys things are that they need to be within the direct loan program and never into the old bank-based system by consolidating them. ” Here’s a list which explains tips on how to qualify.

We understand I can’t declare themselves bankrupt to my figuratively speaking, but can We refinance my student education loans with a business like SoFi and then file for bankruptcy?

No, loans that are sorry—those SoFi and comparable organizations are often made to be academic loans, so that they won’t be erased in a bankruptcy. Even though you took down your own loan to cover down your education loan, bankruptcy wouldn’t be described as a way to avoid it. “Bankruptcy judges have actually lots of latitude to reject you you’re gaming the system, ” Kantrowitz said if they think.

Therefore is refinancing ever an idea that is good? Several of those organizations promote you money guaranteed that they can save.

This past year, SoFi settled case filed because of the Federal Trade Commission according to inflated claims regarding how much it conserved customers. That said, refinancing continues to be beneficial to a slim course of individuals who might create money to be eligible for IDR and would like to lower their attention rates. Simply be careful in regards to the claims, Kantrowitz said, because sometimes the cost cost savings businesses promote simply originate from suggesting a payment plan that is faster than normal—say, 5 years.

“Anyone doing your research for less rate of interest should go shopping one or more business, ” said Hornsby. “choices like Earnest, Commonbond, Laurel Road yet others often have actually reduced rates than Sofi but numerous just store the main one destination they will have found out about. “

from SHOW LEX https://showlex.site/2020/03/26/listed-here-are-all-of-your-pupil-debt-concerns/

[former-leftist-jew]

Wow, that was all blatant lies and nonsense.

I will respond to this though:

Now, address Israel and paedophilia please and thank you.

Like. I. said. You. Clearly. Haven't. Read. Your. Own. Articles.

Hence why I said that it was sure a choice to post a bunch of articles that explicitly state the foreigners do those evil things and then acting like it's proof that Israeli Jews are evil.

bonus-vampirus also addressed these in the tags of their original post, which you also clearly didn't read, so I'll just put them here:

#As for the kids… sorry but the U.S. is also one of the leading destinations for child sex trafficking#most developed nations have this problem#Israel has problems#Hezbollah and Iran CREATE problems#’’Israel is trying to legalize pedophilia!’’ is a weird title for an article about an Israel minister who vowed to PREVENT#the relaxation of Israel’s close in age laws#I wonder if a 19 year old can marry a 14 year old in Iran and Lebanon? Let’s check#a 91 year old man can marry a 13 year old girl in Iran and it is actually in practice legal and not a hypothetical debate#the minimum age for marriage for a shiite Muslim in Lebanon is ‘’puberty’’ and it’s 14 for many other groups#the groom can be any age of course#interesting

Bonus: countries with the highest rates of child marriage in the world.

“Iran is funding Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis! Do you have any idea how evil Iran is? Do you know about their history and what they did in the past???”

— a state that’s currently being funded by America, the United Kingdom and…..Germany.