The bad news is I'm a Simple Guy. The good news is, I think about and explain things in a Simple Manner.

On Simply Raising a Child

There are only 2 things you need to do raise a child properly.

Disclaimer: I learned this mostly by watching my wife. I take little to no credit for any compliments our child may receive.

First half: Teach your child good habits.

That's it. Wash your hands, brush your teeth, say thank you and you're welcome, write thank you notes, look people in the eye when you talk to them, get enough sleep, eat healthy, etc. Contrast this to spend money you don't have, blame others incessantly, gossip, lie, cheat, steal and optional hygiene. Which child do you think will have a better lot in life?

Second half: Teach your child how to make good decisions.

Sometimes there isn't a habit that applies or there is a fork in the road. Ever notice that some people routinely make bad decisions? Don't let that be your child. Give them the values, skills and perspective to make more good decisions than bad ones. And that includes teaching them how to handle next steps when they realize they made a bad decision.

Now HOW you manage to do these 2 simple things...therein lies the magic!

P.S. And if there are two of you, a bonus tip. Don't contradict each other or send mixed messages. For us that means I try not screw up all the good work my wife is doing. Simple, right?

Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.

Rough week?

They say videos of cute puppies or kittens helps and I totally believe this. Smiling and laughter are very effective, too.

As for me, a funny commercial always puts a smile on my face. Hope this gives you a smile and a laugh, all in under 60 seconds.

Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m. 

I'm all for saving and being responsible with how you spend your money. There are plenty of people who have decent incomes, but because they live beyond their means, have little to no financial security. That said, you can only cut so deep or in other words, at some point you have to spend money to live, feel alive and have a life. It's a sad state to go your whole life without enjoying any of your income and then die with a big bank account and not much else to show for it.

Life is about balance and in addition to saving money, I think it makes sense to earn more money, too. Easier said than done, right? I'm no financial guru, but my advice is once you have figured out the right balance of being responsible saving and spending, you should start considering ways to increase your income and give yourself a little more breathing room. It's amazing how a few extra ducats a month can decrease your financial anxieties.

Which brings me to point of this article. I recently made $1000 in 10 minutes. Nothing illegal or unsavory and no gambling was involved. In fact, it was my own money I was making or rather getting back. I stumbled across this site that helps you do a search for your own lost assets (e.g., a paycheck you never picked up) that has been sent to the State after a certain period. This is required by law.

Long story short, I filed a claim with NJ and about 8 weeks later a check arrived from the State for $1000!

You can check for yourself and/or your family members here: http://www.missingmoney.com/

Good luck!

And if you do end up getting some money back and if the spirit moves you, you can show your thanks by either:

1) Tipping me here: http://www.joekwonjoe.com/coaching/ (scroll to the bottom of the page and click the green "Donate" button)

or

2) Becoming a patron of my Why It Works podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/whyitworks

Good luck!!!

Some FAQs

• Every U.S. state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, and the nation of Kenya have unclaimed property programs that actively and continuously find owners of lost and forgotten assets.
   
• The purpose of unclaimed property laws is to protect consumers by ensuring money owed to them is returned to them, rather than remaining permanently with financial institutions, business associations, governments, and other entities. Prior to the enactment of unclaimed property laws and the establishment of state programs, there was no centralized means though which owners could seek to recover unclaimed assets. Most companies in possession of unclaimed property had no particular reason or incentive to attempt to locate missing owners entitled to property.
   
• In FY 2015, $3.235 billion was returned to the rightful owners by the state government unclaimed property agencies of the $7.763 billion collected. Programs strive to return a higher percentage of unclaimed property receipts to owners and each year more money is returned. For almost all states, unclaimed property collections represent an immaterial percentage of overall state revenue (less than one-half of one percent).
   
• For decades, it has been recognized as the appropriate policy for unclaimed funds to be used for the public good, until such time as is recovered by the rightful owner. Without impacting the obligation of the state to return unclaimed funds, collections are utilized to finance operations, including special programs such as for public schools and college scholarships. The U.S. Supreme Court stated in the 1951 Standard Oil Co. v. New Jersey case, "property thus escapes seizure by would-be possessors and is used for the general good rather than the chance enrichment of particular individuals or organizations."
   
• Claims can be made into perpetuity in most cases, even by heirs.

Source: https://www.unclaimed.org/what/

Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.