Finance Basics - Holiday Spending

I'm hoping all of you have had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving!

For those with no money in this year's budget for holiday spending, consider a handmade note, homemade goodies or simply a visit.  Sometimes the best gift to others is your time.

This is, however, also a good time to think about next year.  Believe it or not.

The reason?  There are different times of the year when specific types of gifts can be found at the best prices.  The trick is to know when to shop for them.

Consumer Reports gives one of the best guides I know of on when to find the best prices for different product categories.  See:  The Best Time To Buy Things

Here are some other tips from my personal favorite financial guru, Jean Chatzky.





If you enjoy listening to Jean's advice, she has a fantastic podcast that can be found in your Podcasts app or on iTunes.

Jean With Dave Framsey and Rachel Cruz




Jean discusses teaching children about money with Ron Lieber

Finance Basics - More Ways To Track Your Progress

This isn't as much a lesson as it is more tips from Budget Girl on tracking your progress toward debt freedom!

Enjoy!

Finance Basics Lesson 7.2: Learning Where To Get Help

Sometimes life can hand some real blows.

Because of this, sometimes it pays to know there are resources out there and how to reach them.

There are several resources through the government to help in a time of need, including a time of financial crisis.

 www.ArizonaSelfHelp.org is a site maintained by the Arizona Community Action Association, designed to give those who need assistance a one stop shop to see where it can be found.

In addition, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a Provident Living piece of the organizational pie that has an independent set of resources available to the public, not only members of the Church.

Here is a an independently produced video giving an idea of what the Church has organized:

If you are in this kind of a situation, please know you are not alone, and please know there are many, many people who care about you.

You are worth it.

Worth Watching

One of my personal heroes, Warren Buffet.

More Local Politics - The Arizona Corporation Commission

The Arizona Corporation Commission is a government entity that his charged with overseeing the major utilities for Arizona, including railroads, electricity, television and internet services.

This is to make sure that the people have a voice over the utility bills they are paying.

The problem is that as of the last few years, there have been issues with people who have ties to the corporations providing these utilities getting elected to the corporation, and some of the corporations who have indirect ties to the Commission paying campaign contributions.

How bad has it gotten?




The important part is to look at who funded this campaign advertisement, Pinnacle West Corporation.

This is quite something, given the issues Pinnacle West has had regarding campaign contributions, thanks to the efforts of Bob Burns to expose it.

Just watch:








So what is a corporation to do when it has money to burn?




Also of special interest is Andy Tobin and his interest in the railroads.  Why?

Tobin Appointed To Corporation Commission

Tobin Appointed As Insurance Commissioner

It's evident that Andy Tobin is Governor Doug Ducey's man.  Having Tobin on the Corporation Commission might make things easier to get a few things passed regarding the railroads:

Ducey and Sonora, Mexico

Finance Basics - Lesson 6.4

Finance Basics - Lesson 6.3 - The Windows of Heaven

From the October, 2013 Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder David A. Bednar

Finance Basics - Lesson 6.2 - Debt Management

Embedded is a private video from BYUtv, they hold the copyrights on this.  Unfortunately, it is no longer available to view from their channel, the dvd must be ordered from BYU Creative Works.

Living Essentials Resource Management

It would be great if BYUtv put this back on their site.