Cruising for a Bruising!

Wow! It’s been a crazy but wonderful summer! I have so much to share with you about travel and your money. Recently I went on a Carnival cruise to Mexico with my sister in laws, my niece and a family friend. It was a joyous occasion! One of my sister in laws was celebrating her 50th birthday. We had a ball!  We sailed from New Orleans and  I can’t wait to go back to spend more time there!

I have not been on a cruise in several years. To my surprise some things have changed! Do you know that it is mandatory that you pay $10 per day per person for gratuities for the general staff?  I always tipped but I guess too many people didn’t so its mandatory now. The drinks had tips added and some drinks even had taxes added to them.   The average drink ran from $8 to as much as $16.
       
I did learn that you can purchase a bottle from room service at a much higher cost but it may be worth it in the long run. For example a bottle of Absolute that might run $20 normally, would cost $40 from room service. Depending on how you drink it might be more cost effective in the long run.  The ships don’t advertise this choice but it is available.  This year I also travelled to the Dominican Republic to an all inclusive resort.  To me it was like a cruise on land! The best thing was I didn’t have to have money for anything else.  Gratuities and your drinks are rolled into your trip price so I didn’t feel like I was “nickle and dime”d out of every penny.

My Financial Lesson
The first night on the ship they had a “sale” on liqour. They promised the lowest price guaranteed! “If you find it anywhere cheaper, we will match the price”. How would we prove it? You would have to bring a picture or “something”.  Do you know how hard it is to start taking pictures in a store? Especially when they probably know why you’re taking it?

Well as fate would have it some things I bought on the ship were cheaper in Mexico. Some people would say “forget it I just lost money on the deal”. Not me! That attitude can have you lose hundreds of dollars per year! The end result for my venture was a savings of about $ 20.  It may not seem like much but my motto is “a dollar in my pocket is better than a dollar in someone elses.”. I get excited when I save money!  It’s like a game..me agaist them in a battle for my money!  I like a win even if it’s a small one.

Lesson 1- Be diligent about your money. Follow up on challenges that companies make. It might be a little work but the benefit will be yours!

Lesson 2 – on a cruise wait till you get to port to check out the prices so you don’t have to work so hard to save money!

Till next time remember “You are not broke, your finances are broken”

Naomi The Financial Medic

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Your Mouth Has Power Over Your Money!!

Speak Positivity over your Finances

I remember starting out in my first apartment filledwith hand me down furniture.  I made thedecision then to act as if I hadexpensive furniture.  I took care of itas if it were expensive and expected my guests and child to treat it thesame.  I knew in my heart that the day wouldcome when I would have better things.  I spokeand acted on my believing that things would be better one day.  Not if but when. 

Your thoughts have power to influence yourlife.  Proverbs 23:7 says “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he……”   Thoughts become images in your head.  These thoughts/ images lead to actions.  These actions are the very manifestation ofwhat we think.  This is the new thing someare calling “intention” God spoke about this centuries ago.  

When you think about your life be careful what youspeak.  There is a phrase “you are whatyou eat”.  Well it’s very likely you willbecome what you speak.  As Mark 12:34says “….. For out the abundance of the heart hismouth speaketh.” This means that who you are is what you will talk about andvice versa. The New Living translation Luke 6:45  says “….. What yousay flows from what is in your heart.”  Youneed to watch what you say and guard your mind from foolish thinking.  

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Your wordsbecome actions which become habits. Your habits then point you in a directionthat will manifest in your destiny.  Ifyou keep saying you can’t find a job you won’t. If you focus on badrelationships, you will create them and live with them. If you say you arebroke, you will be.  

In today’s difficult economic times, it is extremelyimportant that you speak positivity over your finances.    Chooseyourwords carefully when you speak about your financial situations.  Be specific when describing where you want tobe financially.  Define in your mind whatyou need and want.  Picture it in yourmind.  Focus your actions around thosethings like creating a budget, starting a savings account etc.  Design a plan and persevere until you getthere.  You will see how yourcircumstances will change as you change the way youspeak!!

Make your thoughts and conversations positive. Don’tlet people around you talk you out of what you know.   Speak positive about your finances or shutup!  

If you settle for less that’s what you will get!