We are now 12 Saturdays into Saturday Reading.  Hope you enjoy!  If you think your article is worthy of the Saturday Reading segment, please contact me at vikdulat at gmail dot com. {replace the at with @ and dot with .}

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Posted in Saturday Reading Tagged: Saturday Reading

Financial Matters by Vik Dulat is a little over a year old.  These are my favorite articles to date.  Hope you enjoy

• 11 keys to waking up early
• 12 important life lessons
• 4 proven ways to deal with your problems
• 5 reasons I blog
• 5 reasons you should exercise
• 5 ways to stay happy
• 50 reasons why life is good
• 6 ways on big success
• 7 Rules for Grocery Shopping
• 8 things I have learned at work
• Comparing debt to snowfall
• Dress for success
• Failing is the key to succeeding
• Following your dreams
• How I saved $210 in 10 seconds
• How to be a true friend
• Salary Vs Hourly: Which is Better?
• The # 1 key to success
• What motivates me part 1
• What motivates me part 2
• Why you are broke
• Why you should do a job you enjoy
• What we can learn from NBA superstar Lebron James

Also, I have added a new page, titled Best of Vik Dulat.   If you are looking for the best articles on this site, make sure you check out that page.

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Posted in Random Tagged: Vik Dulat

CNNMoney has an interesting article on people that are accepting new jobs that pay them 50% less than their previous job.

After Jarrod Posner, 34, was laid off from his $110,000-a-year job as a mortgage lender for D.R. Horton, he had to change careers to find employment. After months of looking he took a job as an enrollment counselor at the University of Phoenix – a position that paid $33,000.

“I was actually thankful because I was getting a job, but at the same time my wife and I realized we had to make a lot of lifestyle changes,” Posner said.

The above is a prime example of the U.S economy.  More and more people are getting laid off and the only choice they have to take a job that pays them more than 50% less than their previous jobs. I believe more and more people will lose their six figure salaries.  The result will be highly qualified individuals taking jobs that were meant for the recent college grad.

There is my question to you: Would you take a job that pays 50% less than your previous job?

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Posted in Life, Making Money Tagged: economy, salary, work

My goal in 2009 is to save as much money as possible.  One of the keys to a successful life and retirement is the amount of money you have saved up.  Here are some ways to save more money.

Drive less – Even though gas prices are at a 6 year low, I still spend close to $100/month on gas.  My goal is to drive ONLY when I need to.  Most of the times, the trips are I take on a daily basis can be grouped together into one big one on the weekend.

Make more money – Most people try to cut costs but more should look into finding a better job or a passive income. You should also consider going back to school.

Eat at home – The price of eating at home is significantly less than eating out.  The only part is getting yourself to start cooking at home or learning how to cook.

Pretend you are broke – This does wonders for me.  Whenever I have the urge to buy something new, I pretend I am broke.  I have money in the bank but I just pretend I do not have enough saved.

Use free resources – The library is a great way to rent DVDS.  Instead of going to the store at and spending $4 on a DVD, just go to your local library and get it for free.

Cut cable – Cable TV costs more than just money.  If you watch a lot of TV, you are wasting your life and becoming a couch potato.   This can lead to bigger complications in your future.  Just ditch cable TV and start reading and educating yourself.

Cut your home phone – Unless you really need to use your home phone, you cell phone should be sufficient enough if someone needs to get a hold of you.

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Posted in Saving Money Tagged: money saving tips

I just want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and I hope all the dreams and wishes come true.  2008 was a wonderful year and I hope 2009 is the same way.  I have set a few goals and resolutions and I will continue to work towards achieving them.

2009 Here I come!

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Posted in Random

2008 was a very good year for me.   After graduating, with a bachelors in accounting, I went out into the real world and started working full time.  I also made it my goal to read a lot of books.  In total, I read over 50 finance related books.  My favorite was 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris.

I also had a chance to meet a lot of new people along the way.  Some of the things I will take from 2008 into 2009 are:

1) Always give it to your 100%. This is my motto from now until I die.  Everyone will appreciate the fact you work your ass off to get things done.  For example, my boss said, “Thanks for all the hard work.”  This meant more to me if he had instead given me a bonus.   He truly appreciates my work.  This is how it should be in anything you do.  You will not say down the road, “Only if I tried a little harder or worked a little harder.”

2) Life is too short. There is no point in being mad at someone or holding a grudge.  You never know what tomorrow will bring.  You should always try to live in the moment.

3) Network. Network. Network. The most important thing in life is who you know.  You do need expertise (it is important what you know) in an area but at the end of the day, the people you network will hook you up.  You never know who you will end up meeting and NEVER judge anyone but getting to know them.

4) Give back.  These two words are very powerful.  I believe in karma: what goes around, comes around.  This is why I made it my effort to help anyone I could.   It did not matter how small the favor was.  When you see a smile on the person’s face and they thank you, that is worth more than any money in this greedy society.

2008 would not have been possible without my family and friends.  Big ups to all of you.  You know who you are.  Let’s make 2009 even a better year.

Here is my question to you: What is one thing you are going to take from 2008?

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Posted in Life, Success

Overall, I think 2008 has been a great year.  I am hoping that 2009 is even a better one.  Below are some of the goals for 2009.

1.  Work harder than I have ever before.

2.  Reach 500 articles by the end of the year (currently at 129).

3.  Take a vacation.

4.  Keep having fun and living life to the fullest.

5.  Do really well in my CGA courses.

6.  Be more patient.  I am a very impatient person.   When someone wants to meet me at 10 am, they better be there at 10 am.  If they are more than 5 minutes late, I am gone.

7.  Add more sources of income.  I work full time and go to school full time but I also want a passive income for some extra pocket money.

8.  Eat healthier.  I love cookies and milk.  The milk is fine but cookies have to go.

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Posted in My Goals Tagged: My Goals

Overall, I think 2008 has been a great year.  I am hoping that 2009 is even a better one.  Below are some of the goals for 2009.

1.  Work harder than I have ever before.

2.  Reach 500 articles by the end of the year (currently at 129).

3.  Take a vacation.

4.  Keep having fun and living life to the fullest.

5.  Do really well in my CGA courses.

6.  Be more patient.  I am a very impatient person.   When someone wants to meet me at 10 am, they better be there at 10 am.  If they are more than 5 minutes late, I am gone.

7.  Add more sources of income.  I work full time and go to school full time but I also want a passive income for some extra pocket money.

8.  Eat healthier.  I love cookies and milk.  The milk is fine but cookies have to go.

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Posted in My Goals Tagged: My Goals

I am sure you are aware of the shoes that were thrown by the journalist at President Bush.  Either way, it is sad and funny at the same time.  It is sad that the secret service could not stop the guy from throwing the shoe.  The funny part is President Bush’s reflexes.  I have to give this guy some props. That was some matrix stuff right there. Either way it is damn funny.

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Posted in Internet Tagged: funny, politics, videos

As you all know, it has been snowing like crazy lately.  We have received close to 22 inches of now.  It is snowing as I am writing this blog post. As I was watching the snow fall onto the ground, this analogy came to mind.

The more it snows, the longer it will take you to clean your driveway.   If the snow is not cleaned periodically, it will be impossible for you to take your car out of the garage .  The same analogy can be applied to debt.

You start off with a $250 credit limit on a credit card.   You make a few purchases on the credit card and next thing you know, you need a larger credit limit.  Once you are hooked on the “free” money, you keep getting more credit cards.  You end up with5-6 credit cards and are in thousands of dollars of debt.  The best way to stay away from debt is to use your credit card less often or pay it in full when the statement comes every month.

My take on this

I advise you to start shoveling your driveway now until it is too late.  It will take much longer for you to clean your driveway if you wait too long.  You should also apply the same concept with credit cards.  You should try to use your credit card only when needed.  If you do use your credit card often, make sure you are paying it off as you go.  You do not want to be in thousands of dollars of debt before making your first payment.

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Posted in Saving Money Tagged: credit card, debt