Today’s Topics: Living in Limbo | Yealink Conference Phone, CP960 | What are the 7 Money Tendencies? | News to Start Your Day
Happy Friday!
Are you a fan of plums, nutmeg, raisins, nuts, cinnamon, and dates? Well, you’re in luck! It’s National Plum Pudding day! In England, traditionally every person in the home holds on to the wooden spoon to stir the batter and makes a wish! Here’s to a wishful day full of Plum Pudding!
The good news is that things are progressing, the bad news is that there is still a LOT of packing and moving to do.
It is awkward to completely reduce everything you own into boxes, containers, and a storage unit. I mentioned last time about simplifying and getting rid of stuff. I feel like I have done a pretty good job of this. Now, it’s just everything else that is left that has to be packed. I feel like I have been going non-stop for about 2 weeks now – packing, cleaning, moving, storing, etc. My dog is not happy at all with all of this. All he wants to do in the evenings is go for a walk and then sit in the recliner and watch TV. I can’t say I blame him, but we haven’t been able to do that much lately. His world is being rocked just as much if not more.
So, we will be moving all of the big stuff this weekend (in the rain), and then the closing happens in a little over a week, and then we move in with my parents until the new house is finished. For a person whose life revolves around and craves routine, this should be interesting…err…fun. I am very thankful for this opportunity and the way things have been working out, but living in limbo and being out of a routine for a month or so is a jolt to the system. I guess God shakes things up and moves us out of our comfort zones from time to time just to keep us in check. haha!
I have to say that when I step back and look at everything God has done and how He has worked things out in this situation in such a short time, I can’t help but have a thankful heart. It really does blow me away…even with all of the packing and disruption of routine. It will be worth it!
I hope all of you have a great weekend!
Jason
Product Spotlights and Updates:
Happy Friday! We’ve been talking a lot about Yealink phones here lately, and for good reason! These phones are absolutely incredible in how they look and how they function! Today I wanted to take a minute to tell you about an awesome Yealink conference phone, the Yealink CP960. This phone is perfect for medium to large-sized rooms and features a beautiful 5” color touch screen. It combines a sensitive, full-duplex three microphone array for a 20-foot voice pickup range! This phone features Yealink Noise Proof Technology which intelligently eliminates background noises and automatically mutes the microphone when no human voice is detected. When it detects human speech, it automatically turns back on seamlessly! The CP960 also features an incredible user interface known as the Yealink Pentagon Meeting Room. This simple and unique interface allows users to create a meeting directly from the phone, and to add new users to the meeting instantly and without confusion, and without interrupting the call. In addition, it features Yealink Hybrid UC Meeting which is designed to bridge calls from different devices into one conference call. By pairing your cell phone or device via USB or Bluetooth with your Yealink conference phone, your calls from your device can easily be connected to the CP960!
What are the 7 Money Tendencies? – Dave Ramsey Blog
You’re probably somewhat aware of your personality type: whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, a control freak or totally laid back. But did you know you have a money personality type too?
We each have our own tendencies that make up our money personality as a whole. You may not notice, but this plays out in real life all the time.
Think about a time when you’ve been out to dinner with a group of friends. When it comes time to pay the bill, some people in the group are great with splitting the check evenly, while others at the table cringe because they just want to pay for their order. That can get a little awkward, but it’s just because everyone is wired differently. So, let’s talk about your money tendencies.
What is a money tendency?
Your money personality is made up of seven tendencies that identify how you handle money.
They are:
- Spender or Saver
- Nerd or Free Spirit
- Experiences Person or Things Person
- Quality Person or Quantity Person
- Safety Person or Status Person
- Abundance Person or Scarcity Person
- Spontaneous Giver or Planned Giver
These tendencies are specific to how we deal with money. You likely lean toward one or the other of each tendency but don’t overthink it. It’s a spectrum, so you might be somewhere in between.
You’re wired to think and act in certain ways, and while none of the tendencies are right or wrong, they do have implications. Understanding them will help you make faster progress on your financial goals. So, let’s dig into them!
Spender or Saver
Spenders: They see so many creative possibilities when it comes to money. Whenever they have extra money, it’s burning a hole in their pocket and they can’t wait to spend it. Spenders have a healthy appreciation for spending money, and generosity might come more easily to someone with this money personality type.
Challenge for Spenders: If you’re a spender, you need to prioritize saving too.
Savers: They would rather keep their money tucked away for a rainy day. Putting money away for the future isn’t a huge sacrifice for them. It gives them a sense of security. They’re patient, responsible and willing to wait.
Challenge for Savers: If you save everything you make, you’re going to miss out on a lot of fun experiences that make life worth living.
Nerd or Free Spirit
Nerds: They have their tax return prepared for the dreaded April 15 deadline well in advance. Spreadsheets, amortization charts, and the budget make them feel in control of their money—which they love. They’re laser-focused on what they need to do to win with money, and they’re on top of the details and decisions.
Challenge for Nerds: If you live and die by the rules and the budget, you end up wearing out yourself and your family.
Free Spirits: Tax Day is when? If this sounds more like you, you’re probably a free spirit. When it comes to money, they have a “let’s enjoy life” mentality. Just reading the word budget would make this money personality break out in hives.
Challenge for Free Spirits: If free spirits aren’t intentional about their money, they’ll look up in a few years and wonder where on earth it all went.
Experience or Things
Experience People: This part of your money personality is all about what you value in life. If you’d rather spend your money on experiences, like travel, concerts, or a day at the spa, you’re a person who values experiences. I love experiences, and I prefer to spend my money on eating dinner out or going to a movie rather than anything tangible.
Things People: If you tend to spend money on physical things, like clothes, shoes or the latest piece of technology, then you’re a person who values things. My husband, Winston, is like this, and his Christmas lists have included things like hunting gear and an adult-sized scooter.
Challenge for both: They’re both equally valid preferences. If you’re married, ask your spouse if they’d rather have an experience or a thing. After Winston and I figured this out, it helped us in our budgeting, gift-giving, and communication.
Quality or Quantity
Quality People: This money personality type wants things that are going to last longer. I find that people who value quality will research and plan their purchases beforehand. Quality spenders don’t tend to be impulse shoppers.
Challenge for Quality People: Ask yourself if it’s really necessary to spend more, or if there’s a less expensive option you would enjoy just as much.
Quantity People: They enjoy the creativity and possibility that variety offers. You like having ten options versus going back to the same thing over and over. People who lean toward quantity are often great bargain shoppers. They pride themselves on the art of a great deal.
Challenge for Quantity People: If you struggle with overdoing it on quantity, consider taking the Minimalists’ challenge to give you a different perspective.
Safety or Status
Safety People: People who value safety as part of their money personality want the security that money can bring. They want to know they can withstand job loss, a medical emergency or even just a dip in income.
Challenge for Safety People: Don’t let a safety mindset keep you living in fear. As you make money decisions, make sure you’re seeing and considering all of the possibilities, not just defaulting to the choice with the least amount of risk.
Status People: Someone with this kind of money personality is more likely to value a name-brand purse or luxury vacation. They’re also more likely to find a way to justify a larger purchase if, on some level, it makes them feel seen as successful.
Challenge for Status People: Knowing that you have that status tendency means you’ve got to keep your spending and your heart in check. The stuff you own doesn’t define you as a person.
Abundance or Scarcity
Abundance People: People who live in an abundance mindset believe there’s always more than enough for everyone. They tend to take more risks and don’t fear the outcome of a decision. They also tend to be natural givers, believing there will always be a way to make more money!
Challenge for Abundance People: This glass-half-full mentality can interfere with making wise choices with money. If this is you, seek the advice of family and friends you trust before making a big purchase (even if it’s for someone else).
Scarcity People: People who operate under the assumption of scarcity make money decisions based on a belief that resources are finite. They hold onto possessions tightly because they “might need that someday.” And sometimes they fear losing things because they might not be able to replace them.
Challenge for Scarcity People: Don’t miss smart financial opportunities that will move you forward in life because fear is undermining your thinking. Always remember this: God will provide for you. There are no limits to his goodness and ability.
The abundance/scarcity tendency is one of the tendencies covered in my new personality quiz! Find out which tendency you lean toward here.
Spontaneous Giver or Planned Giver
Spontaneous Givers: People with this tendency in their money personality are quick to give. If they pass someone on the sidewalk asking for a donation, they jump at the chance. They love having the freedom to respond with their heart.
Challenge for Spontaneous Givers: Dropping $5 in a bucket here and there can feel good in the moment, but it may not have the impact you think it does. Emotional giving definitely isn’t wrong—just remember that if it’s the only way you give, you may miss opportunities that have a larger impact.
Planned Givers: Typically, planned givers take their resources and money very seriously. They don’t give to every good cause they hear about because they’ve already decided where they’re giving, and they’ve committed to it. They also avoid giving to individuals or nonprofits they haven’t researched.
Challenge for Planned Givers: If this is how you’re wired, try to leave room in your giving line item for the unexpected. You might find a lot of joy in blessing someone who isn’t expecting it.
It Pays to Know Your Money Tendencies
Now that you know your natural tendencies and their challenges, you can make better decisions for yourself and become more balanced. And remember: No part of your money personality is right or wrong—it just shows us how we’re wired.
For example, if you’re a spender, make sure you’re following a budget and setting aside savings too. If your spending is out of control and your savings account is empty, this is an area you need to work on.
Guys, if you’ll really work these 7 Money Tendencies, you’re going to see progress! You can get to a healthier money personality. The more you pay attention to why you spend (or don’t spend!) money the way you do, the more you can course-correct when you need to. Don’t put this off. In one year or five years or 10 years, you’re going to look back and be so, so grateful you started today.
This is from the Dave Ramsey blog.
Today’s News to Start Your Day:
- As of this morning, in the US, there are 9,584,731 active COVID cases, 17,932,112 have recovered and there have been 486,929 deaths.
- The White House secured deals for 100 million additional doses of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine and 100 million more of Moderna’s. During Thursday’s tour of the National Institutes of Health, President Joe Biden said the U.S. will have now enough supply of the two-shot vaccines to inoculate 300 million Americans by the end of July. Roughly 34.7 million out of some 331 million Americans have received at least their first dose of vaccine, according to the CDC.
- Disney reported strong growth in paid streaming subscribers and its first quarterly profit since early last year in its earning reports. Disney said it now has almost 95 million paid subscribers to its Disney+ streaming service as of the quarter ended Jan. 2, helping to offset losses in other segments affected by the pandemic. CEO Bob Chapek told analysts on the company earnings call that outlook for parks revenue and reopening is “really going to be determined by the rate of vaccination of the public.”
- The CDC plans to issue new guidelines Friday on how to reopen U.S. schools as safely as possible. The pressure to reopen or expand in-person learning for students has been building across the United States in recent weeks as the impact of remote learning on education and family life has become more apparent.
- Defense lawyers at Trump’s impeachment trial are set to begin to make their case about why the former president should not be convicted of inciting last month’s attack on the U.S. Capitol. They’re prepared to concede that the violence was every bit as traumatic, unacceptable, and illegal as Democratic prosecutors described. But they also plan to argue that Trump had nothing to do with it. The argument is likely to appeal to the Republican senators who want to be seen as condemning the violence without convicting the former president.
- A group of Robinhood traders angered by recent weeks’ events are showing up at the company’s California headquarters, claiming they couldn’t otherwise get in touch with customer service. Menlo Park Police reports outline 10 incidents ranging from venting frustration to security guards, to one man throwing dog feces at the front door. Since Robinhood restricted buying of certain stocks on the app, users have filed more than two dozen lawsuits seeking damages.