Dear Friends,
Last month I started this two part series on finances and I gave you the first five keys to financial happiness. I'll finish it up this month will the final six keys. First let me reiterate my lawyer like disclaimer: The ideas here are meant to be helpful and before you decide to follow any of them, be sure to consult with a financial advisor or your accountant.
Secret Six: Minimize credit-card debt. Interestingly, having a very low level of total debt (including mortgages, car loans, home-equity loans and so on) doesn't make us happier. We understand that in today's society, being able to afford a house, car or home renovation means taking on debt, and as long as we're not spending
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more than we can afford on these large items, we don't stress us out.
Credit-card debt, however, is a totally different animal. If you can rid your life of revolving credit-card debt -- that means carrying a balance on your card that you don't pay off every month -- there's a good chance that you'll be happier financially, and happier overall.
Secret Seven: Do Unto Others Forget about the "as you would have others do unto you" part of the equation. Simply doing unto others -- by volunteering or giving away money or even old belongings -- can add to your own happiness.
Of all charitable activities, giving money to the causes that you
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believe in has the strongest tie to personal happiness. But taking
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