A recent survey from Wachovia Bank shows we women must start to take control of our financial future NOW. The third annual fitness survey of 2008 along with Richard Day research and the U.S. census bureau show that only 30% of women track and manage retirement assets compared to 58% of men. 17% of women make investment decisions compared to 49% of men. Why? What are we afraid of?

I want to challenge everyone who is reading this blog to start today and get control of your financial life. I am not a financial guru. I am someone who has won and lost with investing but is still in total control of my finances and has a financial retirement plan. You’ve got to start somewhere. If it is just a little seed money, grow that seed corn because no one else will!

I am challenging you not to be dependent on your husband or partner or your children or anyone else! Please, listen to Lisa….if I can do, this so can you!!! Not sure where to start? Email me and I can suggest some publications or people to help you get started. Today, we celebrate Independence Day. But are we truly independent? Think about it!

Have a happy 4th!

I live in earthquake territory and invest in hurricane as well as wildfire lands. I am always trying to cut costs but realize that one area of my budgeting cannot be altered. Insurance. Last year’s wildfires caused a wake up call for many of us. Do we have the limits on our homeowner’s insurance to re-build our home should some “act of God” or other catastrophe occur? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Associated General Contractors of America, 58% of us have too little coverage to be able to fully rebuild our home should disaster strike. With hurricane season starting just a couple of weeks from now, do yourself a favor and:

1. Look over your existing insurance policy. Make sure you have an extended replacement cost provision which pays you the set amount (dwelling limit) plus at least a 20% margin. Construction costs have rose dramatically over the last few years. Add this margin to cover any inflationary costs.

2. If you live in an area of the country which could have a natural disaster (hurricane, wildfires, etc.), try to get them covered or get an additional policy. I have earthquake insurance for California and hurricane insurance on my rentals in Florida. If you don’t have those in your policy, there is a good chance they won’t be covered should disaster strike.

3. Know what it would cost per square foot to rebuild and factor that number into your insurance limits. The national average is $250 a square foot, however if you live in California the cost could exceed $400 per square foot, a big difference.

4. Document what you own. If you expect to be reimbursed you need records: pictures of your personal belongings, serial numbers, and anything else of importance.

Attention Investors! I will be presenting at the NoteWorthy Convention (October 2-5) in Las Vegas, Nevada! Wise Women has made special arrangements for you to attend this valuable convention at a reduced price -click here for registration form. Hope to see you there!

Does someone owe you money? Go to www.missingmoney.com and find out in 30 seconds if you’ve got unclaimed money or property. The IRS has more than $110 million in uncashed tax-refund checks alone! Typically, money is unclaimed when someone moves, dies or changes names.

Whether you are a real estate investor or a homeowner, whether you own one property or one hundred, PLEASE read on and save yourself some money. According to the Tax Foundation and the U.S. Census Bureau, property taxes are rising at more than twice the rate of inflation in this decade. That was bad enough when home values were on the rise. Now, if you don’t take action on proposed higher property taxes, your cash flow may suffer even more.

This is the time of the year when properties are reassessed. Property Tax authorities or assessors offices will send property owners an update on the “assessed” value of their property which, in 9 out of 10 cases, will be higher than the past value. What should you do to protect yourself and fight?

Appeal the Proposed Increase!

1. Call the assessor’s office and find out how they arrived at this value. In some counties the tax value is based on a percentage of the property’s estimated value. Find out how this value was established—this is vital in markets where property values have dramatically declined.

2. Research property values in the neighborhood and verify the properties’ assessed values within one mile of your residence. Several years ago I appealed the proposed property tax for a rental property I owned. I won the appeal because I was able to prove 2 of the houses in the neighborhood with identical floor plans had lower assessed values. Since I was able to prove this, the county had to lower my assessed value. In my case, it made a $200 difference on my tax bill! So it was worth the effort.

3. Build your case and do it quickly. There will be a deadline on your proposed assessment to file an appeal. Do it immediately. There is no cost to do this and the worst that can happen is you lose and the property stays at the proposed value.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived in a free and clear home? If you do not have the additional funds to make principal payments, an easy answer to this would be to make your mortgage payments biweekly. By sending in half of your monthly mortgage payment every two weeks, you make the equivalent of one extra payment a year. Following this schedule on a $300,000, 30 year loan, you would save $77,000 over the life of the loan and pay it off much faster!

Recently, United Airlines began to charge customers $25 for an extra bag on their domestic flights. Rental car companies are charging a concession fee if the lot is conveniently located near an airport. Along with a gas tax, city occupancy, etc., some hotels are charging customers for any item taken out of the minibar for more than 60 seconds, even if it is not consumed. Gift cards have shorter expiration dates. Many banks have eliminated free ATM usage, adding to other “service charges” you may or may not know about.

We consumers are getting stuck with higher fees so companies can make more money. Watch service fees on your credit and debit cards, pack light and shop for value. These fees can add up!

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
‘If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.’

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
‘You better pray that will come out of the carpet.’

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
‘If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!’

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
‘ Because I said so, that’s why.’

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
‘If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.’

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
‘Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.’

7. My mother taught me IRONY
‘Keep crying, a nd I’ll give you something to cry about.’

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
‘Shut your mouth and eat your supper.’

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
‘Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!’

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
‘You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.’

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER .
‘This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.’

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
‘If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!’

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
‘I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.’

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
‘Stop acting like your father!’

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
‘There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.’

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
‘Just wait until we get home.’

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
‘You are going to get it when you get home!’

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
‘If you do n’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.’

19. My mother taught me ESP.
‘Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?’

20. My mother taught me HUMOR .
‘When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.’

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
‘If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.’

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
‘You’re just like your father.’

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS .
‘Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?’

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
‘When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.’

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE
‘One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.’

Every worn out woman needs a place to think, to recharge those batteries and renew. Whether it is yoga, a day spa, or a soak in your bathtub, taking a “timeout” everyday does help your perspective. This is especially true when life seems like an endless treadmill of stress, distractions and long hours. We may have a lot of experiences but are we really enjoying our journey?

When your children throw temper tantrums, do you issue a time out? When they take the time out, do they come back quieter and calmer than they were before the tantrum? This is the same for us. Take a time out and get perspective, and balance in your life! You will be happier and more productive, and your kids, spouse, employer and clients will notice! Time outs are not just for kids!

Happy Mother’s Day. May you get the best gift of all…time.
Lisa

Believe it or not, automakers are diving into extra-long auto loans in order to cut buyers’ payments. Toyota motor credit acknowledged it is making 84 month loans to cut payments and boost sales.

They are assuming the consumer shops with a monthly budget in their heads. And in today’s credit squeezed market, dealers have less access to cheap interest rates and are therefore cutting payments by offering longer term loans.

I think this is insane. Please, wise women out there, don’t so this! When you drive a car off the lot it immediately loses value!! Be aware and go for the shortest term car loan possible!