Not keeping track. Increase your savings by creating a monthly budget so that you can see where your money is going and set attainable goals.

Refusing to cut back. Some ways to break splurging habits are to unsubscribe from retail emails, eat out less and switch to generic products.

Not being prepared. Having an emergency fund separate from your savings will help insulate your financial goals from whatever might come.

Holding too much debt. As soon as you secure an emergency fund, tackle your debt. Freedom from debt, will free up money for your savings goals.

Making excuses. Your attitude may be holding you back. Try to change how you view your fiscal priorities so you can focus on what gets you to your goals.

Read more at: http://usat.ly/1uPnECc

Discard old newspapers daily. By the time you get around to reading day-old news, you will have heard most of it through TV, radio or social media.

Share your magazine subscriptions. Take a magazine with you to every appointment—doctor’s office, car service center, salon—but once you’re called back for your appointment, leave the magazine in the waiting room.

Don’t bring junk mail in the house. Keep a recycle bin in your garage and toss away junk mail before you walk in the door. Be sure to shred any credit card offers or pieces of mail with sensitive information.

(Source: FlyLady.net)

“In 2010, 75% of the 34.5 million retired workers elected to receive a reduced benefit prior to their full retirement age (FRA). Relatively more women (76.4%) than men (71.4%) received a reduced benefit.”
(Source: SSA Annual Supplemental)

A person receives 75% of their Full Retirement Age (FRA) benefit if they begin benefits early at age 62. If they delay benefits to age 70, they then receive 132% of their FRA benefit.

Married couples have a couple of claiming options that you might not have known about including File and Suspend, Claim Now, Claim More Later and Two High Earners strategies.

One of Darrell's clients, Lynn Schertz, participated with his church on a mission trip to Ghana earlier this year.

Here is a small excerpt from Lynn's mission report: “Myself, our senior pastor and children's pastor hosted a Christian worker's conference attended by about 100 people.  We distributed 30 study Bibles as well as other Bibles and literature, gave seminars, and our pastor led 2 revival services attended by over 200 people each night from the small village where the conference was held.  We also took 250 pairs of reading glasses with us as many of the people have poor vision due to poor nutrition. We made many new friends and hope to continue our relationship with these people in Ghana."  

If you are on Facebook, you can go to www.facebook.com/twopenniesministry to see the latest video of the latest trip.

More information can be found at www.twopenniesministry.com.

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get some good exercise once a day, then we would recommend trying this free computer application download.

Based on 'The Scientific 7-Minute Workout' routine posted in the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal and highlighted by The New York Times it features 12 exercises deploying only body weight, a wall and a chair.

It especially makes sense for you if you have a smart phone as you can download the application on to your phone and use it almost anywhere you are with your phone.