Money, Debt and Taxes

I started my first business during a recession, and now, during this recession I am starting another one.
I think recessions are the best times to start a new business, especially a service business, and I am going to quickly tell you why.

#1. Rents are cheap.
You can tell yourself all you like that your clients don’t mind that you work out of your home, but I have found I get more respect, and more money from my clients when I have a professional business office. Right now commercial vacancies are high, and you can find good office space at bargain prices.

#2. Help is cheap.
Sometimes you just can’t do it alone. With unemployment at an all time high, it is easier than ever to find talented, qualified people to help you out. They are also willing to work on a temporary, contract basis, so when I don’t need them, I don’t need to pay them.

#3. It seems that everyone is willing to bargain.
I hate paying full price for anything. But often, vendors will say the price is the price. Recently I have been getting discounts on software and services just by asking. I try to give something back, and nothing talks like cash! My favorite line: Will you take $X for this if I pay you cash right now?

#4. You Have the time!
I was laid off from my job 3 months ago, and with unemployment over 11% where I live I probably won’t be getting a new job any time soon. It doesn’t take long to look and see that there are no new jobs I can apply for. So now I am using my considerable amount of spare time to get the new business rolling.

Everyone wants to be a millionaire, right? To join the ranks of that exclusive club, whose members have proved to the world that they have made it. Well, maybe not so exclusive. According to CNN.com the number of millionaires in the world has grown to over 10 million! And the worldwide number of super-rich, those with more than 30 million dollars in assets, has grown to over 100,000.

Most of the new millionaires are coming from countries with fast emerging economies, India, China and Brazil. But the United States is still home to the highest number of millionaires.

But of course, a million dollars isn’t what it used to be. Thanks to inflation, a million dollars today is only equal to $783,000 in 1998 dollars, and a pitiful $568,000 in 1988 dollars.

It is interesting to look at where the millionaires are putting their money today. For the most part they are not investing in Forex, Real Estate, or other fast money schemes. With today’s economy millionairs are putting 40% of their assets in those “save and boring” investments, money market funds, bonds, and preferred stocks.

Would you like to join the millionaire club? You are most likely to get there not by winning the lottery or finding the perfect get rich quick scheme. The best way to get there, make saving a priority, spend less than you earn, own your home, and avoid consumer debt.