This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

An economic meltdown of the magnitude we have experienced of course sparks big changes in the way people manage their money. And yes, it has affected all of us here in Charlotte North Carolina too.

That subconscious desire to keep up with the Joneses and have the “American Dream” has yielded to the very conscious need to keep your job, your home, and your investments safe.

What exactly are we in America doing differently with our money now? And how have our financial priorities and values changed?
These are the questions we have been discussing and answering during this series here at “My Charlotte Home Team” based on MONEY magazines survey of over 1,200 people in America!

Are you ready to see the results?

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

“Money” Magazine did a great survey across America with tons and tons of normal people just like you and me talking about our current economy. Since that is what so many of us are talking about around Charlotte, North Carolina I thought this survey was very timely and the answers and responses will probably reflect the answers we would give ourselves.

This exclusive poll we will be looking at for several days in this series reveals a big shakeup in how we’re managing our finances… as I have said, probably for the better.

So stay tuned in this series of posts and let us know if you agree with the answers of the majority of your fellow Americans.

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

Here in Charlotte North Carolina myself and thousands of other people are very very excited about the start of the college football season! This is one of the most exciting and electric times of the whole year! There is just something so “American” honestly, about college football. It almost feels more “American” than baseball.

Even though I live here in Charlotte, my favorite college football team has always been the Florida State Seminoles! Since I was a little kid they have been my favorite team in all the land… who I follow, who I cheer for, who I love. I bleed Garnett and Gold!

So, of course, my favorite coach has always been Bobby Bowden who has been Florida State’s coach since before I was born. The only Florida State Seminoles team I have ever known has been Bobby Bowden’s Florida State team!

But unfortunately, Bobby retired after this past season… and that was not completely his choice. The board of Trustees at FSU forced him out.
He is the second winningest coach in NCAA Football history.

And now the Seminoles have entered the “post-Bobby Bowden era”. Today they are opening the season in Tallahassee on “Bobby Bowden Field” against Samford (Bobby Bowden’s first team he coached for).

I am optimistic about Jimbo Fisher - FSU’s new coach. I hope he can return us to the dominance we once had under Coach Bowden. Who by the way has a new book that just came out called “Called to Coach” and it’s about his life, faith, and coaching career.

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

The key we talked about in the last post was that we all in Charlotte and around the country need to separate our wants from our needs.

Karin Maloney Slifler (a certified financial planner in Hudson, Ohio) told “MONEY” magazine “We finally understand we can’t have it all without paying a price. And the price now seems too high. There’s nothing wrong with possessing money, but there’s something very wrong with money possessing us.”

WOW! What a great statement and quote from this financial adviser! “There’s nothing wrong with possessing money, but there’s something very wrong with money possessing us.” That is a great philosophy worth remembering no matter where we live!

I think if we lived by that we would not be in the trouble we are in with our economy.

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

Above all, commit yourself to living within your means. Focus on keeping up your job skills and contacts. Those are career basics that were easy for you to forget when the economy was booming.

Like Dave Ramsey says, keep a cash cushion (emergency fund) of 3-6 months living expenses (after you have paid off your debt).

Be smart and frugal. Statistics say that coupon clipping is up 10%.
We collectively leave BILLIONS of dollars behind every year by not taking the time to fill out forms for student aid, health and child-care spending accounts, and properly managing our 401(k) to get the full company match.

Just say “NO” to things that are above your means. And learn to separate your WANTS from your NEEDS!

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

Yesterday we talked about how we should steer clear of consumerism and find other ways to express ourselves and have fun here in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It is always important to surround yourself with people who feel the same way you do about what matters in life. Hang out with people who have the same money values you do.

If you hang out with a group of “Shopaholics” you are probably going to adopt their bad habits.

Whitehead from the Templeton Center says that the beauty of being thrifty is that it makes so much else possible… “like personal financial security, giving gifts to others, and spending quality time with those you love.”
And don’t we all enjoy that stuff more than buying things? We should be way past consumerism.

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

Consumer behavior expert and researcher, Robbie Blinkoff says “Consumerism is not how we should express ourselves… find another outlet.”

I agree with Robbie and think that it is weird that in our country people express themselves by buying something!

So volunteer time to a worthy cause you’re passionate about. Start a side business. Invest in your own personal development and growth by taking a class or picking up a new hobby.

Pay attention to all the fun and fulfilling things you can do that don’t cost a dime!
*One example can be seen at the Boston public library where new library cards are up 33%! That is a trend echoed in libraries across the country.

So, consumerism is not the answer. Find another way to have fun!

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

Of course many people will fall right back into their old bad habits with money once the economy turns back around again. But you can keep those bad habits and faulty financial instincts in check by REMINDING YOURSELF of how painful it was when you were maxed out on your credit cards or lost your job with no cash emergency fund or even cushion!

Many surveys have found that over half of Americans are only one month or less away from being totally broke if they lost their job! That is a nervous discomfort you should not soon forget! Remind yourself of that horrible feeling and don’t let it happen again.

That is how these lessons we have learn can not be wasted.

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

Some say that we can “trust no one” in this new economy. With the decline of traditional pensions, employers handed us the responsibility for our own retirement, but no investment strategy has worked–not maximizing 401(k) matches, diversification, dollar-cost averaging, or even patience.

On top of that, we’ve been flat-out misled by accountants, regulators, rating agencies, stock analysis, mutual funds, hedge funds, mortgage brokers, banks and CEOs. (That tempts us not to trust them in the future.)

The rash of gatekeeper scandals during the past ten years has been on a breathtaking scale–and the effects are showing.

Half of people in one pole said they don’t trust financial advisers now. 75% don’t trust Wall Street and said they won’t even after the down turn!

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.

This is an ongoing article series about how the economy here in America is affecting YOU right here in Charlotte North Carolina. We all know about how the Charlotte real estate market shifted and how it has affected many in our area. But we will also be exploring how the overall change in the economy is changing YOU! Maybe for good and maybe for bad, but I propose that the changes in the economy are changing many of us for the better! (This series was inspired by a nationwide poll taken by Money magazine.)

We are starting to take the goal of getting out of debt and staying out of debt seriously. Nearly 70% of Americans in one survey said that if they can’t pay for a purchase with cash or a debit card, they don’t buy.
*That is a mind blowing statistic considering where we were a couple years ago. (I also acknowledge that is 70% of people say that then they may not all be telling the truth.)

75% of people say that increasing the amount of money they save is more important now. And Americans really are saving more! The national savings rate was negative just a few years ago. But recently we reached a 14 year high of 5%.

This is a good trend. Tomorrow maybe we will look at a glimpse of this trend from someone I don’t eve know.

Real Estate market. Mortgage. Charlotte Real Estate. Charlotte NC. Charlotte North Carolina. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate. Charlotte NC Real Estate. Charlotte North Carolina economy. North Carolina. Charlotte economy. Charlotte North Carolina market. Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate market.