Read up to find out what others are doing and how and why they’ve been so successful before you invest your next dollar this new year.

#1. The Intelligent Investor.

The author “Benjamin Graham” was a renowned professor known as the godfather of investing, Graham published the first edition of this book in 1949, and even Warren Buffett has called that version “the best book on investing ever written.” This book takes a different approach from other investing books. The authors impart must-read basics to get you started in investing and keep you going for a long time, from recommended strategies and how to analyze stocks to a comprehensive history lesson on the stock market.

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#2. The Essays of Warren Buffett.

The book offers an excellent explanation of the relationship between corporations and their shareholders, which makes it ideal for those new to investing. Warren Buffett has taken the time to share what he knows and has learned on the subject of “Investment” over the years. The book offers an excellent comprehensive explanation of the relationship between corporations and their shareholders.

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#3. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing.

In this book, the author John C. Bogle explains what he learned to turn the odds in his favor. John C. Bogle is credited with creating the first-ever index fund. He was also the founder of Vanguard Group, and it was rumored that he and Buffett were the best of friends. So, Buffet even gave his endorsement to Bogle’s book.

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#4. A Random Walk Down Wall Street.

This book authored by Malkiel includes some handy definitions of investment terms, and it applies them to various investment strategies geared toward different stages in life. He emphasizes long-term investments rather than get-rich-quick schemes, and how to predict prices and avoid common mistakes. This book has sold over 1.5million copies up to date.

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#5. Rich Dad Poor Dad.

This book has remained one of the most influential personal finance and investing books since it was first published over 20 years ago. The author Robert Kiyosaki shares his story of growing up with “two dads”—his real father and his best friend’s father, or his “rich dad”—and how both men influenced Kiyosaki’s views on investing. This book challenges the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich, explains the differences between working for money and making your money work for you.

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#6. Thinking, Fast and Slow.

The author Daniel Kahneman is a psychology professor at Princeton University and understands a lot about finances. He won the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. This New York Times bestseller, “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” delves into how your thought processes can affect your success in investing. Daniel Kahneman explains how to identify your own little biases and lock them away so you can make investment decisions without their input, thinking clearly, rationally, and analytically.

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#7. The Book on Rental Property Investing.

The Book explains how to Create Wealth and Passive Income Through Smart Buy & Hold Real Estate Investing.” In almost 400 pages, author Brandon Turner breaks down the tips and tricks you’ll need to become a successful rental property investor. In it, you’ll learn about the author’s four easy strategies, how to find incredible deals, ways to pay for your rentals, why so many real estate investors fail, and more.

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Making better choices is not always an easy thing to do. It is safe to say that the year 2020 will be remembered forever as one of the most challenging years the world has had in decades. It’s no doubt that the pandemic has had an enormous impact on the financial aspect of our lives, both personally and on a business scale.

However, with the right mindset in place, we can turn our negative experiences into an opportunity to learn, grow and improve on our financial life and in other areas.

Here’s how to get your financial mindset set for 2021:

#1. Create Good Habits Around Money: figure out the good habits you want to imbibe in your finances this year. For example; Bookkeeping, Budgeting, Automating your monthly deposits into your savings account and towards paying off your debts, tracking your financial goals progress, and so on.

#2. Invest in Yourself: In order to implement some of your financial goals for the new year, you may need to improve on your knowledge in the relevant areas. For example, taking a class to learn about how to trade cryptocurrencies or stocks. Investing in yourself doesn’t necessary mean you need to take a college class, though you certainly could. You could go to workshops, attend conferences or participate in webinars, take online classes, read books, articles, white papers and anything else related to the subject you want to learn more about and also learn more about various products that can help you attain your goals.

#3. Plan Your Short-Term Goals: set out plans on how you can achieve the short term goals you have in mind. What do you need to know or learn? What business or investment do you need to engage in? You can bring it down to the amount of money you need to save to reach the goals.

#4. Analyze Your Long-Term Goals: having identified the areas you need to improve on to achieve your long-term financial goals, don’t let anything get in your way of achieving those goals. More importantly, you need to figure out what it’s going to take to achieve your goals, in smaller steps. For example, let’s say you’re saving up to buy a home, how far away are you from reaching that goal? what habits or steps do you need to start taking? If you need to, get help!

#5. Detach Yourself From Things in Your Life That Doesn’t Work For You Anymore: You have to be more deliberate about getting rid of things in your life that don’t work. Things that may get in the way of you reaching your financial goals. Instead, embrace the right things in your life that will give you the best financial advantage this year. Take advantage of the best practices or methods available in the financial fields today.

Don’t let anything get in your way of achieving the next level of your financial freedom this year. Identify the beliefs, habits and outside influences that affect your ability to make good money decisions. Set your financial plans, goals and charge towards attaining them.

Wishing You the Best Financial Freedom Ever in 2021!!!

Online shopping has made it easier than ever for people around the globe to get what they need at the mere click of a mouse. The number of digital buyers was expected to reach 2.05 billion in 2020 and rise to 2.14 billion in 2021. If you’re among the billions, it’s high time you make sure you’re getting the best deals online. Here’s everything you need to know about how to find the best deals online.

1. Try Online Price Matching

Many larger retailers like Walmart and Target participate in price matching programs, which means if you find a price at one retailer you may be able to get it at another. This used to mean bringing in a printed coupon or proof that the product was on sale for a lower price at a different retailer, but now, it can all be done online. All a shopper needs to do is reach out to customer service, which may be able to help out.

Specifically for Walmart shoppers, the retail giant now offers customers access to Savings Catcher, its own price-matching tool. After purchasing an item at Walmart, just scan the receipt. Walmart will compare prices and issue a refund if it finds the item for less money somewhere else.

2. Checking Reviews

To get the best deal online, consumers need to be sure they are getting the best product. And one way to do that is to check online reviews. Customers all over the internet leave reviews on products they’ve purchased, alerting others to potential issues or potential great buys. On websites like Amazon search for “verified purchase” to know that the review is legit. While online reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, they are one more tool to add to your decision-making arsenal for online shopping.

Before purchasing a product, is it really something you want or need, or will bring joy? If so, check reviews to make sure it’s the perfect fit before clicking “buy.”

3. Following Favorite Brands on Social Media

One more way to potentially find the best deals online is to follow brands and retailers on social media. Brands love to give their loyal customers something special, so they may share insider discounts and offers on their social media pages and newsletters before anywhere else.

4. Using Free Shipping or In-Store Pickup

Online shopping tips don’t stop at coupons. Another way to save is to find free shipping options. If you don’t need an item ASAP, free shipping is typically an option at checkout. Many online retailers also offer free shipping with a minimum order amount. To find free shipping deals and codes, check out websites like FreeShipping.org.

Another option may be to order an item online and then pick it up at the store for free. If it’s close enough to grab in person, it may be worth it to avoid shipping costs altogether.

5. Earning Cash Back for Purchases

If you’re not interested in having to do all this legwork to get a good deal while shopping online, there is another option: SoFi Money®. The cash management account helps people better manage their money and can also let them earn a few dollars back, thanks to its cash back rewards program. When members set up recurring $500 monthly deposits to their SoFi Money® accounts, they gain access to unique offers that reward them for spending at their favorite local and nationwide brands.

6. Waiting for Bigger Sales

Throughout the year, larger retailers will likely host online shopping sales. These sales are known to occur around the holidays, specifically on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Other major sales usually occur around holidays like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, as well as midsummer. During this time, consumers may be able to score major discounts, so if you can wait for a purchase, try to wait until then.

One more “holiday” to keep an eye out for is Amazon Prime Day. During the sale, retailers across the website offer steep discounts on products. However, to get in on the deal, one must be an Amazon Prime member, which comes with a subscription. But Amazon Prime members get free shipping on most products, which can add up in the long run.

7. Giving a Price Watcher a Go

Consumers who aren’t in a rush to purchase an item may be able to take advantage of price tracking tools. Price tracking tools help shoppers stay informed about price drops and sales so they can click “buy” at just the right time. Apps like Honey have tools like Droplist that allow consumers to save items for later and be informed when an item on the list has a price drop.

Other apps like CamelCamelCamel track prices on Amazon, and PriceBlink, a desktop application, will find even more deals across the Web, too. It works by showing how much an item costs at several online stores so shoppers can pick the best one.

SoFi.

Let’s face it – managing your finances successfully is not rocket science. Yes, it requires some education but the information and tools are readily available if you are willing to learn. Managing our money should be much simpler than it is because money often comes along with tremendous emotional charge depending on the meaning we give it. It can make us feel generous or greedy. It can make us feel less than or inflate our ego. It can make us feel gratitude or fearful we don’t have enough.

What you think and feel about money will have a huge impact on how you manage your finances and it gets vastly more complex when you add a spouse or significant other into the mix.

In working with millions of people from across the globe for over 3 decades, the driving force behind everyone’s actions and beliefs are a core set of needs. I have coined these the “6 human needs” and although each person values each one differently (in their own personal hierarchy), becoming aware of them will help you understand both your own motivations as well as your spouse or significant other. They will also open your eyes to the way in which you choose to manage (or sometimes mismanage) your personal finances.

First, a quick breakdown of the needs themselves:

1. Certainty – This is the need to feel in control and to minimize risk in your life/finances

2. Uncertainty (aka Variety) – Too much certainty or predictability creates boredom. We need to change things up now and again.

3. Significance – The desire to feel important, unique or needed.

4. Love/Connection – Love is the oxygen of the soul. We need this connection in order to thrive as humans.

5. Growth – Growth comes from challenging ourselves, learning and discovering who we really are.

6. Contribution – The secret to living is giving. If life is all about you, you will most certainly be miserable. Joy is often found in losing sight of yourself and meeting the needs of others.

Every single human has these 6 needs but not all share the same hierarchy. There are typically two that dominate your decision making and belief structures.

So just how do these needs come into play when you and your significant other are trying to synchronize your financial goals? Here are a few examples where emotional needs are driving the financial decisions:

• One might try and accumulate expensive brand name toys (cars, boats etc..) or insanely priced handbags in order to fill the need for significance – to feel status. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with nice things unless they come at the expense of responsibly saving enough income first or being able to contribute to others.
• One might be so fearful of markets that they stay in cash to meet the need for certainty. With inflation, cash is a losing proposition so one must counter the fear with facts about how the market behaves. I cover the facts that will set you free from fear in my latest book UNSHAKEABLE.
• One might value variety so much that they invest in all sorts of random opportunities without a plan or critical thinking.
• One might value contribution that their heart is overflowing with generosity for charities they support.

One wonderful exercise you can take with your spouse or significant other is to sit down and self-diagnose which 2 of the 6 needs are the highest on your respective lists. This will create a level of understanding that will help you empathize with the emotions driving their money decisions (and EVERY other decision for that matter). It may also help you realize that certain needs may be the tail wagging the dog and will not help you achieve your long-term goals as a partnership.

Aligning your long term financial goals with your core emotional needs will remove any inner conflict and create much more harmony for your household.

By Tony Robbins.

Tony Robbins is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, philanthropist and a business strategist.

Culled From: Mint