Even a small amount of money can be used to establish a solid foundation for financial success, but you need to make your cash work for you. Author Jim W. Mathe, a successful real estate investor and entrepreneur, helps everyday people achieve their financial dreams in this moneymaking guidebook. You'll learn what actions to take so you can use the law of attraction to your advantage, set and accomplish financial goals, profit from money-saving habits, and negotiate the best deals. Even if you have no money at all, you'll learn how to put cash in your pocket so you can secure your future. Discover how to secure a home without a down payment and how to invest in real estate without spending a dime. You'll also learn strategies to develop a successful small business. Start profiting form a practical, no-nonsense, easy-to-read workbook that will launch you into financial freedom. Stop wasting time and start living your dreams by applying the strategies and lessons in Easy Money Smarts.

easy MONEY SMART$

Quick and Practical Financial Help for All Income Levels and Age GroupsBy JIM W. MATHE

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Jim W. Mathe
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-3541-0

Contents

INTRODUCTION................................................XI1. WHO ARE YOU? REALLY!.....................................1MY HUMBLE PEBBLE............................................7PUT YOUR DREAMS ON PAPER....................................7THE LAW OF ATTRACTION.......................................10SET YOUR GOALS AND COMMIT TO THEM!........................12DAILY HABITS OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE.........................25THE GOOD HABITS PUZZLE......................................30CHAPTER 1 RECAP.............................................342. YOU – THE SAVER....................................37CHANGE YOUR SPENDING HABITS.................................3979 WAYS YOU CAN SAVE........................................42THE CREDIT CARD GAME........................................54GOVERNMENT SAVING INITIATIVES...............................59RECORD YOUR PERSONAL BUDGET.................................60THE FOUR JARS...............................................65BUILD YOUR TEAM OF EXPERTS..................................66BUILD YOUR SKILL SET........................................68THINK AND ACT SUCCESSFULLY..................................69CHAPTER 2 RECAP.............................................703. YOU – THE INVESTOR PART 1..........................73ABOUT JOINT VENTURES IN REAL ESTATE.........................75FINDING YOUR JOINT VENTURE PARTNER..........................76PITCHING YOUR IDEA..........................................78COMMON QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR INVESTOR.......................80YOUR INFO KIT...............................................81TIPS FOR NEGOTIATING YOUR DEAL..............................824. YOU – THE INVESTOR PART 2..........................85INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE....................................875. YOU – THE INVESTOR PART 3..........................99COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE......................................101THE CAP RATE................................................102OPENING A SMALL BUSINESS....................................104FRANCHISES..................................................105INDEPENDENT STORES..........................................106MARKETING YOUR BRAND........................................108CHECK LIST AND WATCH POINTS.................................1116. YOU – THE INVESTOR PART 4..........................115FORECLOSURE AND POWER OF SALE...............................117REHABBING...................................................119RENT-TO-OWN.................................................119LEASE OPTIONS...............................................121HOW BANKS LOOK AT REAL ESTATE DEALS.........................122INVESTING IN FARMLAND.......................................123REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS.......................................124BUYING PROPERTY IN THE U.S.A................................1267. LEARN HOW TO GET A CAR ... FOR FREE!.....................1278. MY BUSINESS STORY........................................1299. EASY MONEY SMARTSMENTORING PROGRAM.......................13510. USEFUL BITS.............................................143DIFFERENT BUSINESS STRUCTURES...............................145THE BEST TIME TO START INVESTING............................146ECONOMIC CYLES..............................................147THE INTEREST LADDER.........................................149TERMINOLOGY.................................................151

Chapter One

WHO ARE YOU? (REALLY!)

"No one remains quite what he was, once he recognizes himself." Thomas Mann, 1875-1955 German novelist

The first step to financial wealth is to know yourself – for real.

No joking, no kidding, no stories – nothing but the truth and the whole truth. If you are not going to be honest with yourself this book will not help you.

What are you afraid of when it comes to making or investing money? Is it your job, partner, health, family, poor credit, fear of scam artists? Or do you fear making a bad deal or decision? Maybe you lack the confidence to make a financial commitment, or perhaps you believe you don't have enough money to become financially successful.

These are valid considerations. But what if I help you overcome your fears? And find out that you don't need a lot of money (or any!) to get started.

Often the biggest obstacle in moving ahead is our selves. Some figment of our imagination has us on the run, and keeps telling us not to try – or that we will not make it anyway, so why bother? Do you have the desire to kill these fears? Knowledge builds confidence and confidence kills fear (and that's why you have this book).

So let's talk about your fears and get them out in the open. Take a look at them honestly and deal with them one at a time.

Let's take a look at your job. Are you happy with it? Does it give you personal satisfaction? Does it give you enough money to live like you really want to? Is it a dead end career? Are your peers really helpful or courteous? Are you appreciated? Well, I can tell you that not all my past jobs were pleasant BUT the one thing that kept me focused and extremely positive was I knew that I was getting ahead.

Good returns from my investments made me happy inside and I knew that eventually I would fulfill my dreams (and drive the car I always wanted!). I found that if I stayed focused on my investments and treated them like my best friend, a lot of trivial things in life would not matter so much.

I am here to tell you that you only need to think positively, and believe in yourself. I will not let you make poor investments or decisions. You are no longer alone, and don't need to feel afraid that you will do something wrong and lose everything you own.

Another obstacle that might be holding you back is thinking you don't have enough money to really get involved in saving and investing. There is something in life that is even worse than fear, and that is regret. Yes, REGRET.

Do you want to live the rest of your life regretting that you never really tried because you let your mind tell you could not do it? Do you want to take this to your grave? The days, months and years will fly by and one day you will wish you had tried even a little to make saving and investing work for you – instead of standing on the sidelines and watching life go by. Time is one of the most precious things we have. Use it well and you will reap the rewards. This is key to your personal success.

Take even the smallest amount of money that you can afford and I will show you how to invest and start making money TODAY!

Investing can be likened to building a house for you and your family. Once you dig the hole in the ground for the solid foundation the next steps get easier and take shape over time. Believe me, building your financial house is every bit as exciting as building the real thing. You will want to visit the site every day to personally...