With benefits selection time around the corner for many employees, now is the time to ask about and take advantage of non-standard benefits in your company's plan. Beyond medical, dental and basic life, your employer may be offering cost-saving options for lifestyle, commuting, retirement and health that can help you save and spend wisely. If not, your HR department may be willing to discuss adding some of the following options. This year, don't get spooked...Find out which benefits are hiding in your company closet and put them in your own back pocket!

Employee Stock Purchase Plan(ESPP)
Put the depressed stock prices to work for you! These plans provide a good way to build wealth by buying stock in the company where you work. A qualified ESPP can provide you with a discount: the purchase price of the stock can be as much as 15% below the value of the stock at the time the price is established.

Keeping in mind that your company's plan could be different, here are some typical terms:

• What does money mean to you? (Responses may include: power, control, love, happiness,security, freedom)


• To participate, you have to sign up by a particular date to have from 1% to 10% of your pay withheld to purchase company stock over a particular offering period.


• Over that period of time, money withheld from your paycheck will accumulate, and then be used to buy stock at the end of the offering period. The price may be discounted as much as 15%, although companies can offer a smaller discount or none at all. (Can you say "guaranteed return" and "free money"?)


• Some companies provide a "lookback," so that the price you pay can be based on the price at the beginning of the offering period or at the end, whichever is lower. With this type of plan, if the price goes up during the offering period you get an extra bargain!


• Plus, usually you can back out of the purchase and get your money back at any time until close to the end of the offering period. Your last chance to withdraw may be a week or two before the end, though, so check this deadline-- and check when you can opt-in.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at www.OwnYourMoney.com.

Your relationship with money can be complicated and, added to that, a relationship with your partner can be complicated as well. Given that the two will undoubtedly combine, you can quickly predict even further 'complications'on the horizon. This is why so many couple relationships fall apart over the same issue: money.

No matter how complicated it seems, fixing a couple's relationship with money is actually very simple. I've been fortunate enough to work with many couples that have been stuck in a stressful cycle of living beyond their means for years, and I've been able to help them turn their lives around using a simple, 5-step process.

The one fact that has always struck me is that I've never seen a couple make a breakthrough or any notable change without thoroughly understanding who each of them are around money-and talking about it.

STEP 1: Understand who you and your partner are around money.

If you can't get past step 1, then the rest of the process is doomed. That's why I'm only going to give you the first step today. If you're having any problems with your partner around money, please read this very carefully and implement this step to start improving your relationship.

This step can transform your relationship in one conversation. It's important that before you have this conversation, you mutually agree to create a safe space and listen to each other fully. This will be a very vulnerable time for you both.

Start the conversation by asking each other "What does money mean to you?" and "What did your parents tell you about money?" What may become obvious is that neither of you had been formally taught good money management skills. This may have hindered your ability to make confident, smart choices with your money. You and your partner need to understand that neither of you are bad people because of poor money decisions made in the past.

From this new, non-judgmental conversation, you can both understand the beliefs and stories you are each bringing to the table. If you ask the right questions, and don't judge the answers, you create an opportunity to develop deeper compassion and understanding for each other.

You'll be amazed at what opening up about money will do for the rest of your relationship as well. Money problems are very tied to other areas of your lives, especially how you communicate verbally and physically.

The top three causes of divorce are listed as money, communication, and sex. In effect, these three are so intricately linked that dealing with the unspoken money issues often creates an immediate improvement on the other two areas. A real win-win-win emerges.

Here are some of the most successful questions for you and your partner to ask each other to help you get started:

• What does money mean to you? (Responses may include: power, control, love, happiness,security, freedom)


• What did your parents tell you about money? What is your money history?


• Do you have any accounts (bank, credit card, or other) in just your name?


• What do you believe we should be spending our money on?


• How do you propose we divide financial duties?

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at www.OwnYourMoney.com.

Earlier this month, I was on Ron Birnbaum's radio show on WBIX AM 1060. We had a great chat about the power of networking. The listener feedback was great so I'm going to share some of what we talked about with you today.

Is networking hard for you? If you're like most people, you get a little self-conscious when you go out to an event...and the worst thing that could happen is that you stop being yourself.

So please, just relax. It's not about sales or getting 1,000 business cards every time you go to an event. It's about creating mutually beneficial relationships - one at a time.

The benefits to you are endless. Networking is the best way to get...

• Job leads/business leads


• Referrals


• Access to expertise that can help with any problem from gardening to parenting to making more money in your business

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at www.OwnYourMoney.com.

People who have a poor relationship to money feel poor--no matter how much money they have in the bank. Even as they make more and more money, their stress increases, they save less, and their problems just have more zeroes on them.

This is the world of scarcity in which people feel owned by their money instead of feeling powerful as the owner of their money.

You don't have to live like this anymore. Follow these 3 steps today to begin creating a more powerful relationship to your money...to truly own your money:

3 Steps to Improving Your Relationship With Money

Step 1: Identify your relationship to money.

Understand what money means to you. Is it power, control, joy, happiness, freedom, or is it just a way of keeping score? Here are four questions to focus your responses:

• How would you describe your relationship to money and your current money management habits?


• When you hear the words money, wealth, or rich, what comes to mind?


• What did your parents tell you about money?


• How do you currently act with money?

• Supportive beliefs provide encouragement, empowerment and positive feelings.


• Non-supportive beliefs can bring disempowerment, helplessness, hopelessness, and panic.

• If I try and I don't succeed at making money, I'll be a failure.


• I have to work very hard for money and I won't be able to make money doing what I love.


• Making money will take time away from my family and people won't like me.


• I don't deserve to have a lot of money.


• I'll never have enough no matter how much I make.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at www.OwnYourMoney.com.

If you can travel this year, then you should. And this can be the year for you to finally take that dream vacation...

With the combined effect of the economy and the Swine Flu scare, many Americans will be taking their vacations a lot closer to home than in most years... and the same is true for Asians, Russians, Europeans, and everyone else who travels.

What that means for you is that all of the most popular (and most expensive) vacation destinations are going to be less crowded and much, much less expensive this year.

I read an article that said air travel will be up to 20% less expensive this year than last. That's exciting, but I wanted to dig a little bit deeper.

Here's what I found: I can fly return from Boston to Paris with 0 days notice (like, tomorrow) for $447. That seems like a really good deal to me...

And this is where it gets good. Since I like to put my feet up, I thought I'd see what my options were to upgrade to first class. Turns out if I want to fly first class anytime next week it would cost over $3,000.00.

However, for my flight tomorrow, 1st class from Boston to Paris, it will cost me just $640. Oh, the temptation! By the time you're reading this I could be halfway to Paris, sipping a Mimosa...
1st class to Madrid was about the same and I couldn't make up my Mind: France or Spain, 1st class, for under $650.

That's why I'm excited. I think it's a great opportunity right now for those of us who've been doing the right thing... owning our money and working hard... to really enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Of course, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be as careful as we can with our money. So, whether you're joining me in Paris this summer or just heading up to cabin country, please keep these 3 Secrets to Maximizing Your Travel Dollars in Today's Recession in mind:

1. Do some research on prospective destinations for the availability of cheap or free things to do. Check out AAA guides travel websites to get a feel for the lay of the land: Are there attractions, parks, beaches, places to hike and bike at or near where you plan to be?
The key here is to go somewhere that you know has stuff you'll like to do. If you're bored, you'll shop, eat, drink, and spend money.

2. If you're looking to stay a week or more in the same spot, rent a house instead of staying in a hotel. You'll get more space for less money and save a ton on food. There are a number of websites like craigslist with vacation home listings.

3. If money is an issue, be flexible about where- and when- you go. Wait until the last minute to get great deals on unrented vacation houses - there should be a lot of these this year. And you can easily save 50% or more doing it this way.And remember, gas prices aren't expected to spike nearly as high as last year.

That's part of the reason why airline prices will remain low, and it also means you can plan a driving trip without expecting to pay $4/gallon like last year...
Wherever you go, whatever you do...have fun, be safe, and maybe even send me a postcard!

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at www.OwnYourMoney.com.

Did you enjoy tax season this year? How about last year?

If not, I believe that the future is what really matters.

And so the only important question is
Would you like to enjoy tax season next year?

OK, maybe enjoy is too strong a word--so how about if filing your taxes next April is easy and stress-free? Just a few minutes a month, from now until the end of '09, can save you hours of torment and a few bottles of headache remedy next April. Sound good?

The cure for what ails you is NOT at the bottom of an Aspirin bottle-- it's in following the 3 T's of Personal Finance:

• Record how much money is coming in and how much is going out each month. Are you earning more money than you are spending, or are you spending more than you are earning? For an extra gasp, first write down how much you think you are spending each month and then compare it to a recent actual month. The differences are often startling.


• Store your receipts by month or by vendor so they can be easily recalled when you need them.
• And, if you own a small business, it is absolutely crucial that you track your business finances separately from your personal finances.

Did you enjoy tax season this year? How about last year?

And the cure is so easy! Sometimes it just means making the phone calls that need to be made. For example, if you're not using all the minutes on your cell phone plan, then call the company and ask them what they can do.

If you're paying a lot of interest on your credit card debt, you can call them too. One of our clients saved over $33,000 by doing this one tiny little thing. He just picked up the phone, made 3 calls, said what I advised him to say (and not to say), and that was it... $33,000...on credit card debt of less than $18,000!

Besides just taming your expenses, the flip side is also looking at how you can be maximizing your income. Whoever your boss is (yourself or your employer), consider yourself self-employed and look for ways you can be maximizing your value in the marketplace--and getting paid appropriately for it.

I know a woman who didn't find out that she had a tax lien on her house until the IRS agent showed up at her door. Her husband had been sheltering her from their financial problems, but if he had been more open, then she could have helped.

Once you start having a conversation about money, you start to realize that this is something you can gain control over. Now that this couple is communicating about their money through our coaching program, they have caught up two years of reimbursements due to them (over $10,000!), are nearly up to date on all of their bills, and are both so happy to have created a safe space to have conversations about money.

If one good thing comes out of this downturn, it will be that couples and families will start talking about money, get responsible for their finances, and finally own their money.

Follow these simple guidelines: Track your finances, tame your expenses (and increase your income), and talk about your money. You will not only save time, stress, and money come tax time...you'll see a difference as soon as next month!

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at www.OwnYourMoney.com.

A holiday like Valentine’s Day draws attention to the personal relationships in our life. If you're part of a couple, the pressure to celebrate your relationship is intense. If not, the pressure to get into one may seem unbearable. Either way, the common culture of Valentine's Day emphasizes spending, on a significant other or yourself. Why not take the pressure off and re-focus?

Following are some suggestions for a Valentine's Day that's all about love. . .for yourself, your partner and your money.

For couples:

• Budget gourmet: treat each other to a romantic, gourmet meal at home; agree on a single splurge item, and build a simple but elegant meal around it. Or, if "romantic dinner" and "at home" simply don't co-exist for you, check out Restaurant.com to get up to 80% off a restaurant meal.


• Good gifting: if handmade just isn't your style, search coupon aggregating sites such as retailmenot for limited-time deals at your partner's favorite stores.

• Movie night: invite a few friends over for popcorn and your favorite movie. Or if you're set on a night out, try these options for discounted movie tickets:
  
  
  • If you're a member of AAA, take advantage of their discount advance purchase movie ticket program. For details, see http://www.ouraaa.com/discounts/tickets/movie.html.
  
  
  • Consider purchasing the 2009 Entertainment book, which offers unlimited ticket prices of $5 - $6 at most major theatre chains. And right now, the book itself is on sale. . .
  
  
• Spa savvy: pamper yourself with DIY spa treatments, such as those available at www.ivillage.com/health/spafinder, helpfully organized by type of treatment (bath, facial, etc.).

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at www.OwnYourMoney.com.

In the spirit of the holidays, here’s a seasonal entry from the Financial Therapist Dictionary:

“Seasonal Stressing”: (n., condition) frustration resulting from the desire to give holiday gifts beyond your financial ability to do so.

Particularly in these recessionary times, I am not surprised to hear many of you are experiencing some Seasonal Stressing this holiday. The good news is this is a condition that can easily be alleviated with a little re-focus. The holidays will soon be over, along with 2008. Think of the new year as a chance for a new start on your financial future. By committing to a few New Year’s resolutions that you can easily keep, by next year, you’ll have saved all you need for a stress-less holiday season, and give yourself the gift of healthy (and wealthy) money-saving habits.

Resolution #1: Become a savvy saver!

Start by recording all your expenses. Keep a journal for 1 month in which you write down every single payment you make, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. At the end of the month, identify one or two expenses you can easily reduce or live without (perhaps that $5/day latte?). For the rest of the year, take the money you’ve saved and place it in a dedicated savings account. You’ll be surprised at how it adds up!

Resolution #2: Reduce your debt and shore up your credit

Even though new regulations will prevent banks from raising interest rates on existing credit card balances, there has never been a more important time to consolidate and reduce your debt. As you discover what matters most to you and how to save more, you can allocate a portion of your new-found savings to fast-track your credit card debt payoff. Three factors affect the speed at which you can eliminate your balances: interest rate, monthly payment, and total balance. The current crisis is squeezing companies to negotiate down rates to ensure customers can continue to pay. If you continuously only pay the minimum, check the credit card calculator at bankrate.com for your payoff timing. You may be shocked! Instead, pay off any lingering credit card balances by sending in extra payments, starting with the card that has the highest interest rate.

Resolution #3: Enjoy yourself responsibly

Don’t give up everything that makes you happy, or you’ll never stick to your savings and debt-reduction plans. You can indulge on a budget by taking advantage of good deals. Love to dine out? Do it on a discount! We’ve partnered with Restaurant.com to bring you 80% off restaurant meals. Are you a designer diva? Sign up at Shoppittome.com to get bi-weekly notifications when items in your size from your beloved brands go on sale. Check on-line for coupons for your favorite store before you head out the door. Wait for a bargain, and treat yourself to that one item you’ll treasure for years.

Resolution #4: Get the support you need

Achieving your resolutions will be easier if your friends and family understand and support your financial goals. Share with them that you’ll be making changes in your life and you need their encouragement. Find a “money buddy” to join you on your new financial path and set “money dates” with yourself (and your partner) to ensure scheduled time to manage your finances and build your wealth. When you need expert advice to deal with a particular problem or develop a strategic plan, let me know; through OwnYourMoney.com classes, coaching and clubs, we can help you take the steps that will ensure your success. Best wishes for a happy holiday season and a healthy, wealthy New Year!

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at: www.OwnYourMoney.com.

With the flurry of the holiday season, it is easy to overlook some strategic financial housekeeping that can be your present to yourself for years to come. Here are some resources that we have found helpful:

Year-end is in sight . . . Do you have financial housekeeping to do?

Here are some timely tips, and follow this link for the full article:

Review your Benefits ~ Asset Allocation ~ Automate your New Years Resolution ~ Ask for a Budgeting Program ~ Analyze your Debt. Give.

Is now the time to convert from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA?

It very well could be! If you are in a lower tax bracket in 2008 than you expect to be in the future, and especially if you expect to be in a 15% tax bracket for the 2008 tax year, you can use this current market downturn to your advantage by converting a portion (or all) of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA and then letting the market appreciation grow tax-free.

Check out these resources from www.kiplinger.com and my fellow Financial Therapist - Rick Kahler, CFP for more details.

With investments and retirement accounts taking a hit, and the economy continuing it’s (temporary) downward spiral, it’s easy to focus on what we don’t have. . . and what feels like there’s little chance we’ll ever be able to afford. How fortunate that Thanksgiving comes this week, to remind us to be grateful, to reflect upon and appreciate ourselves, our health, our loved ones, and all that we do have.

At Thanksgiving, I am reminded of one of my favorite passages from Jack Canfield’s KEY to Living the Law of Attraction, in which he reminds us to try to be grateful for even the most challenging circumstances in which we find ourselves:

"It is often through these situations, that we experience the most profound spiritual and emotional growth. You can learn to view each apparent obstacle as an opportunity to develop a new quality, strength, skill, insight or wisdom and be grateful for the lessons. Each challenge is an opportunity for growth and expansion. Rise to these occasions, and appreciate all that you are learning in the process.”

Along with that inspiration, I’d like to share a few practical tips that I’m grateful to have learned, and that will help you put money in your pocket as you start into the holiday home stretch.

Save on food and groceries:

• Eat what you have. Open your pantry, throw out anything that’s expired, and make a plan for using the rest before it, too, goes to waste. Pull out your favorite cookbook or search recipes on the internet to get good ideas; you may even find a new favorite!
• Buy what you’ll eat. If you buy 5 pounds of shrimp on sale, but can only eat 2 before they rot, they weren’t a very good bargain.
• Look for value. Is a brand name product really better than a cheaper store or generic brand? Do a taste test; you may be surprised.
• Fake a night out. Use inexpensive home décor, music and lighting to recreate the ambience of your favorite restaurant, right in your own dining room.
• For more savings on groceries, click here for a “Grocery Battle Plan"

Save on clothing:

• Shop your own closet. In the back of your closet are the things you loved, bought, and never wore. Bring them out, figure out how to make them work with your daily standbys, and learn to love them all over again. Try to get a lower “cost per wear” out of everything you have.
• Shop your friends’ closets (with their permission of course). Clothes swaps bring new life to those beautiful clothes that just don’t quite fit as well anymore, and make for a creative girls night in. What is now too big for your friend, may fit you perfectly. Leave with lots of “new-to-you” clothes!
• Ask if there are any sales that would apply to you. I’ve personally saved over $400 in one store on this one!
• Embrace your personal style. This is no time for keeping up with the Joneses (and in truth, even the Joneses are having trouble keeping up). Instead, stick with tried and true pieces that look great on you. If you need to replace something, look for low-priced basics (hello, Target!) and quality on sale. Sign up for sale alerts like shopittome.com, which delivers sale notifications on your selected brands and sizes directly to your inbox, so you know when those perfect black pants are—finally—half-price.
• Don’t buy bargains just because they are bargains. If you wouldn’t want it at full-price, you won’t wear it at half-price.

One thing we all have is the ability to change course, to improve our lives in small and meaningful ways. You can be successful and smart with money, no matter what decisions you have made in the past. Embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving; be thankful that you are alive and that you can learn from your challenges and make a difference in your financial health.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Belinda Fuchs, CPA and Wealth Coach, is the founder and chief money motivator of OwnYourMoney.com and host of Boston's newest TV talk show "Money On Your Mind." If you're ready to make more, save more and stress less about your money, get your FREE money success tips from Belinda now at: www.OwnYourMoney.com.

Reciprocation is hard wired into humanity. It's what makes us so successful as a species. The fact that we feel compelled to offer and return favors and help those in need gives us the virtue of sharing and lending a helping hand. But just because we instinctively reciprocate doesn't necessarily mean we feel grateful. When I was first learning to develop an attitude of gratitude, it was really hard, because at the time I just felt so put-upon all the time. Everything I had to do felt like an obligation. I was in a very poor/poverty based state of mind—hoarding, conserving, and not sharing.

So why is gratitude relevant to “Owning your Money”? Because what we focus on expands. This happens at many different levels of our consciousness and interactions. When we are focused on what we don't have, what we haven't done, or what we want but think we can't get, we start to expand our sense of lack. This causes us to behave in ways that produce even more lack. We withdraw, get stingy, or have an air of desperation about us. These behaviors are like repellent for people and therefore money. They also cause us to make less wise spending, investing, and earning decisions. We're libel to pull our money out of our investments at the wrong time, desperately invest in opportunities without doing our due diligence, or hoard our money and not let it flow and grow.

On the other hand, when we are grateful, we are focused on what we do have. We are open, happy, and radiant. We attract people because they can feel our ease and our sense of abundance. We attract projects, jobs, contracts. We attract smiles, hugs, gifts, and opportunities. And best of all, we feel more relaxed and pleasant, positive and enthusiastic about our lives... so we make our financial decisions from a more grounded and stable frame of mind.

So, how can we enhance our sense of gratitude? We attune our unconscious mind to noticing the gifts in our lives. One very powerful way to do that is to keep a gratitude journal. Get yourself a little notebook from your local stationary supply store, or staple a few sheets of paper together, or start a blog post about it. Start writing in the things you could be grateful for. People you love, places you can enjoy, animals and nature that touch your soul. Material things too. Someone gives you a free treat, write it in. Someone gives you a gift, write it in. You experience something beautiful, or funny, or pleasurable, or fulfilling, write it in. Anything that you receive that you could possibly enjoy, write it in, and say "thank you" for it.

It's actually more important to feel grateful than it is to feel justified. You may have a stack of evidence for why you should be hoarding, miserable or feeling sorry for yourself. What we're working towards here is to build the other side of the case. Create a stack of evidence for why you could be feeling good about your life. Either way is just a choice anyway, so, rather than the one that shuts you down, why not make the choice that supports your well being?

Thank you for reading this, and thank you to Belinda for publishing it. Thank you to my computer for functioning well so I could type this. Thank you to my teachers who gave me the knowledge to write this. Thank you to the Creative Force that gave me this desire to help people. Thank you to nature for sustaining my life. Thank you thank you thank you...

Scott Mooney
Emotional Freedom and Personal Breakthrough Coach
Time heals all, EFT heals it faster.
519.766.4680
Email: scott@moon-man.com
Website: www.CoachWithScott.com
Blog: www.EFTwithScott.com

Now is the time to GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASSETS.

Loral Langemeier, New York Times best selling author and the Dr. Phil Show's "Money Expert," has outdone herself this time with her new multi-media book--GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASSETS.

In her latest book, Loral teaches you how to achieve your own financial freedom--uncover your talents, turn those talents into value, leverage that value by enrolling resources, and connect those resources with opportunities. Loral and I agree on the importance of "owning your money" and how wealth building can be in your control, even in this economy.

Get Off Your Lazy Assets is being delivered in an amazing multimedia book format you have never seen before. It is an interactive learning tool that will propel your natural talents into cash assets. The methods are clear, concise, and organic--it's like downloading the information right to your brain.

Click here to get your free chapter of Get Off Your Lazy Assets.

Click here to buy Get Off Your Lazy Assets NOW for only $24.95.

With your purchase you will also receive a special bonus from OwnYourMoney.com.

Here are some more great links to keep you informed and up-to-date:

• The Debt Diet: Ways to Trim Unsightly Bills
• You’ve Been Laid Off; here’s what to do next
• Newly Out of a Job? Here's How To Replace the Health Benefits
• 12 Ways to Save Money on Life's Necessities - Dolans.com

With benefits selection time around the corner for many employees, now’s the time to ask about and take advantage of non-standard benefits in your company’s plan. Beyond medical, dental and basic life, your employer may be offering cost-saving options for lifestyle, commuting, retirement and health that can help you save and spend wisely. And if not, your HR department may be willing to discuss adding some of the following options. This year, find out which benefits are hiding in your company closet and put them in your own back pocket!

401(k) plan
A 401(k) is a retirement plan that allows you to put a percentage of your pre-tax income into a pre-selected qualified investment fund or set of funds. Many employers will match your contribution up to a certain percentage—this is essentially “free” money adding to your overall compensation package, so be sure to contribute up to the maximum percentage that is matched and you can comfortably afford. By investing in a 401(k), you’re investing in the markets and there is risk that your contribution could shrink in a market downturn. However, if you’re still several years away from retirement, a 401(k) remains an excellent long-term investment vehicle. Seek investment advice when making your 401(k) elections so you can make choices that suit your risk profile.

Flex spending account
Also known as Section 125 plans, these accounts let you put aside pre-tax money (deducted from each paycheck) for specific types of expenses, most typically health and dependent-care related costs. By paying for these expenses with pre-tax earnings, you’re trimming your tax bill, and the actual bite to your paycheck will be less than the amount you set aside. But before signing up, be wary! Many of these plans are “use-it-or-lose-it” within 12 months (or another predetermined timeframe), so only set aside an amount you’re sure to spend in that time. About.com is a good source for more information.

Workplace wellness refers to a program designed to encourage healthy behaviors and reduce health risks (with the intent of reducing disability considerations for the employer). These may include health education (smoking-cessation, stress-reduction, nutrition), screenings, preventative treatments (such as flu shots) and incentives such as Virgin HealthMiles that offer rewards for engaging in athletic pursuits. Other wellness programs may offer discounted gym memberships or workplace-sponsored athletic activities and clubs.

Contact Mari Ryan at Advancing Wellness for a complete assessment of your employees’ interests and needs, and a custom designed wellness program for your company. In the Boston metro area, Kendra Strasburg of Health is Wealth offers a fresh approach to diet and nutrition, including tailored corporate programs.

Employee assistance program (EAP)
An EAP is a confidential opt-in program offering counseling and practical advice to help employees resolve personal concerns that may affect job performance, health and wellbeing, including substance abuse, marital or family problems, major life changes, or grief. For short-term counseling or advice on getting longer-term care, EAPs can be a valuable resource.

Commuter Benefits
Pre-tax commuter benefits may be offered to alleviate the cost of taking public transportation or parking to get to and from work; there are a variety of options that employees can elect to take advantage of this benefit by using a debit card, voucher or transit authority pass. Also, as a result of the recent passage of the Bicycle Commuter Act, employers may also allow their employees to use pre-tax monies to pay for reasonable expenses related to their bike commute. The Commuter Check programs save employees up to 40% on their commuting costs, while saving employers approximately 8% on payroll taxes. If you want to bring these services to your office, contact Jason Hancock of Accor Services at (857) 228-1462 or by email.

Maybe you can cut out commuting costs altogether. With telecommuting, employees work from home or at an alternative work site for part of the week, staying connected to the office via telephone and computer. Some employers even provide office equipment for home use.

Tuition assistance/reimbursement
Want to go back to school, but simply can’t afford it? A 1999 survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management indicated that approximately 90 percent of employers offer financial assistance to their workforce in the form of tuition assistance or related practices such as on-site training and admission into professional seminars and/or conferences. To ensure a return on their investment, most companies tie tuition reimbursement to passing grades and a commitment to stay after graduation, so you have to apply yourself; this isn’t a completely free ride.

Financial Counseling
Recently, we’ve seen increased interest from companies who want to offer our OwnYourMoney.com services, sometimes along with financial advisers, to their employees. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, they’re not alone. One of the newest benefits trends is offering financial counseling to help employees through challenging times. If your company would like to offer this benefit, please contact us, and follow this link to check out our corporate offerings.

Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” So take action today, by asking your HR department what is available to you and maximize your hidden benefits.

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