If Your New Years Resolution Is To Lose Weight - Check This Out

The 51 fastest fat burners

By Kate Ashford, Health.com

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(Health.com) -- Erase extra flab with these super-effective tricks.

IN THE GYM

1. Catch the running bug. You'll continue to burn fat after your jog: People who run for at least four hours a week melt more calories than non-runners, even when they're not running, a Yale University School of Medicine study reports.

2. Crank it up early. Working out harder during the first half of your workout and taking it easier during the second burns up to 23 percent more fat than doing the opposite, according to a study from The College of New Jersey.

3 & 4. Go hard -- and make it quick. Staying at 80 percent of your max heart rate for 40 minutes can amp your metabolism for 19 hours afterward, research published in Obesity notes. And doing a shorter workout at 75 percent of your max aerobic capacity will give you a greater metabolic boost than sweating longer at 50 percent, a Colorado State University reveals.

5 to 7. Lift dumbbells ... slowly. More muscle equals mega metabolism boost. Strength training can help you trim major fat, research reveals -- and doing super-slow (versus normal speed) reps increases strength by 50 percent.

Plus, using dumbbells activates more muscle fibers than using machines, explains Gregory Haff, Ph.D., an associate professor in the exercise physiology department at West Virginia University.

8. Speed up, slow down. Alternating bouts of high-intensity and low-intensity cardio has been shown to torch pounds.

9. Put on weight (literally). Wearing a weighted vest (about 10 percent of your body weight) while walking can boost your calorie burn by 8 percent.

10. Download Rihanna, not Brahms. Listening to up-tempo songs actually makes you run faster and harder than listening to slower-paced music, British scientists say.

11. Let kettlebells ring. Not only does working out with kettlebells build muscle, but doing it for 20 minutes burns as many calories as running at a 6-minute-mile pace for the same amount of time.

12. Keep it up. As few as 80 minutes a week of aerobic or weight training helps keep you from regaining belly fat after losing weight, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

13. Add poles. Use Nordic poles while you walk, and you'll burn 20 percent more calories, says research from The Cooper Institute in Dallas.

14 & 15. Lift first, nix the rest. Doing strength training before cardio can torch more fat than cardio alone. And if you do one move after another without pausing, "you'll see more gains in strength and muscle mass," says Dr. Pierre Manfroy, M.D., consultant for the book "100 Ways to Supercharge Your Metabolism."

16. Add pounds. Lift heavier weights for fewer reps to make your workout more intense -- and burn more fat -- Manfroy says.

17. Try aromatherapy. Exercisers who inhaled strawberry and buttered-popcorn scents torched more calories than those who sniffed neutral odors, according to research from the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.

18. Box yourself in. Wii boxing knocks out nearly twice as many calories as some other games, like Wii golf.

19. Kick it. Playing soccer not only torches more fat and builds more muscle than jogging, but it feels less tiring, Danish research reveals.

20. Stay in shape. Fit people have more fat-burning metabolites in their blood than couch potatoes do, scientists say.

IN THE KITCHEN

22. Get more protein. Eating a protein-packed breakfast and lunch helps you burn more post-meal fat than if you eat lower-protein meals, according to Australian research.

23 & 24. Guzzle green tea -- or coffee. Downing five 5-ounce cups of green tea a day boosts metabolism, says Lyssie Lakatos, R.D., author of "Fire Up Your Metabolism." Two cups of coffee will also do the trick, one study shows.

25. Have an omelet. Eating two eggs for breakfast while dieting will help you trim more weight and body fat than if you ate the same amount of calories noshing on a bagel, scientists say.

26. Stay above 1,200 calories... "The average person's body goes into starvation mode if she eats fewer than 1,200 calories a day," says Eric Berg, author of "The 7 Principles of Fat Burning." "That's stress, and stress creates more belly fat."

27. ... and cut calories gradually. If you diet, don't trim more than 250 calories a day. Cutting calories too quickly slows your metabolism down, Dr. Manfroy says.

28 to 33. Munch on these. Almonds, cherries, yogurt, grapefruit, whole grains, and spicy foods have all been shown to torch fat.

34. Fuel up right. Eating a low-glycemic-index breakfast (such as muesli and peaches) will help you burn more fat during a subsequent workout than eating a high-glycemic-index meal (like waffles), researchers from the University of Nottingham reveal.

35. Think before you drink. Sipping as few as 90 calories' worth of vodka can slow your metabolism by 73 percent, one study shows.

36. Graze. Women who go without eating for long periods are more likely to have higher body-fat percentages than women who nosh more regularly, one study notes.

37. Dine like a Greek. Eating a diet rich in monounsaturated fat (think olive oil, avocados) can help trim both weight and fat, research published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows.

38. Stop gorging. Your body can only handle so much food at a time, so stick to 600 calories or less per meal to maximize fat-burning, says Leslie Cooper, co-author of "Flip the Switch: Proven Strategies to Fuel Your Metabolism and Burn Fat 24 Hours a Day."

39. Skip juice. Reaching for an apple instead of apple juice is not only better calorie-wise, but it'll also do a better job of boosting your metabolism, Dr. Manfroy explains.

IN YOUR LIFE

41 & 42. Get C and D. Vitamin C can help you burn more fat, and D may help you lose fat, research notes. Aim for 400 to 500 mg of C and 800 mg of D a day.

43 & 44. Walk more (in denim). Researchers found that fitness-friendly offices (think treadmill desks, mobile headsets) helped people trim pounds and fat, as did wearing jeans to work, since dressing casual encourages you to move more. Wear comfy clothes when you can, pace while on the phone, and stand while chatting with co-workers.

45. Add fish oil (And work out). Taking 6 grams of fish oil per day and hitting the gym three times a week can help nix body fat, an Australian study reveals.

46. Work the day shift. Keeping nontraditional hours lowers levels of hormones that trigger satiety, increases blood glucose and insulin levels, and raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol (which can drive you to eat more), scientists say.

47. Nix the boob tube. Cut your TV time in half, and you'll burn more calories each day, research from the University of Vermont suggests.

48. Go mental. People who visualized themselves training a specific muscle boosted the strength in that muscle group, researchers found.

49. Eat a smaller dinner. Your body may not digest food -- and burn fat -- as efficiently if you down a huge meal right before bedtime, especially because your metabolism is slower while you sleep, Dr. Manfroy says.

50. Jump-start your morning. Wake up your metabolism -- and get fat-burning started -- by doing some sort of exercise within the first few hours of being awake, Cooper suggests.

51. Get your snooze on. Sleep for a solid 81D 2 hours instead of 51D 2, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, and you'll lose more fat. Sweet dreams!

Life Lessons

Ten Life Lessons from Richard Branson

Richard Branson clearly knows a thing or two about success. At 20, he started a mail order shop, and opened a recording studio a short while later. Now, the Virgin brand boasts dozens of companies and Branson’s net worth is estimated to be more than 3 billion pounds sterling.

As well as immense business success, Branson has personally broken a number of world records for high-speed boat and balloon journeys.

Often witty, always insightful, here are some choice Branson quotes to ponder. Motivation often comes from unique places so if one of these strikes a chord, use it!

1. "Ridiculous yachts and private planes and big limousines won't make people enjoy life more."

   
   I suppose we all know deep down that money won’t make us happy. Of course, money is nice – it brings freedom and opportunities and can be a wonderful recourse. It can contribute to happiness, even. But happiness itself is another thing – it’s independent of anything else. Buddha wrote, ‘there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.’

2. "I enjoy every single minute of my life."

   
   For me, this is the most important thing to remember. When you’re enjoying what you do, you’re more likely to do it well and to be successful. Enjoying every situation is an art, a skill, and can be developed. Maybe it comes naturally to some people, but for most of us, it takes a little practice. But believe me, it will make an enormous difference to the quality of your life.

3. "But the majority of things that one could get stressed about, they’re not worth getting stressed about."

   
   I read somewhere that the most common ‘commandment’ given in the bible is not to worry. Being stressed and worried about things is just a waste of energy – it never helps. I highly recommend Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. It contains invaluable, practical advice for those of us inclined to worry about things.

4. "You can’t be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them."

   
   Obviously, we live in a social world, and it is almost impossible to physically cut yourself off from other people. But, how we interact with others is vitally important to our happiness and success. Getting along with people – allowing them to be themselves, bringing out the best, encouraging them – these are the hallmarks of good leaders and good friends.

5. "There is no one to follow, there is nothing to copy."

   
   Life is always fresh and new. We are always on the leading edge, and the successes of the future will not rely on old ways of doing things. Thinking outside the box, embracing change, innovating, taking risks – these are the hallmarks of success in all facets of life.

6. "I can honestly say that I have never gone into any business purely to make money. If that is the sole motive, then I believe you are better off doing nothing."

   
   Money is a by-product. It is not a goal in itself. Those who simply chase money end up with nothing of true value, because money in itself does not add anything to life. Money cannot buy the things that matter most in people – wisdom, serenity, leadership, happiness.

7. "I never had any intention of being an entrepreneur."

   
   Funny how things turn out! We certainly need to know where we are going in life, but we also need to remain open to new possibilities. Things have a tendency to change and if we are prepared to sail with the wind, and not fight against it, life can take us on wonderful adventures, and we can end up in the most magical places. I can attest to this in my own life, as I’m sure many readers can.

8. "I made and learned from lots of mistakes."

   
   How else can we learn? Think back to when you learned any new skill – driving a car, cooking, learning a language. Of course you messed it up! Taking risks, trying new things, learning – these things always involve making mistakes. So don’t fear mistakes – be proud of them!

9. "If you can indulge in your passion, life will be far more interesting than if you're just working."

   
   Someone said that if you enjoy your job, you’ll never have to work another day. Not everyone can go out and ‘indulge their passion’ right away, but there is good to found in all jobs, and if we focus on the good things, looking for that which is pleasing and which, perhaps, we can influence, it will expand. This kind of proactively is the basis of Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, another book I highly recommend.

10. "Right now I'm just delighted to be alive and to have had a nice long bath.

    
    This quote reminds me of a scene from the wonderful British comedy movie, Clockwise. John Cleese’s character is trying to get to a conference but, after many trials and tribulations, he ends up stranded in a monastery. Sitting in a room with a monk, covered in mud, clothes torn, he asks, ‘what should I do?’ The monk simply replies: ‘Have a bath, perhaps?’
    
    We can be so focused on the big picture stuff that we forget that life is a series of moments, each of which has its simple pleasures. Whatever life brings, it is good to be thankful for the many little pleasures each day has to bring.

‘When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love’ (Marcus Aurelius)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written on 11/24/2010 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com or by subscribing to his feed.

Soup Du Jour - Interview With One Of Our Top Employees

Name: Joshua

Position:  Assistant Manager

Where are you from:  Andover, MA

 

What’s your favorite part of working with Premier Management Group? The great group of people that I work with.

How do you feel you have grown since joining Premier Management Group?  I have grown in every aspect, maturing on a personal and professional lever while learning what I’m truly capable of.

 

What do you feel has been the key to your success thus far?  The key to my success has been my unrelenting drive to accomplish my goals no matter what obstacles I face.

What’s your favorite hobby?  My favorite hobby is playing basketball.

What are your goals for the future?

                Short Term?  I would like to be promoted to manager by March 2011.

                Long Term? I will be a millionaire by age 30 and retire by age 40.

A fun fact about yourself?  My nickname in college was Glove.

Motto in Life?  “Live every moment to its fullest and you’ll never have regrets”

Work Harder

Six Ways to Trick Yourself into Working Harder

I suspect that, like me, you've had times when you've thought if only I could work a bit harder...

Maybe you're worried that your only claim to fame is going to be "World's Greatest Procrastinator" or "Biggest Farmville Addict". You've got some great dreams and ambitions – but you secretly doubt whether you can work hard enough to achieve them.

I've got good news for you. There are a bunch of great little tricks you can use to encourage yourself to work harder. No sweat, no tears.

These aren't just for your paid work or your small business: they work for any goal you have in mind, like losing weight or quitting smoking.

1. Use Your Competitive Spirit
   I've got a huge competitive streak. Give me someone to compete against, and I'll find reserves of energy and motivation that I never knew I had.
   
   You might well be wired the same. Perhaps you love the idea of competitions like National Novel Writing Month (just rope in your friends and see if you can beat them to 50,000 words) or maybe you'd be great at losing weight if you were competing with your partner.
   
   Look for a way to turn your work into a competition: this could be something informal with your friends, a competition that you find online, or even something you start up yourself.
2. Tell Yourself "I'm Just Going To..."
   You're keen to write a book. The problem is, you never feel like starting. Every weekend, you promise yourself you'll spend two hours on it ... but somehow, you never find the time and energy.
   
   Instead of trying to make a huge commitment, start ridiculously small. Tell yourself "I'm just going to open up the document," or "I'm just going to spend five minutes writing." Usually, you'll find that initial resistance vanishes once you get going.
   
   This works for almost any goal, too:
   
   • "I'm just going to tidy this one shelf."
     
   • "I'm just going to put my jogging kit on."
     
   • "I'm just going to pick up my guitar."
3. Set a Timer (and Try to Beat It)
   This is one of my favorite methods at the moment (I've got a timer running as I type this!) When you want to squeeze out a bit more work in a bit less time, one of the best ways is to race against the clock.
   
   Give yourself a challenge: if you think that cleaning the kitchen will take a half an hour, set your timer for twenty-five minutes.
   
   Using a timer encourages you to stay focused – partly because you know that time is ticking away, but also because you know that after half an hour (or whatever), you'll be done!
4. Listen to Music (Fast or Focused)
   If you exercise regularly, you'll probably know already how useful music can be. A fast paced, powerful album can get you working harder in the gym than you'd otherwise manage.
   
   The same goes for almost any work that you're doing. If you're trying to power through your emails or get your filing done, fast and energetic music can help you feel awake and energized.
   
   For more cerebral tasks – like writing, designing, programming – you might prefer music which helps you to feel calm and focused. I won't give specific recommendations as my tastes in music may be very different from yours: experiment, and see what works best for you.
5. Be Accountable to Other People
   Have you ever worked hard just because you knew someone else would be checking in with you? Perhaps you hired a personal trainer who asked about what you'd eaten during the week, or maybe you worked with a life coach who helped you set specific goals.
   
   Accountability is a really powerful motivator. It can be incredibly simple to put in place, too: perhaps you're planning to do a certain amount of work on a website you're designing, so you put a quick message on Twitter or Facebook to say what you're working on. You'll find that you want to do the work because the world is watching! It's a great feeling when you can let your friends know that you did do what you said you were going to do.
   
   You can go further with accountability, too; perhaps setting up a small, focused group of friends or colleagues who meet regularly to discuss progress and future goals. By being accountable to one another for the work you're putting in, you'll all find that you're more motivated and focused.
6. Give Yourself Rewards
   Although completed work is often a reward in itself, it's sometimes the case that the pay-off seems a good distance away. If you're dieting in the hopes of being at your ideal weight in a year's time, then it's hard to stay motivated from week to week.
   
   By giving yourself small rewards, you can make difficult tasks seem much more desirable. If you promise yourself a long bath after you've cleaned out the garage, or a new video game once you've lost 15lbs, then you've got a short-term reason to keep going.
   
   (You can even combine this with some of the other tricks – like competing in a competition which has a prize as the reward, or asking a friend to take custody of your reward until you've done the work that you've committed to.)

Do you have any extra tricks to add? If so, share them with us in the comments!

Written on 11/16/2010 by Ali Luke.

Lessons From Isaac Newton

5 Amazing Lessons from Sir Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. He is considered by many scholars to be one of the most influential people in the history of the world.

His Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Latin for "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy"; usually called the Principia), which was published in 1687, is probably the most important scientific book ever written! In this book, Newton described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion, which dominated the scientific view of the physical universe for the next three centuries.

Newton was responsible for building the first practical telescope and developed a theory of color based on the observation that a prism decomposes white light into the many colors that form the visible spectrum.

Newton also formulated an empirical law of cooling as well as studied the speed of sound.

Newton was also very religious. He was an unorthodox Christian, and during his life he actually wrote more on Biblical hermeneutics and religious studies than on science and mathematics, the subjects he is primarily known for.

5 Amazing Lessons from Isaac Newton:

1. Patiently Think
   
   

   “If I have done the public any service, it is due to my patient thought.”

   
   We don’t spend enough time patiently thinking! Albert Einstein said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” If you would just block out some time daily to “think,” you could solve many of your problems. …You could even solve some of the world’s problems.
2. Labor to be Tactful
   

   “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.”

   
   Solomon said, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” We can all polish up on our tact, our diplomacy, our discretion, our delicacy, and our gracefulness. Solomon went on to say, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances,” labor to be tactful in all you do.
3. Build Bridges
   
   

   “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”

   
   Tony Robbins said, “The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.” This is why you must spend your time building bridges instead of walls. When we “build bridges” we are literally building a better life. When we build walls, we are stagnating our own growth. Joseph F. Newton said, “People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.”
4. Chase after Knowledge
   
   

   “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”

   
   There’s no need to recreate the wheel. To make progress all you must do is to build on what others have already done. Commence by learning what others know.
   
   When you chase after knowledge, you strategically position yourself on the shoulders of giants; you are then able to see what others can’t see.
5. Pursue Truth
   
   

   “A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding.”

   
   We must pursue “truth!” There’s an anonymous quote that goes, “The truth is heavy, therefore few care to carry it.” Be one of those few who pursue truth both night and day. Blaise Pascal said, “Once your soul has been enlarged by truth, it can never return to its original size.”

Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along!

Written on 11/1/2010 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com or by subscribing to his feed.

Seven Steps To Increasing Your Financial Peace

Financial peace. Those are two words that don’t typically go together. Money struggles often consume our lives…daily. For example, over 61% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, meaning one job loss, vehicle meltdown, or sickness could send most people spiraling out of control financially. This doesn’t have to be case though. If you desire to strengthen your financial position and experience calm, then here are 7 tips that will enhance your financial peace.

1. Educate Yourself
   Perhaps not intuitively obvious, but educating yourself can do wonders for increasing your financial peace. Here’s why: many of us have never been taught personal finance. As a result, few of us have a strong basis in it. Some of the financial anxiety that we experience is the consequence of uncertainty and misinformation. If you read even three books on personal finance, you will often understand the mechanics infinitely better than so many people. That’s certainly not because three books is a magic number (although it is a great start!), but rather it’s a reflection of the general disinterest in or even intimidation by the subject. By learning more about personal finance you will:
   
   
   • Decrease your general fear
   • Become more discriminating about what you hear and read
   • Gain more confidence in your ability to handle your family’s finances
   • Become a resource for your family and friends
2. Live on a Budget
   Yes, it’s the dreaded B-word. Budgets are a tremendously powerful tool for achieving financial peace. Your written budget is you telling your money how to behave instead of your money dictating your life. This is critical. So many financial failures are the result of lack of proper prioritization. How else do you explain people who are foreclosed on but wear designer duds? Some people will pay Visa before they pay their electric bills just because Visa has a more aggressive collections division. That’s not in the right order.
   
   Of course, you want to pay everything that you can, but if the resources are tight, you must develop a plan to derive the greatest benefit from your available dollars. Alternatively, some people who have excess funds believe that budgeting is only done to get out of a financial bind. Unfortunately, it really doesn’t matter whether you make $40,000 or $400,000 per year, you can still be broke without a plan. That’s exactly what a budget is: a plan for your money.
3. Have an Emergency Fund
   Your emergency fund is a critical component for your financial peace. It essentially puts distance between you and costly life events. For example, you can imagine that having a sudden and unexpected failure in your HVAC can run you several thousand dollars. If you have already allocated funds for an emergency, although the repair will be aggravating, you’ll be able to make it just fine.
   
   Typically, a fully funded emergency fund consists of 3-6 months worth of expenses. Of course, if you know of an imminent emergency, the fund can be increased. This money should be liquid: easily accessible without penalty. This is important because many will borrow on a credit card in an emergency to avoid the penalty of cashing out a c.d. or a selling stock during a down market.
   
   Remember, it’s not an issue of “will an emergency happen?” but rather “when will an emergency occur?” An emergency fund helps you be prepared!
4. Track Expenses
   Do you know how much you spend on clothes and groceries annually? According to Thomas Stanley (The Millionaire Next Door), most millionaires do. It is important to know where your dollars are going to see if you are sticking to your plan and if not why? It could be that the plan is unreasonable or incomplete and needs to be adjusted. Knowing your expenses can tremendously decrease your stress over money because you know in advance your household operating costs. Running an economically productive house is one of the hallmarks of millionaires. Not only is it hard to assess productivity without tracking your expenses, without looking at your numbers it’s hard to plan for the future. Thomas Stanley said it this way: “most millionaires look to the future. They are very likely to compute the lifetime costs and benefits of various activities that have some potential in saving money. This type of behavior is a high correlate of accumulating wealth…” There’s no need to become obsessive, but do educate yourself with your real numbers. This is one of your best opportunities to grab hold of your household finances.
5. Plan Big Expenses
   Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries come at the same time every year, so plan for them financially! Big expenses that aren’t a surprise should be planned for, so that your emergency fund and budget can remain intact. It is no fun to still be paying for Christmas into February, yet without a plan it is certainly possible.
   
   According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spend an estimated $832 on average for gifts, food, and decorations each Christmas. That means that it is prudent to anticipate such costs and adjust your household budget accordingly. Planning decreases stress because you focus your energy on solving a problem rather than being caught off guard.
   
   Dr. Steven Covey’s classic discussion of the Time Quadrant is relevant here. He clearly distinguishes between “urgent” and “important” tasks. For optimal performance, you should focus your effort on non-urgent, important tasks. If you value your holidays and celebrations, why not plan for them in advance (while non-urgent) to make sure that they are stress-free successes.
6. Money Ratios
   Managing your money ratios well is among the most important things one can do financially and can substantially contribute to your financial peace. In his book Your Money Ratios: 8 Simple Tools for Financial Security, Chris Farrell discusses eight of the most important money ratios. Here are some that you should consider monitoring.
   
   
   • The Savings Ratio – What percentage of your income do you save? This should at least be 12% and typically increases as we age. (It’s okay if you are not there yet, but it’s something to be working towards). Chris says the savings rate should be 15% by the time you are 45, but I personally think that is too low. It is a great start though!
   • The Capital to Income Ratio – How productive are you at accumulating wealth? Your capital ratio to income ratio is your: Net worth (not including home equity) / annual income. Prodigious accumulators of wealth typically are worth (excluding homes) at least twelve times their income by age sixty five. If you are closer to 40, then Chris argues you should have 2.4 times your income.
   • The Debt to Income Ratio – Are you over-leveraged overall? This ratio will tell you. Now ideally, you should be working aggressively towards becoming debt free (discussed later); however, if you want to know where you stand, calculate this ratio.
   • The Mortgage to Income Ratio – Do you want (or have) too much house for your income? In Will Mortgage Rates Really Drop to 0%?, I discuss two formulas that you can use to gauge where your house falls with respect to fiscal conservatism.
   • Life Insurance Value- Financial ruin can occur in less than 24 hours. Is your family protected from financial crisis? In 5 ways to protect your cash flow like the rich, I discuss five vital but often overlooked types of insurance that you should seriously consider.
7. Eliminate Debt
   More than anything, I believe eliminating debt can dramatically enhance your peace. It is so easy to spend your entire life working for the bank. While you are mired in debt, the creditors are getting rich and simultaneously diminishing your chances of achieving financial independence. Your debts are their assets, and every penny spent on interest goes towards making them wealthier. This is why 75% of the 400 richest Americans (Forbes 400) believe that "the best way to build wealth is to become and stay debt-free."
   
   By avoiding and eliminating your debt, you place yourself in an awesome position to build wealth because you are no longer borrowing from tomorrow’s prosperity to finance today. Even if you made the median income in North America, which is $50,000, with no debt and reasonable expenses, you could build some substantial wealth over the long-term. More importantly, because you have no debt, your expenses are significantly lower. Your dollars go a whole lot further when you don’t have to pay Master Card, Discover, GMAC, and Sallie Mae. Quite simply, becoming debt free can revolutionize your finances.

In aggregate, I have outlined 7 ways to tremendously increase your financial peace. Financial peace doesn’t have to be elusive. It’s totally achievable and with some work. Remember, these wise words from Thomas Paine.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

Written on 11/7/2010 by Roshawn Watson. Roshawn writes at Watson Inc. on eliminating debt, investing money, and building wealth. Get my free eBook Your Foundation to Wealth by signing up for my email updates (no spam I promise). Get my RSS feed and connect with me on Twitter @roshawnwatson too.