LOOK : STOP : ASK
We've all been there when emotions get the better of us and we make a spontaneous decision to invest in something that in hindsight was not so great.
I've done this buying a sports car that I didn't need or want (twice), 14 multi-level marketing businesses, a timeshare (don't ever buy one of these), and properties in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina just before the 2007-2009 global economic crash caused by an obscure credit derivative known as CDOs.
There are 6 main reasons why we make bad decisions according to this Harvard Business Review article: decision fatigue, distraction, lack of input, multi-tasking, emotions, and analysis paralysis.
So, when you are tempted by something you see or hear, and it's really expensive, just say STOP - who can I ASK for advice?
Then think of me, shoot over a quick email, or give me a call before you make an emotional buying decision.
Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success (Psalm 15:22 NLT).
EASYJET FLIGHTS UNDER €30
The purpose for creating and working on your desired lifestyle is about having options.
The mantra of my mentor Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, is this: I work because I choose to, not because I have to.
In between work-related projects, we explore the world, but we are always mindful of keeping expenses to a reasonable level.
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
This means that we mostly travel off-season for the lowest prices and are always on the lookout for special travel deals.
While traveling through Europe, Steve discovered EasyJet and why Europeans travel so much.
Airfare within Europe is significantly lower than traveling through North America.
AGODA OR PRICELINE: NOT BOTH
While traveling to Japan last year, we learned a lesson about booking hotels through Agoda and Priceline: use one or the other, not both.
Priceline bought Agoda in 2007, but their internal systems don't communicate with each other.
Checking into one of the hotels was a two hour ordeal because the reservations for 12 people had been canceled.
Every call made to Agoda was forwarded to Priceline who referred the matter back to Agoda, and so on.
This is because the original booking was made on Priceline then canceled when a better deal popped up on Agoda, but for whatever reason, the Agoda reservation went missing.
Finally, we just paid for the rooms to get the family checked in and the rooms were so small that our suitcases barely fit into a room.
The next morning, I found an envelope under our door, with a request to come to the front desk as soon as possible.
It seems they found our reservations to the upgraded rooms and with profuse Japanese apologies, gifted everyone access to their $50 per person buffet.
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