Miata Adventures

John Garett asked:


Mazda Miata is one of the more admired sports vehicles on the road nowadays. Since its introduction, the Miata has captured the hearts of numerous automobile owners and drivers. And since this sports vehicle has entered the vehicle market, the roadster-type of automobiles has gained prominence yet again. Miata has revived the interest on the roadster notion, with the other car manufacturers introducing their own roadster like the MG F and the third-generation Toyota MR2. Technically, a roadster is a label that is used to consult a two-seater car without a permanent top and without roll up windows, together with a windshield that is bolted on rather than integrated as in contemporary cars. Bottom-line is, the Miata roadster is not just about performance but is also about style. With these things going for the Miata, drivers must see to it and ensure that only real Mazda Miata Parts are used and installed in the said car. These parts are the key to the fantastic performance and the cool style of the Miata roadster. The Mazda Miata Parts and accessories are crafted to render only premium quality service and dependable performance. Performance-smart, the Mazda Miata can always be relied upon on the road. Now, in order for the Miata to perform its role all the time, it is vital that the best parts and accessories be fitted and installed on this roadster. Miata is a small roadster as envisioned by its manufacturer, having a minimal weight and mechanical complexity, technologically contemporary and exemplifying the British roadsters of mature. The design and engineering that goes with the Miata incorporates a traditional front engine, a rear-wheel-drive layout, and a four-wheel independent double wishbone suspension. The Miata roadster has a longitudinally-mounted four-cylinder engine that is coupled with a manual transmission, although an automatic transmission is also a cost option. Its body is a conventional but a very light uni-body shell. This roadster incorporates a unique truss work called the Poweplant Frame which connects the engine to the differential, minimizing flex and creating a tight and a responsive feel. This engineering and design help make the Miata roadster stand out from remainder. Aside from the performance that is expected from the Miata, it is also a automobile of style. Sporty looks and sophistication are just two of the key attributes that will help describe the Miata. If drivers want to pay attention to these details and want the best performance coming from the Miata no matter what the road conditions are, it is a must that only real and quality-made Mazda Miata Parts and accessories should be installed in this roadster. Using poorly-crafted parts and accessories will only compromise the performance of this sports automobile on and off the road. There may also come a time when any of the parts of the Miata may fail due to some reasons or road pressure. When this happens, Miata owners must act swift and replace it with a dependable Mazda Miata Piece. When looking for replacement or upgrade parts, much consideration must be given to the materials used in the crafting of the parts, the engineering, and the manufacturer.



Pet Care Items

Miata Edoga asked:


We all have a list of things we “should” do – stabilize our check book, take that class, read that book, call that casting director – yet somehow most of these things remain undone. We know that our life would improve if we were to complete these tasks, and we know that we feel a continuous level of concern around not doing them. Yet, somehow, they keep getting pushed off.

The justification, I believe, for our procrastination in areas where we know it is hurting us is dread: fear of not succeeding (what if I call that casting director and they blow me off; or if, even worse, they are impolite to me?), dread of what we will find (what if I stabilize my accounts and find out that I am living above my means each month? I would have to actually address the issue, instead of sticking my head further into the sand), and so on. The predicament is that, fundamentally, the dread we feel at the conception of addressing the issue is less than the discomfort we currently feel by avoiding it.

We’ve all done it. In terms of your finances, it is horrible knowing that you are falling short $500 per month on your living expenses. It is distant easier to avoid the issue, and continue to live in the fantasy world of “when I get my immense break, then it will all be OK,” than it is actually go to work solving the dilemma. (For help with this, email us at info@abundancebound.com with “Chart of Expenses in the subject line. We will send you a detailed excel spreadsheet to get you started on the process.)

With regards to your acting career, it is easier to have the mentality of “I’m so good, they should be looking for me” than it is to pound the pavement, make those phone calls, take those classes and so on.

Now, does that mean that we shouldn’t take the time to establish and write down our goals, both financial and creative? Of course not. But as long as we are living in the space of “I really should do those things” we will never get any closer to actually achieving them, or getting the benefits that come with their accomplishment. Anthony Robbins, a well-known speaker and author, says:

“If you don’t take action on something you want, you are merely stating a preference.”

In other words, you can say that you want to be a direct on a nighttime drama, or have sufficient passive income to cover all your living expenses, or be featured regularly on SNL. If you aren’t out there actually gathering those casting directors, or learning about investments, or honing those comedy skills, your words are practically meaningless.

We have all heard, at one time or another, that knowledge is power. It isn’t. If it were, librarians and academics would dash the world. What is really the case is that applied knowledge is power. We can know everything we need to do to alter our situation, but, until taking action becomes a must, we will do nothing and therefore, accomplish nothing.

No-where is this clearer than in our finances. Consider these examples. Anyone that has been reading these newsletters for long knows the importance of establishing a wealth account and developing the custom of paying yourself first every single month. Have you actually done it? Every month Abundance Bound runs a completely FREE teleseminar offering plenty of extremely useful financial information for artists. Typically, about 25-50 people register to participate in these calls. Yet, every month, only about 25% of those registered actually exhibit up.

Are we suggesting that not taking action to improve your relationship with money makes you dumb or lazy? No. But you need to be absolutely lucid that your financial situation will only alter when you determine that making that alter is completely non negotiable. Your life will only become what you want it to be when you cease talking about what you SHOULD do and get into action on what you MUST do.

So the question to inquire yourself is this: what has to happen for you to be glad, healthy, affluent and successful? And of those things, what do you directly control? Now establish a strategy and plan of attack for accomplishing each of those things, along with a lucid understanding of the resources you need to accomplish your goals. Accountability has to be a piece of this, as well as coaching from someone who has already walked the path you are setting out on, or you will likely stumble at the first impediment, or spend years finding the correct way of doing things (both of which can be avoided with the correct resources).

Do you want to shoot a short to showcase your talent as an actor? Then you must write a script, get someone to shoot it, cast the supporting talent and find good locations. Bringing on a producer who as gone through it all before will make that process 100 times easier. Are you sick of struggling with money? Then you must take action to alter that situation, be it attending a free teleseminar or being coached by a successful relative about genuine estate investments. Want to make an easy transition from acting school to a stable acting career…? You get the thought.

The key is to make it a must: when something is a must, human beings can do extraordinary things; and extraordinary is what we all want from our lives.



Cell Phones

Miata Edoga asked:


I recently had an email from someone who had visited our website, liked what they had seen, but had a question about our methods and philosophy. The question was this:

“What about if I am an artist and I don’t want to alter my profession and also I don’t want to have another job on the side? I want to keep my work and have fantastic benefits from that.”

In other words: I don’t want to do anything except my acting career, and I want to get well paid for it. What do you think about that?

My instant response was a mixture of amusement and irritation. Of course, for everyone pursuing an artistic career, what we all ideally want to do is get paid a ton of money for doing what we love (just make certain you have had your financial education before this happens – you don’t want to end up a morality tale!). If you are a dramatic actor, making $100,000 per episode for being in a high quality night-time drama is about as good as it gets. For a musician, platinum albums generating millions in residual payments is where it’s at. For a sculptor, having ones work on display in private collections and museums world-wide would bring home more than sufficient bacon for any number of New York apartments and trips to South America. But, assuming that it may be some time before we find ourselves in those enviable positions, what are we going to do about money?

And that, I think, is the dilemma with thinking along these lines. Certain, there are those, very few, people who are fortunate or talented sufficient to walk out of their acing schools and into full time acting careers, or whatever other artistic endeavours you chose. But, for remainder of us, there will be a period (anywhere from a few months to several years), where we will have to do something else in order to make ends meet, while we wait for the income from our art to permit us to live in comfort.

“Have to”. Those are the operative words in that sentence. Not “want to” or “like to” but “have to”. There is a fantastic line in “Gladiator”:

“Sometimes I do what I want to do. the rest of the time, I do what I have to”.

Now, do you have to have another job while you pursue your artistic career? Not necessarily; but unless you are either supported to willing to live on the streets, then it is something that you seriously need to consider alongside your artist development.

For the person who asked the question above, I would say this, finally: At Abundance Bound we have tools to help you work out precisely how much you need to earn in order to live (email us at mailto:info@abundancebound.com with “Chart of Expenses” in the tag line for help with this). Having gotten that number, you can then find work, be it your own business or a steady job, that will provide that quantity in the least time possible, leaving you free to pursue your art around it. If you can sell sufficient pieces or work sufficient days to not need anything else, then that is truly fantastic for you, and the focus now becomes what to do with the money you are earning, so as to get the greatest benefit out of it (that is where financial education comes in)

But, for remainder of us, truly consider the options before you. Take control of your financial lives so that you can pursue your art free form the crushing weight of financial stress. Bite the bullet and handle things now, so that they do not get out of control later. And, above all, never desist focusing on your artistic success, because by doing that, all things are possible.



Website satisfied

Miata Edoga asked:


Everyone’s going out for drinks after class. There’s a bar down the street that has fantastic appetizers, and the cocktails aren’t too expensive, and it will be really good to connect with other people in the class, so never mind the fact that, with a couple of $7 drinks and an $8 plate of food and a 20% tip, that social hour ends up costing you $25. And you have class a couple of times per week, so that adds up to an additional $200 per month that you could really do with avoiding, but everyone else is doing it, and you don’t want to be the one to confess that finances are tight, and be a downer on the evening, so you go along and have a good time, but all the while feeling just slightly anxious because you know that most of this is going to end up on a credit card at the end of the month, and those bills are getting high sufficient as it is…

Does any of this sound familiar? I know this used to a steady occurrence when I first moved to Los Angeles to pursue my acting career. I would go out with friends after class, or rehearsal, and have a fantastic time, but there would always be that nagging voice at the back of my head telling me that I couldn’t afford this. So the question is: how does one stabilize the need for a social life with the realities of a tight budget? We have three different suggestions here.



1. Don’t attempt to keep up with the Joneses. We are in some ways fortunate, as artists, that we don’t have the pressure of some of our corporate counterparts in this area. For us, this area is more about dress and eating out than driving the newest Mercedes or living in the correct part of town. But it is still a factor. The need to “look good” is nearly beaten into us from an early age, so avoiding falling into this trap can be tough. Try shopping at a discount store instead of going to name-brand shops, or having coffee with friends instead of drinks (a $1.50 coffee is much easier on the wallet than a $6 beer). You will often find, particularly when it comes to socializing, that people are really happy not to be spending money, as they are all busy in keeping up with you as well, even if they cannot necessarily afford it either…



2. Forecast your fun. Forecasting is the process of projecting what your spending will be in any area of your life. The way to decide this is to complete a Chart of Expenses (email us at info@abundancebound if you would like one), from which you will be capable to see precisely what you are spending, on average, across the financial board. You can then decide exactly what areas you are overspending in, and where you can spend a bit more if essential. The key to this process is not denial, notwithstanding: not not remove categories as frivolous without serious consideration, because there is nothing like “forbidden fruit” for enticing you back. So never go into a month saying “I am not going to go out at all” – you are simply setting yourself up for failure. Instead, allocate a sure amount for “Eating Out”, or “Drinks”, or whatever other category you want, and then, when the end of the month comes around and you are near the end of your allocated funds, propose Denny’s instead of the local bar for those after class drinks.



3. Work together to save money. Given that most people are in the same boat as you when it comes to money, be the first one to broach the subject of saving money with your friends. There is such a taboo in this country about discussing one’s finances that most people go through life never saying more than the compulsory “I’m fine…” (generally a lie) or “I’m broke…” (but with no genuine attempt to solve the issues causing that situation). Break with tradition and work with others on ways to both save and make more money. You will be amazed at the ideas that come out of brainstorming these things with like minded individuals, so give it a go! At the very least, it will take the pressure off the next time you say “Make mine a water…”

So besides, I hope these pointers give you some ideas about how to have fun but still make sound financial decisions at the same time. Again, it is never about saying “I won

‘t go out until I’ve made $X.” That may work for some people, but I have yet to meet them. Instead, map out your spending, and put your money towards things that you will delight in. Instead of feeling guilty about buying a Ice blended latte every day, and then stressed about the $30 on drinks going out with friends, drink steady coffee instead. $1.50 a day instead of $3.50 is $14 per week you have saved, which is $28 every two weeks, which covers an evening out with friends every other week. Speak to people, and work out things together, and then stick to your plan. Your bank account and stress levels will thank you for it.



Casino Fun Collectibles

Miata Edoga asked:


 

What To Do With Your Tax Rebate?

 

“Economic Stimulus” is something at the forefront of everyone’s mind these days, particularly in the entertainment industry. With the Dollar at an nearly record low, gas prices soaring, the general economy spluttering, a costly WGA strike just in back of us and a possible SAG strike looming, things are looking a little cheerless.

 

Luckily, a little relief is at hand. As of May, those that have filed their income tax returns will be starting to get bonus checks in the mail; $600 for an individual, $1,200 for a family (check www.irs.gov for details on eligibility and timing). So the question on everybody’s mind is: “What do I do with my new found money?”

 

If you inquire the government, you spend it. All of it. After all, that is the point of an “economic stimulus” package: you give people money, which they go out and spend, which generates cashflow to numerous business that would otherwise go with out, which means more money they spend in turn on supplies, and staff, and taxes… you get the picture. Notwithstanding, unless you strongly feel it is your patriotic duty to blow through your upcoming $600 at Macy’s (or Target, depending on where you like to shop), we would encourage you to consider using this windfall as your very own, personal “economic stimulus” package…

 

So, if we accept that we are not going to do what GW and friends want us to do with our money (you insurgent, you), what to do with it? We would propose putting it into three distinct areas in your personal financial life.

 

1. Debt Relief – $200. If $600 is the quantity you end up with, then $200 of it should go to the credit cards. This should be on top of whatever quantity you are paying them besides, as it means the extra money will go straight to the knocking down the precept. Not only will this decrease your interest payment next time, but will feel fantastic as well – something that is all to uncommon when it comes to money, but is none-the-less crucial to work our way out of tight financial situations.

 

2. Wealth Account – $200. This is one of the cores of the Artists’ Prosperity System, and is fundamental to any wealth building process. All a “Wealth Account” is is a high interest savings account which you use to accumulate money in until you are ready to invest with it. We think highly of ING for this (www.ingdirect.com), and they always bid highly competitive rates, but there are certainly plenty of other institutions that are just as good – they can easily be researched online. What I want to stress with this account, before we move on, is that it needs to be liquid (ie you can get your money in and out of it easily), and that it is not a savings account, or an emergency account, or a travel account (all of which can be fantastic, but are separate from your wealth account). You only take many out of your wealth account to purchase assets, namely things that either generate money for your or increase in value. Nothing else. Ever. Period. Have I made my point.

 

3. Treat Yourself – $200. OK, so blow through some of the money, and feel fantastic about doing it! When else have you been given money to go out and spend? And it is for the good of the country! A genuine win win! So get out there and purchase a new shirt, or that pair of shoes you have been coveting, or a couple of games for the Wii, totally guilt free. Reward is an fundamental part of building wealth, because it makes the discipline necessary in other financial areas significantly easier to bear. So treat yourself. You have, after all, just paid an additional $200 towards your debt, and started a high interest account (into which you will be putting money regularly, accurate?), so now is the time to spoil yourself a little.

 

And that is it. Sweet and simple. Three areas into which to put your “free money” – and any other money that comes your way if you pick to. Some of you may, of course, want to put more into debt and your new wealth account than into a splurge for yourself, and that is fine. Just don’t take it out all together. As I said earlier, one of the keys to growing money is feeling good about it, so you really do need to reward yourself for having taken action on improving your finances. There are a number of places to go next but, if you really allocate your money into the three areas listed above, you have laid a fantastic foundation for yourself, and taken a powerful step down the road of financial security and prosperity.

 

 



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