SMART Living Archives

Need a Business Idea? 55 that are Less Than $5,000

June 16, 2014
David S. Chang

In addition to some of the business ideas I have added, this article has been excerpted from 55 Surefire Home Based Businesses You Can Start for Under $5,000 by Entrepreneur Press & Cheryl Kimball. Today, tens of thousands of people are considering starting a side or home-based business. In the past, people would stick with one job […]

Understanding Your Personal Life Balance Sheet

April 19, 2014
David S. Chang

A personal financial balance sheet shows you a snapshot of your financial health: how much money and assets you have, how much debt and liabilities you have, and what your net worth is when you subtract your liabilities from your assets. Unlike a budget where you track how much money is coming in as income […]

Simple Questions That Will Transform Your Finances

April 18, 2014
David S. Chang

Making SMART money choices sometimes isn’t the easiest thing to do. Here are some simple questions that will help you make better financial decisions and transform your finances! Looking to Buy Something? Spending less is more important than earning more when it comes to financial independence. Why? Because you may not be able to directly […]

April 16, 2014
David S. Chang

The average person checks their phone 110 times a day. If you are like me, it is more like 200! Security is a big issue so many have some sort of security lock screen. I have a Samsung so I can change the lock screen image and customize a personal message. But staring at the […]

April 12, 2014
David S. Chang

Tips in the U.S. are $40 billion a year. We are one of the few countries where many workers live off of tips, yet sometimes many aren’t sure how it works. “Tim Urban from Wait But Why, a self-described “procrastination website,” took it upon himself to shed light on tipping norms by asking over 100 […]

April 10, 2014
David S. Chang

Here is your Health Tip of the Week! Sleep Better By Avoiding Some Foods Before Bed The foods you eat before bed can affect your sleep patterns. If you’re having a hard time sleeping soundly, consider eliminating some of these foods before bed: Celery has a high water content that can lead to midnight trips […]

Financial Plan for financial independence

How Much Does It Take For True Financial Independence?

April 8, 2014
David S. Chang

Becoming a millionaire sounds like a great financial goal! However for wealthy investors, $1 million isn’t enough to be financially independent. According to a UBS survey investors consider $5 million to be the new benchmark for financial success. They believe once you’re past $5 million, you have reached true financial independence and don’t have to worry about […]

How to Brand Yourself and Why You Need To!

April 1, 2014
David S. Chang

In the past, developing a good brand was only for professional organizations and businesses. However in today’s economy with the invention of the internet and social networking sites, it’s becoming increasingly important to develop a personal brand. Personal branding applies to everyone, especially for entrepreneurs, small business owners, leaders, managers, those looking to become more successful, and […]

March 28, 2014
David S. Chang

I have a confession to make. If I don’t check my email for more than fifteen minutes, I can get nervous and anxious. Did I miss anything important? Is there someone that is awaiting a response from me that is make or break? Not to mention if I don’t check my email within 15 minutes, […]

March 15, 2014
David S. Chang

The Paradoxical Commandmentsby Dr. Kent M. Keith People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.Do good anyway. Honesty and […]