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FEBRUARY 2023
HEALTHY, WEALTHY,
& Wise
1 Denver Federal Center Building 45, Entrance E-9, Room 1050 Lakewood, CO 80225
FIVE RULES FOR A WEALTHIER LIFE MY FAVORITE TIPS FROM DAVE RAMSEY
I hope you took my advice and spent last month thinking about your core values — or at least making some resolutions! I know I did. Now that you’ve thought big and made plans, this is a good time to take the next step for a successful year, sit back, relax, and reflect. Ask yourself questions like: What went right in 2022 for you and your family? What went wrong? How did you spend your time and money? Which friends and family members did you see the most? What was your high point? When did you feel at your lowest? I’ve been doing this exercise myself for the last few weeks. I had to pull out my calendar and flip through it because by January 2023 I’d forgotten what I did a year ago! You can try the same, and if you don’t have a paper calendar, scroll through your Google calendar or the photos on your cellphone and take notes. Once you’ve catalogued what you did last year, start to think about areas you want to improve. I’m guessing one of those areas might be the one I hear about often from my clients and friends: your finances. Here in Colorado, the average person has $2,646 in credit card debt. Fortunately, there are ways to tackle that challenge in 2023. You can’t control everything — inflation and the economy are way out of reach — but you can control how you manage the money you have. One of my favorite people speaking about this topic right now is the author and radio host Dave Ramsey. He gives great common-sense advice and asks smart questions like, “If you worked for a company called ‘You Inc.’ and you managed money for them — the way you manage money for yourself right now — would you fire yourself?”
retirees and those still working are on a fixed income. If you make a salary as a federal employee, that salary is your fixed income! Here are Ramsey’s five steps to attain financial success: 1. GET ON A BUDGET. As someone who works in financial services, I know everyone hates “the B word,” but you really do need to budget to be successful. Successful people know where their money goes! Ramsey recommends writing your budget down on paper every month. 2. GET OUT OF DEBT. This is easier said than done, but the results are worth the effort. As Ramsey explained, the average person spends about $500 per month on a car payment — invested wisely, that $500 could become more than $5 million in 30 years. 3. FOSTER HIGH-QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS. Jim Rohn said “You are the average of the five people you hang out with” and that average includes your money habits. Do you want to spend time with curmudgeons who complain about being old? Or would you rather spend your time with fun, lively people who spend wisely and keep a young mindset? 4. SAVE AND INVEST. I recently taught my daughter this important lesson. She didn’t think she had enough money coming in to invest 5% in her Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), but I convinced her to try it — and she hardly misses the income. Saving and investing can quickly become a lucrative habit. 5. PRACTICE CHEERFUL GENEROSITY. I’ve talked a lot about generosity in this newsletter, but I’d like to add a great Brian Tracey quote about this practice: “Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.” If what I’ve written here resonated with you, I hope you’ll take 12 minutes to watch the video “Dave Ramsey: You Only Need to Know These 5 Rules” on the FREENVESTING YouTube channel. You won’t regret it. –Ann Vanderslice
I recently watched a fantastic video of Ramsey’s where he talked about five things everyone should do to build wealth. He claimed his tips were 100% successful for working people, and I think they’re just as great for people who have already retired. After all, both
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YOUR INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS MATTERS!
Challenge Yourself to Expand Your Mind
1. LEARN A NEW SKILL. One of the main components of intellectual wellness is working to acquire more knowledge. This doesn’t need to be physics or engineering but can be something as simple as cooking a new healthy recipe, learning to draw, or attempting a DIY home repair project. The important part is that mastering something new provides an information-based approach to the world around you. 2. REMOVE SUBJECTIVITY. We view every situation with a pre-formed opinion or bias. The truth is our brains are wired this way to streamline thinking, but to be intellectually healthy, we must work hard to push past it. Remove subjectivity by learning a different way to perform a task or challenge yourself to understand (or simply read) the ideas of others. Be objective, even when you disagree.
These days, taking care of our health becomes more important than ever and we hear a lot about our physical wellness and how to improve it using nutritious foods and exercise.
But what about our intellectual wellness?
WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS? The University of New Hampshire defines intellectual wellness as “being open to new ideas, thinking critically, and finding ways to be creative.” Essentially, this means thinking about the world around you with an open mind and putting energy into what you’re thinking, not just allowing your brain to run idly.
Signs of healthy intellectual wellness include: • Ability to see an issue from all sides • Purposeful exposure to ideas, beliefs, and people who differ from yourself
3. IMPROVE YOUR CRITICAL THINKING. Next time you’re engrossed in conversation, try being thoroughly engaged and think about what is being said. Ask questions to yourself and others, and hash out what you agree with and things you don’t. Work to keep your brain active in everything you do by finding a connection to everything around you.
• Awareness of your core values • Capacity to learn new things
HOW TO FOSTER AND DEVELOP INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS Intellectual wellness differs from other types of well-being. You need to work hard and challenge yourself to stay intellectually healthy. If you’re looking to improve or nurture your intellectual wellness, here are three ways to do it.
THE STORY OF CHER AMI How One Pigeon Saved 194 American Soldiers Animals have always played a role in wartime military efforts. Cats were kept aboard naval ships for pest control, horses and camels provided transportation for supplies and soldiers pre-World War II, and dogs are still used to this day for search and rescue efforts as well as detecting mines. But one animal’s profession became obsolete with the advancement of communication technology: the messenger pigeon. Often used during World War I, many dogs and pigeons became responsible for delivering messages of high importance. Of all the animals used during World War I, one pigeon named Cher Ami defied the odds to save nearly 200 American soldiers. On Oct. 2, 1918, Major Charles Whittlesey got trapped along the side of a hill in Northeastern France with 550 of his men. They ended up behind enemy lines with no food or ammunition, and — to make matters worse — his battalion started to suffer from friendly fire since allied troops remained unaware of their location. With nowhere to run, Whittlesey tried to send runners to contact the allies about their predicament. Unfortunately, their enemies consistently intercepted or killed these runners until only 194 men remained. Whittlesey decided to dispatch messages by pigeon. The first pigeon got shot down almost immediately, so he sent a second pigeon with the message, “Men are suffering. Can support be sent?” That one also got shot. Finally, Whittlesey turned to his last pigeon, Cher Ami, and scribbled down a quick note on onion paper that read, “We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it.” Cher Ami took
flight, but even after being shot down by the Germans, the bird defied the odds and actually took flight again! The effective delivery of this message helped save 194 men, but Cher Ami did not escape unharmed. He had been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, and had a leg hanging only by a tendon. Army medics treated Cher Ami enough so he could travel to America, where he eventually succumbed to his wounds. The bird was preserved for posterity and displayed in the Smithsonian, where you can still see him today. So, the next time you’re in Washington, D.C., stop by the “Price of Freedom” exhibit at the National Museum of American History where you can see this brave pigeon.
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BE MINE!
6 Pieces of Valentine’s Day Trivia
SWEETHEART CANDIES WERE BORN IN THE 1860S. Oliver Chase, a Boston pharmacist, created a machine that produced medicinal lozenges (a common way to take medicine back then). With the success of his machine, he decided to use it to make candy as well, and thus Sweethearts were created in the 1860s. VALENTINE’S DAY IS AN EXPENSIVE HOLIDAY. According to the National Retail Foundation, in 2019, Americans spent more than $20 billion on the holiday to buy gifts that included flowers, chocolates, cards, and jewelry.
The Hallmark cards have hit the shelves, boyfriends and husbands have all scrambled to plan, and the local restaurants are all swimming in reservations — Valentine’s Day has arrived! On this day, many are left wondering how far back exchanging valentines goes, why we exchange valentines, and where those little heart-shaped candies came from. Look no further, we have the answers. THE FIRST VALENTINE DATES BACK TO THE 15TH CENTURY. According to History.com, the oldest record of a valentine was in 1415 when a French medieval duke named Charles, while in prison, wrote a poem to his wife. One of the lines read, “I am already sick of love … My very gentle Valentine.” SAINT VALENTINE IS NOT THE SAME PERSON. It’s unclear after which Saint Valentine the holiday is named. One was a Roman priest who was sentenced to death after being caught illegally marrying couples during a marriage ban and the other was a man who got caught helping Christians escape into Rome — he later wrote a letter from prison, signing it, “From your Valentine.” MASS-PRODUCED VALENTINES WEREN’T A THING UNTIL THE 1840S. Known as the mother of the American Valentine, Esther A. Howland commercialized Valentine’s Day cards that were decorated with ribbons and lace (as some are today) in the 1840s.
IT’S A POPULAR DAY OF ENGAGEMENT! According to a survey by American Express, millions of couples get engaged on Valentine’s Day. It was also voted as the best day of the year to pop the magical question.
Train Your
BRAIN!
Feta Chicken Burgers
xxx
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber • 1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise BURGERS: • 1/2 cup chopped roasted sweet red pepper • 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp Greek seasoning • 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs lean ground chicken • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese • 6 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat broiler and mix chopped cucumber and mayonnaise. 2. For the burgers, mix the red pepper, garlic powder, Greek seasoning, and black pepper. Add chicken and cheese; mix lightly but thoroughly (the mixture will be sticky). Shape into 6 patties about 1/2-inch thick. 3. Broil burgers, remembering to cook both sides thoroughly. Serve on buns with cucumber sauce. If desired, top with lettuce and tomato. Enjoy!
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issue INSIDE THIS Reset Your Finances for 2023 PAGE 1
Intellectual Wellness: What It Is and How to Improve Yours
The Unlikely Heroics of Cher Ami PAGE 2
Valentine’s Day Fun Facts
Feta Chicken Burgers PAGE 3
Brushing Up on Cruise Etiquette PAGE 4
ALL ABOARD! Know Your Cruise Etiquette Before Setting Sail
trip. Bring at least one formal outfit in your luggage for dinner, which tends to have an upscale vibe. The rest of your cruise wear should be casual but tasteful, leaving you looking put together. Most importantly, don’t overpack — the stateroom is smaller than you think. DON’T BE A CHAIR HOG. Everyone wants a prime spot on the sundeck, but you’ve got to rise early in the morning to get one. That’s fine if you can manage it, but “saving” a seat by putting a towel on it and then wandering away for breakfast or a mani-pedi is the best way to get on your fellow travelers’ bad side. Your cruise may also have a policy against it. Going to the bathroom is one thing; you’re only human. Otherwise, if you want the seat, stay in it. BE ON TIME. Treat your cruise ship like an airplane — if you’re not on time, it’s probably leaving without you. And if you are lucky enough to have the ocean liner wait, your fellow passengers won’t look at you kindly. Set your watch to ship time (not local time) and prepare to be back an hour before the deadline. That way, if you happen to be late, you’ll still be on time. You may miss out on an extra drink or souvenir shop, but nothing will ruin your cruise faster than being left behind at the dock.
After a slump in 2020 and 2021, cruises are back in a big way. If you’re planning your first onboard adventure — or it’s been a while since you last set sail — now is the time to brush up on your cruise ship etiquette. Every passenger should read their cruise line’s policies to ensure they know all the specifics before climbing aboard. In the meantime, we’ve listed some of the most essential do and don’ts for the savvy traveler. KNOW WHAT TO WEAR. Some cruise lines aim for a fancy atmosphere, while others prefer a casual approach. Ideally, review the dress policy before you book your
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