How to Hide Out in Costa Rica – Costa Rica used to be a place you could go to to disappear. Hoards of barefooted hippies hiding out without documents on the far reaches of the island far far away from the stresses and worlds of their upbringings. It’s understandable how it happens and why so many used to end up off the grid. Of course criminals took advantage too and the retired gangster who wanted to disappear could find his or her place too. Costa Rica isn’t like that anymore though. It is still beautiful, still has amazing latin buzz and life and is still a great place to get away from the larger world but immigration reform and a heavier hand towards the ways of the past mean you have to follow some regulations.

How to Hide Out in Costa Rica

How to Hide Out in Costa Rica

This is by no means a comprehensive guide to running away to Costa Rica but rather some basics and tips to maybe get your thoughts going….

Pick up the language

Costa Rican Spanish is similar enough to regular Spanish so if you have a backbone in that you are starting on a good foot. Speaking the lingo will help you not get ripped off, help you get away from the tourist routes and genuinely blend into the background.

Know your legal status

A lot of people come in on tourist visa’s which generally allow you 90 days for USA citizens. You can then leave for 72 hours and come back and although this isn’t illegal it could cause a problem down the line if done repeatedly. Ideally you want some kind of legal residence which isn’t that hard for Americans. It is advised that you start the process from home though as it is much harder once in the country. Although a lot of people do overstay and hang around without visas this is being cracked down on and is not advised.

Go local

Get out of the hotels and resorts and get yourself into the local places, eat the local food and drink the local drink. You always need to be sensible as you may be a bigger target for theft and robbery than  a real local but do try and get in to the fabric of Costa Rica.

Consider volunteering and working with local projects

There is so much going on in Costa Rica that you may find volunteering with an animal conservation project, at a kids organisation or in a number of situations will be a good way to use your time.

You shouldn’t go to the country expecting to live your same life but be anon. You need to mould and ben and change and take advantage of the beauty and vibrancy. Running away is about a new life, not old life in a new surrounding. The country has so much more to offer than the tourist industries standard spend spend spend manufactured tours and you wouldn’t be running from anything if you embarked on that.

I would love to hear from anyone who has run away to this beautiful country and hear any tips they have to share.

Weirdest Valentines Day Stories

Valentines day is almost upon us and the scramble to do something special for the one we love or to show someone that you would like to get to know them a little better is on. Of course things like restaurant reservations and the best flowers start to get a little harder to get and things all get a bit frantic.

For many the day isn’t as full of romance and perfection and is just a big stress fest of busy bars, restaurants, roads and everything that goes against the mood one is supposed to be indulging in.

Weirdest Valentines Day Stories

The commercialisation of the day has sadly been part of it’s ruin. I do think that it can be great though and of course my frugal ways mean I think a home meal is usually the best option. Of course you may disagree there.

Now, most people have a great Valentine day despite the moaning from people like me. However some crazy stuff happens on the day with stories of love, loss and just crazy incidents.

I must admit nothing too crazy has happened to me and I have not instigated anything too weird either. I remember my father giving his wife a card the size of a door and that is about as weird as it gets, so I want your input.

Some of you readers must have had some weird and crazy Valentines events and I would love for you to share them below in the comments.

Have you had a seriously messed up restaurant or event experience? Have you arranged something crazy for a loved one or received something weird? Did an ex cause a scene? Have you received a gift or card from someone you never expected?

Related: Free Printable Valentine Cards

I’d also love to know what you will be doing this year, especially if it is creative and frugal. I’m thinking I may try and organise a BBQ on the beach with some great New Zealand wine, something simple but appreciative.

Thanks for reading.

Easy Ways to Save $1,000 – No matter how difficult it may seem, there are dozens of easy ways to save at least $1000 this year. With a careful examination of your life, you’ll be amazed at the amount of unnecessary expenses that are responsible for you living paycheck to paycheck. We all acquire expensive habits, or are paying for products and services we don’t need– and it truly adds up.

Easy Ways to Save $1,000

As I write this I realize that the advice I’m going to give is something that I desperately need to put into practice. About twice a year I go over my finances and evaluate how I can save money. Now is definitely the time for me– I’ve been putting it off since the new year and my procrastination has definitely become costly.

Saving $1000 a year is much easier than you think. To break it down, you’ll need to save about $2.75 a day OR $20 a week, OR $80-ish dollars a month. Let’s take a look at how you can reduce your daily, weekly, monthly costs by about this much.

Let’s take a look at some ways you can save this kind of money:

Cut Out Your Bad Habits

Do you have a bad habit that’s costing your $2.75 a day? Perhaps indulging in a soda or snack or beer? By eliminating a bad habit (something that isn’t good for your health) you stand to save a lot of money!

Change Your Phone Plan

I personally think that phone plans are one of the most common ways people end up spending too much money. Make sure that you really are using what you’re paying for. Many people don’t talk as much as they used to and are sticking mostly to data. If you’re paying for hundreds of minutes of talk you’re not using, it’s time to adjust your phone plan to something more affordable. Also, if you’re paying for a landline, make sure you’re actually using it. It might be hard to get rid of, but it also might save you some major cash.

Plan Your Groceries

You’re eating habits might be making you poor. More often than not we buy items at the grocery store without thinking or planning ahead. The food goes to waste, or is an impulse buy that looks appealing at that moment but is unnecessarily expensive. The best way to save tons of money of food is:

- Eat out no more than once a week. This includes fast food, sandwiches, etc.

- Plan your meals and budget ahead of time and buy once a week.

OR

- Give yourself a daily budget for food and eat what you buy that day so nothing goes to waste.

Cut Down on Entertainment

Are you paying for hundreds of channels you don’t watch? Sometimes basic cable is all you need–  just netflix and hulu is enough for me! Be honest about what you are spending your money on to be entertained and whether or not you really need it. If you’re worried about taking such a big leap on not having television, extra video games, going out every weekend– give it a month trial. Plan what you’re going to give up, budget accordingly, and give it a shot!

Diversify Your Transportation Modes

Are you spending far too much money on gasoline? There’s a good chance you could be saving at least $80 a month by driving less, carpooling, or planning out your errands so that you’re not constantly going back and forth from your driveway. Intersperse your driving with public transportation or cycling and you’ll definitely save some major cash.

Easy Ways to Save $1,000

Recent: Richest Presidents

Easy Ways to Save $1,000

How To Find a Better Job – It’s sad that we often spend more time working than with friends and families. Getting the best job for us is something that I think is very important and I am sure most of you will agree. But just where do you start? Here are my tips….

How To Find a Better Job

How To Find a Better Job

It’s so easy to get stuck in the day to day of working a job you are not satisfied with. Why do we do it to ourselves? Spend so much time doing something we despise! Sometimes, especially with the recent job market, we just have to for our families and bills and commitments. Sometimes we are scared of making a leap or don’t feel we are worth more. All of these obstacles have to be overcome and you need to work hard and make leaps to branches further up the tree. Sometimes these branches may snap but you have to keep climbing.

Searching for a new job or career can be done whilst holding down your less than desirable job. It will be tough on you but determination and the right mind set will get you through it.

Start by writing down everything you like and dislike about your current job. Then set about writing what you do want in a job. You need to work out what job or career you genuinely want to move towards and you have to be honest and realistic with yourself.

Once you have nailed the specific job or jobs you can start working out what you would need to get to these. It could be you are already qualified and all is needed is to start applying and going to interviews. You may need to consider things like relocation or evening course to get up to scratch but having a clear plan and putting it into immediate action will push you closer.

Remember you are worth it and keep your confidence up. Even if you do get rejections and no-responses along the way you can’t let confidence waiver. Job hunting, especially for “the job” can and often will take time.

Each and every job you apply for will need research and an individual resume. Make sure every application is tailored. If you are not seeing jobs advertised then contact companies direct and find out if any employment opportunities are on the cards.

Network with friends, start a website and start blogging about the area you want to work in and immerse yourself in this direction. Becoming surrounded with the area you want to work in may well lead to excellent networking opportunities and unexpected developments.

Whatever happens just don’t give yup.

Related: Staying Upbeat During Job Hunting

I would love to hear your thoughts and tips in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

Married-Filing-Jointly Tax Option – Tax season is upon us and for many husbands and wives, the time to decide between the married-filing-jointly or separately status on their returns. It may seem like a fairly straightforward decision, but there are several things to consider before a married couple decides their tax status.

Married-Filing-Jointly Tax Option

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of “married-filing-jointly”. Firstly, it’s important to clarify that you can fill out this status on your return if you and your partner got married on the last day of the financial year. So if you’re filling out your tax return for 2011 and want to put “married” in your status, you must’ve gotten married by December 31, 2011 or earlier.

There’s no doubt that filing jointly definitely has its financial benefits. You both must provide your information on the return and both spouses must provide their signatures on the form.

As far as the tax benefits, most couples can expect lower tax rates and more breaks than if they were to file separately. The IRS on the matter:

But “married-filing-jointly” isn’t always the best option. If one partner has a suspicious source of income, or everything isn’t up to snuff, both people become responsible and therefore equally punishable. The IRS could come a-knockin’ for the unpaid money putting the innocent spouse in jeopardy. Even after a couple divorces, the joint tax return can prove problematic to someone married to an individual with a sketchy financial status.

So says Knowledge Base:

“The premise of this story likely sounds vaguely familiar and certainly far-fetched for most couples; however, the principle is applicable to all. Even in denominations of thousands instead of millions or billions, the illegal actions of one spouse can have negative tax consequences on both spouses.”

If there’s concern that one or both of you will get hit hard by the IRS, it’s probably best to check the “married-filing-separately” box instead. You’ll be taxed higher, but it might just save you some serious trouble down the road.

Married-Filing-Jointly Tax Option

Make sure you discuss the status of your tax return with your spouse. Chances are that you both will agree on filing jointly, although it’s important to decide whether or not there is any reason you should file separately to protect one partner.

Related: Filing Taxes Electronically

Married-Filing-Jointly Tax Option

After the recent call out for readers own business stories Andrew from Money Crashers contacted me asking if I wanted a guest post from one of their writers who started his own business. I think you will agree, it is a great post. You can read more Reader Business stories here.

This is a guest article by David Bakke, a contributor for the MoneyCrashers.com personal finance blog. In addition to his adventures with entrepreneurship, David blogs about finance-related topics like getting out of debt, budgeting, building wealth for the future, banking options and more.

For most of my life, I had always thought that people who were in business for themselves either took over a business from their parents or were just plain lucky. After all, the tried and true way of earning a living in the U.S. seemed to be to go to work for someone, bust your butt, and hopefully, if all goes well, eke out a pretty decent living for yourself and provide for your family.

I decided that anyone who was able to “make it” must have simply had Lady Luck on their side. This misconception was ingrained in my mind at a very young age, and I fulfilled this template for most of my professional life – working for someone else, making what I could.

But then I began to meet some actual, real folks who were running their own businesses. To my surprise, most were either my age or younger. Even more surprising, most had originally held “real” jobs that they had walked away from during the development of their own endeavors.

None of them had simply quit their jobs, threw caution to the wind, and hoped for the best. They actually had some sort of plan to slowly work their way into their own business and out of their day job.

How I Decided to Launch My Own Business

Meeting these people provided me with the initial motivation I needed to do something on my own. A few years back, as my wife was finishing up her second bachelor’s degree, I was tasked with reselling her used textbooks. After quickly becoming fed up with the on-campus bookstore, I soon turned to the Internet. I found a few sites where you could sell your used college textbooks for cash.

It was then that the proverbial light bulb went off in my head. It occurred to me that these sites were merely middlemen who were reselling my book to some other student. It didn’t take long to discover auction sites like eBay. So I ended up selling most of the old textbooks on those sites and earning a higher profit than I would have at the campus bookstore or via online resellers.

This was the beginning of one of my side business ideas. I soon realized that if I could resell old textbooks at a profit, then maybe I could find other items to resell. Having recently met a slew of self-made entrepreneurs, I decided to take this not-so-original idea and see what I could do with it.

I started off with mostly small electronics – items such as digital cameras, GPS systems, laptop computers, and so forth. Before long, I expanded into just about anything that I could profit from: DVDs, computer software, and even a few baby monitors.

I found most of these on the Internet itself, many via daily deal sites like Woot. I later expanded into searching local national retailers for clearance items and unadvertised sale items. This has become a fairly profitable venture.

Be Passionate in Your Work

Additionally, I was able to start a second venture as well. I have a degree in creative writing, and for a long while I had never utilized my writing ability for personal profit. At the suggestion of a few close personal friends, I finally decided to write a book.

Most of my friends had given me a simple piece of advice : “Write about something you are passionate about.” I took that advice and added a twist. I decided to write about something I was passionate about, and also about something I thought a great deal of other people would be interested in. After all, if you’re passionate about something that no one is interested in reading about, your money-making opportunities are likely to be quite limited.

Ultimately, I chose the topic of personal finance. Given that I was once deeply in debt and climbed up out of it, I felt that I had formulated a unique approach to get out from underneath a boatload of debt.

The finished product ended up being a book about my struggles to get out of debt, the long process, and the habits that I now employ to stay out of debt. The book is titled Don’t Be a Mule: A Down-to-Earth, Common-Sense Approach to Saving More, Spending Less, and Generating Extra Money in Your Everyday Life. I published it myself at a cost of about $2,500. As a companion to this book, I started my own personal finance blog, Your Finances 101.

Be Realistic With Your Goals

My visions and dreams of my book shooting up the New York Times best seller list were soon dashed. I think I sold 10 copies in the first month after its publication! My next goal of building a large readership from my blog and earning great residual income from advertising were also soon laid to rest. One year after its inception, I had made a grand total of $600 in advertising revenues from the blog.

Never Give Up

Had I made a huge mistake? Would the $2,500 I invested be lost forever? Fortunately, the answer is a strong “no.”

I plodded away, trying different ways to market my book, and religiously posted to my blog nearly every day. I think I had a grand total of about 50 subscribers, but I never gave up. Then one day, the editor of a larger personal finance blog recognized my blog, my writing, and my book, and offered me a gig. This soon turned into a regular writing position.

Where My Business Stands Today

I still have my full-time day job, which requires about 45 hours per week. I have my reselling business online, which generates a decent sum of money, and I have my writing gigs. Every single day is full of work, but also genuine joy.

On a side note, I have a young son at home who is the love of my life, and I decided at a very early point that I would not let any of my work get in the way of spending quality time with him. If it ever did, there wouldn’t be much point in doing it.

When to Make the Plunge Into Entrepreneurship

At a certain point, I was presented with the following dilemma: When do I make the jump into full-time entrepreneurship? When do I let go of my day job and strictly pursue my dream of working for myself?

No Such Thing as the “Perfect Time”

Unfortunately, there is not an easy answer to this question. Most entrepreneurs I know couldn’t even give me a straight answer. As it turns out, it’s pretty much a personal choice. So far, I have been able to come up with two potential answers to the question:

1. The Objective Solution
There is an objective answer to the question as to when you should jump into full-time entrepreneurship. When your new business generates enough income for you to live off of, take the plunge. Note that I didn’t say it must generate the same level of income as your current day job!

If you make $60,000 at your current position and your plan is to wait until your side business generates this much to quit your day job, you may be waiting for a long time.

Personally speaking, I earn about $60K at my day job, but I know that I could pay my bills and live with some comforts at about $45K. Therefore, the objective answer would be for me to wait until my side businesses generates $45K on an annual basis.

2. The Subjective Solution
The subjective answer to the question is this: You should walk away from your day job when developing your side business becomes hampered by the time that you spend at your day job. This throws a lot of the “numbers” out of the equation, and can be quite an intimidating idea. However, if you truly have confidence in yourself, it can be a good way to go, and provide the time you need to really get your business to take off.

Consider Your Personal Circumstances

Of course, your personal circumstances have to come into play as well. I am a single father with one son, so that has to be taken into account. If I had no dependents, I would have left my day job a long time ago. But that is simply not the case – start young if you can!

The Stark Reality of the Situation
Between my two businesses, I currently generate 70% to 75% of what I know I need to survive with some level of comfort. I work long hours every day, and it is not easy. I am trying every idea that I know of to expand either of my businesses to get over the “hump” of this last 25% to 30% of income I need.

Don’t Jump Off the Cliff, Just Peek Over It
Keep in mind, you can always “cheat” a little. If I got fired from my day job tomorrow, I already know I would be fine, short of paying for health care coverage. Therefore, what I am seriously considering doing is walking away from my day job, finding a part-time job with health insurance benefits, and utilizing my extra time to further develop my two businesses.

Final Thoughts

Here are a few of the many lessons I have learned as I gradually move down the road towards full-time entrepreneurship:

• Don’t wait too long to start. You can do all the research in the world on a potential business venture, but at some point in time, you just have to dip your toes in the water. Just remember, there are many reasons to start your own business now.
• Making mistakes along the way is better than trying to figure out all the answers before you start.
• Keep your ego in check. There’s not much use for it, especially considering how much you are about to learn.
• The customer is always right – customer service is of the utmost importance. Remember, they are your lifeblood.
• Learn as much as you possibly can from every mistake that you make. Trust me – you will make plenty!

What are your thoughts on my plans? Should I wait longer to walk away from my day job? Should I walk away now and hope for the best? Or should I take that part-time job?

If you are signed up to our mailing list then you’ll know I recently mailed out asking for readers to share their small businesses so I could share them on the blog. Well today I am sharing a readers T-Shirt business. Other Readers Business posts can be found here: Readers Business.

I’m sure every single one of you has said “I have a great idea for a T-shirt“. However it’s often the case that we have these thoughts but don’t act on them. Well in this reader business post I wanted to share a little info about a reader who did act on that thought and now has a small business selling her idea.

Liz says on the about page of her T-Shirt business My Own Dream Wings:

“Besides creativity, I enjoy hearing people talk about their dreams. I like asking people “What have you always wanted to do?” I get many different answers, ranging from, “I’ve always wanted to write a book” to “I want to run in a marathon.” Think about it for a minute, what have you always wanted to do? What are your dreams?”

Well, some of Liz’s dreams had always revolved around her flying. In one of her blog posts she explains the dream:

“They always started out the same: I was with a group of people in some public place and someone said “Hurry. Quick.” They pointed in a certain direction to let us all know which way to go. There was something happening up ahead and we all had to hurry to get there. There was a sence of urgency. So, I started running, but soon I realized that I was inadvertantly “flapping” my arms up and down and had lifted off the ground slightly. I was flying about six inches off the ground. Maybe no one would notice, I thought. It was my little secret that I could fly. It was such a secret that I had even forgotten it until that moment.”

Influenced by her dreams she had the idea of designing a line of T-shirts around the image of a flying lady. Inspired by other companies such as Life is Good and the general feel of small and local business in Vermont she set about creating a design and sourcing a local print company to produce her first short run of shirts.

She then employed a local student to put together the website, My Own Dream Wings, and has set up a store on the popular website Etsy. her start up costs were kept reasonably low with the artwork being designed by herself, costs for the website kept to only a few hundred dollars and screen printing of the shirts at around $11 each for the initial run of 50.

Although initial sales have been low, Liz realises that new businesses take time. Especially as she is also currently starting a Masters degree, another dream of hers. Time for business promotion is tight. Liz is happy to slowly grow her ideas and keep her business growth at a sustained, steady and enjoyable rate.

So, that T-shirt idea you have, why not go for it, get some cash together, do some work and get it out into the world.

What do you think of Liz’s design, if you know anyone who may be interested in grabbing one send them over to the site.

 If you have a small business you would like us to share email me at forest.parks@frugalzeitgeist.com.

Superstitions And Their Origins - Yes folks it is Friday the 13th, one of the most accepted superstitions is that today is unlucky! But why did this and some other superstitions come about?

Some Superstitions And Their Origins

I’m not a person that believes in any superstitions but I do have an interest in their origin and how these kinds of things come about. Although the sources are often varied and can’t be verified, just for the fun of it, lets have a look at a few.

Friday the 13th

Seeing as today is the fateful day lets start with that! There is a belief that it has roots in Christianity because there were 13 at the Last Supper on a Friday and we know how that turned out! Other ideas are that it has its roots in a Norse story where Loki crashed a gathering of 12 gods in Valhalla. Also Wiccan covens, a type of neopagan witch, are often gathering of groups of 13 on Friday.

Stepping on a crack superstition

I used to run down the pavement as a kid skipping over all the cracks because if this superstition but I had no idea why or where it came from. The rhyme goes “step on a crack break your mother’s back” so it’s a bad luck charm and many say the step on a crack thing is an African-American superstition. Although there is some thoughts that it may have started life as a racist rhyme along the lines of “Step on a crack and your mother will turn black.”. I really hope that isn’t true!

Black cat superstition origin

Superstitions And Their Origins

The black cat superstition seems to be rooted in the Middle Ages. The whole thing about the black cats likely has it’s origin related to a witches familiar. A familiar was a spirit in European folklore that would help out a witch and could appear in many animal guises and sometimes humanoid form. The provided the witch some protection and could also find things out for her. It was believed that black cats were often familiars. If a black cat crosses you right to left that is a bad omen, the other way and the cat is wishing good things for you. There is also thought that you should spit if a black cat crosses your path! Missy Elliott has said “If a black cat walks in my path, I turn around and go home”! Oddly a black cat crossing your path is good luck in Japan.

Hat on the bed superstition

It’s supposed to be bad luck to put a hat on a bed, but why? One theory behind the hat on the bed superstition is that evil spirits live in your hair which is thought to be a myth related to static electricity making hair stand up. It may also be linked to an old funeral tradition. A hat placed on a bed is similar to a hat placed on a casket, so it is a bad omen.

Spilling salt superstition origin

Another superstition many adhere to but with an unknown origin. Some say that Judas Iscariot spilled salt at the Last Supper and others say it’s just an annoying mess! If it happens you are supposed to throw salt over your left shoulder.

Superstitions And Their Origins, Do you have any to share?

So what superstitions do you uphold and do you know their origins? Will you be treading carefully today or even staying at home?

Have a great day if you can!

Related: Superstitions about money

Thanks for reading.

Financial Goals for 2012

The new financial year of 2012 has begun and for many of us, it comes with whole new set of goals. You might be eager to make a difference in your financial standings this year, but unsure of where to start or what kind of goals to set. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to money — there are so many aspects of your financial life to consider. This, however, shouldn’t prevent you from taking the initiative and making 2012 one of the most fruitful years ever.

As I’ve mentioned before, there is always some groundwork to do before you can set achievable financial goals. 2012 is no exception– if you want to make this a year that puts you ahead financially, you must take some time to understand your situation. How in debt are you? Are you living paycheck-to-paycheck? What are your monthly expenses and will they change in the near future? The more you understand where you really are financially, the more realistic your goals can be, and the further you can get ahead.

Financial Goals for 2012

Let’s take a look at some of the best financial goals you can set for yourself for 2012.

Stop Living From Paycheck-to-Paycheck – That is to say, you want to get ahead. Have a financial cushion. This is a reasonable goal to set that is totally achievable within 12 months time. You can either work on increasing your income (which we’ll talk about below) or change your lifestyle to save more money and be ahead in the future. A year of living frugally could help you save thousands of dollars and be better off come 2013.

Pay Off Your Debt – Most people have debt, but few make it a goal to pay it off in the short term. It may not be feasible for you to pay off all your debt in one year, but you certainly can make strides. If you’re dealing with credit card debt, it’s often best to consolidate into one source. Many companies are willing to give you 12 months 0% apr if you transfer your balance, which means 12 months of you NOT having to pay off your debt and some 16% fee. A year to get ahead really. Consider transferring your balance to another company and getting a better rate. Also set a goal as to when you want to be debt free and what kind of payments it will take to get there.

Start A Savings Account – You should be eager to start a savings account as it offers endless ways to benefit your future. A vacation. A medical emergency. A house. Retirement. Successfully starting a savings account starts with a few dollars, which is easy enough. Afterwards it takes a bit more effort. You must be willing to put away a certain percentage of your paycheck or get another small source of income that goes exclusively into the account. Set a goal as to how much money you want to save in 2012 and chart it’s progress.

Increase Your Income –   Set a goal as to how much more money you want to earn this year and make it happen. You can work hard at getting a raise, making your position more valuable, renting out a room, or getting another part time job. It seems difficult, but the truth of the matter is that anyone can increase their income with research and hard work.

Financial Goals for 2012

Make your financial goals come true in 2012! It might be a hard, but you’ll be glad you worked at achieving them come 2013.

Financial Goals for 2012

New Year’s Eve Toasts And Quotes - It’s coming already New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. I’m sure your diet and health will be out of order for the evening but don’t let your wit be knocked down and maybe take the time to say something profound or interesting or witty or funny when it’s time to raise a toast. Just try not to sound pompous and if you use any of these in this article at least quote the person who coined it!

New Year’s Eve Toasts And Quotes

Here are some of the toast quotes I liked:

In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want.
Traditional Irish quote

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
Oprah Winfrey

A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.
??

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
Bill Vaughn

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it’s twice as onerous a duty.
John Selden

The Lord gives our relatives. Thank God we can choose our friends.
Anonymous

Your Merry Christmas may depend on what others do for you. But your Happy New Year depends on what you do for others.”
Anonymous

Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.
Bill Vaughn

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

New Year’s Eve, where auld acquaintance be forgot. Unless, of course, those tests come back positive.
Jay Leno

Dance as if no one were watching, sing as if no one were listening and live every day as if it were your last.
Anonymous

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.
Abraham Lincoln

I like the funny ones the best as I think I sound silly when I try and be thought provoking or serious, ha ha! Did you like any of these quotes, do you have any cool ones to share?

What are you doing on New Year’s Eve? Whatever it is I hope you have fun and get ready for 2012. I’m really hoping to have a great year, as I do every year and am getting myself in the right mindset to start running on the right foot….

Related: Auld Lang Syne Lyrics And A Little History….

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