₦airaland Forum

Making it on your own takes more than determination. It takes a plan. Planning may not sound like much fun, but it's the only way you'll have the freedom to really take advantage of a new situation. Even if the idea of making big purchases or living on your own is still years away, you can start preparing for a successful financial future by managing your money NOW.

Plan. Budget. Spend wisely.

Budgets are smart. Why? Because they help you plan and get the things you want — like a new DVD or concert tickets. And there’s a lot to keep track of — probably more than you realize. After high school, you'll need money for tuition, housing, books, food, travel expenses, credit card payments and other bills, and it can be hard to keep your finances in order.

So, how much money do you need to earn to make it on your own? This step-by-step guide to learning how to budget your finances can help you get started.

Step 1: Discover how much you can spend

First, find out in advance how much money you have to spend and for how long you have to budget it. This might mean budgeting for a month at a time, for a six-month internship or for a four-year trade school. Take the duration of time into account.

Then add up all your money sources. Don't leave anything out. What you are calculating is your available money after all deductions (such as taxes) have been taken out. If you’re not sure what your income after deductions will be from the place you work, ask for their help.

Now divide by the number of weeks in your budget period. This is the maximum Naira amount you can spend each week—on everything. Let’s call this amount your weekly budget.

Step 2: Where does my money go?

A book here. A CD there. A weekend away. Dinner on Thursday. Money has a way of disappearing. To see where it goes, buy a little notebook and for a one-week period, write down everything you spend by item. Everything. Ideally, you should record your spending at the time you spend it. This may seem like a pain, but you need to find out your spending patterns before you set up your budget.

Step 3: Set up your budget

Define your spending categories and set realistic weekly spending targets for each one. Don't allocate spending N= 800 to food if you know you really use N=1000. Try to predict expenses you’ll be having that might not have occurred in Step 2. Create categories that make sense for you. Then add up all the categories that have Naira amounts to calculate your weekly budget.

Here's an example of basic monthly living expenses in Nigeria:

Apartment N= 200,000
Car payment N= 800,000
Car insurance/maintenance N= 30000
Phone/gas and electricity N= 4000
Food N= 10000
Entertainment N=5000
Total

To get really basic, you could cut out a few things: substitute bus fare for the car & car insurance, entertainment, and half the food, and bring the total monthly expenses closer to .

Now think about what else you spend money on. What else would you like to spend money on? A new computer? A fancy car? Sports tickets? A vacation? Add these costs in, and don't forget to consider unexpected costs like parking tickets, medical expenses, gifts, etc.

Step 4: Test your budget

Test your new budget by comparing what you spent in a week (the actual amount you spent for the week) with the category target (the estimated amount you calculated before the week began).
Still have that little notebook? This time give each category its own page. As the week progresses, write down your spending on the corresponding page. At the end of each week, add up each page and compare page totals to the budget you set up in step 3. If you went over target in a particular category, maybe the budget was too low, or maybe you need to reduce your spending.

Step 5: Spend less

If your spending is consistently more than your weekly budget, think about what you can cut out. Here are some ideas for tightening your financial belt. They may make life seem less fun temporarily, but the effects on your bank account will make it worthwhile.

Food: Cut out frozen foods; cook from scratch; never shop when you’re hungry.
Fun: Watch TV, rent movies, or play games at home instead of going out; borrow videos and games from your friends.
Clothes: Avoid the mall and impulse buying!
Credit cards: As visions of iPods or new shoes dance through your head, resist the urge; avoid carrying your card with you every day. Credit cards can be budget-wreckers because they make purchasing things you want (but can’t afford) too easy!

Have I spoken well?

The first step in personal financial planning is controlling your day-to-day financial affairs to enable you to do the things that bring you satisfaction and enjoyment.

The second step in personal financial planning, and the topic of this article, is choosing and following a course toward long-term financial goals. As with anything else in life, without financial goals and specific plans for meeting them, we drift along and leave our future to chance. A wise man once said: "most people don't plan to fail; they just fail to plan." The end result is the same: failure to reach financial independence.

The third step in personal financial planning, "Building a Financial Safety Net,".

FOUR SIMPLE STEPS FOR SETTING FINANCIAL GOALS

Step 1: Identify and write down your financial goals, whether they are saving , buying a new car, saving for a down payment on a house, going on vacation, paying off credit debt, or planning for retirement.


Step 2: Break each financial goal down into several short-term (less than 1 year), medium-term (1 to 3 years) and long-term (5 years or more) goals.

Step 3: Educate yourself! Read Money magazine, or a book about investing, or surf the Internet's investing web sites.
The stock market is not voodoo. With a little effort you can learn enough to make educated decisions that will increase your net worth many times over. Then identify small, measurable steps you can take to achieve these goals, and put this action plan to work.

Step 4: Evaluate your progress. Review your progress monthly, quarterly, or at any other interval you feel comfortable with, but at least semi-annually, to determine if your program is working. If you're not making satisfactory progress on a particular goal, re-evaluate your approach and make changes as necessary.

DO IT NOW!

There are no hard and fast rules for implementing a financial plan. The important thing is to do SOMETHING, and to start NOW.

For me, below are the three major issues that should be tackled fast:

1. Electricity - If this is taken care of, we will be amazed at the result we will get in other sectors. I think there should be a total overhaul of the authority and a proffessional form whereever U.S,U.K or even south Africa should be made the M.D, at least for a period of time and let's see what will happen, afterall, we have expatriates heading the Super eagles, private sectors, consultants to the federal government and they are doing pretty well.

2. select six major roads of the zones and critically monitor the project from the start to the end to ensure that good jobs are done by the contractors. I will suggest the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, sagamu -Ore road and others.

3. Our import laws should be reviewed. Nigeria is becoming a dumpsite for China and other countries. How can they be allowed to import inferior materials into the countries when they can actually make good materials for the market.


Nairalanders, what do u think?

Who knows, someone in authority might be reading this, so I want us in the house to list out what we need in our immediate environment (maybe we should use our local govets.) for the government to do for us.

I start by saying that the road that goes from Ikorodu to Ijebu Ode (especially the Ikorodu end of Sabo) is an eyesore,I want to beg the authority in charge to move in fast as it is a major road. - Local government take note

I also want to plead that Govt. (especially Lagos state)should open up more access road to Ikorodu town, if they really want to decentralise lagos and make it habitable. - Lagos state govt. take note.

Then federal govt.,we need the authority to settle the issues of electricity as fast as possible. I believe,, if this is done with more human face, then we would have settled the problems of: - Unemployment,Security, direct foreign investment drive and a lot of people will be encouraged to do their own thing instaed of looking for unavailable jobs.

Nairalanders,what do u want?

Hi people, Do you dread going to the office in the morning and It's gotten so bad that U can't sleep Sunday nights, and U think U might be getting an ulcer. Why? U took what U expected would be a great job - at least the pay is great - and since then U've felt more and more out of place.


Ur boss keeps giving you tasks that an entry-level hire, without half ur experience, could do. He has also stopped including U in meetings where important decisions are made about ur department's activities. (All ur peers are invited.) To top it off, most of ur colleagues have been avoiding u ever since an incident a few weeks ago when U questioned a practice that seemed to cheat one of ur clients, and U're starting to think U should have swallowed ur ethics and kept quiet.

U don't want to look like a job hopper, but U're not sure how much longer U can stand working here. What should do u do?

Don't U would be smart to leave before getting sacked, or lose your sanity, or both.

Over the years, Bayer has compiled a list of eight signals that usually mean your job is in jeopardy. "If you've noticed three or more of the warning signs, it's time to update your resume and start job hunting," he says.

From your e-mail, I'd say you are suffering from more than three. Check out the list and see if you agree.

1. You don't fit in. Your values don't match the company's. If your colleagues are "dishonest and focused on getting ahead regardless of legal or moral barriers," Bayer says, it's time to quit before an Enron-style scandal sinks the ship.

2. Your boss doesn't like you and you don't like him or her. If your boss never asks your opinion, and never wants to chat or have lunch with you, and if you disagree with her agenda and dislike her style, your days are numbered. Adds Bayer: "If you've ever done something that undermined your boss, you might as well get out now."

3. Your peers don't like you. Feeling isolated, gossiped about, and excluded from the inner workings of the organization is a very bad sign, as is feeling that you're not part of the team and wouldn't socialize with your colleagues even if they asked you.

4. You don't get assignments that demonstrate the full range of your abilities. "Watching all the good assignments go to others, while you're given the ones that play to your weaknesses or are beneath your professional level, should tell you something," says Bayer. Likewise, if it seems the boss doesn't trust your judgment, you're in trouble.

5. You always get called upon to do the "grunt work." Everybody has to take on a dull or routine task now and then, but if you are constantly being singled out to do the work no one else wants, alarm bells should ring.

6. You are excluded from meetings your peers are invited to. Sound familiar? If it's painfully clear that your ideas aren't valued, why stick around?

7. Everyone on your level has an office. You have a cubicle in the hallway. Bayer notes that, whatever your title, your digs can speak volumes about your real status in the organization. If your peers have offices with windows and you're asked to move into a broom closet - no matter what the official explanation - start cleaning out your desk.

8. You dread going to work and feel like you're developing an ulcer. Ah, here's yet another of your symptoms, and a particularly nasty one at that.

"If the idea of going to the office makes you anxious or physically sick, and you're counting the hours from the time you arrive until the second you can leave, it's time to move on," says Bayer. Do it before you do serious damage to your health, or get so demoralized that you can't be upbeat in job interviews, or both. Once things have deteriorated to this point, being perceived as a job hopper should be the least of your worries. Get out while you still can.

Readers, have you ever quit a job that made you miserable? How did you know it was time to skedaddle? Or have you ever stayed too long and regretted it?

No-one likes losing money. The good news is, you don't have to lock your money away to protect it.

It is adviced that ,to protect ur money,U should;
1. Have enough insurance (In Nigeria, hmmmmmmmmm)
2. Make a will
3. Choose the right investments
4. Watch out for scams


Understand some common risks, take a few precautions and know what to do if things go wrong.

The bottom line

Be prepared. You’ll find it easier to protect yourself when things go wrong if you make a plan, do a budget and get the savings habit.

Do your homework and shop around before investing your money. Say no to scams – and report them when you find them, to protect other people.

- Have enough insurance
Insurance can cover you, your family and the things you own if something goes wrong.

It pays to shop around. Compare premiums, excesses and details of exactly what is covered in the policy and what you have to do to make a claim.

Be careful not to take shortcuts when you get insurance. Read everything you can about your policies before you sign the contracts. It’s as important to make sure you have enough cover as it is to get a good price. You can lose a lot of money if you find your insurance doesn’t cover what you thought it did. See Insurance.

- Make a will
It’s a good idea to think about what you want to happen to your money after you die. The time you take now to sort out your plans and make a will could really help the people you love after you’ve gone.

A will is a legal document that sets out your wishes for how your money and assets are to be divided up after your death. It can also cover other matters such as who should take care of your children.

Do-it-yourself will kits can be bought at most newsagents or post offices or on the internet. Be careful to follow the instructions that come with the kit. A badly written will may cause more problems for your beneficiaries than no will at all.

You can also ask a solicitor to prepare your will. This may be worth considering if you want to be sure that it suits your individual circumstances and clearly expresses your wishes. You will pay a fee that will depend on how complex your circumstances are.

- Choose the right investments
An investment may be perfectly legal and above board but you may still lose money if you buy something that does not suit your needs.

For example, you might be tempted to buy some shares in a company that is doing well but if your goal is to save for a holiday next year, a high interest savings account might be a better choice. If the shares fall in price before you need to sell them to fund your holiday, you could lose money. Investing in shares can give good returns over the long-term but can risk losing money in the short-term.

Do your homework, have a plan and shop around when choosing investments.

- Watch out for scams
Some so-called investment opportunities are nothing of the sort. They are scams, confidence tricks designed to cheat you out of your money.

Scammers have fooled people into parting with a lot of money over the years. Even people who thought they knew a lot about money and business have been tricked.

New versions of old scams pop up all the time. Extravagant promises can be mixed with high-pressure selling techniques and sophisticated looking brochures or internet sites.

Scammers try all sorts of ways to get your attention. You might get a glossy leaflet in your letter box, you might get an email, you might even get a phone call at home. A salesperson might knock on your door, you might see an intriguing advertisement in the paper or you might get a tip from a friend.

Typical claims include:

“Congratulations! You have won first prize in our lottery. Send us the N=5000 processing fee as fast as you can so we can send you your reward.”

“You’re going to make 10% a month with this investment! We’ve had a great response and there aren’t many shares left. Call this number today. You’ll kick yourself if you miss out!”

“Owing to a computer error, we need to reconfirm customer information. Click here to visit our website and update your account details.”

“This seminar is reserved exclusively for top drawer investors like you. For only N25,000 you will learn in just one weekend the investment secrets the finance experts try to keep to themselves.”

The best way to protect your money is to stop and think. Resist the pressure to sign up quickly. Throw the leaflet in the bin, hang up on the call, turn the salesperson away from your door. Don’t respond to suspect emails and never click on the links they may contain.

Sorting scams from real investments
You can save yourself a lot of trouble by taking the time to check out the scammer’s claims. There are three clues that can warn you that the offer you’re looking at could be a scam:

a. It may promise much larger returns than other investments.
b, It may suggest that you can avoid tax or hide money from the authorities.
c. It may promise secret, insider knowledge of the market that can only be shared with special people – like you!
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!

Companies or individuals that deal in or give advice about financial investments and services are strictly regulated more organised societies to protect you from conmen and scams. It doesn’t matter how persuasive the salesperson is or how glossy the brochure you get, you are taking big risks with your money if you deal with companies or individuals that don’t comply with the regulations.

Any reputable investment company will give you details of their licence and often include it in information about their products. Look for licence details in brochures and leaflets and ask cold-callers and sales people to tell you whether their company is licensed.

A licensed investment adviser must give you a financial services guide that tells you what advisory services are offered and what commissions and fees you will have to pay. It must also include details of the advising business, such as who owns it, and tell you about commissions and benefits your adviser may get for recommending particular products.

Companies have to issue product disclosure statements for their financial products (not including shares). The purpose of the products disclosure statement is to tell you everything you need to know about the product to make an informed decision. It must:

give details of the company providing the product
explain the features of the product
describe the benefits and risks of the product
set out how much you will pay
give you information about complaints handling and the cooling-off period.
The law requires a cooling-off period for many types of financial product. This means that if you change your mind about investing in a managed fund, for example, you will get your money back if you contact the provider within the required time.

Some scammers try to tempt you into buying shares or other financial products.

- Report and complain
If you hear of something you think is a scam, report it. If you think you’ve been ripped off, complain.

The sooner you act, the more chance there is that the scammers will be caught. I wish us all the best!!![/b][b]

EFCC ready for Madam Speaker

[b]Following the reports of the House of Representatives N628 Million contract scam probe committee that indicted the leadership of the House, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is said to have indicated interest to prosecute all found wanting by the reports.

But the speaker in her desperate bid to remain in office, last night met with some top notch of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to begin a last minute move to save her job and avoid being prosecuted by the anti-graft body.

A very reliable source at the EFCC said the body is currently studying the reports and would determine how to go about prosecuting those indicted in the contract scam.

"We have seen the reports and we are studying all the findings of the probe panel. As soon as we are done we would come up with how best to go about our business of prosecuting those involved." The source told Pointblanknews.com over the phone.

The source who prefer to be anonymous said that "our job is to fight financial crimes anywhere found in Nigeria regardless of who is involved and we would not hesitate as soon as we study the report of the committee to invite those found guilty and charging them appropriately according to the laws of the land."

Asked if permission would have to be sought from the office of the Attorney General before it begins the process of prosecuting those involved in the contract scam, the EFCC official stated that "we are going to work within the laws that gave us the powers to prosecute anyone found in any form of financial crimes."
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However, the Speaker, Mrs. Etteh has engaged the services of some lawyers to study the reports and advise her on the next line of action to save her from prosecution. Sources hinted that soon after she met with some leaders of the PDP last night over the reports, a team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of going to press were mandated to do a critical study of the reports and recommend to the speaker the next line of defence.

Earlier, while meeting with some PDP chieftains, Etteh was said to have been assured that the PDP caucus in the House would be persuaded in another meeting to be scheduled to save the Speaker from impeachment and prosecution.

A PDP source at the meeting told pointblanknews.com that "this is a family issue and we are going to find the best way to settle the issue and everyone would be happy at the end."

Without a doubt, Madam Speaker can sure use all the prayers and incantations she ever learnt how to recite, yup![/b]

It is said The best places to meet the opposite sex are situations where interaction is natural. Some places make people relaxed hence flirting and courting flows on natural and expected.

Nairalanders,where Would you rather meet your woman? ,

1. Look for her in settings where there is already a common ground
2. Take courage and initiate a conversation with a complete stranger
3. get set up by a colleague,friend cousing,sis. etc
4. at a party
5. online,on-the -phone, u know the e-thing

It is said The best places to meet the opposite sex are situations where interaction is natural. Some places make people relaxed hence flirting and courting flows on natural and expected.

Nairalanders,Would you rather meet your woman?

1. Look for women in setting where there is already a common ground
2. Take courage and initiate a conversation with a complete stranger
3. get set up by a colleague,friend cousing,sis.
4. at a party
5. online,on-the -phone, u know the e-thing

What's your idea of a perfect date?

A: A candle-lit dinner?
B: Go to the local boozer and get smashed?
C: Go to the off-license, get some beers in, go straight to yours/their place and get straight to the hanky-panky?

The problem arises because so many people see it as a reflection of their worth when someone doesn't want to be with them. "If I was good enough, this person would want to be with me, so there must be something wrong with me."
There is another way to see this. The way I see it is that for each of us there is a relatively small number of people with whom we feel a deep connection. Whether you want to explain this as due to being part of the same soul group in the spiritual realm, or to having similar energies, or to chemistry, the fact is that we don't feel connected to most people. Just because I don't feel connected with someone doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them. Just because you don't feel drawn to spend time with someone doesn't mean there is anything wrong with that person, and just because someone doesn't connect with you doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. It's just the way things are, and it has nothing to do with there being anything wrong with anyone.

So if I say to someone, "I don't feel a strong connection between us," I am simply stating a fact. I am not making a judgment about the person's adequacy or worth.

All of us meet perfectly wonderful people with whom we just don't feel a connection. The person might be very attractive, have similar interests to us, and even be on a similar growth path or spiritual path. Yet we just don't connect. The spark that ignites friendship or romance just doesn't exist. If we could all accept that someone not wanting to be with us has nothing to do with our worth, we would not get hurt when someone says no to a relationship.

I don't pretend to understand all the factors that create connection between two people. All I know is that all of us have the experience of connection with another that occurs deeply and rapidly, as well as the experience of a lack of connection. Many people have had the experience of being fixed up with someone because a friend said, "I just know you two will like each other. You are so similar," only to discover a complete lack of connection. Katie, a client of mine, recently said to me, "Everyone said Rick is perfect for me. We look good together, we have similar interests and backgrounds, we are the same religion, we are equal educationally, and he is a really sweet guy. I kept thinking that if I just gave it time, I would feel the connection. But it never happened. I felt so badly breaking up with him because there is nothing wrong with him, but the connection just isn't there."

Is it anyone's fault that the chemistry or connection isn't there? Of course not! There is nothing wrong with either Katie or Rick. The connection just isn't there for Katie. She couldn't make it be there. She ended up saying to Rick, "You are a really terrific guy. I wish I felt the connection with you that I want to have with a partner, but I don't. It's not your fault - it's just not there."


Whether or not Rick felt hurt by this is really up to him. Katie can't take responsibility for how he feels. If Rick has the belief system that not everyone will feel connected with everyone, he will not feel hurt. If he has the belief system that if a woman doesn't connect with him, there is something wrong with him, he will feel hurt. His hurt will come from his belief system, not from the fact that Katie broke up with him.

Ending a relationship gracefully means speaking our truth without blame or judgment and not taking responsibility for another's feelings. Randi, another one of my clients, recently told me that she was able to tell the truth rather than give herself up to avoid hurting someone. A friend had introduced her to Barb, thinking that Randi and Barb had a lot in common and could be good friends. Randi got together with Barb and felt no connection. In fact, she felt the opposite. While Randi felt that Barb was a sweet person, she also felt Barb's energy pulling on her in various ways. While some people might not mind needy energy, or even find it endearing, Randi didn't like it at all. She was pleased with herself because she was able to tell Barb that she just didn't feel a connection with her. Randi was able to let go of taking responsibility for Barb's feelings if Barb felt hurt by this.

Is there always a way of breaking up or saying no to a relationship without someone getting hurt? No. But by gently speaking your truth, you can gracefully end a relationship, and if you accept that another's feelings come from his or her belief system, then you won't feel guilty if the other person feels hurt.

Nuffing so interesting about me.


ladapo4luv.hi5.com

Does anyone know how much I can get a good rover 600 for? I need to know and if anyone has one for sales,please,let me know how much.

Guys,

I have always been in support of my friends' ladies until I got involved in my present relationship. I have always told my friends to take it easy with their girlfriends/wives,whn they complain of their attitudes to me.

But, guess what? I now know why some men/young men get frustrated with ladies. I think all women are the same:

1. ever nagging
2. wanting to dominate you and take control of your life (if u allow it)
3. suspecting you (even when u re sincere with them)
4. not so understanding
5. Rude
6. Unforgiven and,
7 the list is endless

what do u think? do u agree that all ladies are the same?

How much does he/she mean to you and Why do you love him/her so much? You probably would want us to know how long u ve been dating,

which bank wld U rather bank with and invest in? With the new information going on about town that CBN is trying to get the number of mega banks to ten instead of the 25 we presently have.

Becos u did the same b4 u travelled. "what goes around comes around" and stop calling Nigerians at home beggars, cos U ve done it b4. Nigerians at home, please, get something doing and stop asking for things from people like this.

Someone needs a rasonable advice. The issue is, I have always dreamt of working in a big multinational organisation,far from one man businesses but I have found myself working in one man businesses since graduation.

I actually just got another job in a one man business,the pay is good,condition is alright but there are opportunities in the organisation we are working with now and I am thinking of moving again,in less than 2 months.

I have worked in: Telecomms-media-construction etc,do you think this is good for career development? I really want to stop job hopping,what do u think? Meanwhile, I have never worked with any of these organisations at a strecth of 2 years bfore I change to the next one.

Someone needs a rasonable advice. The issue is, I have always dreamt of working in a big multinational organisation,far from one man businesses but I have found myself working in one man businesses since graduation.

I actually just got another job in a one man business,the pay is good,condition is alright but there are opportunities in the organisation we are working with now and I am thinking of moving again,in less than 2 months.

I have worked in: Telecomms-media-construction etc,do you think this is good for career development? I really want to stop job hopping,what do u think? Meanwhile, I have never worked with any of these organisations at a strecth of 2 years bfore I change to the next one.

Can you tell your spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend/fiance/fiancee, how much you earn? Even when she/he won't disclose hers/his.

Stone4rock,

I really appreciate that contribution, you are one of the few reasonable fellas we still have around the house.

Has anyone ever invested in the Discovery fund? What do u think of them? I put in some money but have not heard anything from them after 2weeks.

Hello House,

How long have u been working? which do u think is better? Investment, savings or corporative societies. If you fell investment is better,what are the best forms of investment you will advice a friend that earns 80 -100k a month to do?

Personally, I feel if you are earning up to 80 - 100k, u shld save at least 20k monthly, and invest at least 30k monthly. waht do u think?

Hello House,

How long have u been working? which do u think is better? Investment, savings or corporative societies. If you fell investment is better,what are the best forms of investment you will advice a friend that earns 80 -100k a month to do?

Personally, I feel if you are earning up to 80 - 100k, u shld save at least 20k monthly, and invest at least 30k monthly. waht do u think?

It is said that we are most humble when in a state of despair.
Remember when you started. It may have been a few years or just a few
weeks ago. You had just left your job, come out of a painful
relationship, just received a miraculous healing from God or just
graduated from College.

You spent time in prayer, seeking God for a direction in your life.
You cried for a new partner, cried for a new job, cried for promotion,
cried for a change in your monotonous career. You went to all the
prayer meetings, called friends to pray with you, spent time reading
the word of God, never missed a session in Church, got involved in a
ministry or two, and even started a tradition of daily prayer before
sleeping, You trusted God and believed Him for all the good things in
your life.

In short you took God for His word and claimed His promises. Then it
happened.God granted you your request.You got the job, got an exciting
man, got the long overdue promotion. For sometime you went around
thanking God and promising how you were going to serve Him
faithfully.

That was then.

Today you have become too busy and too active. You cannot go to the
prayers because your boss would not like to see you arriving late.
You no longer have time for evening prayers -
you arrive home too tired to even spend time reading the
Bible. Prayer has become a drab ten-minute exercise done out
of routine rather than a geneuine desire to hear from God.

You can no longer identify with the jobless and the broken
hearted - it is long since you were last there. The slighest
sign, like the arrival of a long lost friend, is enough for
you to postpone your trip to the church. The announcement of
a good programme on TV or a company cocktail party is enough
to make you miss the evening service. And so the job you
prayed for has become your biggest stumbling block to knowing
God and serving Him.

The very blessing you cried for is the very thing that is now
dragging you to destruction. And all the time we rationalize and
reason with God: "You know how demanding this job is, God" You know
that I have no time to pray, just see how tired I am" And, Lord, with
all these company meetings how do you expect me to have time to go
for prayers?" And so God begins to weep and feel sorry that the very
thing He gave you to bring you closer to Him is slowly taking you
away. The prayer item you so earnestly sought is now killing your
spiritual walk.

And with tears in His eyes Jesus looks down and realizes that He has to
withdraw some of the blessings from you if your soul is to be saved.
And soon you begin to have problems with your boss; your colleagues are
attacking you at the office; your marriage is on the rocks; the
retrenchment or dismissal letter lands on your desk; you are struck with an ailment.

And all the time Jesus is crying and hoping He never had to allow these to
happen to you. But how else will He get your attention if you are too
busy following the blessings and not the blesser?

As you reflect on the turmoils in your life don't just be quick to single
out the devil for blame. Have you lost your Love for others? Do
you feel you no longer understand what it means to have no supper? Have
you become selective in the people you associate with, the church you go
to, the people you talk to?

Has your prayer and general christian life been taken over by too many
responsibilities-projects, reports, meetings, friends, visits, work? Are
you too busy for God? Are the things you have keeping you away from
Spending time with Him?

Do you find yourself having too many 'good' reasons why you can not do?
What God wants you to do? God may be telling you something.
He blessed you, but now the blessings are killing your soul.
Jesus is weeping over you just the way He wept over Jerusalem.
He gave you what you have so that you may know and experience
His love and that you may tell others of His goodness.
Instead they have become a stumbling block. [b][/b]

Hello House,,

I am not beefing anyone by posting this, I just want to sample people's opinion of Kennis music and the crew. I have heard in so many quaters peole's comment about Kenny and I.D, and from most comments, they both don't seem to have tha charisma at all. What do U think? does have to do with their attitudes or they just don't fit in?

Hello House,,

I am not beefing anyone by posting this, I just want to sample people's opinion of Kennis music and the crew. I have heard in so many quaters peole's comment about Kenny and I.D, and from most comments, they both don't seem to have tha charisma at all. What do U think? does have to do with their attitudes or they just don't fit in?

woman's brain

hmkmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,

Thanks for this posting, though,I have not really had time to go through all replies. However,I wish to state here that I am a green hornin Procurement and Warehousing and I think I love it more than any other job as it affords me the opportunity of negotiaing and decision making. I have been thinking of developing a career on this line and have been doing some research work too.

U can check cilt.co.uk and let me know what you think.

tell of a nairalander you have met and what you think of him/her?