Last Sunday, after all the massive lines had disappeared, I made my way to the local Apple Store.  I wanted to see and touch the new iPhone 4 and get a feel for what it was like.  To say the least, I was hooked.  It is sleek and functional.  I really liked the Facetime ability and can see where that would be useable if the other person has the same phone.  The camera(s) are nice.

Later in the evening I talked to my friend.  He is an Apple guy from way on back.  Just recently, he was able to obtain the iPad for development work that he will be doing.  I mentioned to him that I was hooked on the new iPhone and what he said has had me thinking since then.

Big O, as I will refer to him, said he was sticking with the iPad and going back to a small phone.   The iPad did all he needed and, with the right case, is easy to carry.  After he said that, I began to think about what I would do.  Quite frankly, I am not sure what direction to pursue.  What will I gain and what will I lose?

• Phone – with the iPad only, I would not have a smart phone.  The biggest drawback I can think of is texting.  I do not like the idea of a normal keyboard and texting.  With a small or dumb phone, I can still call but all my contacts (in their current form) would be on the iPad.  It is nice to only update contacts in one place.
• Camera – No camera on the iPad.  The camera, and video, on the new iPhone is pretty impressive compared to my old 3G iPhone.  If I need a camera, I guess I would have to  be carrying one as most of the small phone cameras, to my knowledge, to not offer the same quality as the iPhone.
• Apps – No real drawback here.  While not immediate, most apps will run on the iPad and iPhone.
• Access – The iPhone will allow me access from just about anywhere with my 3G/4G coverage.  With the iPad, unless I want to pay for the continued 3G access, I am limited to access at a hotspot.  When the iPad 4G comes out the current will be out of date??
• Visibility – The bigger iPad screen is definitely attractive.  However, the new iPhone screen is very clear and crisp, but small.
• Functionality – It appears, like with the apps, most of things I would use on my Macbook are also available on both the iPhone and the iPad.  Not sure this is important.  Multitasking is something that has been needed for a long time and is now there on the iPhone.

Apple has now made it hard to decide.  Cost set aside, the pros and cons are too close.

I don’t know what to do.  What advise to you have?

You have heard the phrase that “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away” or something like that.  Most of us are not real keen on the idea of going to the doctor (some I have seen live for those times) and will do anything to avoid the poking, prodding, shots and lectures that our medical professionals give.

When it comes to finances, there are some things that you can do that will help in your financial health too.  Like the medical conditions prescribed by our doctors, employing the required tasks early will help you make sure you are successful later in life.

First, get started early.  Learn to manage your finances (as opposed to them managing you) before you get into trouble.  Everyone is going to go through a rough patch here and there financially.  Those who have planned properly are going to weather those patches more easily than those who are thrown into the problem with no plan.  Build a plan for your finances.  Include short and long term objectives.

Second, execute your plan.  So many, me included, are better at planning than we are at execution.  Take the plans that you have made  and make them part of your life.  One of my clients has made their plan a daily part of their life.  They have taken their goals/objectives, their monthly budget and their debt plan (all on paper – CRITICAL) and have them posted on their closet door.  As they leave their closet each morning, evening and potentially several times a day – they are constantly reminded of their plan and their most current status.

Finally, build in accountability.  This is huge.  You really need someone to help keep you on track.  Your spouse, assuming you are married, is your primary accountability partner and should know the absolute details of your family’s finances and plan.  Outside of that, you can have others who know you are on a plan, may not know the intimate details, but who are there to ask and encourage you to succeed according to you plan.  Use people in and around you to make you stronger financally.

A financial plan is not quite and apple, but it will work!

My family and I just returned from a week at the beach.  It was fun and very hot.  We spent the week with all of my wife’s family.  I can say for me, I am glad to be back and able to get some rest!!

Being at the beach is fun, relaxing and interesting.  We were able to see many interesting things including a shark and an alligator.

The most interesting thing I witnessed was what people do on vacation.  Everywhere we went people were spending money!  The problem was not with spending money, but how they were spending it.  It appeared that the plastic was being worked hard.  Restaurants, grocery stores, beach souvenirs – it did not matter, people were using the plastic cards.

I do not mean to suggest that everyone was going into debt for the vacation, but I really wondered if anyone was managing their vacation by a plan.  A plan to financially stay on track with what they expected to spend on their trip.  If you are not very careful, you can spend way more than what you planed and put yourself in a position of facing the debt  when you return.

Our family had a cash limit.  We made it.  In fact, we beat it and brought home cash from the trip.  Great vacation, great memories and no credit card bills.  That is the life.

More and more people I meet are becoming aware of the loan modification process that many mortgage companies are using.  At the direction of the Obama administration, mortgage companies were requested to help mortgage holders avoid foreclosure and help the housing market and economy.

Many have applied for a modification and many have found out that it is a long, long, long process.  One of my clients applied in January of 2009 and was just recently, April 2010, approved for a permanent modification.  Still others are waiting to hear, are on a temporary modification or have been turned down.

Just this week changes went into effect that may impact your ability to move faster in the process.  While many languished in the anxiety of learning when they would be approved or rejected, it often took months while the mortgage company walked through their processes.

With the new changes this week, two things are changed that you need to be aware of.  First, you may now be required to prove your income and second, you should know within 30 days if you qualify for the temporary modification (while they work towards a permanent modification) or if you are being rejected.  The later is HUGE!

According to the changes, you must be notified within 10 days of your submission that all necessary information is correct.  Once it is correct, you will be notified within 30 days of the approval for the temporary modification.

Be aware of the need to prove your income.  This may be more difficult for small business owners, etc.  Additionally, you will be required to sign an IRS document that gives the mortgage company the ability to pull your tax records.

Hopefully, these are good changes that will speed up the process.  Click here to see the changes.

I meet clients all the time who need to have software tools like the Microsoft Office Suite, but they simply can not afford the package.  Spreadsheets, word processor, presentation software – they all are needed from time to time, but the cost to purchase is so high.  Until now.

Openoffice is a direct competitor to Microsoft Office and it is free.  Offering most of the same tools that Office offers, users are able to download this suite of products and use them at no cost (a donation is suggested).  While the product is not exactly the same in look and feel, there are very few pieces that may be missing from the average user.

This suite of applications can open, update and save files in the Microsoft extension so that Microsoft users can trade files with you and you with them.  The biggest trick here is to save the files in the Microsoft extension before sending the file to someone else.

I highly recommend this product from Oracle (formerly Sun Microsystems) to anyone (Mac or PC)  who wants to save money and have a suite of applications that are essential in today’s computer world.

www.openoffice.org