Tragedy in Japan Inspires Reflection: Are You Prepared for Disaster?
March 18, 2011
Only a few days ago the world was shocked by the terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Our hearts and prayers go out the people affected by the tragedy, and many people are asking what they can do to help.
The sudden violence of nature has many of us looking at our own situations as well, wondering if we are prepared—as a country and as individuals—should an equally devastating natural disaster strike our own shores. Of course the first thought most of us have in this regard is whether or not we have a well-stocked supply of emergency rations, but as this article from CBS MoneyWatch.com points out, there is much more to surviving a natural disaster than the first 24 hours. “Most people never think about the items to take that help protect your financial assets.”
Author Steve Vernon includes in his article a list of things you can do to prepare for what comes after the first 24 hours of a natural disaster, including:
- A stash of cash in case ATMs are shut down for a long period of time.
- Contact information for family members, close friends, and work contacts.
- A cell phone and charger, plus batteries and chargers for other necessary electronic equipment.
- A list of account numbers and contact information for all your regular bills and payment obligations.
- Your insurance company contact information.
These are only a few of the things you’ll want to have ready (or at least have thought about) if disaster strikes here at home.
Some natural disasters are so big in scope they are almost impossible to comprehend, let alone try to prepare for; but preparation is the best way to keep fear and panic at bay. It doesn’t help anybody to dwell too much on what “might happen,” but having a basic emergency plan in place gives you the freedom to go on with your everyday life, knowing that you’ve done what you can to be ready if disaster does strike.
For more information about disaster preparedness please visit the FEMA website here: FEMA Emergency Planning Checklists.
For more information about how you can help the disaster victims in Japan please check the Crisis Response Page on Google.
Internet Tools to Improve Your Personal Finances
June 9, 2009
The realm of personal finance is in the midst of being revolutionized. The crash on Wall Street has made many armchair investors mistrustful of professional financial advice, and many people are now taking the time to manage their own personal finances with the focus shifted from investing and earning to budgeting and saving. The problem is that after all the effort people put into learning how to spend and play the market from their laptops, many now don’t know how to budget and save responsibly.
This is where the revolution begins.
A recent article in The Wall Street Journal has collected some of the best websites on the internet to help you keep track of and plan your finances. These online tools run the gamut of personal finance categories; from budgeting your household expenses to creating a financial plan to managing personal loans between friends and family. And these aren’t just educational resources, these are interactive tools to help you implement the processes you prefer—and many of these tools are free.
We hope our readers will find these resources helpful, but if you are one of those who would still like the advice and services of a professional financial planner but aren’t sure who to call, please contact our office. We would be happy to recommend one who would fit your family’s needs.
Jinies.com