The paradox of singles and money is—the good thing is that everything falls on you and the bad thing is that everything falls on you. When you’re single you have the luxury of spending, saving and investing money when, where and how you want to. You are independent, self-reliant and self-sufficient. You don’t have the nagging money fights that many couples have about money. The downside of being single is that the income, decisions and responsibilities associated with spending, saving and investing money starts and stops with you. There’s no one to fall back on in the event you lost your job or source of income. There’s no nagging partner who will challenge you and force you to rethink certain money decisions that oftentimes lead to mistakes. As a result when you’re single, you have to be twice as smart, twice as cautious, and twice as responsible than the average couple with money.

(NNPA)—Ben Sherwood in his book, “The Survivors Club,” studied people who had survived some of the most horrendous human tragedies. According to Sherwood, “No matter the adversity, the navy says, survival is a mentality, a way of thinking. Survival is also a lens, a way of perceiving the world around you. The survivors in the military share a constant outlook and approach, which they believe can also be applied to the struggles of everyday life. They understand that crisis is inevitable and they anticipate adversity. When they face a challenge, they observe and analyze the situation, devise a plan, and move decisively. If things go wrong, they adapt and improvise. If they get overwhelmed, they recover quickly. They also know how to wait for the worst to end.”

by James Wright

(NNPA)—The financial reform package that is making its way through both houses of Congress will benefit African-Americans by changing the banking system to ensure that it becomes more responsive to low and middle income consumers and makes financial literacy education more readily available.

That’s what Cecelia Rouse, a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, told journalists during a recent conference call regarding the president’s plan to address disparities within the financial system.

Business series

MAY 13—The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will host their Business Program Series at 12:15-1 p.m. at the Downtown & Business branch, 612 Smithfield St. The topic is “How to Start a Professional Consulting Business.” Marilyn Landis, president and CEO of Basic Business Concepts Inc., will discuss practical tips on how to start a successful consulting business and what is expected. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-281-7141.