I hear so many people saying that they want to enjoy life. They utter things such as "You only live once", or "I deserve it", or my favorite, "I work hard for it, I should be able to spoil myself!" These are just excuses for not taking financial responsibility for your actions. This is what puts consumers at a disadvantage.

Here are some suggestions to help ease buyer's burden.

1- Ask yourself, "Is this a need or want?"

2- Can I afford this without putting myself or my family into debt?

3- Is there an cheaper alternative that will fulfill my desires?

4- Do I need this now or can I put it off till I have planned for expense?

5- Are there more pressing needs that I must look at first?

6- What do I have to give up to be able to afford this?

Being a conscious money saver allows you to plan for each purchase. Most of time, if you ask these questions, cooler heads will prevail and you will realize you don't need item after all.

Don't let society dictate what you need or don't need. Base your purchase on your own criteria and stick to your decision. Just because everyone else has put themselves into debt to buy a 60 inch plasma TV doesn't mean you have to follow. Those that plan their purchases are ones that will always have money when they need it.

Be that person... whether it's old fashioned or not!

Successful entrepreneurs want to prove to themselves that their success wasn't a fluke. They want to prove to everyone else that they are smarter than average bear. This emotional baggage and odds against s success ensure they will eventually fail.

Angel investors should not ask: "How much can I make from this speculative investment? Rather they should ask: "How likely am I to lose my risk capital?"

If odds of loss are greater than one or two percent, no matter how attractive investment, they should keep their wallet in their pocket. At least one Venture Capital Club, Global Village Investment Club (GVIC) runs on this philosophy and appears to be thriving. While most Venture Capital Clubs are in process of dying or have already been buried. If any reader wants to contact GVIC, email me at: Beowulfinvestments@Yahoo.com

The Venture Capitalists' Secret Formula To Investment Failure

Venture Capitalists argue that an investment formula based upon two winners, two losers and three breakeven investments is profitable. That their staff based upon staff's education at prestigious schools and firms' investment experience ensure success. It isn't so. You need only compare a directory of VC Firm from a decade or more ago with a current directory to see that there has been a steady death rate in industry.

What's wrong with their math is assumption that education and experience can overcome odds of 1-in-100 against a winner. There are too many variables to be offset. It's been my experience that role of staff is more in finding accredited investors than in finding successful startup companies. Experience has more to do with raising risk capital than in making a profit. A couple of very successful investments can carry firm for decades on risk capital of later investors who hope or expect to see a profit. If Venture Capitalists were consistently successful, they wouldn't always be searching for new blood to fuel financial demands of company.

The Conclusion

Ask not how much money you can make from a speculative investment, but rather how likely you are to lose your risk capital.

To contact author visit: [http://home.earthlink.net/~beowulfinvestments/] [http://home.earthlink.net/~beowulfinvestments/globalvillageinvestmentclubwelcome/]