Today is the first baseball game that my eldest son participated in (he is in second grade). He started getting interested in baseball last year and both Mrs Credit Card and myself decided to enroll him in the league. The weather has not been too kind lately and the team merely had three practices.

The venue of the game was at a park that was just across my house (very convenient). The team that my son was in was called the Cubs. They were playing against the Oreos. The first inning went off to a bright start. The first three batters for the Oreos all hit the ball, but the Cubs played them out. They then went on to get five home runs just after the first innings! They patterned continued and by the end of the game, the score was 13-8. My son did not get a home run, but he was still happy nevertheless.

Right now, he is bugging me to take him to a Philly game constantly and also to him baseball memorabilias. It is something that I guess I have to consider and work on. It is moments like these that I wished I had Major League Baseball™ Extra Bases™ Credit Card, where I could use points for these ‘baseball items’. But I dont’t, so I guess I just have to be selective in getting him a few stuff and hopefully, get some good seats to the Philly game.

During a short visit to Strasburg in Pennsylvania, I found a Pottery Barn at Rockvale Outlets. I found somethings that I always wanted but could not because they were too pricey (at least for me). On top of that, I didn’t want to pay for the hefty shipping surcharges.

I bought an entry bench from the Samantha Collection – mahogany stain & the gingham roman shades. Both items are catalogue/internet exclusive. The regular price for the bench was $399 & the outlet price was $285. However, there was an additional 40% off & we paid $185 ! The shades were originally $89 & outlet price was $59.97. However, it was further discounted to $21.97 and on that day they offered another 20% off on all items except for furniture which had 40% off. The final price for the shades were $17.57 each. We took 4 shades – 2 for each of our boys’ rooms. I was overjoyed !

Although the bench has 2 minor scratches, it was OK because my kids would have “abuse” it within days. The roman shades – unbelievable ! I didn’t have to separate rods and curtains and they are easy to install (makes mr credit card happy). In fact the shades are lined with blackout materials which is what I wanted.

(Left) – The bench that we bought. Right – 40% discount sign at Pottery Barn Outlet.

I love browsing at Pottery Barn Outlet. They have merchandise from West Elms & William & Sonoma too. They have everything you need for a house. From beds, mirrors, sheets, lawn chairs etc etc etc…..I was almost dragged out by the store assistants at closing. You can so many beautiful things for your house at a fraction of what you might pay at the regular store/catalogue/internet – even at their sale price. With careful planning and patience, you too can furnish your house in style.

Shopping at outlets is definitely a great way to save especially for big ticket items like furniture, china, designer clothes and shoes.

I’m patiently waiting to return to the store again – and my neighbor wants to come along !

P.S. – This post is written by Mrs Credit Card (as I’m sure you suspected!)

In the Rich Dad Poor Dad series, Robert Kiyosaki talks about taking the fast train to financial success rather than taking the “slow train”. If you really sit down and think about this, there are many implications when you are thinking about the career path that you wish to take. Without getting too intellectual about this, an observation about my friends career paths tell a very interesting story.

1. Slow and Steady

I have many friends who belong to this category. They work in corporate america and earn an “average” middle income. They are typically married and have a couple of kids. I guess they are living the american dream. But they cannot stop work now if they wanted to. Most are seeing a financial advisor, setting aside a systematic savings program to save over seven figures by the time they retire.

2. Fast track corporate america

I know another group of friends who work on Wall Street. Though they are ’employees’, they are certainly highly paid employees. Unlike others working in corporate america, these friends of mine can probably retire in their mid or late thirties. That is assuming that they have saved and invested wisely the bonuses they have made.

3. Business Owners

I also happen to know a lot of business owners. I know restaurant owners, manufacturers and many others. Most are relatively successful in their business but work very hard as well.

4. Wildly successful entrepreneurs

Yes, I do know a few of these people. What sets these friends apart from others is that they have this uncanny ability to see an exisiting problem that is not addressed by the marketplace and build a business around it. These friends of mine are extremely successful and wealthy. They have a very different mentality of most people. They are always looking for new ideas, have lots of energy and are generally very optimistic people.

Putting it all together

When I reflect back on all the people I know, the most successful people working in corporations are extremely hardworking and most of them come from very good schools and had very good academic grades. They are had a very good personality which enabled them to land starting jobs in great companies and in high paying industries like Wall Street firms, hedge funds, private equity, prestigious law firms etc. My friends who have risen to the top are wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. Those who hit a ceiling aren’t too shabby as well.

The successful entrepreneurs I have met are also different. Most are not from top schools. But they all have uniques ideas and more importantly, they take action and make their vision come through.

For those who are looking to start a career out of school and changing a career, I think it is important to take a hard look at yourself and ask what do you want to achieve. If you want to achive massive wealth in a short period of time (the fast track), then you cannot think and act like most people do. Perhaps a corporate america job will not be suitable unless you get a job on Wall Street or perhaps Google!

But just starting your own business isn’t going to generate massive wealth for you. To be successful, you have to have a very unique value proposition in the market space that you are addressing. Just opening a pizza place ‘because you love pizza’ isn’t going to cut it. You need to ask yourself if you have to mentality to think and act like an entrepreneur to pursue this path.

Whatever path you choose, I think it is important to have a financial objective. Like I said early, if you wish to generate lots of wealth fast and achieve financial freedom at a relatively young age, you have to be different and do things differently.

Last Thursday was my 10th Year Wedding Anniversary with Mrs Credit Card. We went away to Strausburg, Lancaster County (where the Armish live) for a Spa get away. Aside from the wonderful spa treatments, we visited an Amish Village where we were given a quick tour and education about how the Amish people lived. To say it was an eye opener was an understatement.

After giving us a history of how the Amish people came to America from Europe, the tour guide then showed us how the Amish lived. Man, was this extreme frugality in action. Here are a few rules and points about their lifestyle.

1. They do not use electricity – just gas. Hence, you can see huge gas tanks by an Amish home.

2. No electricity means no televisions, no cable TVs, no internet connections.

3. They travel around in buggys (little carriages and horses). They can catch a ride in cars, but not own one!

4. They do not own any life or medical insurance. If they have an accident and the medical bills are too high, the church and community will hold fundraisers.

5. Most Amish study until a middle school equivalent and then move on to their “chosen profession”. (No worries about funding college education!)

6. We were also given a “tour” of a typical family house. One of the things that struck me was that everything in the house has to have a purpose or function. That means no decorative stuff or no ing stuff on impulse.

7. They dress simply and although there are different sets of outfits for married and single folks. No spending on extravagent clothes.

(Above left and right pictures) – These are pictures of an Amish kitchen. The kitchen is the only heated place during winter and is where most family activities are. Note the gas stoves and gas lights.

(Above Left) – blanket to keep warm during winter. (Above right) – Typical clothes of the Amish

(Above Left) – An old gas washing machine. Nobody makes them anymore. But apparantly, there are people who know where to get spare parts! (Above Right) – Transportation – No worries and debate about ing new car or used! No wasting time over getting the lowest rate for your auto loan!

Look, most of us are not simply going to live a life like that. But for those who are finding it difficult to reduce your spending and your credit card debts, there are lessons to be learnt from the Amish. Firstly, we can actually do without what many of us would consider “must have items”. Or at least, we can do without them for a short period of time. Cancelling your cable or magazine subsription is one way to cut some fat from our budget.

Another interesting thing about their house is that every thing in it has to have a purpose. How many of us simply something because of impulse purchase? Or simply to decorate the house. Look, if you have lots of cash or cash inflow, what you spend on is never an issue. But if you are looking to reduce debt, getting into the habit of not ing stuff for ing sake will go a long away to better your finances.

I hope this post is an inspiration for those looking to trim some fat from their budgets. And Oh! I forgot to ask if Armish poeple carry credit cards!