BUSINESS
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, THURSDAY, JAN. 2 - 8, 2020 • PAGE 12
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COUNTYWIDE
Expert advises starting new year with 2020 financial vision
Part Two - Steps to a solid financial future
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Often people start the
new year with a vow to set
their financial house in order.
It can be done, no matter
how old you are or how far
you are from sound financial
management, according to
financial literacy instructor
Michelle Alexander.
“Start saving by
having funds automatically
transferred directly from
your paycheck to your
savings or retirement
account,” Alexander advised.
“This task can be done
easily through your payroll
department. You will not
feel the pressure of parting
with your money when
saving this way and the
money adds up quickly. If
the savings are for retirement
and are pre-tax through
payroll, it also allows you a
tax break. Another way to
save automatically is to visit
your bank to set up monthly
transfers from your checking
to savings account. You can
also have money transferred
from one bank to another.
Just make sure there are no
fees involved in the bank-to-
bank transfers. When you
start saving, you give your
money purpose. You will
begin to feel empowered
and may find other ways
to improve your financial
situation.”
She recommended track
ing spending for at least
30 days “and not just your
household expenses. You
need to track every single
penny, yes, I mean penny,
that comes out of your pock
et and off your debit and/or
credit card. When you track
your spending so closely,
you really get to see what
you do with your money in
stead of just saying, ‘I don’t
know where it goes; I just
don’t make enough.’
“From this point, you
can now create a realistic
budget to maintain as you
continue to improve your
finances. An easy way to cut
back on spending is to not
buy convenience foods for
every meal of the day. If you
start with just breakfast, you
can possibly save $5 a day;
$25 a week. That is $100 for
Michelle Alexander
the month and you only had
to make one small change.
This money could be your
401k contribution especially
if your company matches. If
there is no match, you can
set up your own traditional
or Roth IRA at most banks
or credit unions,” she contin
ued.
Alexander said investors
should be mindful of both
their personal situations and
the overall financial climate.
“In reading other financial
articles that talk about eco
nomic climates, I notice the
conversation tends to revolve
around market participation
and how we should be in
it for the long haul. If you
have a sound plan that works
for you, then you may only
need to make tweaks and
should not make any major
changes when the climate is
not favorable. If the market
is down, you should stay put
and if you can afford to, buy
assets that are on sale,” she
said.
“However, ” she contin
ued, “if you do not partici
pate in the financial market
and are just trying to manage
your paycheck, you should
save more, buy personal
items on sale, and capitalize
on great deals when employ
ment is high. Make wise
decisions while the going is
good. When employment is
low, you should cut back on
the extras and continue to
save. Just to be clear, extras
are usually ‘wants’ dressed
up as ‘needs.’”
Recessed or depressed
economies are not the time
to start adding major or any
debt to your life and making
other bad financial decisions,
Alexander warned. “Hold
onto your paid-off car for
another year before trading
in or up. Continue to pay
down debt as companies
make changes because one
of those changes could be
your job. You do not want to
be left holding a bag full of
quarters when your debt is in
the thousands and your job
disappears.
She advised, “Be still,
but not silent; continue to
sock away savings and re
tirement contributions; and
most importantly, do not
incur any new unnecessary
debt. If you are already in
a good financial position,
review your financials to see
where you can beef up assets
and decrease debt. Your fu
ture self, will thank you.”
This is the second of a
two-part series featuring
advice from Alexander, a
financial literacy instructor
who said her mission is to
help individuals change
their financial lives for the
better She has conducted
financial literacy seminars at
DeKalb County libraries and
at business association and
community meetings. Among
the organizations she has
volunteered with: Project
Take Charge, a reso urce for
DeKalb County residents
needing financial assistance
during challenging financial
times. Part One - Why
many struggle with personal
finances— appeared in the
Dec. 26, 2019, issue p/The
Champion.
Grant Notice
The Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) Office of Adult
Education will open its multiyear adult education grant competition in
January 2020. State and federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity
Act grant funds can be used to provide adult education and literacy
activities to individuals over the age of 16 without a high school
diploma, as well as English language learners. TCSG will hold a
technical assistance day for all interested applicants on February 10,
2020 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Chattahoochee Technical College.
More information is available at https://tcsg.edu/adult-education/.
TCSG is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on
the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Stone Mountain is currently accepting
letters and/or resumes to fill vacancies on the
Historic Preservation Commission. Please refer
to the following link of the City ordinance; https://
library.municode.com/ga/stone mountain/
codes/code of ordinances?nocleld=PTIICOOR_
CH5BUPRRE_ARTIIHIPRCO for more information
on the commission. All appointments to the Historic
Preservation Commission shall require a review by
the governing authority, a nomination by the mayor
and confirmation by the city council.
All interested parties should forward letters or
resumes, by January 15, 2020 to: Mayor Patricia
Wheeler, Stone Mountain City Hall, 8/5 Main Street,
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Stone Mountain is currently accepting
letters and/or resumes to fill vacancies on the
Planning and Zoning Committee. Please refer to
the following link of the City website; http://www.
stonemountaincity.org/departments/planning_
and_zoning/index.php for more information on
the committee. All appointments to the Planning
& Zoning Committee shall require a review by the
governing authority, a nomination by the mayor and
confirmation by the city council.
All interested parties should forward letters or
resumes, by January 15, 2020 to: Mayor Patricia
Wheeler, Stone Mountain City Hall, 8/5 Main Street,
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION, WINDING UP,
AND TERMINATION OF
DEKALB SURGICAL ALLIANCE, LLC
& REQUEST FOR CLAIMS
Notice is hereby given that DeKalb Surgical Alliance,
LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, has dissolved,
is in the process of winding up, and will be terminated.
Notice is further given that DeKalb Surgical Alliance,
LLC has filed with the Georgia Secretary of State’s
Office a Statement of Commencement of Winding Up
in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 14-11-606 and other
applicable Georgia law, if any.
DeKalb Surgical Alliance, LLC requests that any and all
persons with claims against DeKalb Surgical Alliance,
LLC send a written statement - with such statement
detailing the facts related to such claims, the nature of
such claims, the amount of the claim, the date the claim
arose, and the names and contact information of the
persons relevant to such claims - to the registered agent
of DeKalb Surgical Alliance, LLC at the following address:
James Forstner or Current Registered Agent, DeKalb
Surgical Alliance, LLC, 2701 North Decatur Road,
Decatur, Georgia 30033.
Except for claims that are contingent at the time of the
filing of the statement of commencement of winding
up or that arise after the filing of the statement of
commencement of winding up, a claim against DeKalb
Surgical Alliance, LLC not otherwise barred will be barred
unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced
within two (2) years after the publication of this Notice.
