Self-Made Millionaire Shares Common Mistakes to Avoid

You don't have to come from a wealthy family, have the next billion-dollar idea or work 18-hour days to become rich, says self-made millionaire Mike Finley.

"You don't have to be extraordinary in any of the headline-grabbing ways; what you need is the self-awareness to avoid wasting money on short-term, retail-priced happiness," says Finley, author of "Financial Happine$$," (www.thecrazymaninthepinkwig.com), which discusses his journey to financial literacy and the principles and practices that allowed him to retire from the Army a wealthy man.

"Money used wisely can give you the financial security associated with the good life."

Finley lists 10 of the most common money traps that lead to consumers going broke:

•  Make the appearance of wealth one of your top priorities by acquiring more stuff. The material trappings of a faux lifestyle, as seen in magazines and advertisements, are not good investments either financially or in long-term happiness.

•  Work a job you hate, and spend your free time buying happiness. Instead, find fulfilling work Monday through Friday so you're not compensating for your misery with expensive habits during the weekend.

•  Live paycheck to paycheck and don't worry about saving money. Live for today, that's all that matters. Have you already achieved all of your dreams by this moment? If not, embrace hope and plan for tomorrow. (Appreciating your life today doesn't require unnecessary expenditures.)

•  Stop your education when someone hands you a diploma; never read a book on personal finance. Just about any expert will tell you that the most reliable way out of poverty is education. Diplomas shouldn't be the end of learning; they should be a milestone in a lifetime of acquiring wisdom.

•  Play the lottery as often as possible. While you're at it, hit the casino! Magical thinking, especially when it comes to money, is a dangerous way to seek  financial security.

•  Run up your credit cards and make the minimum payments whenever possible. Paying interest on stuff you really don't need is a tragic waste of money.

•  When you come into some free money, spend it. You deserve it. By that logic, you're saying that a future version of you doesn't deserve the money, which can be multiplied with wise investments.

•  Buy the biggest wedding and the biggest ring so everyone can see just how fabulous you really are. Nothing says "Let's start our future together" like blowing your entire savings on one evening.

•  Treat those "amazing" celebrities and "successful" athletes as role models. Try to be just like them whenever possible. As far as we know, there's only one you the universe has ever known. Don't dilute your unique individuality by chasing an image.

•  Blame others for your problems in life. Repeat after me: I am a victim. The victim mentality is an attempt to rationalize poor habits and bad decision-making.

"If you're feeling uncomfortable with your financial situation, don't just sit there in a malaise of 'If only I had more money,' " Finley says. "Instead, use it as motivation for a better life; that's why the discomfort is there."

About Mike Finley

Like most Americans, Mike Finley was raised with no education in personal finances. Joining the Army out of high school, he realized he didn't understand money management and began the task of educating himself. After 26 years in the service, during which he practiced the principles he learned, he retired a millionaire. Finley is the author of "Financial Happine$$," (www.thecrazymaninthepinkwig.com) and teaches a popular financial literacy class at the University of Northern Iowa. He donates much of his time to additional groups, including Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa and organizations serving veterans and current military personnel.

WHEATON, IL (07/14/2014)(readMedia)-- Wheaton College (Ill.) student Evan Rahn of Bettendorf, IA was recently recognized by the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) for academic excellence.

Rahn, who competed for the Wheaton Thunder in baseball, is one of 81 Wheaton College student-athletes named to the 2013-14 CCIW Academic All-Conference Team for the spring season.

The Academic All-Conference Team consists of letter winners from CCIW member institutions who achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher.

Wheaton College Athletics exists to foster the development of Christian faith, character, and leadership through competitive sports programs that "run the race to win."

Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.) is a coeducational Christian liberal arts college noted for its rigorous academics, integration of faith and learning, and consistent ranking among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. For more information, visit wheaton.edu.

Quad Cities allows season-high 13 runs, as eight players score and seven drive in runs for Wisconsin

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (July 13, 2014) - Wisconsin second baseman Chris McFarland led off a seven-run third inning Sunday with a triple and capped it with a two-run single in a four-hit day, while eight Timber Rattlers contributed to the largest run total against the Quad Cities River Bandits in more than a year, resulting in a 13-4 win for the home team at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

A day after losing an 8-1 lead before pulling out a 9-8 win, Wisconsin (12-11 second half, 48-44 overall) built an 8-0 lead in the first three innings. Eight Timber Rattlers scored a run, seven had a hit, and seven had an RBI, including five who drove in two. Quad Cities (12-11, 47-45) was only outhit, 14-13, but committed four errors and allowed its most runs since a 14-5 loss at Cedar Rapids on June 5, 2013.

For a third straight game, the Timber Rattlers were first on the scoreboard. Third baseman Taylor Brennan began the second inning by reaching on an error by shortstop Dayne Parker, went to second base on a passed ball by catcher Jake Rodriguez and scored on a two-out double by shortstop Steven Halcomb off right-hander Edison Frias (5-5).

McFarland began his team's huge third inning with a triple to right-center field. Right fielder Michael Ratterree walked, and catcher Clint Coulter hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Brennan doubled to right-center field, sending Ratterree to third base. First baseman Rafael Neda made it 4-0 with a two-run single to center field and went to second base on the throw. After a passed ball put Neda at third, he scored on left fielder Omar Garcia's single for a 5-0 lead. Garcia stole second base and Frias hit designated hitter Jose Pena with a pitch. After Frias struck out Halcomb, center fielder Johnny Davis reached on an error by Parker at second base, scoring Garcia for a 6-0 lead and moving Pena to third base. Frias was removed for right-hander Tyler Brunnemann, who gave up McFarland's two-run single for an 8-0 deficit. The 11-batter inning tied the longest by a Quad Cities opponent this season. Frias was charged with eight runs - three earned - in 2 2/3 innings.

Timber Rattlers right-hander Zach Quintana (3-4) worked around two hits and two walks in the first three innings. In the fourth inning, River Bandits third baseman Tyler White hit a leadoff double and scored after consecutive singles by shortstop Thomas Lindauer and first baseman Chase McDonald. Wisconsin answered in the bottom of the inning with Coulter singling and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Garcia.

In the fifth inning, Quintana held a 9-1 lead but allowed a one-out single by left fielder Marc Wik, who scored on a double by right fielder Ronnie Mitchell. But Ratterree hit a two-run home run - his fifth against Quad Cities and 15^th in the Midwest League - in the bottom of the fifth inning off Brunnemann to extend the lead to 11-2. Brunnemann allowed three earned runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Quintana lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Right-hander Tyler Spurlin relieved Quintana for 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Quad Cities remained behind, 11-2, until the eighth inning against right-hander Tristan Archer. McDonald and Rodriguez hit consecutive singles, and center fielder Brett Phillips hit an RBI double to right field. Phillips had three hits and two doubles for a second straight game. Archer's wild pitch scored Rodriguez, making it 11-4. But Wisconsin answered against right-hander Andrew Walter with a sacrifice fly by Pena and RBI single by Halcomb. Walter worked a season-high three innings, giving up two runs - one earned. Archer worked around two walks for Wisconsin in the ninth.

Quad Cities seeks a split of the four-game series and 16-game season series with Wisconsin at 12:05 p.m. Monday. River Bandits left-hander Blaine Sims (1-1) is scheduled to face Timber Rattlers right-hander Barrett Astin (5-4) in the teams' final regular season meeting.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits open a six-game homestand with Eastern Division opponents at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Quad Cities Builders & Remodelers Association and Epic Stone Night and a Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by U.S. Bank, CBS WHBF and Mix 96. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

We're opening a field office in Davenport.

This election is heating up and our supporters in Davenport are going to be the ones to put us over the top and keep Iowa blue this November.

You'll hear from our next Governor, Jack Hatch and have the chance to catch up with your neighbors and meet organizers in your area who are working hard to make sure we're electing Democrats up and down the ticket this fall.

And come hungry ? we're providing the snacks! Can you make it? Click here to RSVP.

Here are the details:

What: The Davenport Office Opening

Where: The Davenport Field Office
1706 N Brady Street, #205
Davenport, IA 52804

When: Wednesday, July 16, 2014
at 6:00 p.m.

This new office in Davenport is going to be the organizing hub in our neighborhood ? where folks like you come to make phone calls to voters and meet up to knock doors for our candidates.

This is important work ? and it's what will make sure we win back the governor's mansion and send Democrats like Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack to Washington.