Jul 31
by Darlyn Burkle
When you are deep in debt, it is easy to feel like there is a massive weight pushing down on you, and it is not something many people would want to have to cope with. There are some ways to get rid of the debt, however. If you are able to just continue to make payments, eventually the debt will be gone, but if you are finding it hard to manage owing to several different lenders, then you could consider consolidating your debt. If you are a home owner, then a home equity loan can help you manage your debt, and improve your credit score.
If your debt is currently unmanageable, then taking a mortgage to bay the debt can really help. Consolidating in this way can help your credit. You are, essentially, just transferring the debt to a different lender, but it will appear on a credit search that you have paid off a lot of debt, which will help improve your credit rating. Of course, you will need to make consistent payments on the new loan, otherwise your home could be at risk.
Consolidating Your Debt – Some Warnings
Consolidating your debt can be a very good way to make your debt more manageable, but it is not a ‘magic bullet’ – you will still owe the money, and you will still need to pay it back, it simply makes the payments more manageable. You could end up paying back more money in the long term – especially if your monthly payments are lower. If you can afford to pay back your debt without consolidating, it is worth trying to do so, as it will be much cheaper in the long term. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 31
by Corrie Petersen
If you are a work at home mom, you probably find yourself worrying about your finances quite often. When you are unsure of your income from month to month, this can add stress to your life. You know home is where you want to be and you know being your own boss is your dream, but worrying about the money was never supposed to be a part of the big picture.
There are many ways you can save money so you can live your life without stress. It honestly depends on you and your family and what you are willing to sacrifice or give up to be able to continue to stay at home.
As moms, we know how to stretch our dollar as far as possible. For some this may come very easily, but it may be really hard for others in the beginning. There are many things you can do to make this dream of yours continue. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 30
Tune in as author Rene Gutteride chats with us about her new co-authored book, Never The Bride. Rene shares about what it was like working with a co-author for the first time, how the idea for the book (and movie!) came about and what it was like writing about romance from a spiritual angle.
About Never The Bride:
Jessie Stone has spent thirty-five years fantasizing about marriage proposals, wedding dresses, and falling in love. She’s been a bridesmaid eleven times, waved dozens of couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember. But shopping in the love-of-her-life department hasn’t been quite as productive. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her. The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best…well, crushing. And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories.
So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life, Jessie is skeptical. What will it take to convince her that God has a better love story than one of the thousands she’s cooked up in her journals? Will she trust Him with her pen when it appears her dreams of being the bride are forever lost? Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 30
Do you know the number #1 problem in marriage and the number #1 cause of divorce? If you said “money” you’d be right. If you’re constantly arguing about money – how it’s spent, how much is spent and who’s spending it – learn why in all good marriages there are mutually defined financial guidelines.
1. Discuss financial issues and set boundaries. Be accountable.
· Both partners need to know and be accountable for what they have and what is being spent.
· If one partner controls the money, the balance of power in the relationship will always be a skewed.
· The proper time for this discussion is at the beginning of a relationship when funds are being co-mingled.
Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 30
With the unemployment rates going up, market ratings going down, and an overall gloomy outlook for the next few months, every business needs to cut costs. We all need to ride out this economic storm and wait for those clearer skies beyond. Hence, the norm usually these days is that you need to fit a small budget for a big objective. Advertising for example is one of the key investments that may suffer some budget cuts but still has some big shoes to fill. So you need to know how to advertise your business even on a small budget. Do not worry; there are ways to do it. One of the ways to do this is by direct marketing, investing in print media like flier or brochure printing.
Another way is by establishing good relationships with investors and clients by reasserting your competent image. This can be achieved by printing color business cards and company portfolios. To help you with these simple and cost effective advertising strategies, we have compiled these simple steps on how to advertise your business on a small budget.
1. The first thing you need to do is to once again relearn what your target market is all about. You may already have some of the initial research on your market a few months or years back. However, with the change of the economic climate, these studies may not be as accurate. So check again on the prevailing attitudes and trends of your market. You may discover that most people prioritize affordable products and services instead of luxury things today. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 29
by Nina Newton
In these economically challenging times, most of us are struggling to make ends meet. We’ve become so accustomed to a world full of beautiful things that it is hard to find ourselves struggling to provide just the basic needs for our families. Now is a great time to develop an “attitude of gratitude”!
When I was a little girl, I remember my mama talking about growing up during the Great Depression. She would tell me about how her mama could cook up a simple meal that would fill their tummies from just about nothing. A little bacon grease, some flour, and maybe a little bit of milk would make the best gravy! And over a slice of bread, that would be enough to help a little girl sleep soundly all night. Now, we all know that this isn’t the most nutritious of diets, but it kept them going during the hard times.
My grandma and grandpa ran a neighborhood diner on Main Street, in Small Town, USA . . . . before the Great Depression, when they lost the business. My mama told of days of uncertainty, fear, and just learning to do without. One of her favorite sayings throughout her life was, “Use it up, Wear it out, Make do, or Do without.” I guess that is what she learned growing up in the dark days of the Great Depression. So she valued even the simplest things in life, when she was fortunate enough to experience the blessings of abundance. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 29
CWAHM Connections – Speak with moms who work from home. Learn about their businesses and how they’ve made them work!
Work-at-Home Job Listings – Updated every week day!
Message Board/Forum – Network with over 3000 other CWAHMs!
Custom Banner Design – Want your ad to stand out from the crowd? Let us help you design one!
The CWAHM Network – Listen to archives of the weekly CWAHM Podcast. (Listen Live Tuesdays at 11am EST!)
Jul 29
by Kathy Kline Danner
Are you a mom who wants a budget that provides exact target amounts for all the areas of your budget? Including children’s clothing, your clothing, craft/hobbies, entertainment/babysitting costs ?? I did too. So I developed one on my website and put sample budgets in the book.
Build a Budget Binder
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
I once had a boss that lived and died by the good, old three ring binder. We had shelves in our office that sagged down with the weight of his S.O.P. (standard operating procedures) binders. I used to think this was overkill and that he was procedure manual obsessed. Now, I see the wisdom of this method. Obtain a three ring binder (I commandeered an outdated SOP manual) and fill it with clear plastic sleeves. Label these with each month of the year. In front of each clear sleeve, you will insert a target budget sheet. Read the rest of this entry »
