Step #1 – Facing the harsh reality (the big picture)
This one is NOT meant to be fun or really even encouraging. It is meant to open our eyes and set our resolve to find balance!
Set your sheet up (computer or hard copy) by listing your debtors down the left hand side. For now, we are only looking at things you pay monthly OUTSIDE of normal household expenses. By this, I mean car loans, credit card payments, etc. Things that have a total balance due. BUT leave out the house at this point. Check your statements to see what the payoff amount is and note that to the right of each debtor. Total that column. THIS IS YOUR STARTING POINT! This is what you must pay off to become ‘debt free’. Now that your eyes are opened, set that aside and don’t think too much about it for now. You have likely found your motivator to move forward!
Reflect – While you were working on this step, did you find you were missing a tool? Did you discover it took HOURS to find your statements? Perhaps you need an ‘inbox’ for your SPOT or a special basket for incoming mail. Take time to pull in and implement that tool.
23 February 2009
Balancing Our Blessings - I have my SPOT and TOOLS, now what?
I have my SPOT and my TOOLS, now what?
Now we have some hard steps to take that will not necessarily be pleasant. You may feel the urge to say ‘forget it’ or ‘it can’t be done’. Push past those thoughts and remember why you are doing this!
Now we have some hard steps to take that will not necessarily be pleasant. You may feel the urge to say ‘forget it’ or ‘it can’t be done’. Push past those thoughts and remember why you are doing this!
22 February 2009
Balancing Our Blessings - How to Set up a Central Command Center
How to set up a Central Command Center
To start with, remember this will only consist of our financial arena at this time. Again, this can be customized to fit your personality and personal needs. Bare minimum, you need a SPOT! This can be a desk, a corner of the table, or a simple binder. Next, you will need a few TOOLS. Decide if you are going to work on this on your computer or the old fashioned way (pen(cil) and paper). You will also need a calculator (either your brain or an actual push button one – your choice) and access to your monthly statements. Again, this can be online or hard copy statements (stop and round all of these up if you are using hard copies). Tweak this to fit what you are most comfortable with – you are more likely to stick with it that way!
To start with, remember this will only consist of our financial arena at this time. Again, this can be customized to fit your personality and personal needs. Bare minimum, you need a SPOT! This can be a desk, a corner of the table, or a simple binder. Next, you will need a few TOOLS. Decide if you are going to work on this on your computer or the old fashioned way (pen(cil) and paper). You will also need a calculator (either your brain or an actual push button one – your choice) and access to your monthly statements. Again, this can be online or hard copy statements (stop and round all of these up if you are using hard copies). Tweak this to fit what you are most comfortable with – you are more likely to stick with it that way!
Balancing Our Blessings - Central Command Center - What is it?
Central Command Center – What is it?
When I think of the phrase Central Command Center, my mind pulls in anything I need to run my household smoothly. Though it tends to jump ahead and urge me to list many things, I would have us all bouncing around like a scared rabbit! This Center will end up being just a little bit different for each person. Let’s get started!
When I think of the phrase Central Command Center, my mind pulls in anything I need to run my household smoothly. Though it tends to jump ahead and urge me to list many things, I would have us all bouncing around like a scared rabbit! This Center will end up being just a little bit different for each person. Let’s get started!
21 February 2009
Balancing Our Blessings - Setting Up a Central Command Center - Introduction
Look around at all that you have. How ever much or how ever little, have you ever stopped to think that just maybe it really isn’t all yours?
Perhaps you have worked hard to get where you are at today. Maybe you feel like you have done it all on your own and are entitled to what you have. Have you ever stopped to think about how you got to where you are at today, though?
Perhaps you say “I’ve worked hard and sacrificed much. It is mine.” Have you ever stopped to think where your gifts and talents came from?
Over time, I have come to realize that NOTHING is MINE. I am entitled to none of it! However, I have been blessed with ‘it’…whatever ‘it’ may be! What is currently in my possession has been entrusted to me to care for and manage while I am on this Earth.
For some of us, this can be a very hard thing to swallow. If this is true, then these things can take on a whole new meaning. It means we are accountable to someone other than ourselves. What does this mean for the way we are currently handling things? It means we need to do so responsibly, just as we would if we were caring for something belonging to someone else in their absence.
To me, this means we should strive to Balance Our Blessings. Our blessings can include many things: our children, our marriages, our health, our homes, our talents…the list goes on. However, I have only been entrusted to help us learn to manage our financial blessings a bit better.
This area is something I have come to refer to as my Central Command Center. After all, if our financial affairs are out of whack, one can easily assume that other areas are as well! The Central Command Center will pull in a few loosely related items, but you will start to see that those items do have an impact on our financial well being.
We are in tough times right now. Let’s get determined to balance this blessing to the best of our ability for ourselves and our families!
Perhaps you have worked hard to get where you are at today. Maybe you feel like you have done it all on your own and are entitled to what you have. Have you ever stopped to think about how you got to where you are at today, though?
Perhaps you say “I’ve worked hard and sacrificed much. It is mine.” Have you ever stopped to think where your gifts and talents came from?
Over time, I have come to realize that NOTHING is MINE. I am entitled to none of it! However, I have been blessed with ‘it’…whatever ‘it’ may be! What is currently in my possession has been entrusted to me to care for and manage while I am on this Earth.
For some of us, this can be a very hard thing to swallow. If this is true, then these things can take on a whole new meaning. It means we are accountable to someone other than ourselves. What does this mean for the way we are currently handling things? It means we need to do so responsibly, just as we would if we were caring for something belonging to someone else in their absence.
To me, this means we should strive to Balance Our Blessings. Our blessings can include many things: our children, our marriages, our health, our homes, our talents…the list goes on. However, I have only been entrusted to help us learn to manage our financial blessings a bit better.
This area is something I have come to refer to as my Central Command Center. After all, if our financial affairs are out of whack, one can easily assume that other areas are as well! The Central Command Center will pull in a few loosely related items, but you will start to see that those items do have an impact on our financial well being.
We are in tough times right now. Let’s get determined to balance this blessing to the best of our ability for ourselves and our families!
Balancing Our Blessings
Have you ever noticed how missing a due date on a bill can really throw a kink in your day - especially if it is the cable or electric bill? The kids get cranky, your husband gets angry; all of the sudden you are forced to spend more time and money to get it back up and running than necessary.
There are many resources out there telling us to pay this or do that first. Save here or invest there to reach retirement. However, most of them are assuming we already have the basics covered!
On this journey, we are going way back to the basics! A solid well designed foundation is always the best to weather the storms, right?!
Let's get that solid foundation set up and then build on it!
Ready?
**Please note: While I have worked this system personally, I am NOT a CPA or any sort of professional financial advisor. Please tweak the system to your personal needs and use common sense when making your money decisions!
You may follow this installation here on my blog or visit the group Wings to Soar on CafeMom.
There are many resources out there telling us to pay this or do that first. Save here or invest there to reach retirement. However, most of them are assuming we already have the basics covered!
On this journey, we are going way back to the basics! A solid well designed foundation is always the best to weather the storms, right?!
Let's get that solid foundation set up and then build on it!
Ready?
**Please note: While I have worked this system personally, I am NOT a CPA or any sort of professional financial advisor. Please tweak the system to your personal needs and use common sense when making your money decisions!
You may follow this installation here on my blog or visit the group Wings to Soar on CafeMom.
13 February 2009
Sustainable Living
The most commonly accepted definition of this term is the increasingly common lifestyle that attempts to reduce the use of our Earth's natural resources. However, I suggest we look at it from a different angle. Here is the actual definition of 'sustain' from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Main Entry:
1sus·tain
Pronunciation:
\sə-ˈstān\
Function:
transitive verb
Etymology:
Middle English sustenen, from Anglo-French sustein-, stem of sustenir, from Latin sustinēre to hold up, sustain, from sub-, sus- up + tenēre to hold — more at sub-, thin
Date:
13th century
1: to give support or relief to
2: to supply with sustenance : nourish
3: keep up , prolong
4: to support the weight of : prop ; also : to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure)
5: to buoy up
6 a: to bear up under b: suffer , undergo
7 a: to support as true, legal, or just b: to allow or admit as valid
8: to support by adequate proof : confirm
— sus·tained·ly \-ˈstā-nəd-lē, -ˈstānd-lē\ adverb
— sus·tain·er noun
As you read the above definitions, I encourage you to think of your finances. Can your current lifestyle be sustained by your current income?
Main Entry:
1sus·tain
Pronunciation:
\sə-ˈstān\
Function:
transitive verb
Etymology:
Middle English sustenen, from Anglo-French sustein-, stem of sustenir, from Latin sustinēre to hold up, sustain, from sub-, sus- up + tenēre to hold — more at sub-, thin
Date:
13th century
1: to give support or relief to
2: to supply with sustenance : nourish
3: keep up , prolong
4: to support the weight of : prop ; also : to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure)
5: to buoy up
6 a: to bear up under b: suffer , undergo
7 a: to support as true, legal, or just b: to allow or admit as valid
8: to support by adequate proof : confirm
— sus·tained·ly \-ˈstā-nəd-lē, -ˈstānd-lē\ adverb
— sus·tain·er noun
As you read the above definitions, I encourage you to think of your finances. Can your current lifestyle be sustained by your current income?
11 February 2009
Preemies - Close to my heart
Please sign the petition located in my side-bar.
Every year, many children are born prior to the normal 42 week term of pregnancy. Pre-term indicates birth prior to 37 weeks. There are many reasons this early birth may happen, yet still additional unknown reasons.
Preemie babies face additional hardships at birth. Many spend weeks or months in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit before they are able to go home. Some are not that lucky.
For further information, visit the March of Dimes website at www.marchofdimes.com .
Why this is close to my heart ~ All 4 of my grandsons were Preemies. One spent over a month in the NICU. One was born with a very rare condition that required life saving surgery before he was a week old. All have weak lungs. I am thankful for all the research that has been done and for all of the new technology that help these babies with their fight!
Every year, many children are born prior to the normal 42 week term of pregnancy. Pre-term indicates birth prior to 37 weeks. There are many reasons this early birth may happen, yet still additional unknown reasons.
Preemie babies face additional hardships at birth. Many spend weeks or months in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit before they are able to go home. Some are not that lucky.
For further information, visit the March of Dimes website at www.marchofdimes.com .
Why this is close to my heart ~ All 4 of my grandsons were Preemies. One spent over a month in the NICU. One was born with a very rare condition that required life saving surgery before he was a week old. All have weak lungs. I am thankful for all the research that has been done and for all of the new technology that help these babies with their fight!
10 February 2009
My first posting
Welcome to my new blog! This blog was set up in response to a challenge - Thanks Cherie! I am completely new to this thing, so please be patient - I don't have a clue!
Cherie and I have been working on challenges together for over a year now. You are likely to see a bit of her influence seeping through to my pages as a result. That is a good thing, as when I get stuck she gives me a swift kick or an outstretched hand - just depending on what is needed.
For now, I am off to figure a few more things out...Feel free to share any tips and tricks to this stuff.
Cherie and I have been working on challenges together for over a year now. You are likely to see a bit of her influence seeping through to my pages as a result. That is a good thing, as when I get stuck she gives me a swift kick or an outstretched hand - just depending on what is needed.
For now, I am off to figure a few more things out...Feel free to share any tips and tricks to this stuff.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)