New Year's Resolution Contest

Great News!

It's time to take a look at your accomplishments. Your blessings and the fruits of your labors. Time to give yourself an "Atta-girl" if for no other reason than to prevent you from dismissing the great things you've already done in the past year. It's also the time to decide if there are any areas in your life you'd like to improve. This can be a time of great expectancy and optimism.

But how this is "great news?"

We're going to give four randomly selected people a gift. We have a $25 Amazon gift card* to give to four of the people who post a comment here that meets the criteria below: http://www.sabrinaomalone.com between now and January 1, 2012. (*Void where prohibited)

Keep in mind, there are no right or wrong answers. And no one will be judged on what they've done or not done. This is a POSITIVE, affirming and edifying exercise.

The criteria:

1. list three of your accomplishments in 2011.
2. list at least three resolutions for 2012.
(That's it.)

Taking the time to write down the things you accomplished in 2011 and setting goals for 2012 will cause you to put a little more thought into it than usual. It will also provide an opportunity for you to think back on your successes and be encouraged by them. (A very important motivational tactic that gets overlooked - particularly for busy working moms.) That's an oversight we can correct right now.

The idea for this exercise came up over the Christmas break, when I had the chance to sit down with a laser-focused, accomplished, professional analytical thinker with a proven track record for problem-solving. He's the most goal-achieving person I know.

Seriously.

• He's an MBA.
• A mechanical engineer.
• An electrical engineer.
• Who supervises other engineers
• For one of the largest power companies in the world.

This individual is all about results. He also happens to be my younger brother, Jason.

[Proud big sister moment here...]

Anyhow, I asked him what he thought of the fact that I have this tendency to recycle my New Year's Resolutions year after year. I was discouraged by my lack of progress and was wondering whether or not I've been approaching self-improvement all wrong.

His response was astonishing.

He replied: "Brina, that's not necessarily a bad thing."

What?

How could the most goal-oriented, high-achieving person I know say such a thing?

"It's all about the long range view."

He continued: "If you were setting goals that could be fully achieved and mastered within a one-year time frame, you'd probably be setting your sights too low. The fact that you're resolving things that will have a significant impact on the rest of your life is an indication that they should be recycled, continued and expanded upon year after year. The goal should be to reach a higher level of mastery for related or inter-dependent resolutions as the years progress.

[Whew... wasn't that like a breath of fresh air to make me feel good?]

This was a radically different way of thinking about incomplete goals or resolutions for me. Jason's perspective is reminiscent of the Biblical concept of grace, which completes love while transcending righteousness and forgiveness.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

Remember, God is not through with us yet! We're still a work in progress, so of course there are areas that still need improvement. We may not be where we want to be - but we're further along in the process than we were before!

To give you a specific example of my own resolutions, last year I resolved the following:

• To get in shape
• To read the Bible cover to cover
• To rebuild our savings

My results:

• I got into (and back out of) of "almost-shape."
• I read through the Bible -(not cover-to-cover)
• And began saving for retirement again

Tempting though it is to dwell upon where I fell short, there is a more excellent way to look back on these results. By accepting God's grace, and by recognizing the value of the effort put forth. By recognizing the fruits of what has already been begun. Consequently, I have the privilege of making my 2012 resolutions build upon last year's. For 2012 I resolve to:

• Run a 5k mini-marathon
• Read the Bible cover to cover (in Spanish)
• Max out our 401k

And according to my brother, (the expert) the fact that my new goals are eerily reminiscent of my last ones is more than okay... it could even be sign that I'm on the right track. So please share your accomplishments and resolutions with us. It will also help us know what's really important to working moms for 2012 and we'll have a better idea of how to help you meet your goals in the coming New Year.

Oh, and have a Happy and Blessed New Year!

HOW I PERSONALLY BEAT PC VIRUSES & SPYWARE MYSELF
Who hasn’t had personal experience with computer viruses or spyware?  

These are red flags that indicate a problem:

• The computer runs slowly. (Really, really slowly.)
• Excessive pop-up windows
• A new homepage appears on the browser
• Random error messages
• Unexpected toolbars, browser helpers & bookmarks
• Screens “freezing up” or "crashing" - requiring a restart or just unplugging the whole computer (over & over again.)

Obviously this is a total waste of time.  But worse is the fact that viruses and spyware can take over a PC, invade privacy and force people to either buy a new computer or pay a professional to fix their old one. (And heaven help you if your computer gets infected with a virus or spyware specifically designed to collect passwords or credit card information!)

But there is good news.

I’ve personally fixed at least a half dozen computers myself using Webroot Antivirus with Spy Sweeper. In fact, I tested Avast and Norton versus Webroot - Webroot caught and fixed everything the others left behind!  And now, when you order through the following link until March 31, 2011 you’ll get Webroot Antivirus + Spy Sweeper for $9.95 - instead of the regular rate of $39.95! (And I’ll get credit for referring you.) That’s a 75% off deal - tailor made for busy, money minded moms.  Exclusive Get 75% OFF WEBROOT ANTIVIRUS HERE

Even if you already have antivirus/antispyware protection on your computer, consider doing a scan - just to see if Webroot picks up something your current software may have missed.

Once the scan is complete, you’ll see a status report which will tell you the results of your PC along with the relative risk of damage of each item found.

Now anyone can beat PC Viruses & Spyware - easily, cheaply and quickly.

With all this cold weather and a record number of blizzards, too many families are spending a fortune keeping their homes warm.

Many heating oil companies require a minimum order of 150 gallons before they’ll even deliver to a residence. (At $3 per/gallon that’s $450) I hope and pray you never run out of oil when you’re also running low on money!

What can you do?
If it happens, don't panic. A little known fact is that home heating oil and diesel fuel are both #2 fuel oil. You can substitute the diesel fuel oil you find at gas stations for home heating oil and your furnace will be just fine.

Here's How
So if you don’t have enough money for a 100+ gallon delivery of heating oil, you can safely heat your home with a few gallons of diesel. But beware, it'll will cost you more per gallon because diesel fuel is taxed to cover road maintenance. And if you’re heating a big house or it’s so cold that your furnace is working double-time, you’ll be making frequent trips to the gas station getting 5 gallons at a time. But that's better than being in a house with no heat or running space heaters 24/7.

Ounce of Prevention
Lastly, make sure you’ve sealed up drafts in your house. I got a thermal leak detector to find hidden cold spots in our house. (Disclosure, if you order through this this link I’ll get credit for referring you.) As soon as it came out of the box, my kids wanted a turn using it. They loved sleuthing around the house looking for cold spots and coming up with ideas to block drafts. They declared themselves “Cold Spies.”  

Who would’ve thought that staying warm and finding new ways to save money on heating oil would also be so much fun?

Aging out of my Career
I could feel it in my bones - I was getting too old to do the job I had loved for over a decade. Back pain was my constant companion. (I was even on a first-name basis with my chiropractor.) It was becoming harder and harder for me to carry around supplies and do the associated travel. Just trying to stay alert during late sales meetings was even a challenge. It was time to move on.

Stay-at-Home Mom becomes a Working Mom
At the peak of the Great Recession, at the age of 42, one of my friends (a newly divorced stay-at-home mom) desperately needed a job. She had a college degree, but very little work experience. For months, she sent out resumes with no success. She finally took a retail sales job with low pay, no benefits, requiring hours on her feet  working nights and weekends. Not too family-friendly, but it was a job.

High-paying Career versus a Family Friendly Job
One of my relatives left a high-pressure career in the financial sector to become an elementary school teacher. She earned her Masters in Education with honors and even had connections within the school districts, but teachers were being laid off due to budget cuts - not hired when she started applying for a job. Hundreds of resume’s and phone calls later, she’s very grateful just to be an on-call substitute teacher. No benefits, no guaranteed schedule, but it’s within her field, and it’s a paycheck.

Have you taken a Career Test?
May I suggest that before you quit your day job or start sending out resume’s, consider taking a career test?  Taking an assessment of your strengths, weaknesses and the potential job market makes sense before you embark upon a major life change.  Here’s a free online career test I took myself: http://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/Careerbuilder/

BONUS
Because times are hard, I called the company and they agreed to give the first 10 moms to enter promo code "workingmom" here the complete test, their results, the hot jobs 2010 information along with the declining jobs information free!

Every once in a while, I’m almost speechless.

This is one of those times.

I decided to see how much it would cost at the grocery store for everything in the January 2011 “Bountiful Blessings Box” from Angel Food Ministries. I made it a point to select as close to the same-size items as possible, and I deliberately tried to get the cheapest, most on-sale items available.

The results are astonishing.

Below is an actual screenshot I took from the Peapod (Stop & Shop) website with comparable food. For $119.59 you could get all this:




Or you could save $78.59 and get all this at an Angel Food pickup location for $41.00:


And this is just for one box of food! Can you imagine the savings if you ordered a month’s worth of Angel Food? I can think of no better time to try Angel Food Ministries than now. Especially if you’re trying to get ahead financially. Or if your New Year’s resolution was to save more money. And if you’re seriously tight on cash, ordering Angel Food might just be the answer to your prayers.

Keep in mind, it does take some advance planning to order Angel Food. Online ordering for this month closes 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, January 23, 2011 (six days before you pickup your food.)  And you’ll need to pick it up (or send someone else to pick it up for you) during a relatively small timeframe at your pickup location on Saturday, January 29, 2011.  You can order online here www.angelfoodministries.com or at a local pickup site.

Bottom line
If you’ve got mouth’s to feed, and have felt the pinch of the economy, it’s time to feed your family for a WHOLE LOT LESS whenever you possibly can.

Disclosure: We are not affiliated with Peapod, Stop and Shop nor Angel Food Ministries. This blog is independently owned and the opinions expressed here are my own. We receive no compensation to write reviews. We could potentially receive Angel Food Boxes through the "Angel Food Ministries Refer a Friend " promotion.

Life can be particularly hectic when you’ve got a child or two (or six) to raise. Add a full-time job and all too often, you want things for your kids that you either don’t have the time for or really can’t afford.

For us, piano lessons kind of fell into this category. I’ve read the studies about how playing the piano helps children increase their math skills, SAT scores, increase their focus and more. And I couldn’t help but notice how cool it is when someone can just sit down at a piano and make music. But before I could  sign my kids up for piano lessons there were two major obstacles to overcome.

First, we didn’t have a piano. We were planning to get a cheap piano by ordering one online, but it turns out, often people are looking to get rid of pianos they aren’t using anymore. We found someone in our church had inherited an upright piano that was now just taking up space in her house. She was willing to give it away to anyone who would come and take it. So we looked in the phone book and hired a piano mover to pick it up, bring it to our house and tune it. Getting that heavy upright moved and tuned ended up costing a more than it would have to just buy a new one online, but still...

We felt so blessed!

Second, even though my husband took years of piano lessons (and he can still play a bit) he didn’t exactly feel up to the challenge of teaching the kids piano himself. And I certainly couldn’t teach them what I’d never learned. Consequently we began looking for a local piano teacher. We found a nice lady who teaches piano, but she’s booked solid. Her only openings are during times that wouldn’t work well for us. Not to mention that piano lessons are expensive - especially when multiplied by six.

At a business conference, I was lamenting this fact when someone from Learn and Master overheard me and said he’d send me a promotional copy of Learn and Master Piano to put to the test.

Well, what do you know, the guy was right! After just a few months of playing along with the DVD's, my oldest daughter (she's 11) can now sit down at the piano and play “When the Saints Go Marching In” and other songs. She's already getting pretty good at playing uncomplicated sheet music by sight.

The best part is We don’t have to drive her anywhere because she has private lessons with an accomplished teacher ready and waiting whenever there's a convenient time for a piano lesson.

So if you're trying to figure out what to give to someone who already has everything, this is a perfect time because there’s a Learn and Master Piano Coupon. You’ll save $100 when you order through this link (and I’ll get credit for referring you.) It’s never been easier to give the gift of music or to afford private lessons for someone you know and love. (BONUS: The Learn and Master Piano Course comes in a nice, big, easy-to-gift wrap box.)

"Mommy, your tummy is getting so SKINNY!" Yesterday, my 8 year old daughter, actually said these words to me. That’s when I realized it’s probably time to let other Moms in on my secret.

It all started due to my tendency towards goal-setting. My 2010 New Years Resolutions were:

• I’d save up enough money to have a 3-month cash reserve.
• I’d read the Bible cover to cover
• I’d get into shape enough to do a Valerie Bertinelli-style bikini photo shoot.

(Admittedly, these are lofty, lofty goals for a woman my age who has had 6 kids within 12 years.)

By the time October rolled around, it was crunch time. I could probably finish the Bible (I’m on the book of Mark now) and if I positively scrimped on everything - (and if I defined “3-month cash reserve” as “lean, mean, rice & beans months”) I could probably swing that too.  However...this tummy...and the rest of me...frankly, all the exercise, starvation or trick airbrushes in the world couldn’t fix that in time.

I started thinking of how great it would be if I could just smooth on some kind of cream that would MELT the fat off of my worst places. Particularly my stomach and these “roll things” on my rib cage that appear if I bend the wrong way (meaning if I bend at all.)

So I did some research and decided to put Mama Mio’s “Get Waisted ” to the test. Naturally, my husband laughed at the idea, and particularly found it amusing when I went running to the door to greet the UPS deliveryman with my new cream. To say he was skeptical is an understatement. He thought the most fat I'd burn was from the exertion of running to answer the door to get it!

To be honest with you, I was starting to think he was probably right and that I had gotten swept away by hype when I decided to order it. So I decided to give Mama Mio Get Waisted an especially stringent, difficult study design. I would completely stop exercising for the 30 day testing time period, and I would not to eat or drink anything marketed as "diet" or "low cal" or "low carb" for 30 days.

Baseline
At the beginning of this test:

• Lands End size 14 jeans snugly fit me (with the tummy rolling over in a muffin-top.)
• Size 12 was skin-tight - as in, “pull-up-the-zipper-with-an-unbreakable-Goody-comb” tight.
• Size 10 barely made it up my thighs.
• And size 8 - well, I didn’t even try any 8’s.

How I used it
I put it on twice a day for 30 days. In the morning & before bed. I used two pumps on my abs, and one pump on each side (by the rolls) for every application. However keep in mind, the instructions say just two pumps once a day. However somehow, my container of Get Waisted still lasted the full month, even with me using 4 times the recommended amount.

My 30-Day Results
Size 14 is too loose and I now need a belt!
Size 12 fits nicely - without a muffin top.
Size 10 is still tight on my thighs and produces a muffin top look.
And I still haven’t tried any 8’s.

Conclusion
Apparently there can be no other explanation as to why my stomach has gotten flatter and my rolls are almost gone other than Mama Mio’s Get Waisted works. I ordered another tube so I can keep using it just to see how skinny I can get with minimal exercise and dieting. And after my daughter's declaration about my tummy getting so "skinny" (within earshot of my husband) he's wondering if he should try some too!

Be forewarned, Get Waisted is expensive, ($56 per tube retail.) However, you can get it cheaper when you order through this link then enter coupon code WORKINGMOM - which will save you an extra 15% off your order. (You’ll also get free 1-2 day shipping and I'll get credit for referring you.)

Stay tuned for my bikini photo shoot pictures - I still have a few days before the end of 2010!

How to Live Rich - Even When You're Not

I get a lot of email from people who are hanging on by a thread. I mean desperate people. They’re worried about food, keeping their electricity on and keeping a roof over their heads. Despite the fact that economists are saying: “The Recession is Over” too many people are still struggling - and even those who aren’t seem worried.

If this describes someone you know & love, (or you’re kind of worried about yourself) let me tell you what I’d tell my own sister, brother or best friend.  Keep in mind, I’m no financial counselor or expert, I’m no theologian or minister either. I’m just an ordinary working mom with six kids who has learned how to make a dollar (and how to keep one too.)

So if you’re trying to dig yourself out of a hole, or want to get ahead, these are some of the best ways I know to have and keep money.

1. Count your Blessings - Thank God for the blessings you already have. Even though it’s tempting to feel “less thankful” when you’re at rock bottom, that’s when you need a thankful heart most. Here’s why: when you fix your mind on things that are lovely, good, noble, just, true, excellent and praiseworthy it puts you in a frame of mind to solve problems. Frankly, if you’re broke and it’s bothering you; then actually solving the problem needs to be a higher priority than worrying about it. When you deliberately think of (and name) the wonderful things that God has done for you, you’ll notice a gradual, more productive and positive shift in your thinking.  Wasting your energy dwelling on what’s wrong will make you neither richer nor happier. Instead, praise the Lord for what’s right. And ask God to give you hope for your future. Take control of your thoughts and focus on your blessings. Count them, name them and thank the Lord for them. http://www.workingmom.com/aboutpraystation.htm
2. Save – No matter how small the amount. Get in the habit of keeping aside some money you simply will not spend. What makes or breaks you is whether you will choose to discipline yourself during those times when you’ve “got the money for” small non-necessities. Instead of buying them, temporarily save that money to build up an emergency fund. Gut Check: if you found a twenty dollar bill right now; what would you do with it?  If you’d probably get takeout, use it for gas or buy some groceries; then with all due respect, your tendency to spend whatever you have (or even find) is keeping you broke. For now, steel yourself to tuck money away. The small choices you make when you’ve got a few dollars at your disposal directly impact how much money you’ll have when emergencies arise. (And oh, emergencies will arise.) So temporarily deny yourself non-necessities until you build up some cash to weather unexpected expenses. This is an all-important secret to breaking the poverty cycle. Practice the art of having money in the bank that you will not spend, and the art of having money in your pocket that you won’t spend either.  www.ally.com/online-savings-account/index.html
3. Get Healthy – Do whatever is within your control to be as healthy as you can be. I understand that lack of time, money or physical limitations leave a lot of people hard-pressed to work out or eat right on a regular basis. But keep this in mind, if you end up hospitalized, or have to take time off work for illness or disability, it will cost you a small fortune. Start taking the stairs instead of elevators, park the car further away, when you find yourself bored at home, take a quick walk around your neighborhood. Basically, make it your business to move around as much as you are able. Second, eat like your life depends on it. (And it does, you know) I personally understand how difficult this is; but if you plan on having more money; do what you can to be as well as you can be.      
4. Quit Smoking*- From a pure dollars and cents perspective, the biggest expense isn’t even the cost of the cigarettes. Add in: higher rates for life insurance, higher rates for health insurance, lower resale value for your home or car, lost money from using more sick time, and emerging employment restrictions and smoking wastes more of your money than it’s worth.  If you really want to live like you’re rich (even on a poor girl’s income) then suffer through the withdrawal, quit smoking and steer clear of situations that tempt you to smoke again. http://whyquit.com/pr/053106.htm l
5. Quit Drinking**- And I say this with the greatest sensitivity possible.  Drinking alcohol is an expensive way to quench thirst and it’s an expensive way to relax. Aside from the higher cost of an alcoholic drink, there is the added expense of: reduced productivity, health implications, relational problems and all the associated problems that can arise from driving somewhere after a drink or two. Drinking alcohol just won’t make you richer. If this is a problem for you or someone in your family, consider this: http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=71
6. Buy Used – And cars are just the beginning! Furniture, kitchen supplies etcetera are so much more affordable when you buy used. Always start by checking out http://www.ebay.com and http://www.Craigslist.com before you make a purchase.
7. Cook Dinner - If you want to be richer, then you need to see takeout or eating at a restaurant as a periodic treat; not a vital part of nutritional sustenance.  Do the math: for $31 you could get a pretty good meal at a restaurant or maybe Chinese takeout for your family. Or for that same $31 you could feed your entire family for a WEEK with Angel Food Ministries! 
8. Eat Angel Food - This will save you so much money. And it will safeguard against the fear of running out of food before your next paycheck. To make things easier, Angel Food Ministries now has online ordering and operates in most States.  There are no income restrictions, so even if your income is actually pretty high, you can still use them. Their “Signature Food Box” has at LEAST $65 worth of restaurant-quality food for $31. (They also accept food stamps.) Imagine how much money you will save if you start feeding your entire family for just $4.50 per day!
9. Save leftovers for lunches - When you are putting away your leftovers from dinner, put them directly into little lunch-sized containers. Then it’ll be easy to pack a lunch. Just grab a container, add a water bottle and a piece of fruit. Not even school lunches or cheap fast-food restaurants will save you as much cash as packing your leftovers for lunch. Furthermore, it’ll taste better and help your whole family maintain better health and weight. We use these: Lunch Containers
10. Clip Grocery Coupons - Even if you get the newspaper, (and especially if you don’t) check out the free printable grocery coupons online. http://www.workingmom.com/coupons.html
11. Get Your House in Order - You need to know exactly much income you have coming in versus expenses going out. If you frequently run out of money, then it’s safe to say you are running at a deficit. Your next step is to know how much it is. We use this budgeting spreadsheet: http://www.crown.org/pamphlets/pdfs/FamilyBudgeting.pdf When it comes to knowing your income versus expenses, ignorance IS NOT bliss. Being ignorant will leave you “Surprised there’s more week left at the end of your money.” So figure out the exact amount you need to make ends meet. Then you have two options: increase your income and/or reduce your expenses. (I recommend you make an effort to do both.) But remember it’s almost always easier to save a dollar than to make one.
12. Quit Using Credit Cards - It’s been said over and over again. But they are such a waste of money. Instead of helping you get out of a hole; they are a shovel that digs you in deeper.  If you want to have more money, absolutely stop buying things on credit. It’s the interest and the impulse purchasing that just about kills you. It’s nearly impossible to save up a sizable emergency fund or savings if a lot of your income goes to interest for things you didn’t even need in the first place.  I don’t care what the experts say about building a credit history, I’ve found that cutting up and canceling credit cards (and just using debit cards or cash instead) are the best way to build up savings.
13. Never buy lottery tickets. Never -  It’s called the “Poor man’s tax” for a reason. The people who tend to have (and keep) their money just don’t play the lotto. You are more than 99.999% likely to be throwing your money out of the window with every purchase. This is a bad, bad investment. Buying lottery tickets, scratch-off’s or any other gambling does not get you rich quick. It is a surefire way to slowly stay broke.
14. Avoid check cashing places or payday loans - Avoid them like the plague. Being impatient or just failing to plan for the future wastes so much money! Payday loan/Check-Cashing/Pawnshop businesses make a fortune off people who live paycheck to paycheck. It’s people who don’t (or won’t) plan ahead for emergencies who keep them in business. Why make them rich? Instead, make yourself richer by avoiding fast-cash or rapid refund places.
15. Get rid of your land line or get rid of your cell phone- Do you actually need both?
16. Get rid of cable or satellite - You can watch most shows online for free nowadays. (And with fewer commercials.) Try www.hulu.com or the official network websites for the shows you like.
17. Move to a Lower Cost of Living Area - When you fill in your budget, if your housing costs, state and local taxes take up the majority of your income, then it’s time to do some soul-searching and seriously consider making a move. There are places in this country that simply cost more to live in than they are worth. (You might be in one of them.) This tool is pretty eye opening in revealing the cost of living in one place versus another:  cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html
18. Start Giving - I know it sounds counterproductive to build wealth by giving any of your money away - especially when you are so close to the poorhouse yourself. But it’s one of the wisest things you can do. Here’s why, if you continue to go about your life focused on solving your own problems; you will lose perspective. Without it, two things happen: you risk falling short of being a blessing to people you could actually help. The other is you risk becoming so consumed with yourself that you fail to see bigger picture solutions -even to your own problems. Added bonus, God has promised to open His storehouse for you when you give. (It’s the only place in the Bible where He invites you to test Him.) “Navel gazing” or failing to see past the tip of your nose doesn’t help you, nor does it help anyone else. I like the Trockosi Freedom Fund. For more information check out: Innetworkusa.org
19. Watch the way you drive. You can increase your gas mileage 25% -in the car you’re already driving by using a few easy hyper-miling tips and tricks. Saving Gas’ These tips can reduce the amount of money you spend on gas.
20. Do not break the law- No, Seriously -It takes up valuable time, energy and money when you are even suspected of breaking any kind of law.  Even if you end up “winning” you still lose all that time, energy and money it took to defend yourself. Don’t put yourself in situations where you even hang around people who tend to break (or skirt) the law. If you’ve got hopes, dreams and wishes for a future that don’t include things like jail time or losing your license, then this tip is key. Don’t break the law - and don’t even hang around people who do.

Totally Desperate for a Fast-Buck, like Right Now?
    1.   Return past purchases - Look around your home for things you’ve bought that you could live without. Then look for the receipts and take them back. Home Improvement supplies in particular can give you a substantial infusion of cash. Even if you can’t find the receipt, many stores will still give you store credit. Look at everything you currently own with an eye for it’s return potential.
    2.   List stuff you can’t return on Ebay, Amazon or Craigslist - Take a few pictures of your items with your cell phone camera (or use a digital camera if it’s handy) and upload them with a brief description onto all three of these sites. Set the prices lower than comparable listings, and include a “Buy it Now” option.
    3.   Sell your blood plasma - You can earn up to $50 per week. Do a quick search online to find out where the nearest paid plasma donation sites are in your area. Google:  “plasma+donation+[your area]” Then check out the websites or call them for more details. On your first visit, expect to fill out a tremendous amount of paper work, and bring as much of your ID and medical information as you have. If you pass their criteria, it should take about an hour to donate your plasma and at the end you will be paid either in cash or with a rechargeable debit card. It’s not the most glamorous thing to do, but it is a way to be a blessing to others by providing lifesaving, desperately needed plasma while earning a few dollars at the same time.
    4.  Seek emergency assistance- Google “emergency+assistance+programs+[Your State]”  there may be state and local programs you know nothing about that help people in situations like yours. Also contact local churches, explaining your situation asking them to pray for you and whether they are set up to provide emergency assistance.

HEADS UP

• Did you notice I only listed four tips listed that generate fast-money?
• Did you notice that I put them last?

If the main thing on your mind right now is:

“How can I get my hands on some fast-money - the sooner, the better?” Then this last tip is especially for you:

    •   If you don’t change the things you do when you HAVE a few dollars, then all too soon, you will be broke again when another crisis hits.  (Then you’ll be really stuck.) It is the first 20 tips that have the potential to help you live large even on small money.  Do yourself a favor and start solving more than just each new immediate crisis. Make changes to how you think, spend, budget and save. Those are the secrets to living large on a shoestring budget!
Sources:
*Smoking Costs: http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/get-rich-quit-smoking-20596/
**Drinking Costs:http://meriter.staywellsolutionsonline.com/interactivetools/calculators/41,CostOfDrinkingCalc
Related Articles: http://workingmom.com/newsletters/ways-to-save-money.html

Cash for Gold - Is it a Scam or a Windfall?

Perhaps you’ve heard that the price of gold hit an all-time high. Maybe you’re thinking “So what? I’m thinking more about keeping a roof over my head than investing in precious metals.”

Well, think again.

This is a true story. One of my relatives found herself in the unenviable situation of being completely broke, running low on gas with payday still 3 days away.  In desperation, she got the idea to take her old jewelry to the Gold Rush kiosk in the mall.



She got over $300 in cash!  (More than enough for gas.) So she told her aunt about it, she took hers there and got over $1000!  In my family, news like this travels fast, so I gathered up 3 mismatched earrings, 2 busted necklaces, a ring & a too small baby bracelet, took it to the Gold Rush kiosk near me and got $268.38!

There’s a simple explanation why they’re paying so much. The weight of five quarters equals an ounce. With gold valued near $1400 per ounce the weight of 10k, 14k or 18k gold jewelry can add up quickly.

But there’s a sad part to this story. Another relative took her old gold to a nice-looking, local store with a “We Buy Gold” sign, instead of driving all the way to a mall kiosk. Based on how much we got, she had hoped for several thousand dollars. But she walked out of there with just $100 - which was better than nothing, but a far cry from what she expected.

So if you’re kind of desperate for money yourself right now, you might consider converting some of your unused gold into cash at a reputable kiosk or getting several different quotes before you sell it. 

How do you afford all those kids?
I get this question a lot.  Of course I clip coupons, watch for sales and buy in bulk as much as possible. But by far my biggest secret to feeding a family of 8 is ordering Angel Food Ministries food boxes every month. If you aren’t familiar with them, they’re a non-profit food distribution organization with pick up locations in 45 States . They provide consumers with fresh, quality, name-brand food - at a fraction of the retail price. There are no clubs to join, no applications or paperwork to fill out, nor income requirements.  The menu changes every month, so a wide variety of food is available. I order online , but people also order in person at a local pickup site or call (888) 819-3745.  

Getting out of the Hole
Frankly, if you’re worried about paying your bills let alone affording Christmas gifts, this might provide the breathing room you were hoping for. And December has some particularly special boxes . (I’m ordering the Bountiful Blessings Boxes and the Assorted Christmas Fruit Boxes - 46 pieces of gift-basket quality fruit for $26 is hard to beat!)

Order Deadline
This month’s online ordering deadline is December 12th, and the food will be distributed Saturday, December 18th. (Check with your local site for their pick up time.)  It’s easy to save big. Just pick up your already boxed food and take it home.

For complete details check out the Angel Food website at www.angelfoodministries.com . Let me know what you think.