Are
you ready to make your New Year’s resolutions? I can’t believe another year has
passed and it’s time to determine my goals and create my 2010 Dream Board. I’ve
spent the past several days reviewing and reflecting on my past Dream Boards.
Imagine my delight to see all the goals I’d accomplished. It reaffirms my
belief that setting your goals and intentions and putting them in writing
ensures your success. You’ll find my Dream Board themes and accomplishments at
the end of the column.
Continue reading "Determining Your 2010 Goals" »
When was the last time you requested and reviewed your credit report? If you haven’t done it in the past 12 months, put it on your schedule for January. Your credit report is your financial report card and it’s more important today than it’s ever been. Pretty much everyone is looking at your credit report – potential and current creditors, insurance companies, landlords, utility companies, and even employers. Let’s take a peek at who’s looking at your credit:
Continue reading "Your Financial Report Card: Credit Report & Score" »
Last month I shared ways to trim your spending and promised to share more ways to make your money last without worrying – “There’s too much month at the end of the money”.
The holiday season is upon us and it’s time to determine your plan on getting through the holiday season without accumulating debt or more debt. The trick is to take the time to sit down and make a plan. My husband and I recently drove to and from Las Vegas. The day we left Las Vegas we drove 30 miles out of the way because neither of us looked at the map to determine a plan. Not only did we drive 30 miles the wrong way – we had to drive 30 miles back – to get back on track. I was so disgusted because it added an extra hour onto our already long drive home. The moral of the story – take time to determine a plan.
Continue reading "Surviving the Holiday Season without Accumulating Debt" »
Just a week ago I thought I was going to die. I had been sick with the flu and was having trouble breathing. It was a horrible feeling not to catch my breath. All I could think about was I wasn’t ready to die. I hadn’t done everything I wanted to do. I didn’t know what that was; I just knew I hadn’t done everything. And, yet seven years ago I stepped outside my comfort zone when I took early retirement and founded Money Wise Women. I thought – that was my gift, my passion, my purpose. This year has been really hard for Money Wise Women and me, personally. I don’t feel the same spark and fire as when I started the organization. Our conference participation is lower than it’s ever been and the organization is struggling financially. Try as I might to get my enthusiasm back, it’s just not there. I realized this summer – in an AHA moment – that it was time to let Money Wise Women go. But, it’s hard to let go of something I created and worked so hard to build so I decided to give it one more year. Was this the right decision? Am I getting my whispers, my brick on the back of the head or the EARTHQUAKE? Is God frustrated with me for not listening? It sure felt that way last Tuesday when my husband, Steve took me to the Emergency Room. Seven years ago I didn’t listen to my whispers and I had a meltdown – a three week stay at home to take care of Marcia. And, yet here I am again -- with a much stronger message that it’s time for a change. What I know for sure -- I want to continue speaking at women’s conferences to educate and empower them to take control of their finances!
You might think I’m rambling and perhaps I am, but I decided to share this with you in hope that you’ll learn from my mistakes and avoid making them yourself. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Money Wise Women or myself, but I can tell you it’s time for me to pay attention to my whispers. Life changes, we change, what we want changes and it’s incredibly important to listen and pay attention. I’ve been given a second chance and plan to spend the next few weeks determining what’s important to me. My intention is to go into 2010 with a plan for Marcia. Thanks for listening. I’ll keep you updated on my progress.
Warmly,
Marcia
Several months ago I read a story One Family’s Sudden Fall from Comfort to Despair. One day Patrick Robbins was earning $110,000 a year and the next day he was laid off with no severance pay for a company he’d worked at for 22 years. Within a week his family was on Medicaid and had applied for food stamps. In Patrick’s own words – from middle class to poor immediately. He had no emergency fund and his unemployment only covered the mortgage. He and his wife gathered their children (ages 6, 10, 11 and 13) together to explain the situation. It’s the first time he ever cried in front of his children. Patrick eventually got a new job in another city and the family moved. I was moved by Patrick’s wife comment “If someone breaks a leg, you can sympathize, but you don’t know how it feels until it happens to you.” The Robbins’ story is not uncommon today. If it hasn’t happened to you it’s probably happened to someone you know.
Continue reading "If I'm Working So Hard, Why Am I Always Broke?" »
Today's Seattle Times (October 10, 2010) had an Op Ed about Investing in our women especially in hard times. The authors said "As community members, we too must invest in women. Whether you choose to act with your wallet, your time, or both, your action will make a difference. The critical role that women play in maintaining our families and community demands that we identify solutions that will foster not only an equitable recovery, but also innovative long-term solutions for women and girls -- and ultimately for all of us."
Continue reading "We Must Invest in Our Women -- Especially in Hard Times" »
Recent Comments