“The only man who sticks closer than a friend during hard times, is a creditor.”
We might laugh at the quote above, but if you’re laughing while being in debt, you’re probably cringing on the inside at the same time. Debt, in itself, is not a funny part of life. Quite the opposite, small to large quantities of debt often hang like a dark cloud through life, casting shadows of foreboding and hopelessness wherever we go.
Like so many, when we come to a place where there seems to be no financial means to change our situation, we turn a deaf ear to the calls and throw away the collection letters from the mail. Essentially, we ignore the problem as best as we can while we continue to move forth into new stages of our lives.
Unfortunately, though we may apply all of the tricks in the book to successfully distancing ourselves from our debtor’s communications, our minds our often trapped within the heaviness of our new financial limitations.
You might ask, so what then can be done to move beyond debt’s darkness so that we can return to those more carefree sunny days of our past? Read on, and we will show you…
1. Face the storm – Time to let yourself take a good look at that annoying dark cloud, and finally start expecting to see the sun. By mentally addressing to your subconscious that you are about to find a solution to the nagging darkness, half of your struggle will already be won.
Stop doing the runaway two-step and stand instead with a power pose of authority towards your debt. Take your mind into a conqueror’s mentality…the undefeated Susan…the unstoppable Rick. Change that emotion of fear you feel into power instead.
Studies prove that we essentially will end up in the direction for which we aim our mind. Take that truth and run the other way with it. It’s time to stop hiding underneath that cloud and lasso it instead. Take your authority with it, and you can tell it where to go.
2. Unmask the monster – Time to see the collector’s differently. Remember that saying, “to kill stage fright, picture the audience nude?” Well, this begins as the same concept. Realize that your debt collectors are just people doing a job to make their living. In short, let yourself realize that they do in-fact have a soul, and work with that.
The wonderful truth is, we are all human at the end of the day. We all put our pants on the same way, just as we have all made both good and bad decisions. Keep the perspective on your debt collector’s humanity in the forefront of your mind as you approach step three, and get ready to smile.
3. “Kill” them with kindness – This third step will take some focus, some patience and a really great cup of hot cocoa. Well, maybe not the cocoa part, but it’s time to step into your happy zone and look at the debt collectors through rose colored glasses.
Get the conversations into the human friendly zone and treat them like your best friend. The truth is, when it is all said and done, there is nothing more powerful than human connectivity. Common grounds of understanding are powerhouses for negotiation…and blowing away your debt cloud.
4. Talk their ear off – This fourth action will require multiple actions, and will extend over a small amount of time. Once you’ve established your BFF status with your debt collecting peeps, you must maintain your relationship.
Call them OFTEN and keep them informed. If you are working out a settlement process with them, keep them up to date every step of the way. You want to build rapport with them and cause them to feel that you are keeping things honest, open and clear.
Doing this will maintain extra grace for your situation along the way and possibly even delay legal issues they would otherwise take against you.
It’s not always an easy road to facing our darkness and our fears, but it can be an absolutely invigorating ride when we do! Just remember to keep those sweet visions of sunny freedom within your mind as you go along this dynamic journey; and when you get to where you’ve always wanted to be…blissfully debt free, pass the energy on to others you know who are struggling as well. Before long, we will all begin to see, that we are the only ones truly powerful enough to change our own skies.
If you would like more refreshing financial guidance and food for monetary life, check out my book ‘Cu$hion Money…Look What I Found’ on Amazon.
I have no shame in admitting that some of the most basic responsibilities of a home owner were delegated to my husband when he lived with us.
When he moved out, I was left with a new set of responsibilities, on top of taking care of the kids and daily menial household chores. I knew nothing about the appliances that ran in our home, I only knew how to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Over time, I realized that the appliances are a functioning part of the family. They need “checkups” like my kids. The key is maintenance; it helps keep your robot friends running smoother and longer. Bottom line: I don’t want to call someone to help me fix something. I’d rather take care of what I have and avoid catastrophe.
So here’s my handy list of “maintenance checks.” It’s next to my list of daily chores on the refrigerator. This is not a checklist to perform every day! Just do it when you have some spare time every few months. It may seem boring, but it will help you spend less time and effort worrying about the next hiccup.
1. Air Filters
Change these according to the kind of air filter you use. Keep in mind, there are alot of different types. If it’s high-efficiency, do it 4 times per year.
2. Dishwasher
Check the seals.
Check for dirt. Lift the float up and clean it out. You can find the float at the front or back of the dishwasher. If there is any debris that restricts its movement, it can cause a leak.
3. Garbage Disposal
Grind ice for a few seconds to sharpen the blades.
Grind citrus peels to keep the disposal smelling fresh and germ-free.
4. Refrigerator
Dust the coils behind the fridge. When they accumulate dust it’s harder for the coils to keep the fridge cool, costing you more money.
Clean the drip pan underneath the fridge. Simply pull it out and rinse it with soapy water.
Clean the gaskets. Those are the things that keep the doors closed and sealed.
5. Washer/Dryer
Wash your washer. This might sound redundant, but it actually has to be cleaned. Try using vinegar or lemon juice and then running it on the hottest cycle.
Clean your dryer vent, located behind your dryer. These things get backed up with dust and causes the dryer to stop working. The interior vent is behind the dryer; undo it and vacuum the vent, the hose, and the back of the dryer. Then go outside and detach the exterior vent from your house and give it a thorough vacuuming.
Hi, I’m Marie Ortiz. I am a blogger, DIY enthusiast, and mother of two beautiful girls. . I am always working on new ways for my girls to develop and learn, and I love to share all of my discoveries along the way. We enjoy working on DIY projects as a family, and they are turning into avid crafters. When I’m not perusing the Internet for inspiration, you can find me at my local farmers’ market or looking for new adventures. You can check me out at www.DIYMother.org.
Goals are an important part of life. It helps keep us on a path of success, and it helps us realize what is most important to us. When it comes to finances, having goals are key to keeping it in check and balance. A good way to do this is to write about your financial goals. Following these steps below will ensure that you reach your financial goals.
The first step is to write down your financial goals. It is the ideal way to watch them become reality.
The second step is to make your goals specific. It may be about your salary, debt, saving, anything. The next step is to keep your list of goals somewhere visible so that you can be reminded of your endpoint and stay focused. An alternative to this is to keep it hidden and check up on it ever so often. After you have created your list of goals, the fourth step is to formulate a simple plan on how to reach them. The last step is to make a time frame for your goals and stick to it.
The next step is to keep your list of goals somewhere visible so that you can be reminded of your endpoint and stay focused. An alternative to this is to keep it hidden and check up on it ever so often. After you have created your list of goals, the fourth step is to formulate a simple plan on how to reach them. The last step is to make a time frame for your goals and stick to it.
The last step is to make a time frame for your goals and stick to it.
Sometimes you can get off track of reaching your goals and can deter you from continuing. Your goals do not have to be related to finances; writing out your goals is still a very good way to keep your life in check and balance.
To get what you want, sometimes it costs money. But other times money is non-existent or limited. Sometimes we deserve to get something we want or have earned. Being creative can be a helpful tool to obtain what you have been yearning for. Follow these following steps to get yourself on the creative path!
The first step towards your creative path is to look past money and to release negative thoughts and tension. When you relax about whatever money crunch you are in, it allows you to think clearly.
The next step is to get creative and discover other ways to get what you want, especially without using your money. Sometimes bartering can be a useful tool in getting what you want. It was, after all, the first form of exchange for goods and items centuries ago. This brings us to step number three, which is to barter with people, moms, businesses, and etc to get what you want. Bartering is still practiced, and at times, it can be a preferred form of payment. Step four is to open up your creative mind and
This brings us to step number three, which is to barter with people, moms, businesses, and etc to get what you want. Bartering is still practiced, and at times, it can be a preferred form of payment.
Step four is to open up your creative mind and eyes and think of ways to get what you want without being trapped in the “not enough money” syndrome.
True needs are the bare essentials for existence like food and shelter, but sometimes obtaining these essentials is hard without enough money. Sometimes to get something you have to give something, which in the end allows everybody to win. Just like in the previous articles, giving something away can come back tenfold.
Giving something back to your community is a wonderful fulfillment, and should be done as often as possible. Giving away money sometimes can not only help someone else, but can also help you as well. When you give away money with a grateful heart, it comes back to you tenfold. In fact, the original idea of giving money away was introduced by God, and it was called tithing. For those of other religious beliefs, giving things away, especially money, is still morally invaluable.
When you give money away, make sure to start small with a couple of dollars. For example, you can give money to Salvation Army outside Walmart during the holiday season. Throughout the year though make sure you increase the amount you give. If you can’t give away money, give away your time. Homeless shelters need help feeding people and helping people find salvation, especially around the holidays. If you can’t give time or money, you can donate clothes, toys, and more, especially for tax write offs.
Getting in the habit of giving can have great effects. Don’t ignore a call for a donation; give it just as much attention and love as you can manage. In a previous article, it mentioned a closed fist cannot receive anything. It feels good to give back to those less fortunate, and you never know when you may need to be the recipient of someone’s good deed one day.
Hi! Welcome to RichSingleMomma.com. I started this website almost a decade ago because I couldn't find any blogs back then that helped single moms with money. I was having some success in that area so I decided to share what I knew about side hustles, making extra money, and managing money. Read more...
