Tag Archives: finance

We’re Broke! Why Do We Need a Financial Planner?! Part 1

After my divorce, the financial planner who had worked with my former husband and I continued to call me every six months or so, wondering if I was ready to put a new financial plan into place. I was flattered, if a little confused, about why he was bothering with me. I had primary physical custody of our infant daughter, I was receiving no financial support from her dad, and I was working for a notoriously underpaying local non-profit. Let’s face it, I was broke. The answer to the question, of course, is that it is an undisputed fact that … Continue reading →

Switching to a Home Based Business

More and more individuals are leaving their corporate jobs to start a home based business. This trend is further magnified by the vastness of the Internet and its ability to allow virtual offices to exist anywhere. Many parents make this switch to be home with their kids. Older adults use it as a transition into retirement. Even some new college graduates with their strong technological skills are finding a home based business as great way to transition into the workforce. Whatever your reasons, there are some factors to consider to making this switch a successful one. 1. Do the research! … Continue reading →

Remind Yourself of the Reason You Work

Most single parents are working parents. For many of us, it is not only a requirement, but our work provides the lifeblood for our children’s health and safety. When things get stressful and we feel hopeless, or wonder why we are working so hard and putting up with the stressors we put up with—it can be a perfect time to remind ourselves of why we work as hard as we do. I am not so altruistic as to say that the only reason I work is for my kids—I also like to have a roof over my head and buy … Continue reading →

Is it a Business or a Career?

I spent my twenties and a good chunk of my thirties thinking of my work life in terms of a “career”—I evaluated choices based on what was “good for my career” and I tried to think of my work world as a ladder or a trajectory from beginning to end. When I decided to start my own business, however, I stopped thinking of it so much as a career and more of it as just a part of my life. I have found that while some of start home businesses as an outcropping of a former career, there are others … Continue reading →

Tending to Family Without Losing Ground on the Work Front

One of the things you will hear when a group of single parents get together is that we often feel like when we are at home, we should be working and when we are at work—we should be taking care of home stuff. We need work flexibility and to be able to take off and tend to family business, but there is the worry and risk that we will slip behind or jeopardize our positions at work. How can we take care of family business and not compromise our work and careers? I think that it can depend on the … Continue reading →

Avoid Greed

Too often, when we are dealing with money, we lose to greed. What exactly is greed and how can it hurt? Greed is an emotion that surfaces almost unknowingly. It is an exciting feeling that can overtake us, influencing our ability to be practical and logical. If you have ever played a slot machine, you most likely have experienced greed. Once you hit that first jackpot, the rush you feel, as those coins fall into the bin, is greed raising its ugly head. If you could collect your winnings and walk away… you have fought the evil greed monster. Most … Continue reading →

The Christmas Credit Card Blues

Normally a frugal person would avoid a credit card at all cost. However, this is not always the case, especially at Christmas time. I will admit, we used a credit card for several of our purchases. There is hope for you in your frugal world though. If you are saving money each month by cutting costs for food, clothing, bills and other sources, then you should have a little bit left over to make a larger monthly payment on the credit card bill. Your goal? To get that card paid off as quick as you can and avoid any unnecessary … Continue reading →

Marriage Fights: Money

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Money fights are one of the biggest problems in marriages today. Financial counselor Dave Ramsey teaches that this is because how we spend our money reflect our values, and whether or not we have the same goals. For instance, if one spouse values saving for retirement while the other would rather have a new boat now (and spends the money intended to go into the retirement account), there is an obvious conflict. And since a large portion of LDS families are larger than the national average, with more stay-at-home moms (and thus tighter budgets), it is easy to understand why … Continue reading →

Retail Therapy: Good or Bad?

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Well, neither. Or both! Like any activity, a little can be uplifting for the spirits, like a good wine after a wonderful meal with friends. But we all know where too much alcohol can lead us. But shopping? Can that be bad for us? Read on! I know a few women who do not indulge in retail therapy, but it is definitely a major pastime of many women. But we’re not just talking shopping here, we are talking about using money to buy items to improve one’s mood. Retail therapy. How useful is it? Let’s look at two cases of … Continue reading →

Encouraging Teens to Attend Job Fairs

Even if a teenager isn’t convinced he or she is ready for a job (or Mom and/or Dad isn’t entirely convinced that the teen is ready for a job), local job fairs can be a great way to introduce your teen to the job opportunities available, give them practice talking with potential employers, and get the ball rolling in terms of employment and job realities. Job fairs have become increasingly popular and available, even in smaller areas. Community colleges, universities, chambers of commerce and other entities often sponsor job fairs throughout the year so employers can expose themselves to potential … Continue reading →