If you’ve been a faithful reader of my blog, first of all let me apologize for not being a faithful writer over the past 10 days.  We find ourselves very busy with our business this time of year, as we need to unearth all of our holiday merchandise and get it photographed, listed, and on the shelves for shipping.  Working from home has many benefits, but also comes with it’s own challenges.  Another of my extended family members is going to start working from home during the first week of October.  We were thinking a celebration for her would be in order.  All of us other home workers will show up at her house at about 9:00am.  Dress code is “jammies” or sweats, and we will expect her to make the coffee. 

When we counsel clients with babies or little children, we usually recommend that unless both parents are professionals with an income of at least $50,000 each per year, that the lower earner become a “stay at home”, or “work at home” parent.  Even though that parent’s primary job is to care for and raise the children, they often start a business to help supplement the family income.  I’m going to write about a few simple ideas for part time home business start-ups over the next few days. 

My husband and I started an online retail business several years ago.  It started with us just selling a few things on eBay and craigslist.  We were just getting rid of some collections, old clothes, and other household items we no longer wanted or needed.  We decided if we could just get our online sales up to a certain amount each month, we could both retire early, and not have to dip into our retirement accounts.  So, we started investing the profits from our online “garage sale” into actual new merchandise to sell.  We are now operating a rather successful business and have been able to retire from our jobs. 

This has given us more time to work on our ministry.  If you have been reading this blog for long, you  know that we offer counseling to people that have financial and debt problems, and teach our clients how to pay off their debts and live debt free.  There have been lots of tips and information  in my past blog entries, and I will continue to offer general information in upcoming posts, but if you need more help now, be sure to go to our web site and read the information there  You can find us here:    http://www.newvisionsministries.com  We don’t charge for our help, but count on donations and income from our business to support our ministry.      

I talk so often about saving a few pennies here, a few dollars there, and I know that a lot of you pretty much dismiss it.  You don’t need a few pennies or a few dollars… You need a bunch of money.  Guess what?  You aren’t likely to win the lottery, some unknown rich aunt isn’t likely to die and leave you her fortune,  and money doesn’t just fall out of the sky.  The only way you are going to get a bunch of money is by saving it.  And the only way you will be able to save it is to stop spending it.  I’ve said many times that almost everyone, regardless of debt to income ratio could be debt free in 2 to 5 years and have a very healthy savings and investment account in another 2 to 5 years.  It all starts with determination and saving pennies and dollars. 

Every day, write down what you spend.  Include EVERYTHING.  Even the change you put in the vending machine at work.  If you spend it…. Write it down.  Then, in the evening… go on line to this nifty little calculator and type in what you bought and how much it cost you.  Write down the numbers and prepare to be surprised.  You’ll see your bunch of money.    http://sheltertools.com/wd/calculators/cruncher.html

There are hundreds of ways you can save money on Utilities and services.  First of all, I talked about negotiating lower prices in an earlier post.  If you haven’t done that yet, spend a little time and give it a try.  You can also go on line to your public utilities web sites and they will offer lots of tips on how to save energy (think money).  We often think that little things like turning down a thermostat, unplugging appliances, and turning off lights can’t possibly make much difference.  All the little things add up to save big money.  Build some energy saving habits for your family and you’ll be very pleased with the results.

Also, think about the other services your family uses.  If you get haircuts, manicures, and other personal services on a regular schedule, just add a week or two weeks between services.  Over the course of a year, you will save a minimum of one service… maybe several.  For example:  If you have your nails done every 10 days, have them done every 15 to 16 days.  You’ll save about $100 minimum.  If you have your hair cut every 6 weeks, just change your schedules to every 7 weeks.  Depending on the prices you are paying, you’ll save about $50 or more a year.  Lawn care, housekeeping, car washes… Any of these services can be postponed a bit so you can save. Of course, all of these services could be on a do it yourself basis, and you would save a whole lot more.    

Today’s topic is a little different… but I felt like sharing a little more about why I’m writing this blog and why You have seen no “advertising” on it.  Eventually, that will change, but I really had two major reasons for writing and neither of them had to do with making money.  The first reason is that I actually hurt for people that are slaves to credit.  As long as you buy things on credit, you are spending money on interest.  That means that you (or your spouse) has to work harder and longer to earn money to pay that interest.  The hours you work are time from your life, family and pleasure that you can NEVER get back.  A young couple I know bought a house that is too expensive for their income.  When I advised against it, their response was that they would just earn more money to make the monthly payments.  Seems logical.  She will work part time at home selling on eBay and taking care of the three children.  He will work at his regular job 5 days a week, and take on additional part time jobs on evenings and weekends.  The children really miss the time and attention from both their parents.  They hardly ever see Daddy, and Mommy is too busy to play with them very much.  The time they are spending can never come back to them.  They are also buying things for the new house on credit.  I hurt for them now, and if something should happen and one of them cannot do the extra work, their regular income is not enough.  I write this blog because I hope that those of you reading it will take it to heart and stop buying on credit.  Stop spending more than you earn, and begin to save money.

The second reason I write is because I needed the discipline and habit of writing something every day.  In a few more months, this blog will begin to change and develop additional topics.  I will be putting an effort into growing the blog and you will begin to see advertising on it.  Until then, I write every day to form a habit that will be reliable to you and other readers.