If Money Weren't An Issue......

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As the holiday shopping season approaches, the topic of money usually starts creeping up in my head.  I am pretty sure that many people can relate to this thought, whether it's good or otherwise.  It is no secret that there are several people wishing that they could win the lottery this week sometime.  There are others that are just praying for a meal on Thanksgiving.

I wrote a previous post about wanting to travel across the country in an RV. That's on my bucket list, so if money weren't an issue, I would do that.

The funny thing is that I think that earning money creates some character.  We learn to appreciate the work that went into earning it.  Earning, giving, saving and spending is how we look at our money after taking a financial planning class at our church.  There is truth in the expression: Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.

I watch my girls grow and learn and sleep every day.  I do get paid in hugs and kisses, but I don't think I could pay for groceries with hugs and kisses.  I write this blog and love every minute of it.  My husband enjoys what he does for a living.  I tell him that he has a gift.  He does get paid for doing that (since we can't the bills with hugs and kisses).  I do think I would volunteer at more places, but that's more of a time issue than a money issue.  I have started to collect toiletries to donate to local charities.  Many places provide housing, clothing and food and God bless them for doing so.  I always think, though, about all of those things that I do to "get ready" to go somewhere.  Where do those supplies come from for the people who are struggling to meet those needs?  That's something that I could help contribute to. 

If money weren't an issue, what would you do?  I would love to read your stories.

Karina
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Roller Racer

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I Got The Job, Now What?

It is no secret that I write this blog to promote the purchase of products that are Made in the USA to help create jobs, especially since so many people are out of work.  Since we are in the business of creating jobs here, I thought I would pass along some information about what to do once you have landed that job. 

We are no strangers to hard times.  I was laid off from my job after almost 11 years of service.  I can relate to what it's like to have no income and wonder, what's next?  What's next is knowing what to do to avoid getting into financial pitfalls once you have been blessed with this new job.

I remember one day I was washing dishes, staring out into my backyard.  Note to self: Search for financial planning.  What happened next is amazing.  I went out to get the mail and received our church's newsletter.  In it was a small article about a class that was starting that January about financial planning based on biblical principles.  Digest that for a moment because this is a true story.  I immediately called the gentleman who was running the class.  We had a wonderful conversation and were signed up for the class.

We took this class while I was in my last trimester of pregnancy with Bina.  I, literally, gave birth the one week of class that we had off.  I still use the guidelines and read the biblical passages when I am in need of guidance.  It truly is a wonderfully insightful class.  This is not an affiliated link or sponsored post.  I am not being paid to do this.  I took this class and am sharing my experience with you, in the hopes that this class can do for you what it has done for our family.

I sometimes have an internal battle that if promoting buying stuff is the way to help people.  My answer is....If buying that stuff creates jobs, then yes.  Knowing what to do with our money makes that job even better.  We have a financial road map.  We know where we are going.  It is not easy because it takes a lot of patience to watch money grow, especially in this economy, but knowing that it's there is so much better than stressing over the fact that it's not even coming in.

Have you ever taken a financial planning class?  Leave me your comments about the topic.


Karina
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Where Your Money Goes Matters

When we found out we were pregnant with our first daughter, I decided to save all of our pennies, literally.  My idea was that I would save those pennies until she was born and whatever was in the can at that time, I would start her college fund with it.  (This would also establish the amount that we would begin each subsequent child's fund.)  Lyla was several months old by the time I actually got around to it, but I did continue to save the change.  We decided to open the account in a credit union.  I am so glad we did. 

The day we opened the account, I walked in with my rolled coins and my somewhat-bitty baby.  I'm not sure who weighed more - the coins or the baby!  The experience stayed with me.  The staff was so personable that it seemed more like we were having a conversation over coffee than opening a college fund.  People were stopping by to see the baby and were just so hospitable.  I almost forgot why I was there.

Fast-forward a year later and we have our accounts in the credit union.  All of this came to mind during last week's Bank Transfer Day.  My experience with a credit union gets better with each visit.  I recently went to the credit union and the teller that usually helps me asked where my girls were.  How fantastic is that?  She tends to how many people per day and she remembers my girls and me?  That meant the world to me.  On my way out, I bumped into the gentleman that opened one of our accounts.  He remembered my name.  Wait, what?  How many people does he help on a daily basis and he remembered my name.  He asked about my girls and husband and how my husband was liking his job.  (We opened the account after he started his job.)  I sent a friendly email telling the credit union powers that be of my experience. I received a phone call from the branch manager.  The Branch Manager!  What a lovely person and conversation we had.  I couldn't pay for that kind of service.  Well, there wasn't a fee for that.  ha, ha  Sorry for the sarcasm.  The moment just called for it.  

Here are some tidbits that I learned about credit unions.  Credit unions employ local people.  They are not-for-profit, which means they serve their members not their profits.  These members own the credit union and vote for the board of directors.  When the credit union is a member of the network, you can use their ATMs for no fee.  My motivation: I received good service, so I kept going where I was treated well.  It's just that simple.

What is your experience?  I would love to hear (or read) about it.

Karina