MyCareOne

Are you Throwing Away Money? The -No Garbage- Experiment

NoraDunn — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Is the garbage we generate related to the money we spend? In this financial experiment, we'll determine just how much money you're actually throwing away.

The Premise

Reducing our waste output - and this includes reducing items that are recycled - is inarguably a good thing to do, at the very least from an environmental perspective.

And after I lived in an environmentally sustainable way in Hawaii for a few months, I discovered, much to my surprise, that producing less waste saves money too!

Want to see for yourself?

The No Garbage Experiment - Step 1: Get to it

For one month, do everything you possibly can to eliminate waste - even recycling. Here are a few ways to do this:

Pay attention to packaging on everything you buy. Look for packaging that can be creatively reused.
Don't buy coffee, drinks, and snacks or meals on the go; they're huge waste culprits - and often responsible for rogue budgets. (If you need that cup o' joe, bring a travel mug).
Cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions; go digital.
Reuse stuff. A plastic soda bottle can breathe new life into an insect trap, mismatched socks can become draft dodgers, and you'd be surprised at what you can do with random things like corks (including making some extra cash).
Compost organic waste.
Replace disposable paper towels with cloth napkins and rags.
Consolidate household products and cleaners. All-purpose products like vinegar, baking soda, and even mouthwash can conquer many grimy surfaces. Ditch disposable cleaning sponges and use old t-shirts instead.
Wrap gifts creatively with reused (and reusable) products.
Look at alternative ways to recycle - and make money. There are all kinds of unusual ways to sell your stuff while keeping it out of the garbage bin.

Step 2: Compare

After a month on the No Garbage Experiment, take a step back and compare your expenses - because you do track your expenses, right? - between the month prior and the month of "no garbage".

Is there a difference?

You might actually find you spent more money during the No Garbage Experiment. If you bought a reusable travel mug, compost bin, or other permanent alternatives to disposable items, it might take a few months to break even. And sadly, you might also discover that over-packaged items are cheaper.

In other cases, you might immediately save money, for example in not buying lunch and drinks on the go. Many digital subscriptions are free - or at least cheaper than paper ones. And breathing new life into old items saves a trip to the store to buy a new doo-hickey.

Some of your garbage-reducing actions will pay dividends in the future, and in multiple ways; for example, composting will save you buying soil for your window garden, which in turn saves you from buying fresh herbs.

If you examine your spending trends, and even continue the No Garbage Experiment past one month, hopefully you'll find you can save money whilst saving the planet from unnecessary garbage too.

What's your best suggestion for reducing waste - in a way that might save money too?

Ways to Make Money by Recycling

Easy Ways to Track Your Expenses

Financial Experiment: "Minimalist Vacation"

Nora Dunn

Nora Dunn is The Professional Hobo: a full-time traveler and freelance writer. She is a contributing writer under the CareOne Debt Relief Services A Straight Talk on Debt blog. Having sold her business and belongings to travel, she has been on the road since 2007. She travels in a financially sustainable manner, taking advantage of creative volunteering positions. As a former certified Financial Planner, she is financially responsible for her actions along the way. She believes there is a fine balance between planning for tomorrow, and living for today. Compensated Blogger for CareOne Debt Relief Services.

To follow Nora on Twitter click here!

To connect with Nora Dunn on Google + please click Nora Dunn

Counting the Months to DMP Graduation!

t_pizel — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

I've celebrated many milestones of my debt management plan, including each anniversary year, and being halfway done.

Recognizing those accomplishments is one source of motivation that helps keep me and my wife moving forward.

In March, we reached the point of having one year left of our plan. Reaching that mark put a smile on my face, but I really had my eyes set on this month, because after this month we will only have ten payments left. What's special about ten?

Having ten payments left is significant, because I can count them with my fingers.

I'm a visual person, and being able to hold up my hands and physically display how many payments remain until our mountain of $109,000 of credit is gone is an indescribable feeling.

Getting out from under the weight of credit card debt has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Having only ten months left, the countdown is officially on. With each passing month I can think about the life events that happen and know that next year, it will be just a little bit easier to plan and pay for them.

We've been doing things on the small scale for almost four years now, and while I'm never going back to my old out of control spending ways, it will be nice to be able to splurge just a little bit on those special events and know that we're still living within our means.

June: I can't wait to be able to spoil and pamper the most important woman in my life for our anniversary.

July: More of making Vonnie feel like the appreciated wife, mother, and friend that she is for her birthday.

August: Dare I hope that in 2014 we may be able to take a family summer vacation?

September: How awesome will it be to get the kids ready for school, without having to worry about whether we'll be able to afford everything they need?

October: A month without any event is rare and is to be enjoyed!

November: I would love to be able to host Thanksgiving dinner without having to plan for and save for weeks or months ahead of time.

December: Christmas is hands down the most stressful time of year for a family on a tight budget. We will NOT go overboard on gifts, but without the financial stress that comes with being in debt, I have a feeling that Christmas 2014 will be much more enjoyable.

January: Just once I'd like to not use the excuse that it was just Christmas for skimping on my son's birthday celebration.

February: I love being creative for Valentine's Day, but I look forward to being able to give my wife an actual gift.

March: I'll need some extra money to stockpile the tissues needed for the waterworks that will accompany making our last payment. I'm going to bawl like a newborn, guaranteed.

All that's left is eight fingers and two thumbs. How much longer do you have left?

Related Links:

And In 3...2...1

Halfway Home!

Reflection on a year in the Debt Management Plan

Travis Pizel

Travis is a contributing writer for the My Journey out of Debt and A Straight Talk on Debt blogs. He is also a very active member of the CareOne community forums. Travis is currently enrolled in a CareOne Debt Management Plan (DMP). Travis candidly shares his personal journey to pay off his debt and the tips he's learned along the way. As a father and husband he provides a unique perspective on balancing debt, finances, and family in Minnesota. You can also read more from Travis on the Enemy of Debt blog, where he is a featured blogger. Compensated Blogger for CareOne Debt Relief Services.

To connect with Travis on Google+ click Travis Pizel

You can follow Travis on Twitter @DebtChronicles

Keeping Fit into Your Ripe Old Age

TimWalker — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Okay, so maybe I'm not quite qualified for "ripe old age" yet -- though I am on the north side of my 40th birthday now. My real point in this post is that you can keep yourself fit at any age . . . and it's worth it!

Be Consistent

When you're younger, you can afford to slack off, or alternate periods of sloth with bursts of energy. Remember the days when you could pull an all-nighter for school, then go nonstop the next day? At my age, even the thought of doing that makes me tired.

When you're older, you have to replace that youthful energy with the fruits of experience -- and one of the main ones is consistency. If you're going to go to the gym . . . GO. If you say you'll walk the dog every day . . . DO IT.

If you commit to eating right . . . STICK WITH IT.

If for some reason you can't -- say you're traveling for work -- then find a good alternative. Can't go to the gym? Walk the stairs in your hotel. Nothing healthy on the menu? Pick the healthiest thing they have at the restaurant. It's not about being perfect, but about making the best of what's available, and doing it consistently.

Evolve Your Approach

It's the same with how you exercise. You can use your experience to guide you toward the right athletic goals, even if they're quite different from what you used to do. Maybe once upon a time you wanted to prove how macho you were on the bench press, or how good you looked in the tiniest swimsuit. And, hey, if you can still pull off those goals at 40 or 50 or whatever, go for it -- you do NOT need to give into advancing age without a fight.

Meanwhile, though, you can exercise your intelligence to find the best approaches to get you to your goals. As you get older, it may not be about how fast you can run, how much you can lift, or getting back to what you weighed at age 18. But it can be about how well you're performing at the physical endeavors that matter to you.

Challenge Yourself

And while you're at it, focus on endeavors that push your boundaries. Make that effort, rather than going through the motions of showing up at the gym and doing the same old routine.

One thing that has pained me, in my many years at the gym, is seeing people who settle into a tepid routine and never alter it -- never push themselves to any higher level. I'm not saying we should all be aspiring to compete in the Olympics, but in my experience it doesn't work simply to maintain a level of fitness. You're either trying to get better . . . or you're letting yourself slide back.

Don't let yourself slide! Make the commitment to being as fit as you can be at THIS point in your life.

What are you doing to keep yourself fit today?

How fit will you be a year from now?
Don't just work out: TRAIN.
You ARE an Athlete

Tim Walker

Tim is a writer, marketer, and social media pro living in Austin, Texas. He joined CareOne's blogging team as a contributing writer in 2009. As a blogger who has personally overcome debt challenges, he draws from his own experience to provide tips on living a balanced life and keeping fit. You can read more of his thoughts (on fitness and everything else) at his personal blog, What I've Learned So Far. You can read Tim's CareOne blogs in A Straight Talk on Debt. Compensated Blogger for CareOne Debt Relief Services.

To connect with Tim on Google+ click Tim Walker

To follow Tim on Twitter click here!

Timeshare Invitations: Great Mini-vacations?

tiquie — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Have you ever received an invitation to visit a timeshare vacation resort? They usually include two nights and three days at a luxury destination you would probably never visit otherwise and the cost to take this "mini" vacation is close to "dirt cheap."

Well, we receive timeshare invitations quite often either by mail or phone.

I remember the first timeshare invitation phone call I answered; I felt everything being offered was just too good to be true. I knew there just had to be a catch somewhere, and after listening to the sales pitch, I curtly said, "No, thank you," and hung up. Later, I shared the details of the phone call and everything they offered with my husband. He, on the other hand, looked at this invitation as a great way to take a mini-vacation for next to nothing. Basically, the major expense would be getting there and the return trip home. He could see no problem with this and felt we should say "yes" if we ever got one of these invitations again.

The thing that made me most uncomfortable was that, upon accepting the invitation, you were obligated to a 90-minute sales presentation.

I had a mental image of the two of us sitting at a table under bright lights in a small room with a high-pressure salesman; finally, at the end of the 90-minute sales presentation, both my husband and I, with bloodshot eyes, suffering from severe fatigue, as well as feeling cornered, knew the only way out would be to say "YES, where do we sign?"

My husband seemed to have the mini-vacation "itch" and told me not to worry about being pressured to buy a timeshare. After all, if you think about it, the big names in timeshares are also the big names in hotels.

How smart would it be for the likes of Hyatt, Weston, Hilton, and Marriott to intimidate the same people who are their lucrative hotel customers?

Some time later, I accepted an invitation to a timeshare in Branson, Missouri. Although the sales person on the other end of the telephone assured me there would be no pressure to buy during our 90-minute sales presentation, we were pressured. First, we listened to 90 minutes from our "personal sales agent" and we told him absolutely "no" at the end. He then got his supervisor who could make the offer even more inviting and that was another 30 minutes; again, at the end, we told him "no."

So, just to be sure we knew exactly what we were turning down, we were given a 30-minute tour of one of the units and, again, we said "no." So, they were finally convinced that we would not budge and we were driven back to the visitor center where we were given a certificate to pick up a special gift (my husband chose a watch) and we were then free to enjoy the rest of our time.

I should mention that our lodging was not at the timeshare but at a very upscale hotel in Branson.

They had already been given our names and information and knew we were guests of the timeshare, so there was no hassle for money, etc. We did enjoy the hotel and the amenities. It was very centrally located to downtown Branson and the many attractions.

In addition to the free lodging, we received complimentary passes for two meals at a Steakhouse and two tickets to our choice of several Branson shows. We thoroughly enjoyed our free steak dinner and loved the show we chose-Shoji Tabuchi. (I learned adult tickets to this show were being sold for $46 to $49.)

All in all, we loved our time in Branson.

Not only did we enjoy the "freebies" from the timeshare invitation, we were able to take in three more shows (we paid for them) and did quite a bit of site-seeing. One of those shows was a dinner show on the Branson Belle Paddle Boat. What a great time!

Both my husband and I tremendously enjoyed our timeshare invitation vacation; but, would we do it again? After a lot of discussion, we concluded that if we received another invitation to some place we really wanted to visit, definitely YES! Even though we now know in advance that there will be the 90-minute plus sales presentation and quite probably a high-pressure salesman, we know we can take the pressure and the rest of the trip would be well worth a half day of sitting in uncomfortable chairs at a table covered with papers filled with facts and figures to back up the sales pitch.

If you receive a timeshare invitation, here's what to expect:

First, you sign in at a reception area; afterward, a sales agent takes you for a brief tour of the facility. Next, your sales agent leads you to a small table where you are seated and he proceeds to ask you a series of questions designed to gain information about your travel habits and vacation preferences. Your answers to the questions help the representative design a custom, best-case scenario, showing how timeshare ownership will exceed your vacation expectations.

In exchange for the opportunity to pitch their programs, the timeshare companies provide potential buyers with inexpensive getaways at superior resorts in highly-desirable locations. It's a win-win, with the big prize going to the operators who make a sale.

Through the sales interview and presentation, the timeshare organization hopes to demonstrate that buying today will save you many vacation dollars now, and especially in the years to come. You may find the math makes sense for your situation, as quite a few people do. We were told that about nine million folks have found timeshares to be right for their lifestyle. If the offering turns out not to be your cup of tea, you will have enjoyed two nights and three days of elegant living at a most reasonable price. The Branson timeshare invitation was good for a full year so we were able to choose a date that was convenient for us, just as long as it was within a year of the date the invitation was accepted. That is another plus, as well.

So, there you have it. These timeshare invitation vacations could be great for some folks and absolutely horrible for others. I'm glad we accepted the Branson invitation and feel that we did get a good deal even though we had to endure the 90-minute plus sales presentation. Besides, had we not accepted, we probably would never have gone to Branson!

If the telephone rings and you are offered a timeshare mini-vacation, I say give it a try! I'm waiting for our next call, and when it comes, I hope it is an invitation to someplace in Tennessee!

Kimberly Johns

Kimberly is enrolled on the CareOne Debt Management Plan (DMP). Kimberly is very active in the Community Forums, some of you may recognize her Community user name; Tiquie. Recently retired, Kim shares how she and her husband manage the financial challenges of living on a fixed income in their home state of Illinois. The John's have found some really creative and fun ways to offset the limitations of a retirement income. Kimberly generously shares smart and tested tips in her My Journey out of Debt and A Straight Talk on Debt blogs! Compensated Blogger for CareOne Debt Relief Services.

Checking and Savings and Money Markets…Oh My!

Katie_S — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

I have taken advantage of opening up as many free accounts that my bank will allow me to. As it stands today, I have a primary checking account, a joint checking account, my husband's checking account, a primary savings account, a vacation savings account, an "extras" savings account.

I guess I better include the emergency account that is in our safe and the, "down to our last dollar" savings account in my office.

Why so many accounts?

I have learned that when we get paid, if I immediately transfer money into these accounts before I start paying bills or buying our household necessities, I actually can save better. It is the "out of sight out of mind" concept.

I have even turned them "off" on my on-line banking so I really don't even see some of them. If I don't see them, I won't come to expect money to be there.

They should all be pretty much self-explanatory, but really the goal is to have a backup to our back up plans.

For example, our primary checking is what we live out of day to day - bills, necessities, etc. The joint checking is where I put money into when we want to save for something fun. This is our backup account for quick needs that come up that are unprepared for. If we have to take money out of this account, it isn't a big deal.

Our vacation savings account is just that....we may not be planning anything, but knowing that there is some money building in that account makes it nice when we do start to plan our time away.

The "extras" account is geared toward emergency type needs. The emergency account in our safe is when we need quick access to cash for something. Finally, the down to the last dollar account is a big glass canister where all our spare change and dollar bills go at the end of the week. We only cash in if we are literally down to our last dollar!

Whew - that is exhausting just describing it all....but it works for us.

Having more than one option means you can dip into one account and still have other avenues. Case in point, the transmission went on one of our cars this week (Grrrrrrr....cars make me so mad) so we used the cash from our emergency account and the remaining balance came from our "extras" account and we were good.

We still have money in other accounts and no credit cards have been used.

I'm not talking about transferring huge amounts of money - you would be surprised at what $20.00 a week adds up to.

My method may seem a little like madness to you, but hey, if it means no credit cards - I'm all in!

Savings, What Savings?

Utilize Your Savings Account

13 Tips For Using Online Savings Account Effectively

Katie Lupo

Katie is a VERY recent graduate from the CareOne Debt Relief Services Debt Management Plan (DMP). You can read more about Katie's experience in the My Journey out of Debt and A Straight Talk on Debt blogs. In her blog, Katie explores life without credit cards, living on a 'real' budget and making the adjustment from spender to saver. Katie has been blogging about her DMP since she started and has over four years of experience on the plan. Katie lives just outside of Charlotte North Carolina with her husband and rescue dogs. Compensated Blogger for CareOne Debt Relief Services.

Carrots for CareOne

MoneyTalksCoach — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Imagine two carrots in the ground. One has a big beautiful green top but under the soil is a very small withered carrot.

The other carrot has a small top but under the soil lays a great big juicy carrot.

Those carrots represent people and their money.

The top of the carrot is the show of money. Each big green leaf stands in place of a car, a house, the latest electronic gadget, vacations, clothing, jewelry, etc. The bottom of the carrot, the part in the ground, is true wealth. It's an emergency fund, 401(k) s, IRAs, being debt free, having your bills paid on time.

The carrot with the big top is someone who spends a lot of money.

People who look to impress others with their lifestyle. They have a fancy house and an expensive car. They wear the latest fashions and enjoy exotic vacations. But often times, because they spend so much of their resources building the top of their carrot the bottom of their carrot suffers.

They have debt and unpaid bills. They aren't preparing for the future or emergencies.

The carrot with the little top is someone who lives modestly.

They have a small house and drive a clunker. Their clothes are from last year, at best, and their vacations consist of "a trip up North". Because they keep their living expenses to a minimum they can use their resources to grow their carrot.

They can save for emergencies, retirement, and big purchases.

Now, again, put these two carrots in your mind. One with a big top and small carrot, and one with a small top and a big carrot. Now imagine a very strong wind blowing across the field. This wind is an emergency. It comes from seemingly nowhere and is totally outside of our control. What happens to our two carrots?

Which carrot gets blown away?

Does the carrot with strong roots and small leaves get blown away? No. It's the carrot with big leaves that will catch the wind and no solid hold of the ground. That's the carrot that gets blown away! Those big leaves, the expensive lifestyle, become sails that allow the wind, life's emergencies, to push that carrot around.

And when the carrot tells the story about the wind it says "I was just minding my own business and the wind came and blew me away. I never even had a chance to build my roots! I was going to but you know how hard it is. I just can't catch a break. That other carrot, man, he got out easy. I wish I was that lucky."

But is it the wind's fault that the carrot got blown away? No. The winds of life will blow.

No one escapes; just some of us are more prepared.

You make a choice where to put your resources. You can build your lifestyle or you can build your security.

The choice is yours, but the wind will blow and when it does we see who has carrot and who was all leaves.

Ashley Barnett

As a budget coach and financial author from Arizona, Ashley Barnett spends her days (and nights!) giving everyday families the tools they need to succeed with their money. Her passion for budgeting is fueled by watching people gain control of their money and turn their financial lives around.

5 Reasons to Check Your Credit Score

MirandaMarquit — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Your credit report is a representation of your financial habits.

Many people argue that using your credit history isn't always fair -- especially when it's used for non-loan purposes. Fair or not, though, your credit history is your financial reputation, and you need to protect it.

Here are 5 reasons to check your credit report:

1. Fix Errors

In some cases, errors on a credit report can lead to an adverse action. A mistake in your payment history can drag down your credit score, and mean higher insurance premiums, or higher interest rates on a loan.

Check your credit report regularly, and you can catch mistakes that might lead financial service providers and others to assume that you aren't as responsible as you are. Once you identify the errors, go through the dispute process and make sure they are corrected.

2. Catch Identity Theft

If someone is using your identity to open new lines of credit, it's going to show up on your credit report. Regularly checking your credit report can help you catch identity theft somewhat early on. You can identify fraudulent accounts, and have them closed.

You might need to freeze your credit at this point to prevent further fraudulent account openings. But, in some cases, you'll never know if you are compromised if you don't check your credit report. Your credit report can be the first indication that something is wrong.

3. Avoid Unpleasant Surprises

One of the recurring issues on my credit report is the fact that some of my student loans, and some of my husband's student loans, are double-reported. Even though we've both consolidated our student debt, sometimes a loan that has, technically, been paid off resurfaces on the credit report. This is frustrating because when our debt-to-income ratio is figured, it looks as though we have more debt -- and higher payments -- than we actually do.

Check your credit report ahead of time so that you can avoid unpleasant surprises while you are actually speaking with the loan officer. You want to be able to take care of these problems ahead of time, so that they don't slow down your loan process.

4. Improve Your Finances

Your credit report can offer you a way to track your financial progress. Taking a look at your credit report can show you where you need to improve, as well as help you see how far you've gone. There's something about actually seeing it right there in front of you that can help you make improvements.

If you see that you have been missing credit card payments quite a bit, you can make adjustments to automate your payments or arrange to send in your payment earlier to avoid the disappointing payment record. You can also see how far you come as you watch dwindling balances, and see other signs of financial improvement.

5. See Who's Been Checking Up On You

Your credit report also includes the names of companies that have been looking at your history. Even if you don't apply for credit, it's possible for companies to make a "soft inquiry" into your credit to see if you "qualify" for certain offers. If you do, they might send you marketing materials.

Checking your report can allow you to see who's been checking up on you, and it's possible to contact these companies to be removed from their lists.

Bottom Line

Your credit report contains plenty of information about you and your finances. Others are looking at it, so you should make it a point to know what's in there as well.

What other things can you learn from your credit report?

Miranda Marquit

Miranda lives in Utah and is a freelance writer and professional blogger, specializing in topics related to personal finance and business. Her work has appeared in, and been linked to from, a variety of publications, online and offline. Miranda blogs for a number of web sites, and has her own personal finance blog, Planting Money Seeds.

At the Expense of Your Health

sarahjennifer84 — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Health is expensive. Healthy food is expensive, gym memberships are expensive, doctors are expensive . . . you name it, it's expensive.

So where does this leave someone like me (and presumably you if you're reading this)?

Typically when we think of health, we think of some kind of physical well-being (or lack thereof). We might consider some major life stresses that knock our immune systems down, but I'm not sure how often we really connect our health with our financial life. Over the last few years, those two things have been annoyingly connected in my life, and at times probably create a vicious cycle with each other.

Let me explain.

As someone who is rather high strung to begin with, something as simple as paying a credit card bill or getting cash from the ATM can be anxiety provoking (am I over drafting my bank account?!?). Now, those are small things. A couple years ago I was diagnosed with the gastrointestinal disorder Crohn's disease and that turns out to be a rather expensive disease.

Oh and it can be made worse with stress.

So being pestered to pay hundreds of dollars at a time for this procedure or that can be overwhelming to say the least. Needless to say, if I flare up with stress, I end up with more bills. What do I do with them? I ignore them. Sometimes they're as "low" as $75, but sometimes they can be hundreds of dollars, or more. When I can barely cover all my regular bills, these bills appearing in my mailbox really throw me for a loop. Eventually (after months) I get around to paying them . . . I'm lucky they never seem to rack up late fees.

But I have to do it all over again the next time I get sick.

Let's add to this other healthy purchases. How I am I supposed to keep my bank account and my well-being afloat?

This brings me back to a familiar theme in my life - one that I seem to keep struggling with. I need to plan ahead. I'm coming to realize that these bills are no longer surprises or one-off events. They need to find a spot in my budget, even if that means I have to give up something else. If I want to get food that's better for me and better for my digestive system, then I need to make room for the fact that those things will usually cost a little more.

Health and finances are definitely linked, and one can easily cause problems with the other.

I haven't mastered breaking this cycle yet, but at least now I've figured out that it exists. Now I can start to deal with it and find ways to keep it from being such a big problem.

Sarah Pack

Sarah recently enrolled in the CareOne Debt Management Plan (DMP). Sarah currently lives in Virginia with her dachshund-beagle mix. In her blog, Sarah shares her experience as she just starts out on the DMP, managing her own expenses and spending, and working towards becoming a better saver. You can read more about Sarah's experience in the A Straight Talk on Debt blog. Compensated Blogger for CareOne Debt Relief Services.

Sick of Talking About Money!

t_pizel — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

"It's Sunday, and I'd like to have our budget discussion to make sure we're still on track," Vonnie said, as she emptied the dishwasher. "So, when you are ready to take a break, can we talk about it?"

I just stared at my laptop, but inside I cringed.

I knew we needed to, but I just didn't want to.

We have developed a habit of discussing our finances on Thursdays before the weekend, and Sundays after the weekend to ensure that we are constantly on the same page. It seemed she wanted to discuss everything in excruciating detail over and over again to make sure we were sticking to our budget and able to execute our plans for some upcoming events, which included our daughter's birthday and our son's confirmation.

Each of our recent discussions had lasted for hours, and I was just flat out tired of talking about money.

I muttered some excuse about having a lot to do and that it may have to wait. "It's Sunday, and I just thought . . . never mind, it's fine," her voice trailed off as she headed up the stairs.

A few moments later I heard the bedroom door close, which was a telltale signal that I had screwed up. I remembered that the reason we accumulated a mountain of debt could be mostly attributed to a lack of communication. My wife was asking to talk about the finances, and I was blowing her off. I rested my head in my hands and exhaled loudly, knowing what I had to do.

I reconciled the checking account, updated our spending plan spreadsheet, unplugged the laptop, and headed upstairs.

I was met with eyes of fire as I opened the door, which quickly softened when Vonnie saw I was holding the laptop. I sat down on the bed next to her, both of us propped up by pillows. I slid over, inch by inch, until our feet touched, and rested the computer half on her leg, half on mine.

Our discussion progressed as it usually did, starting with the balance of the checkbook, to what payments were outstanding, and closed with a review of our weekend spending and the assurance that we had again stuck to our budget. We even went over the plans for our daughter's birthday party the next weekend, and triple checked that the finances were all in place to make it happen just as we had planned.

"Anything else we need to talk about?" I asked.

"Nope, we're good," she answered.

The discussion took just under fifteen minutes.

Sometimes our budget meetings are short, and sometimes they're not. But knowing that my wife and I both know exactly where things stand is such a great feeling that it's worth every second.

How long do your financial discussions last?

How to Reboot Yourself

TimWalker — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

I was all set to write this post about "Training for a Big Event" -- to tell you how I got into a good training rhythm for long-distance running races.

1. Tactics: set a plan, stick with it, find a good coach or training group.

2. Bigger picture: set a goal that motivates you, keep it firmly in mind as you do the little things day by day that make the goal a reality.

You get the idea.

The only problem is that I haven't actually done that stuff like I thought I would when I picked out the topic and put it on the schedule.

There are plenty of reasons -- which I hope aren't merely excuses. I started a new job at a software startup a couple of months ago (the hours can get crazy), and I've also been dealing with some nagging injuries. But what it comes down to is that I just haven't done it. Therefore . . .

Time to Reboot

How do you know when it's time to reboot yourself -- with fitness or anything else? I suggest it's when all three of the following are true:

An honest assessment tells you that you're out of whack with fitness, finances, relationships, or whatever it is.
Your goals in that area aren't clear enough or meaningful enough to be compelling.
You're not making steady progress -- every single week -- in the right direction.

Show of hands -- does this sound familiar at all?

Keep in mind that you might be making great progress in one area of your life, yet still need a reboot elsewhere. For instance, right now I feel like I'm doing well in my career, really getting my feet under me at my new company. But I know that at the same time I need rebooting in my fitness.

The Rebooting Process

Once you know you need to reboot, identify one simple thing you can do to get started right now. I do mean one, and I do mean SIMPLE. It could be a walk around the block, or a set of 10 pushups.

To take a different example: if you know your entire house needs complete reorganization and a deep spring cleaning, start by spending three minutes taking out the kitchen trash. Take ten minutes to load the dishwasher, or two minutes to wipe down the counters. That kind of thing.

Cleaning the whole house is daunting, so un-daunt yourself by avoiding elaborate overthinking, especially at first. Just do ANYTHING that gets you moving.

Next, be consistent in something small. Now that you've loaded the dishwasher, maybe you can set a simple objective to run a load of dishes every night before you go to bed. Or maybe set a timer and spend 20 or 30 minutes per day clearing out the junk drawer, the hall closet, the attic, and the garage. Heck, make it two minutes per day, for starters. Just ignite the habit of chipping away at it, then build from there.

For me, this means using a foam roller each morning and evening -- even for just a couple of minutes -- to work out the knots in my calves, which I've damaged over the years during distance runs. When I work out the knots consistently, it much easier for me to train consistently.

Finally, be willing to think about your Big Goal and the intermediate goals that will take you there. And that takes us back to the topic of last week's column, "Planning to Achieve a Long-Range Goal." The main point: you don't have to plan everything. Just start sketching it out, and then iterate from there.

Is it time for you to reboot? What will you do TODAY to get started?

Planning to Achieve a Long-Range Goal

21 Days to Success

Use the New School Year to Reboot Your Family's Habits

Tim Walker

To connect with Tim on Google+ click the Tim Walker

To follow Tim on Twitter click here!

Save Money by Going Meatless Once a Week

tiquie — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

What's the most expensive item on your grocery list? Meat, any type of meat, and that's why planning a few meatless meals can give your grocery budget a huge boost! It is also a way to decrease your cholesterol and saturated fat intake, giving your heart a much needed break.

Monday is a great day to start your meatless meal project. Why? For me, Monday is the busiest day of the week. We just came off a lazy two-day weekend and now it's time to do laundry, clean house, and whatever else seems to need attention. Monday is just not a really good day for me to do a lot of cooking, and that's why we are now having meatless Mondays.

Whether at home, in supermarkets, or in restaurants, starting the week by going meatless can really boost your budget!

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to knock $20, $30, or even $40 off your grocery bill each week, then consider cutting out meat. Cutting out just one or two meaty meals a week could save you some serious cash. If you're concerned about the taste and quality of meatless meals, don't worry. There are countless recipes online that taste good, are good for you, and cost very little to make.

For those of you on the fence about eating meatless meals, my advice is just to give it a try. Eating one or two meatless meals a week doesn't mean you'll become a vegetarian (we still eat meat), nor does it mean you have to commit to it every night. If you decide you don't like it, then no big deal-just go back to eating meat. However, you may find that meatless meals are a smart and tasty way to save some money, just like I did.

While meat is a great source of protein, there are also many great meatless protein sources to keep your muscles fueled.

If you have a husband like mine, who can't imagine life without meat, here are some great meatless meal suggestions that even my meat-lover husband admits he likes. In fact, I'm going to share my recipe for homemade Black Bean Veggie Burgers with you. My husband was very skeptical but agreed to at least TASTE one. To his surprise, the burgers tasted delicious!

Homemade Black Bean Veggie Burgers

INGREDIENTS:

■ 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

■ 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces

■ 1/2 onion, cut into wedges

■ 3 garlic cloves, peeled

■ 1 egg

■ 1 tablespoon chili powder

■ 1 tablespoon cumin

■ 1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce

■ 1/2 cup bread crumbs

DIRECTIONS:

1. If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.

2. In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.

3. In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.

4. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.

5. Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.

6. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

Add your favorite salad, sweet potato fries, or a baked potato and you have a delicious dollar smart meal.

As I promised, here are a few additional yummy meatless meal selections for you to consider:

Baked Potatoes and a bowl of Meatless Chili

Options: Stuff the potatoes with broccoli, cheese, and anything else that strikes your fancy. Or swap them out and try baked sweet potatoes

Cheese Pizza - So delicious plain

Options: Add fresh tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil to a store bought cheese pizza. Pesto also makes a great addition. Jazz it up with whatever fresh and affordable vegetables you have on hand (onions, mushrooms, green peppers, black olives) or even try a can of pineapple for a Hawaiian twist.

Eggs - Scrambled Eggs or Omelets with a jazzed up salad

Options: Add some veggies (tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, spinach, etc.) and/or cheese.

Quesadillas served with a fresh fruit plate and dip

Options: A flour tortilla can be dressed up many ways with cheese, black beans or refried beans, tomatoes, avocados, and more.

Vegetable Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Combine a box of chicken stock, fresh or frozen veggies, and some seasoning and you've got a quick, healthy meal.

Somehow we have convinced ourselves that meat is required at every meal, and to deny our family of meat is cruel and unusual punishment. It isn't!! Having a vegetarian meal once in a while is not only frugal, it is healthy and "green," too! I encourage you to serve your family a vegetarian meal once a week. They will adjust, I promise.

One last bit of information that will help you on your meatless Monday is this. There is actually an entire website called Meatless Monday that helps you come up with healthy and nutritious meatless meals. There are not only money-saving benefits to Meatless Monday, there are health and environmental benefits, as well.

Who's up for some Meatless Monday creativity?

Kimberly Johns

When You Need a Little Extra Cash

Dennis Bauman — Sun, 12 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

If your finances are really tight and you're living paycheck to paycheck like we were, read on for a few tips we used to find a little extra money.

The first two involve that four-letter word I hate - WORK. I got a second job. I don't like doing this because it takes time away from family and friends.

Sometimes you have to do what you don't want to do in order to get back on your feet.

The second idea is to have a yard sale. Not everyone can do this, but if you have a lot of stuff like we did, it might help you earn a little extra income.

Now if you have stuff of real value, you would be better selling it on one of those auction sites, like eBay. A good rule of thumb is to sell things at opportune times. Here is an example; we tried to sell three pairs of ice skates at a yard sale. We started them out at $3 and went to $1 and they didn't sell during the summer. In November I put them on eBay and sold them for $15 and $20. We did the same for used ball gowns.

Timing is everything.

Some other types of items that we were able to sell on these auction sites were books and coin collections. We sold a heavy coat to a lady in Florida. One day my wife brought home a small, old eight-inch tall oil lamp from the thrift store. I researched it on eBay and found they were selling for around $20. I told her this is something we can make some money on eBay with. She said there were two more down at the store. She went and bought them and after my cost and fees we profited $70 off of three of these.

If you want to sell things on eBay they have tutorials you can use to learn how to use the website.

It is always a good idea to research an item before you list it. To research an item you go to "advance search" and check the box beside "completed listings." This will show items that did or did not sell for the past month or two.

There are other things you can do to earn some extra cash.

If you are good at making crafts, you can sell them at craft shows. If you have a hobby you are good at, you can use your hobby to make some extra money. Use your imagination.

You know that collection you have been saving because it may be worth something some day? Well, now is the time to sell it. If you don't use it now, when will you? You'll probably keep it till you're gone and whoever gets it might not appreciate it like you did or someone you don't even know may get it.

We had a thrift store that would rotate its sale items to get rid of stock. We bought two microwaves for a quarter a piece and sold them at a yard sale-one for $3 and the other for $5.

What ideas did you come up with? We would like to hear about it, so please comment below.

Dennis Bauman

Dennis Bauman has been on a Debt Management Plan (DMP) customer with CareOne Debt Relief Services since October of 2007 and recently graduated to become debt-free!! Dennis Bauman lives in Pennsylvania and works in the manufacturing industry, creating floor tile. Having officially completed the Debt Management Plan, Dennis Bauman is excited to share what his experience on the DMP was like as well as what made his experience a successful one. Look for more posts under the My Journey Out of Debt blog. Compensated CareOne Debt Relief Services Blogger.

Tenacious With Travel Deals

mdavis1964 — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

As my vacation approaches, I find myself counting down by the gas tanks rather than by the days. I have two more fill ups before I head out.

Then, an extra $50 can go into my savings for the 10 days I am gone and not using my car.

After deciding I was going on this trip, I sat down and thought about the cheapest way to go. Should I rent a shuttle to the airport? Should I ask for a ride from a family member? Do I park at the airport and pay the fees? Oh, wait-there is an office with the agency I work for not far from the airport. It will cost me a $5 taxi fare. Okay, that has been decided.

When I was looking into flights I had no idea what it should cost for a round trip ticket to California. I started checking online as soon as I knew for sure I was going to be able to budget in this trip. When I first started looking, the price was over $450. Are you kidding? It only cost me $200 for driving round trip in fuel charges, when I helped move my daughter in January. I like driving, but I know my mother would not be able to handle an 18-hour trip without staying the night somewhere.

The monitoring of prices began.

I jumped on all of the websites I know every night, checking flight prices. Finally the price hit $238.90. Done. The flight was booked. Funny thing is, I still continue to monitor the fares to see if that really is a good price or not. So far it has been the cheapest. When I think about it, it isn't any more than if I drove, because during my fill ups on fuel, I usually bought a small bite to eat.

So when is the cheapest time to buy my airplane ticket to Florida for my family cruise this Christmas? For this trip, I was a little bit ahead of the game. I was still a customer at CareOne when we made the decision to go on a family cruise at Christmas time this year.

I started monitoring the flight prices for my trip to Florida last year.

I watched it every so often just to see when it would be a good time to buy and for what price for this time of year. I put my money for the flight into savings, only allowing $500. Once the flights were available for Christmas this year I started monitoring. One day my sister decided to check also. When she saw me get onto the site she said she had already checked at 7:00 p.m. that evening and the prices were around $700. I still checked because now it was after midnight (usually the time the prices change), I found a non-stop flight for $348. To me, that was unheard of.

My sister and brother-in-law booked their flights right then. I couldn't though. My money was in savings and takes five days to transfer. By the next day the price was back up. I transferred the money so I would be prepared for the next deal. I finally got one for $404.10 and booked it.

I still think it is funny that before I made the decision to get out of debt, I would have made the decision to go on a trip and just booked it without any thought to prices. Now everything is thought out.

Thank you, CareOne. I honestly believe I will remain out of debt. The fear is gone.

How do you decide when to book your flights?

Monica Davis

Monica is no stranger to the CareOne Community. As a debt management plan customer (DMP), Monica engaged in our community forums regularly, helping others with questions about the plans. Now that Monica has completed her DMP in just three years, Monica continues to share what made her successful in the forums and now through our blogs. Monica is accustomed to providing support and works as a Communications Officer for an emergency dispatch center in Washington State. Follow Monica as she shares her tips and insight in the My Journey out of Debt and A Straight Talk on Debt blogs. Compensated CareOne Debt Relief Services Blogger.

The More You Have…The More You Spend

Katie_S — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

So I have paid off my debt and should be accustomed to making do with less....right? Yet somehow I seem to have started to spend again...why is that? Seriously?

Looking back over the years from the time that I left college, I have managed to increase my lifestyle every time more money came into play! I don't get it!

Don't get me wrong, I do it, but I don't get it.

Out of college I found my first "professional job" making $10.00/hr - mind you, I thought that this was AMAZING - so I moved into my first apartment which was about the size of a small dorm room, leased my first car and thought I was living the high life!

Three years later I got a job offer that pretty much doubled my salary and what did I do? I moved into a 2 bedroom apartment, turned in my leased car for an "upgrade" and suddenly, coupons don't seem to matter anymore. Fast forward ten years and here I am, making a heck of a lot more than $10.00/hr and I would KILL for my first apartment and my $400.00 a month rent. As for and my cute little leased Toyota that I paid less than $150 a month for, that was a steal!

So why do we do it?

Here is a great article on why we might tend to spend up to our earning potential. For me I guess I feel like I do it because I feel like I am entitled. The mentality goes something likes this; I worked hard for a promotion so it entitles me to buy a new car and demonstrate to everyone that my income rose. Reaching a new salary goal means moving from a condo to a house. Getting some extra money from tax returns or a bonus allows you not to feel guilty about buying some new clothes.

It makes sense in our minds and we feel that we deserve a "reward" for our hard work.

Having been through the debt gauntlet I know for myself that I need to challenge myself in these situations. I need to ask myself if it is really worth it? At one time in my life, an apartment the size of a dorm room, eating buttered noodles each night and a compact car was perfectly fine for me - no one made that concept change except for me.

It is hard to be okay with just okay when our society seems to dictate otherwise.

I did learn to acknowledge that this way of thinking was the problem and what led to my issues with debt. I think I am finally reaching the point of not really caring. I am actively working to view my pay increases and "extra money" as a chance to save for retirement and really live the good life, when I'll have time to actually enjoy it.

What's Your Weakness

Katie Lupo

Financial Experiment: The Minimalist Vacation

NoraDunn — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

This is the first in a series of financial experiments: seemingly abstract exercises that are intended to reveal financial insights.

The "minimalist vacation" will help you see your home more objectively; clarifying what you need, and clearing out the rest.

Why?

Have you ever moved? It's in the top three stressors, and the more stuff we have to move, the more our stress compounds.

Getting tied down by stuff actually limits our life choices. A minimalist vacation is intended to help you see what you need - and then generate some income in getting rid of the things you don't.

I've lived out of a bag for the last seven years, so I've taken this experiment to nearly epic proportions.

The Minimalist Vacation

Take an experimental week-long vacation. Don't worry about time off work; it's a theoretical vacation - life continues as normal. But you still have to pack your bag!

What do you pack for a trip? You can't take everything; so you're limited to things you need to be comfortable and occupied. Remember this, because during your minimalist vacation, your closets and cupboards don't exist - you can only use what's in your bag.

You can use items in your home that you would likely find in accommodation abroad (appliances, food, supplies, etc); so focus on personal effects: clothes, toiletries, and entertainment devices.

Pack One Bag

To do this exercise in earnest, pack just one bag or suitcase. It's only a week - surely you can fit everything you need into one bag. Right?

And actually pack the bag. Although you don't have to live directly out of the bag for the week, you do need to ensure it will all fit and make the "trip" official.

Remember the little things...

What would you take on vacation to pass spare time? Perhaps a deck of cards, your laptop, and a book. You can watch tv (since you would find one in a hotel room), but your shelves and drawers are off-limits for the week.

Stick To It

Since you're "vacationing" at home and surrounded by your stuff and routines, you'll feel temptation to use the face cream you didn't pack, or turn on your PC since you only packed your iPad.

In mastering temptations and objectively observing your desires, you'll get the most benefit and clarity from the experiment.

If you need to make some exceptions in order to fulfill the requirements of daily life and work, then you know what you need to do. But aside from these necessary modifications, stick to what you've packed for a whole week.

At the end of the week...

You're home! Observe which items from your home you immediately incorporate back into your routine.

Also look around at the things you don't use, and perhaps haven't used in ages. Do you need it? Will you use it before it becomes obsolete? Or is it dead weight?

You can make some money by recycling many items, and there are all sorts of unusual ways to sell your other stuff.

And remember your "minimalist vacation" when buying things in the future. Would you pack it in the bag? And if it doesn't have a place there, do you still need it?

Ways to Make Money by Recycling

How to Conquer Impulse Shopping Syndrome

Vacationing Without Traveling: Taking an Effective Staycation

Nora Dunn

To follow Nora on Twitter click here!

To connect with Nora Dunn on Google + please click Nora Dunn

Name Brand vs. Store Brand Coffee Taste Test

t_pizel — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Vonnie was staring at the wall of boxes of K-Cups for her single serving coffee machine, looking for the name brand breakfast blend that she normally uses. Unable to locate it, she grabbed a box of the store brand that had just recently become available and put it in the cart.

I was surprised that she was willing to give it a try, as she is known for not being much of a fan of generic or store brand products. She fully admits it.

She's also very picky about her morning coffee.

The next morning, she brewed a cup of the store brand coffee, mixed in her creamer and sugar, and took a sip.

"That's not good," she said, "I mean, it's OK, but I won't buy it again."

A few minutes later, she suggested that she brew a cup of the brand name (she had a few left), and perform a taste test to see if she could really taste the difference. I heated up the store brand in the microwave so it would be of comparable temperature. I then poured a little bit of each type into two identical glasses and had her close her eyes.

I handed her the cup containing the store brand. She carefully brought the cup to her mouth, took a sip, and nodded her head while saying, "Mmmmm, that's the good kind."

Then I handed her the second cup. Taking a sip of the name brand coffee, she said, "Yeah, that's not so good. Well . . . ?"

She tasted each of them several times, opened her eyes, and exclaimed, "I honestly can't tell the difference!"

She was surprised when I revealed her first impression favored the less expensive store brand.

The price difference between the two is significant. The name brand coffee runs $10.79 vs. $6.79 for the store brand.

"It goes to show you, how powerful the mind is," Vonnie said.

Generic or store brand products will not always be equal in quality to name brands. Not everyone will have the same opinion of the same product. My point is that these products should not be excluded simply because they are generic or store brand.

They should be viewed as just another option that can be tested to see if they meet your needs or your family's needs.

If I can turn my wife into a believer, maybe you should give it a try too!

Do you have any favorite store brand products that you prefer? Have you ever done a blind taste test to see if you can really tell the difference?

Store brand vs. Name Brand Grocery Shopping Taste Test

Date Night at the Grocery Store

Travis Pizel

To connect with Travis on Google+ click the Travis Pizel

You can follow Travis on Twitter @DebtChronicles

Planning to Achieve a Long-Range Goal

TimWalker — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

If you've read many of my posts here, you know I like to talk about the "Big Things" in your life -- your cherished dreams, your closest relationships -- and how they connect with your Big Goals.

Do you have a method for setting a Big Goal? And getting yourself rolling to achieve it? I'm going to share my approach here.

Know the Goal

You've probably heard variations of the old truism that "If you don't know where you're going, you could end up anywhere." It's a truism for a reason: we've all seen it happen, even to the most well-meaning people (like ourselves!) in many different contexts.

My advice is to carry around a little notebook -- or even just a folded-up sheet of paper -- in your pocket. Jot down the draft versions of your Big Goals there and revisit them regularly. For starters, the phrasing could be as simple as "Get in shape" or "Make more money." But clarify for yourself in writing what those Big Goals are, and make it a habit to look over those goals several times a day.

Increase Clarity as You Go

"Make more money" might be a good starting point, but it's too vague to keep you moving over the long run. The tiniest cost-of-living raise at your job would mean that you met the goal . . . even though that wasn't what you really meant when you wrote it down.

So revise what's in that little notebook as you go. "Make more money" could turn into "Increase monthly income by 10% in 2013." Then you write down the concrete figure you're talking about. That kind of clarity will set your mind working on different avenues to hit the goal.

You can then quickly jot down several avenues that could take you in the right direction. In the case of making more money, these might be:

Take on more responsibilities at work, such as management duties.
Move to a new employer.
Add freelancing income.
Start your own side business.

All of these ideas can fuel your planning, as we'll discuss next.

Plan Just Enough

The planning/doing process can work in parallel with the steps above for sketching and then clarifying your goals. Staying with the theme of "Make more money," that initial vague goal could lead you to some early planning steps -- and the actions that accompany them:

Planning step: "Get a clear view of current finances."

Action step: Review your last six months of finances to figure out where the money comes from and where it goes.

Planning step: "Read up on career improvement."

Action step: Go to the library and look through books on career development. (I recommend What Color Is Your Parachute and Do What You Are.)

You get the idea: You can start by putting just a few things into your plan -- just enough to get you going. As you do those things, you'll have a clearer idea of what you might do next, and what actions might be good to pursue down the line. Your plan grows in detail, power, and clarity as you go along.

Move!

At a conference a couple of years ago, I heard something compelling from a successful entrepreneur who has become a venture capitalist. This man now focuses on investing in software companies at the earliest stages of their development. We're talking about companies that might have just two or three people working for them, maybe in their spare time, but that are pursuing a business idea that could have a real future.

The investor said that, when he evaluates these companies, he looks for dramatic progress from month to month. If he talks to an entrepreneur who shows him a rough prototype for a piece of software in March, he expects that prototype to be much further along when he sees it again in April. The software might still be years from being commercially viable -- that's not the point. The point is that the entrepreneur with the bright idea isn't just sitting there, but is taking action to make that idea into a reality.

You need to do the same with your Big Goals. And you need to do it now, because life is short.

Iterate Again and Again

Rome wasn't built in a day. You won't come up with the perfect plan for rejuvenating your career or getting fit or whatever else by tomorrow. But that's okay, because you don't need to.

What you do need is to start with enough of an idea about what you want, sharpen that idea regularly, plan enough to get yourself moving, and then keep taking action in the right direction -- as you continue to build out your plans.

Avoid over-analysis or waiting for the perfect moment. You know enough right now to get moving.

Go for it!

Educating Yourself, Step by Step

Focus on What You Want from Life

Track Your Progress Visually

Tim Walker

Retirement Tips from an 11-Year Retiree

tiquie — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

What is retirement anyway, and how do you plan and save for something that happens around the time you turn 65? How many of us actually "plan" for retirement when we are just beginning our working years around the age of 20?

Is the word retirement even in the vocabulary of a twenty-something young adult?

I have been retired for 11 years now and here is what I have learned about planning and saving for retirement. While perceptions of retirement vary, all retirement really means is that you don't go to your job anymore. However, I have found that retirement is a full-time job, and just like most jobs, you get out of it what you make of it (that may not include some 40 plus years of financial planning).

At whatever age you begin to seriously think about your retirement, the very first thing you must do to get started with the experience is to set a retirement time-the year, the month, and the day. By doing this, I found the date to be sort of like a goal I was working toward. Just like with any goal, I made lists to supplement the date.

I like to refer to these lists as my "roadmap to retirement."

The roadmap was supposed to help me get from point A to point B, the end of my retirement trip. Just like taking a vacation, you have to know where you are going and what you will need to get to your destination. In summing it up, the road to a successful retirement begins with an overall plan. This plan is not set in stone and is subject to change. Don't be surprised if your roadmap has to be reworked, because change will happen and you will have to deal with it as best you can.

Next, estimate how much money you will need.

One rule of thumb is that you'll need 70% of your annual pre-retirement income to live comfortably. That might be enough if you've paid off your mortgage and are in excellent health when you kiss the office goodbye. Of course, this estimate is based upon a presumed time frame. Again, financially, things can change drastically at any time in your life.

I did not start to actually consider my retirement needs until I was in my early 40s. The financial planners report that it is never too early to start planning and putting money aside for retirement. To them, starting with your first job is the time to start a retirement fund. Really? This may sound good; but, in practicality, I doubt most twenty-something young adults are thinking they should begin setting aside a nest egg for retirement. So, let's just say: save as much as you can, as early as you can. Though it's never too late to start, the sooner you begin saving, the more time your money has to grow. Gains each year build on the prior year's gains-that's the power of compounding, and the best way to accumulate wealth.

During your planning process, set realistic goals.

Project your retirement expenses based on your needs, not rules of thumb. Be honest about how you want to live in retirement and how much it will cost. Then, calculate how much you must save for retirement to supplement Social Security and other sources of retirement income.

I retired early, at the age of 55, and had absolutely no thought about Social Security. My retirement package stipulated that I would not start to receive Social Security benefits until I turned 66. Imagine my shock upon turning 65 and learning that because I was delaying the date to draw benefits, I would actually have to pay $100 a month to the Social Security fund until my benefit start date at age 66. It was time to change my retirement roadmap to fit my new financial situation.

Try to have the majority of your bills paid off or paid down prior to your retirement.

There will always be things you need, even major purchases like a new vehicle, but in the beginning it is wonderful to only have necessities to buy. We did have a house payment and shortly after retiring, we purchased another vehicle. Still, just the necessities of everyday life are draining; things like the utility bills, groceries, home and car insurance, property taxes, gasoline for the vehicle, and whatever else. My best advice to you is to have as few weekly and monthly bills as you possibly can at retirement.

To me, there is much more about retirement than finances. However, it seems whenever the subject of retirement comes up, the most talked about topic is finances. It is all well and good that we plan for having a retirement nest egg that will take care of our needs for as long as we have needs.

Life is a game of chance, and nothing is ever certain. So remember to think about what you would like to achieve in your full-time retirement job. Also, remember that it is important not to retire FROM something or someone but to retire TO things you have always wanted to do but never had the time.

That's another list you should make!

Retirement means learning to live on a fixed income. You get a certain amount of money monthly and nothing more, unless you find clever ways to supplement or add to your income. To get an idea of how difficult living on a fixed income can be, give it a try for a week or a month. Come up with a make believe scenario with an allotted amount of money.

Can you do it? Will you still have money at the end of your time? To you not retired folks, I challenge you to give this a try.

Please share with us how living on a fixed income works for you.

Kimberly Johns

How Can You Actually Afford a Vacation?

MoneyTalksCoach — Sun, 05 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Are you dreaming of that summer vacation? Summer vacations are great! Shorts, sandals, big floppy hats, no schedule, no stress, just you and your family having a great time.

No stress? Did I just say that? How can you have a family vacation with no stress? Isn't stress part of the deal? Well, I can't take away the stress of a bathroom break every five minutes but I can help you take away the biggest stressor when it comes to vacations... money.

When you know in your heart that you can't afford the vacation you are on it's very stressful.

Every unexpected cab ride raises your blood pressure. Every lost pair of sunglasses makes you grumpy. Every overpriced drink makes you feel taken advantage of.

But when you know you can afford it you feel more like you are on an adventure. Instead of making you angry, those mishaps just become part of the story.

So how to actually afford a vacation? Good question.

I know it can seem impossible when you've never done it before. But it is possible, it just takes planning!

First and foremost you have to decide where you want to go and when. That will give you the framework for setting up your budget. Then you can do some research to figure out how much your vacation will cost. Vacations break down into some very general categories.

Transportation to/ from destination
Transportation around destination (Don't forget gas money if you are renting a car!)
Lodging
Food
Activities
Spending Money

Write your categories down and do a little research to figure out what each one will cost. Yes, this takes actual planning. No, it doesn't make your vacation less fun.

How will you get there?

I spend a lot of time planning my vacations. We go to Disneyland every year. It's within driving distance so that makes it a lot cheaper. Gas money is our only transportation costs. I plan out all our meals before we even leave the house. I know that eating in the park will cost us about $50 for a quick lunch. We also have a few favorite restaurants that we go to which are about $80 each.

I get out a piece of paper and write it all out by day. Monday we will eat here and here. Tuesday we will eat there and there. And so on... That gives me a very good estimate of what we will spend on food. Lodging is pretty easy to estimate. So are activities when we are talking about Disneyland. It's just tickets to the park. But if you are planning something a little more in-depth you could really spend a lot of time on this.

Even if you are doing something "free" like spending the day at the beach. Think about parking costs and beach supplies. Will you need sunscreen and beach towels?

You don't have to make final decisions, but you are looking for a very good estimate of your expected costs.

Finally, spending money. You are going to need some "walking around" money. This is the hardest part to estimate. Err on the side of having too much.

Once you know the total estimated cost you can divide it by how many months away your vacation is. If your vacation is going to cost $3,000 and is in 12 months that's $250 per month. Open a savings account and get started! If you can't afford that then you can either push your vacation out, giving you more time to save. Let's say you put it out another year, giving you 24 months to save. That would mean you would only have to save $125 per month. Or, if you don't want to push out your vacation you can cut down the cost. Maybe stay in a less nice hotel or take public transit instead of renting a car. Or choose a less expensive destination. If you can squeeze $1,000 out of your trip then it brings your required savings down to $166 per month, for 12 months.

Do you have a summer vacation planned? Do you have a plan to pay for it?

Ashley Barnett

An Investment in Health is an Investment in Your Finances

MirandaMarquit — Sat, 04 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Your health is a big part of the picture when it comes to quality life. However, your finances can also be affected by your level of health.

If you want better finances, one of the best things you can do is to pay attention to your health.

Limit Health Care Costs

Health care costs continue to rise, taking up a larger chunk of disposable income each year. If you want to slow the increases to your health care costs, whether it's insurance premiums, or costs related to buying over the counter medications, you need to take care of your health.

Those who don't pay attention to improving their health are at a greater risk of major -- and expensive -- diseases down the road. Heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer can be more likely if you don't take care of your health right now. Even if you don't bear the entirety of these costs at once, you do pay for them in the form of higher insurance premiums and possibly higher co-pays.

Even if you don't end up with an expensive chronic condition as a result of poor health, you are at greater risk for colds and flus, and other health issues. You might not go in to see the doctor, but you do buy more OTC medications, cough drops, and even tissues. Working on better health can help you avoid these costs.

Stretch Your Retirement Dollars

Your health in the future is influenced by your current state of health. If you take care of yourself now, you will be more likely to be healthy during retirement. Better health in retirement not only means a better quality of life, but it also means your retirement dollars will go further.

It's much harder to outlive your money when you are in an expensive care facility, or if you have conditions that require expensive medications and care. Medicare isn't going to cover everything, and neither is your insurance plan. You can put off your need for entrance into a long-term care facility, and reduce your need for expensive help by paying attention to your health right now.

Maintain (or Improve) Your Earning Power

Better health isn't just about preventing problems down the road. It can also benefit you right now. Those who exercise and eat right are generally more energetic than those who don't. You can get more accomplished when you are healthy. Additionally, good health -- especially good sleep habits -- helps you improve focus and make better decisions. You can maintain your earning power, or even improve it, when you boost your focus and productivity and use your good health as a platform from which to build.

If you are paid an hourly wage, remaining healthy can be a big deal. You might not get paid for the days you don't come in due to illness. Maintain your health, and you'll be able to work the hours you need in order to keep up your income level. If you have vacation/sick/flexible days, you can benefit from health as well. You don't want to use up all your sick days and then end up cutting into your vacation days in order to take care of your health problems.

Bottom Line

There's no way to completely avoid all sickness all the time. We all get sick sometimes, and there are some problems that come no matter how healthy we are. However, you can reduce your chances of these serious problems by practicing good health habits. These habits can reduce your costs, and even help you make more money.

Take the time to consider how you can improve your health, and then make a plan to live healthier. Your pocketbook will thank you.

Miranda Marquit (Logan, UT)

Staycation Like a BOSS!

Scoblentz — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

OK, so you don't have the money to fund that awesome vacation you've been dreaming about. Join the club. Does that mean that you just give in and do nothing?

No way, no how! Don't be reduced to sitting around watching re-runs all day; you're better than that!

Get ready, it's time to learn how to "staycation" like a professional.

Master the Mouse

The 800lb gorilla of all family vacation ideas, the Disney vacation is going to come up eventually if it hasn't already. No prob. Here are some great ideas on how to recreate the experiences of all the major parks:

Magic Kingdom

Do your kids already have a closet full of Disney costumes and accessories? Let them dress up as their favorite character, or find cheap, gently used costumes at consignment stores or on ThredUp.
Find a second use for those Halloween decorations by making your own Haunted House in an extra room.
If you already have a gaming system, play Disney inspired games. Maybe you could host a family tournament and give away a Disney related prize to the winner.
No gaming system? No worries, there are tons of Disney board games like Disney Monopoly or Scrabble.
Who needs the Mad Hatter's Tea Party Teacup ride when you've got old Sit 'N Spins lying around
Disney movie night with Pirates of the Caribbean, Cinderella or Swiss Family Robinson.
Hide your own Mickeys. One of the best parts of visiting the actual parks is looking for all the hidden Mickeys. Go to your local hardware/paint store and look for the Disney brand paint samples (they're shaped like Mickey). Give a prize to the family member who finds the most, or write clues on them to create a Disney scavenger hunt around the house or yard.

Animal Kingdom

Visit a local zoo, aquarium, petting zoo or farm.
Take a hike through your local parks and trails
Watch Disney nature documentaries, here's a full listing. Or, watch the Jungle Book or the Lion King.

Hollywood Studios

Learn how to draw Disney characters just like professional animators. Click here and here to access some great resources for your artistic little ones.
Muppet movies, pick any of them, seriously you can't go wrong. Or, go super old-school with some Muppet Show episodes.
Go to infinity or beyond with a Toy Story marathon! For the older crowd, chose a Twilight Zone marathon!

Epcot

Get cultural with a movie and dinner global-style. One night you could watch Mulan and get some Chinese take-out. I'm sure Mulan didn't eat take-out, but that's her loss. Fortune cookies are the best! Start your day with a breakfast viewing of Beauty and the Beast; just add croissants hot chocolate or café au lait. When you're ready for some Arabian nights, try some kabobs and baklava while watching Aladdin. Put some shrimp on the barbie and watch Finding Nemo, Aussie-style. Or, recreate some "amore" with spaghetti and meatballs and Lady and the Tramp.

Maybe you decide July is Disney Vacation Month and each week you plan activities based on different parks, maybe you mix and match activities all summer long? Go crazy and get the kids involved in the planning process to make it more fun! Oh and last, but certainly not least. Don't forget the Mickey waffles or pancakes, they're my favorite!

Be a Water Park Shark

Stop sweatin' the summer! I know everyone wants to hit the water park as soon as the Fahrenheit begins to rise, but you can still enjoy all the splashy splashy goodness at home. Splashy splashy goodness, yeah I said it. Deal.

If you have a yard you probably have a sprinkler. Get it; you'll need it. You can buy some awesome sprinkler attachments for about $10-$10 that spray the water in all sorts of different directions and should keep your kids and your dogs busy for hours.
You'll also need a Slip 'N Slide, naturally.
This thing is awesome. And it's less than $20! Also, this. Yes!
Got a pool? I'm jealous, and frankly I'm not sure you really need my help. You probably already have tons of summer fun. Can I come over?
Too cool for the baby pool? I'm not! Besides there are some really great, not too expensive, large inflatable pools that are perfect for kids and adults.

Hang-Ten

So you live in Nebraska and it you don't have many local beach vacation options, so what? You can still have some sandy, beachy fun. For serious.

Sandboxes are relatively inexpensive, as far as beaches go. Depending on the age of your kids, and the number of kids you have you could get away with a smaller one for about $50-$60.
Check out this Sizzlin Cool Sand Fun Set...only $7. Sizzlin indeed!
Add the inflatable pool/baby pool idea from the Water Park section.
Put your beach umbrella up in the backyard, spread your towels and have a picnic on the grass.

Got Game?

Who doesn't love a trip to the amusement park or the local carnival? No one! But there are downsides too; you've gotta pay for admission, then pay for over-priced food and have to battle all those lines? Professional Staycationers don't play that.

Who needs Go-Carts when you can set up your own races with just a few cones and some foot-powered vehicles! Get your bikes, your trikes or even your Big-Wheels together for some races and have cheap stuffed animal prizes for the winners.
Bring out your Croquet, Bocce, Horse Shoes and Corn Hole games and set up stations around the yard.
If you're feeling very adventurous, try installing a kid-friendly zip line.
Pop some popcorn, get some cotton candy in a bag, fire up the grill and get those hot dogs grilling.
Get the neighbors involved! Set up different game stations in different yards and have everyone pitch in for some serious summer fun. Check out this site for all the accoutrements!

Be a Trailblazer

Camping is a time-tested quality vacation idea. But even camping can be taken to the next level by a savvy Staycationer.

Camping in your own backyard means you don't have to waste gas getting to the camp site, no site fees, you can take up as much room as you want (don't invade the neighbor's yard without permission) and you can usually be as noisy as you want! Bonus - you can use your own bathroom.
Set up all your camping gear during the day and then take a day trip to a local park or reserve for some hiking. If you have an extensive yard, take some time to get to know it. Learn what local animals or birds live in the area and bring your binoculars so you can spot them. Or, buy a bug collecting kit and see what interesting insects you can dig up.
Speaking of bugs, make sure you have some jars to collect fireflies!
If you need to get some camping gear, check out REI's Outlet for deals on everything you need.
If you have a fire pit, use it to cook your meals and don't forget the Smores!
Did you know you can get telescopes at Target? True story. Stargazing is a camping must, so make sure you have the right equipment to locate all those constellations. Maybe you'll see a UFO!

I Want to go to There

So want to be a world traveler but can't swing that awesome trip to Sweden this year (What? Lots of people like Sweden); no biggie. As you should know by now, a little imagination is all that is needed to make staying at home, a Staycation with a capital S! Pick a theme based on your wish-list country (or countries... when you travel at home, you can go ALL the places) and be sure to incorporate these activities in your plans:

Books - Travel books can actually be a great way to learn about another country without actually going there, you can also include historical books, or fiction by well-known national authors from whatever country you choose.
Travel Shows - Rick Steves, Anthony Bourdain, Michael Palin... there are so many great travel show hosts to choose from. Load up your DVD player or instant streaming queue with shows highlighting the best of your wish-list country and let the experts show you around.
Movies - Foreign films can help give you real insight into the culture of other countries so don't be put off by having to read some sub-titles, you'll be amazed how easy it is and how much you'll learn.
Food - Your local library probably has tons of great cookbooks showcasing international foods, and of course there is always the interwebs for recipe research. Be bold, be brave and try something new from your favorite far off land!
National Sports - Rugby? Soccer (I mean Football)? Sumo wrestling? Rodeo? What's the favorite of your favorite country? Find out what it is and try it out! Or, see if you can find some coverage of that sport on TV for the whole family to watch. If you really want to go all out, dress up in team colors and throw a party!
Arts - Maybe your dream country is famous for dancing crazy jigs (looking at you Ireland), or maybe they're well known for their fabric arts (Peru! Holla!), try your hand an art or craft that has helped put your chosen country on the map!

So there you have it folks, all the information and inspiration you need to turn those Staycations up to eleven! Make it happen, people!

Suzanne Coblentz

Suzanne is the Social Media Manager for CareOne. Suzanne and her family are engaging in a series of money and cost saving experiments to see if these tips can make a real difference. For more savings tips and information about paying off your debt check out Suzanne and team on the CareOne Debt Relief Services Facebook Page!

You can also follow Suzanne on Twitter

If you are interested in being profiled or have some feedback about the CareOne Community please feel free to email her directly at scoblentz@careonecredit.com.

To connect with Suzanne Coblentz on Google + click Suzanne Coblentz

Saving for Summer Vacation . . . I wish!

kimmer5000 — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Things have been really rough. We managed to squirrel away some money into savings. I was so proud. Then disaster struck. We have been shredded both emotionally and financially.

I don't know that we have ever been more in need of some family time away from everything, and once again we are overextended and chasing bills.

Objectively, we are not that bad. We did a good job of cutting expenses.

Yes, the money we had saved is gone and I am paying the electric bill a little late. On the other hand, I did not skip it and we will be able to pay next month's bill on time. Everything else was paid on time and in full. So, things are not that bad. But, with that said, summer is almost here!

That money I was putting away was for our trip to Yellowstone! Now what?

Let me explain. My kids are almost 16 and 12. Their childhood clock is ticking very loudly. After the devastation of the last couple months, my time with them feels even more precious. I can't stop touching my son's bald head and thinking about how close this was, how it could have just as easily been him. I have spent the last few weeks holding my dear friend's hand and crying with her about all the lost dreams of her son's future.

Camping in Yellowstone has always been a dream of mine. We talked about it from the time I was pregnant with Lexi. Now we finally have a trailer and their childhood is almost gone. I am afraid it is now or never. Lexi will have to do her senior project for school next summer, so this really may be her last real summer vacation.

I have Dr. Phil in the back of my head saying, "It's math, not magic!"

True, and it is also true that right now I have no idea how we are going to make it work. I do know that my son is still crying every night and my daughter will be spending over half her day in college classes next year. I know that when we made our reservations Wendy said maybe they would go too because Brendan had always wanted to go and wouldn't it be fun for them to do it together! Now it is too late. (Thank goodness I had not mentioned it to Tyler because they were not sure then.)

I am pretty sure we are using those reservations.

I am determined to find a way and won't give up without a fight, but I won't skip my bills for it either. We are receiving a settlement sometime this month. It is possible (but doubtful) that it will be enough. It will help either way. I am also determined not to get caught without savings again.

If only we had that emergency fund already in place.

This just makes me even more determined to pay off this debt and get our savings and emergency funds in place.

Kimberly Davis

I have been married for 15 years and we have two kids. We have had a rough few years; between my Mom's having to come and live with us to my husband's lay off. We are very eager to get our finances under control with the CareOne Debt Management Plan because our kids have BIG college plans. We have plans too and they include traveling with our trailer and being able to retire at some point, so this debt just has to go! I live in California with my family and am focused on making real changes so that we can get started on a fun debt-free future.You many know me in the Community Forums as Kimmer5000 and I am now a compensated blogger for CareOne! Check out my blogs under A Straight Talk and My Journey out of Debt!

Just When we Became Comfortable...

t_pizel — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Life sure does have a way of reminding you just how quickly things can change, doesn't it

Over the last year, we have been slowly building our income. Last spring, Vonnie quit her job of eight years and went to work for the public school district. Her new job has benefits, better hours, and higher hourly pay. It was a lateral move in pay because it has fewer hours, but it set her schedule up nicely for the second part-time job that fell into her lap last August. Additionally, over the last few months I've picked up a few extra freelance writing jobs.

Along with the additional income, we have hit our stride working as a team managing our finances. We've been having regular finance discussions, staying on budget, and really enjoying life. Things have definitely been looking up. Life has actually been comfortable.

Then Vonnie's hours got cut.

Apparently, Vonnie's second job had been partially funded by a grant, and that grant had run out. So, her hours were cut significantly to fit within the budget of her office. When she told me the news, my thoughts swirled. We had worked very hard to improve our financial picture in every way possible, and now it seemed like everything we had worked so hard to build was again crumbling around us.

But we resisted the temptation to panic.

We sat down at the kitchen table, and went to work. First we calculated the new amount of her paychecks, and then we updated our multi-month budget packet that I had recently created. We took a good look at how it would affect our monthly budget, and discussed some cuts that would give us some additional breathing room.

There was a time when our reaction to this situation would have been to do nothing. I would assure Vonnie that everything would be fine, that our income had increased so much over the previous year that the reduction in hours wouldn't make a difference. But this time was different. We knew we needed to understand exactly what the decrease in income meant for our budget, and recognized that we needed to make immediate changes.

We are still much better off than we were a year ago, but if we hadn't had the discussion and taken action it would have certainly put us in a very bad place.

It looks like we learned good communication skills just in time.

The Art of Communication About Money

Breakthrough - I Finally Get it!

Travis Pizel

To connect with Travis on Google+ click the Travis Pizel

Getting in Shape for Summer Vacation

TimWalker — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Summer is right around the corner, which means summer vacation is, too. Be ready to make the most the most of it by re-energizing your fitness routine now!

Functional Fitness

What are you planning for summer vacation? It might be a week at the beach, or in the mountains. Maybe it's a couple of long weekends closer to home, camping at a state park. Or maybe you're in "staycation" mode. Whatever the case, you can use your summer plans to help you set goals for your fitness now.

If you're going to the beach, start spending some time each week in the swimming pool. If you'll be hiking in the mountains, now is the perfect time to gear up with long walks, jogging, or hikes in local parks. (Heck, even just walking to the store instead of driving will help.)

The point is to get yourself ready to enjoy a higher level of exertion for whatever you're doing on vacation, because the last thing you want to face is the prospect of being too exhausted or out of shape to enjoy your vacation fully.

By starting now, you can also do a lot to shed some excess fat you may be carrying. With higher activity and a moderate nutrition plan, you might easily reduce your waistline by a few inches between now and midsummer, meaning that those hikes in the mountains will be easier to finish -- and easier on your joints.

Bathing Suit Aesthetics

A lot of people focus on how they'll look in their bathing suit at the beach, and there's nothing wrong with that if you use it as positive motivation for healthy exercise and nutrition. If you're like most Americans, getting a little leaner and building some muscle will help you look better by the time July rolls around -- not least because you'll feel better in your skin.

Stop me if I sound like a broken record from earlier posts here, but if you are focused on getting your beach body in gear, I sincerely encourage you NOT to focus on how much you weigh. The number on the scale is a blunt instrument at best, and there's no reason to let yourself feel discouraged if that number has stayed the same even after a week of hard work: you might be adding muscle or simply retaining more water because of what you're eating.

Instead, focus each day on eating healthy food and getting some good exercise. Track your results by what you see in the mirror and by how your clothes fit -- NOT by every fluctuation on the scale.

And remember this: unless you have extreme ambitions in this area, no one expects you to be able to finish an Ironman race during your summer vacation, or to look like an Olympic beach-volleyball player. So put those thoughts out of your mind -- and focus instead on feeling great and looking YOUR best when vacation rolls around.

What are you doing right now to get yourself in shape to enjoy summer?

Getting Your Beach Body in Gear

At the Beach, Gym...Anywhere: How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Summer is for salads

Tim Walker

Follow me on Google + Tim Walker

To follow Tim on Twitter click here!

Can Finances Affect Your Health?

conradsmom — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

That question, to me, is like asking if we need oxygen in order to live. When I was deep in debt with no foreseeable end in sight, I carried stress with me night and day.

I woke up in the morning feeling tired and overwhelmed with worry, and took that worry to bed with me every night.

Fear of losing my home, or of having my wages reduced sometimes consumed me, and my whole body felt as tense as a tightly wound spring. Relaxation had become a distant memory to me, because I was almost constantly worrying about how to pay bills and how to acquire a "little extra" money to buy necessary items.

I had maxed out every credit card and had no savings; consequently, fear over even small household emergencies was always right behind me.

Stress itself is known to have adverse affects on the body.

Stress can result in high blood pressure, ulcers, fatigue, poor sleep, headaches, and even strokes and heart attacks. I remember going to a "health fair" at my workplace and having my blood pressure checked. I was surprised when the nurse suggested I get to my doctor right away because my blood pressure was dangerously high. I then admitted to her that I had recently been having minor bouts of light-headedness and a constant feeling of nervousness.

When she asked if I had "much stress" in my life, I almost broke down. I then realized that not only my mind, but my body was suffering from the effects of stress brought on by financial burden.

Being enrolled in a Debt Management Plan (DMP) with CareOne has changed my life in so many ways.

I no longer have a nagging fear about debt, and I don't have to worry about whether a bill will be paid or not . . . that's part of the DMP: the CareOne debt management plan pays my creditors for me.

This past year, I can attest to the fact that my overall health has improved. I am sleeping well, and I feel energized in the morning and pleasantly tired at night, as it should be. My mind is not preoccupied with thoughts about finances, and I have lost the constant, ever-present feeling of impending doom. I find myself enjoying the feeling of relaxation, without the awful specter of jangling nerves.

Instead of letting finances gnaw at my health, I am now using a bit of my money to IMPROVE MY HEALTH. I am going to a gym, eating healthier foods, and spending time doing relaxing pastimes when possible.

Can your finances affect your health? You bet!

For the negative, but thankfully also for the POSITIVE when used correctly and sanely.

Julie Van Wert

I am a Medical Social Worker at a community hospital, living in the great state of California. I am married and have three wonderful children, and three beautiful grandsons, with another grandbaby on the way. My family also includes a miniature Dachshund named Conrad. I love gardening and spending time outdoors, but I equally love doing home decorating projects. I've been enrolled in the Debt Management Plan for just under a year, and that has been a real "turning point" in my financial life. I hope you will follow along with my blogs under A Straight Talk and My Journey out of debt in the CareOne blogs. Compensated CareOne Debt Relief Services Blogger.