Debt Settlement… Simplified

We’re breaking down the in’s and out’s of debt settlement so you can made an informed and educated decision. Continue reading

Debt Settlement… Simplified

We’re breaking down the in’s and out’s of debt settlement so you can made an informed and educated decision. Continue reading

Debt Settlement… Simplified

We’re breaking down the in’s and out’s of debt settlement so you can made an informed and educated decision. Continue reading

Our next topic in our Debt Settlement… Simplified Series is just about everyone has on their mind when they are considering a debt settlement program to get out from under their credit cards.

In this series we’re breaking down the in’s and out’s of debt settlement so you can made an informed and educated decision. Continue reading

Welcome to Debt Settlement… Simplified. In this ongoing series we are going to provide you with detailed answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive.

It seems that many companies have over-complicated a rather simple concept. Making something seem complicated can give it have a higher perceived value, but let’s do away with the complexities and get real so you can make an informed decision.
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When you’re trying to stick to a tight budget, your biggest concerns are the essentials—paying the mortgage, getting food on the table and keeping the lights on.

I know from experience that it can be pretty difficult to watch your friends show off their expensive haircuts, designer clothes or salon-perfect manicures when you’re living on a Great Clips budget with a Wal-Mart wardrobe.

Take heart. When you’re out of debt and financially free, you’ll appreciate the discipline you displayed while everyone else was swiping that credit card. But in the meantime, it sure would be nice to experience a little pampering without breaking the budget, right?

Here are a few ways to look good for less.

Find a Cosmetology School for Deeply Discounted Beauty Services

I’ve used this money-saving method for years in two different cities, and I have yet to get a bad haircut. Some people are nervous about having a cosmetology student cut or color their hair. If that’s the case, ask for a student who is about to graduate. That way, they’ll be up on the latest styles and techniques, and they will have already completed many hours of hands-on practice. Also, instructors are usually walking around to advise and monitor the budding stylists.

Aveda Institute, the closest beauty school to my home, currently offers $12 haircuts for women and men and manicures starting at $10. There are plenty of other services as well, and most are far cheaper than your average salon. At Aveda, I can get a quality haircut, manicure, and pedicure for what I would pay for just one haircut somewhere else.

Shop Discount Websites

If you’re still not convinced about the cosmetology school idea, at least find a great deal for a haircut or other salon service by shopping online. Sites like Groupon and Living Social are continually offering deals for 50% off at salons, spas and all kinds of other places. Just read the fine print and do your research to make sure you’re dealing with a high quality, reputable business.

Make a Trade

Start thinking about your nearby friends and relatives and the various skills they have. Do you know someone who’s a hair stylist? How about a masseuse or a makeup artist? Maybe you have a friend who isn’t a professional, but just has a knack for painting nails or styling hair.

Now think about what you’re good at.

Perhaps it’s photography, cooking, gardening or babysitting. Whatever it may be, consider trading it for a free beauty service. We don’t really live in a bartering culture anymore, but that’s beginning to change as people find creative ways to save money and help each other out. I personally know a busy hairstylist and working mom who’d be happy to trade a salon service for a few hours of babysitting. Look for a win-win situation that will save both parties some cash.

Be a Maxxinista

You’ve probably seen the commercials about how you can buy the same designer clothes found in department stores for a fraction of the cost at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s.

Well, it’s true.

I can’t remember the last time I bought clothing at an expensive mall or a department store, because you can generally find me at the nearest TJ Maxx getting five new items for the price of one. This isn’t just a great place to shop for clothes; the same concept applies to beauty products like lotion, shampoo and hair spray. I’ve even found great prices on luggage.

Go Treasure Hunting at a Thrift Store or a Yard Sale

I recently bought two brand name dresses and a blouse for $3 apiece at a community yard sale. All three items were like new. I’ve had similar success at Goodwill. If you turn your nose up at the idea of hand-me-downs or gently used clothes, you’re missing out on some great bargains.

Of course, not all yard sales and thrift shops are created equal.

Make sure you find a good one with quality items that aren’t visibly worn out. A group yard sale in an upscale neighborhood is a great place to start. It’s amazing what people will get rid of to make a little room in their closets. Yard sales are especially helpful when it comes to buying inexpensive clothes for babies and children. Kids grow so quickly that you can find beautiful, almost-new clothes for just a couple of dollars.

Make Your Own Beauty Products

Before you dismiss this idea like I once did, know that you don’t have to be an artistic genius with two hours to spare in order to make your own awesome bath and body products. I found a great recipe for an exfoliating lime and coconut body scrub that uses three cheap ingredients and can be made in less than five minutes.

Homemade beauty items are not only great for pampering yourself—they make even better gifts. Just hang onto an empty jelly jar, add some cheap ribbon and you’ve got a winner. Making your own stuff can be as simple or involved as you want it to be. Personally, I like to stick with basic, foolproof ideas, but if you have a little time, see how creative you can get. I have a friend who has made her own deodorant. It seemed to work (she didn’t smell) but that’s a little too involved for me.

See what else you can come up with to look and feel good for less. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t pamper yourself once in a while.

For many Christians, filing for bankruptcy and settling their debts for less than they owe may seem like a less-than-Christian approach to resolving their financial difficulties. It may seem like paying less than you actually owe is not fulfilling your duty as a Christian to repay all debts, and frankly, in some cases that is true. Continue reading

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We spend a lot of time talking about ways to make and stick to an honest budget. Here are five ways to wreck that budget—and possibly your entire financial life—in record time.

Ignore It

A budget is worthless if you don’t follow it. To ensure financial misery, hide the budget from everyone in your household, including yourself. Make sure no one is clear on exactly how much money should be spent on various categories like groceries, entertainment and birthday gifts for friends or relatives. If you happen to remember the correct budget for a certain area (such as eating out), treat it as a mere guideline and come up with great excuses for spending more than you budgeted.

A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out (Proverbs 25:28, The Message).

Never Say ‘No’

Your college friends want to hold a reunion weekend in Las Vegas. Your church small group is planning to go out for Sunday brunch at an expensive restaurant. Your daughter is begging you for a new iPad. Say “yes” to everything. Be a people-pleaser at all costs. Dip into your savings to take a vacation, and chip away at your debt payment to buy that expensive wedding gift for the out-of-state wedding that’s going to cost you a bundle. Put vacations, clothes, tech toys and other people’s opinions of you first. Worry about the budget later.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).

Keep Swiping That Plastic

You don’t get paid until Friday, but it was a long, rough Monday and you deserve a treat. Go ahead and buy it. Even though the money isn’t in your checking account yet and the budget is tight, you’ll figure it out later. A few dollars on the credit card won’t hurt anyone. (For maximum budget-wrecking, repeat this process Tuesday-Friday and fail to immediately pay off the balance).

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty (Proverbs 27:12, NIV).

Live At or Above Your Means

Buy that sleek-but-gas-guzzling SUV that so many of your neighbors are driving. Spend every penny you earn and make only the minimum payments on your debt. Pick the biggest house you can afford—the one with the monthly payment that’s equivalent to 40 percent of your income. You’ll face near-instantaneous foreclosure if you or your spouse loses a job, but that’ll never happen to you. That only happens to other people.

Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30, The Message).

Refuse to Ask for Help

Buy into the lie that you are alone in your financial struggles and no one would ever understand what you’re going through. Let pride dictate your decisions. Even though bill collectors are blowing up your phone and you’re trying to decide between the mortgage and the electric bill, you can handle this. Believe that the same thinking that got you into debt will somehow get you out of it.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed (Proverbs 15:22, NIV).

If any of the above scenarios sounds all too familiar, now is the time to take action and change your ways. In particular, if the last paragraph hits home, consider requesting a free consultation from FaithWorks Financial to learn about our Christian debt relief programs. There is always hope, and there really are compassionate people who can help point you in the right direction.