Apr 30 2012

Getting out of debt isn’t easy, but it’s worth it!

When I moved to SC I had about $3500 in credit card and student loan debt. Now it’s ballooned to over $10,000 and it hurts to see that number. I have higher-than-average interest rates, higher debt-to-credit limit ratios, and my credit has been affected. The only way to get my credit score up is to start paying down these balances.

But I’ve got a plan, and I’ve been working my plan. I’ve written down all of my debt, including the balance, interest rate, payment due date, minimum payment, and the monthly payment it would take to pay off the bills within 3 years. I’ve already paid off 2 cards, and closed them. I’m working on the rest. For me, I’m starting with the smallest debts and paying those off first – I’m the type of person who needs to “see” results. So, while I’ll pay more in interest than by paying off the highest interest rate or highest balance card first, it’s worth it to not have to wait over a year to see progress.

My method might not be your method. You may choose, instead, to to use a Credit Card Debt Consolidation company. They will help you contact your creditors and reduce your principal balance, through negotiation. They help you make one monthly payment which they, in turn, send to your creditors on your behalf. They can help you avoid high fees if you’re having difficulty making just the minimum payments. They don’t charge upfront fees, they don’t check your credit, and they can save you money on your outstanding debt.

Either way, you’ll be able to start breathing again.

Apr 19 2012

Modern Rugs for Modern Houses

You want your home to look great, but are unsure what you need to make it happen. Fortunately, by using the right materials, paint and furniture, you can create an environment which will make living in it an absolute joy. It’s possible that this can be achieved simply by buying items like cushions, throws and modern rugs.

It may surprise you, but a rug can act as a focal point for your living room or lounge. A thick, comfortable and bright rug can really help to bring a bit of brightness to the room. To get an idea of the kind of rug you want, visiting a website like modernrugs.co.uk can help, especially if you want a certain type of rug to adorn your floor.

If you want comfort, then choose a thick rug made from shagpile. It can be very comfortable to walk on, and lying down on it can be extremely pleasurable. If using it for the latter, buying a cushion or two, or perhaps a beanbag could be what you’re looking for. However, if buying one, you should make sure that it matches or at least complements the colour of the rug, as in most cases, a colour clash doesn’t work.

By looking for Modern Rugs UK wide, you should be able to find the rug you want. However, a rug alone doesn’t make a room. To help complement the rug, it helps to buy furniture which matches or goes well with it. If, for example you’ve bought a bright blue modern rug for a room with brilliant white painted walls, you’ll want to buy furniture and other soft furnishings of a similar colour.

However, it is possible to create a colour blocking effect if you want to use different colours. This can be done to perfection by using two contrasting shades like violet and light green. The best way to do this is by using the walls: paint one half in a certain colour, and the other using a different one. However, before taking the plunge, you’ll want to do a few samples using a small section of your wall or by doing it on a piece of paper.

Apr 19 2012

#bookreview: Secrets by Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

Book: Secrets: You Tell Me Yours and I’ll Tell You Mine Maybe

Author: Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

Publisher: Enchanted Self Press

ISBN: 978-0-9798952-1-0

Pages/Prices: 128/$8.95

Category: Fiction/Teen

About Secrets

Following on the heels of the best-selling book The Truth, SECRETS is the continuing diary of a girl moving into her teen-age years. The Girl has plenty to fill her journal. The pages reveal a new school, a new baby in the family, new friends, a new guy and a new set of issues to face. Share the secret world of an almost-teen as she learns which secrets to share and which to keep to herself. Mid West Book Review: Some things are meant to be shared with the world, others are meant to be kept to oneself.

My Thoughts on Secrets

This was a fun book to read. Although my daughters are 6 and 8, my 8-year old is an avid reader and I thought she would enjoy reading this book as much as I did. So far, so good.

Secrets continues from the first book in the series, The Truth. The girl in the story has just moved away from her childhood home, and she’s scared, and nervous, and maybe just a little bit excited too. She misses her friends and her old neighborhood, but appears to be welcomed into her new school easily – although she’s not making friends as fast as her brother. She resents the fact that her mother is pregnant again, too. Especially since she’s 12 and the baby is just a baby!

Like I said earlier, this is a fun and fast read, and it reads so true. She’s going through the same emotions that other girls her age go through – so this is a book that you can pass on to a 4th or 6th grader who would enjoy it just as much as you do.

About the Author of Secrets, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist, is the creator of The Enchanted Self,(r) a systematic way of helping to bring more joy, meaning and purpose into our lives. Dr. Holstein has been a school psychologist for more than twenty five years. She has taught elementary school children and was an assistant professor of education at Boston University. She has been in private practice as a psychologist with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein, in Long Branch, New Jersey, for over twenty five years.

Disclosure Policy.

Apr 18 2012

Staying Safe on the Road While Traveling

When the girls were younger I didn’t have extra money for vacations. And while I’m still not in a position to take them on a 7 day vacation, it is nice to be able to take mini-vacations within driving distance of our home. We have a great time, the travel expenses are low, and we can go away fairly often, with careful planning, which includes shopping for the best deals on hotel rooms, restaurants, and local attractions.

Take a look at how we – a single mom with elementary school-aged children – stay safe on the road from the time we leave our house to the time we get back. And we still manage to have a great time during the trip. Check out my guest post on http://www.hotelcoupons.com/blog/ and tell me what you do to stay safe while traveling.

Apr 18 2012

Growing Garden

This post brought to you by Whitney Farms. All opinions are 100% mine.

I just realized a efw days ago that 3 of my 4 lemon trees are at the beginning stages of forming lemons! I'm so excited! I thought it would have been sooner, since the flowers have been falling off the stems since February. It looks like they'll each produce over 20 lemons, and I will produce at least 35. The last tree I didn't bring in over the winter, and I wasn't sure if it would make it. Well, that 4th tree is flowering right now and had over 20 flowers so it should be a good producer as well.

If only the lime tree and strawberries would start looking alive. Oh, well, you can't win them all.

But now that I'm starting to see results, I'm excited for the plants and trees to keep up the momentum. So I want to make sure they're fed properly to keep growing. And since I'm all about natural and organic, I can't trust just any plant food. So I am happy to learn that Whitney Farms® has a full line of 100% organic plant food and organic soil with no additives and nothing artifical.

It's important to me to use products that complement our natural life. So plant foods specially formulated to help my fruits grow using special microbes, odorless compounds, and that are easy to use are right up my alley.

Click on this link for a $3 off coupon.

Have you started gardening yet this year?

Apr 16 2012

Modern Fireplace Choices

Making your living room look how you want it sometimes requires a lot of effort. If you feel that it’s missing something to make it complete, it could be a fireplace. Without a fireplace, most living rooms look bare, and by visiting a website like Direct Fires, you could get an idea of what fireplace you want.

As well as a fireplace, having other appliances such as a stove could also be a great addition to your home. If you’re stuck for ideas, then looking through online stores including Leeds stove centre might help. Having a fireplace, stove or any other appliances will not only keep your home warm during the cold winter months, but when guests arrive, they’ll look at the fireplace with amazement.

If you’re looking to buy a fireplace for your home, you need to take into account what your home looks like before making a decision on what to get. For example, if your living room has mahogany or terracotta-coloured walls, looking at Wooden Fireplaces might be your safest bet. Meanwhile, if your walls are lighter, then a steel fireplace could be the answer.

While the appearance of your fireplace is hugely important when it comes to wanting it to blend in with the look of your home, you may also want to take High Efficiency Fireplaces into consideration. What makes them appealing is the fact that, when using them, they save fuel. In addition to that, they also look just as good as normal fireplaces.

When it comes to knowing where to put your fireplace, you need to get it right for it to have the desired effect. Perhaps the best thing to do is have the fireplace as the centrepiece of your lounge or living room, although it could work just as well in a bedroom or kitchen, depending on their size.

Arms of a Sister

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