Boycotting Black Friday?!

“Boycott Black Friday?” How could any self-respecting Coupon Queen say such a thing? Wait! I’m not suggesting that you boycott all those fabulous sales! I just want to present you with an alternative to fighting the crazy crowds. Here’s how my Black Friday is going to start this year…

On Black Friday morning, it’s 35 degrees outside, but I’m snuggled under my cozy flannel sheets. I roll over and look at my clock - it’s 9 AM. I yawn and stretch, flip the covers back, and shove my feet in my slippers. I shuffle to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of steaming coffee, and fire up the laptop. Sitting in my pajamas, with my cat, Little Tiny, curled on my lap, I am ready to start my Black Friday shopping – ONLINE! I think of my friends who have been awake since 3 or 4 AM. I wonder if they’re having fun searching for parking spots, waiting in half-mile long checkout lines, and watching normally sedate housewives wrestle over the last Harry Potter Lego set at Target with fierceness of a couple of cage fighters. I can’t say that I envy them… But haven’t I missed out on all the great deals? Heavens, NO!

I start by opening up my email and cruising through the Black Friday deals I’ve received in my In-Box. Most emails have great coupon codes for discounts and free shipping. Of course, I’ve done my homework scoping out the deals in advance (including checking the Cincy Savers site daily), so I already have an action plan of which websites I’ll be shopping, my Christmas list close at hand.

My first stop online is Fat Wallet.com, which is my favorite cash-back shopping website. (Some others are Ebates.com, Swagbucks.com, and MyPoints.com.) Here’s how it works. First, I’ll sign into my Fat Wallet account and search for the website I want. Land’s End.com, one of my favorite clothing websites, typically offers a 2% cash back reward, but is currently running a promotion of 4% cash back. Fat Wallet lists all of the current coupon codes available for Land’s End. I’ll click the link on the Fat Wallet site to connect to Land’s End.com and do my online shopping as usual. 90 days after I make my purchase, my cash becomes available and I’ll transfer it to Pay Pal (or I can request a check be mailed to me.) Some websites offer more than 10% cash back! One of my favorites is ShoeBuy.com. and not just because I love shoes. They offer 10% cash back through Fat Wallet, generous coupon codes, plus free shipping and returns! Fat Wallet even has a Black Friday tab with all the best deals prominently listed. There’s a huge variety of website affiliated with Fat Wallet and the other cash-back sites. Here’s a small sampling: Old Navy, Wal-Mart, E-bay, Adidas, Crate & Barrel, Toys R Us… As you can see, there’s something for everyone on your list!

Don’t be dismayed if your favorite website doesn’t participate with a cash-back partner! There are still deals and discounts to be uncovered. Be sure to sign up on your favorite websites’ emailing lists so you’ll have an inside track to the sales and coupon codes. Some Coupon Queens find it best to set up a separate email address just for this purpose, so your regular email account isn’t swamped with advertisements. Also, be sure to check these sites for possible coupons codes: RetailMeNot.com, SlickDeals.net, and FreeShipping.org.

The great thing is that when you do your Black Friday shopping online with Fat Wallet or Ebates, you’re also giving yourself a gift! When the February blahs are creeping up on you, your cash reward will become available… So treat yourself to something nice, guilt free! As for me, I’ll be buying some shoes… through Fat Wallet, at Shoebuy.com, earning even more cash back for more shoes! (Yes, I know I should probably seek treatment for my shoe obsession.)

One final tip - some websites will be saving their best deals for Cyber Monday, on November 29th. Procrastinators, rejoice! Check out the upcoming deals at BestCyberMondaySales.com and CyberMonday.net. Happy Shopping!

The Art of the Cat Nap

I think we have lost the art of the cat nap in today’s society. We are always so busy, cramming activities into every last square inch of our schedule. My Nana used to take a cat nap every day around 2 PM. I remember visiting her house and she would say to my brother, Jim, and I, “I need you to play quietly now. Nana’s going to turn on her stories (soap operas) on the TV and cat nap on the couch.” Nana passed away in her mid-eighties, but she was a spitfire with an abundance of energy up until the last two years of her life, when she contracted cancer. I would dare say that she almost always had more energy that I did! I remember saying that I hope I have half as much spunk and energy as my Nana when I’m in my golden years. Have you ever observed a cat as it naps? I have two cats, Peanut and Little Tiny. They are relaxed and happy as they nap, frequently purring in their sleep. I think many of us, me included, would greatly benefit from a daily cat nap. I’m sure I would be less likely to snap at my husband or run out of patience with my co-workers. Maybe I need to create a nap space under my desk at work like George Constanza from Seinfeld… Actually, I think I may go take a cat nap right now!

Shopping Fast – Week Four

I’m in the home stretch! Two more days and I can shop to my heart’s content. But, you know what? I’m not all that anxious for my shopping fast to end. I kind of like how all the cash I’m saving is feeling in my wallet!

I did have a few weak moments in the last seven days, usually revolving around designer purses. For some reason I want a blue leather one for the fall. But then I consider the red Coach purse that I bought last year (at the outlet, with a 20% off coupon!), and I still think that one is fantastic. So maybe I will just make due with what I have.

Making due with what I have has been the theme for me this week. And I do actually have a lot to make due with! Most of us have more than enough in our closets, cabinets and garages, don’t we?

I’m reading an interesting book called, “The Cheapskate Next Door” by Jeff Yeager. The author said that none of the cheapskates he interviewed for the book suffered from “Keeping-Up-With-the-Jones” syndrome. I think many people, me included, get caught up in wanting what’s new & now, when we really don’t need most of it.

This shopping fast has helped to clarify what I need, what I want, and what I really want. And I will buy some things that I really want as soon as this fast is over.

Shopping Fast – Week Three

Everywhere I turn, there is a great end-of-summer clearance sale! Ugh! This is SO hard because I love getting good deals at end of season sales. Ten more days to go! I think I can make it!

I ran to Kohl’s on my lunch break one day this week to get a gift for my cousin’s baby. Of course, all of the baby stuff is at the back of the store which means I had to trudge past both the women’s summer clearance racks and the new fall clothes. Fortunately, the baby stuff is on the opposite side of the store from the shoe department. I don’t know if I could have gritted my teeth and pressed on past the shoes! Kohl’s has a great shoe department – cute styles and low prices, a little slice of heaven on earth! But I passed the test, and only bought the gift I came for.

What am I doing with the money I’m saving because of my shopping fast? Well, yes, I am saving some of it. I’m also making an extra charity donation this month because I know that I am richly blessed and there are many people in need. I’m also going to pay down some extra on the mortgage. Nick and I hell-bent on becoming debt free and the mortgage has got to go! So far we have paid off 1/3 of the balance in the seven years we’ve been here. That’s pretty good but we’d like to kick it up a notch and knock out the rest in seven years or less. Maybe if I do more of these shopping fasts, we can accomplish that!

I have also spent some time cleaning out my closets. I’ve got some things to take to Goodwill and some to give away to friends. If I haven’t worn something in the past year (including shoes!) it goes in the give-away pile. Before you think about how generous I am, just know that I’m partly doing this to make some room for the new stuff once my shopping fast is over. (Hey, I’m only human!)

Shopping Fast – Week Two

I’m almost through week two of my self-imposed shopping fast. For those of you just tuning in, I am in the midst of a 30-day shopping fast. No shopping for clothes, shoes, books, cosmetics, etc for a whole month (only necessary grocery shopping allowed!). This week was definitely more challenging than last week!
After golfing with my Mom on Thursday night, I stopped at Target because they had Kashi brand frozen dinners, granola bars and cereal on sale, which we eat a lot of at my house. I avoided even glancing in the direction of the women’s clothing section as I entered the store. (I know there’s a cute t-shirt that was only $8 I would be sorely tempted to buy! I saw it in last week’s Target circular.) I marched past the cosmetics and books, straight to the food section. I tossed my Kashi items in the cart and high-tailed it to the check out. Whew! Disaster averted for now!
I was also tempted by the myriad of emails that I keep getting in my In-box from my favorite retailers: Chadwick’s, Express, Coach, and (my favorite!) Sephora. I try to delete them as soon as they come in… I love make up, so ignoring the Sephora emails causes me physical pain! But that’s the whole point of this shopping fast, to break the hold of “stuff” on me…
I’ve decided that when I see something I would like to buy on-line, in a catalog, or in a magazine, I will print the page or tear it out and put it in a folder. At the end of my shopping fast, on August 20th, I will take out the folder and see what I still really want to buy. I’m sure some things I won’t buy, since the “fever” for it will have passed. What’s in the folder right now? Brown suede Coach clogs, a plaid shirt from Victoria’s Secret catalog, a white shirt with embroidery from Chadwick’s, and Clinique moisturizer. I’m sure that folder will be pretty fat come August 20th!

Shopping Fast – Week One

On Tuesday of last week, I decided to embark on a 30-day “Shopping Fast” – no shopping for any clothes, cosmetics, books, music, etc for a whole month. (Only necessary grocery shopping allowed.) Why? Because I LOVE to shop! I love to shop early and often for all kinds of things. I especially love to shop if I’ve got a bargain in my crosshairs and a fist-full of coupons! Sometimes, when I love something a little too much, it can get out of balance in my life. When that happens, I’ve found it’s a good idea to practice a little restraint and self-denial (which is not very popular these days!).

For me, fasting from shopping for a month helps to reset my priorities (God, family, friends) and is an effective cure from “stuffitis”. When I feel like my material possessions are beginning to possess me, instead of the other way around, I know a fast is in order.

Week One of my Shopping Fast began with relative ease. Several days passed and I was busy with work and other activities, that I didn’t even think about buying anything. On Friday, at the grocery store, it was a little challenging to stick to my list and not buy anything unnecessary… like that cute pony tail holder on sale in aisle 17. Today was the worst day so far. My husband, Nick, and I have been “stalking” a particular recliner we want for our TV room, waiting for it to go on sale. Of course the “Cat Napper” recliner would go on sale on Day 6 of my 30-day shopping fast! One of the “Cat Napper” recliner models has a heat and massage function (drool!). I am slightly panicked that it will not be available for purchase in 24 days. What if it’s sold out?? What if it’s only available in some horrible color that clashes with our existing furniture?? Oh, the pain of delayed gratification!

I’m pretty sure I will survive another 3 weeks… I hope! Until then, I’ll be dreaming of reclining in my “Cat Napper”, getting a heated massage in front of the TV….

Life After Debt

Imagine your life without any debt at all… No credit cards, no car payments, no student loans, no furniture payments, and even (gasp!) NO house payment! What could you do with all that money that you’re currently sending out in payments every month? Think of how much you could save, give and spend! You could pay cash for vacations, cars, and all kinds of fun things! …So, did you get a brain cramp attempting to imagine that? Many people do!

Debt is the norm here in America. (Just look at our National Debt level! No, never mind… that will make all of us depressed.) Most people think that in order to have a financial life, you should have a credit card (or ten), and at least a car payment. You’ve got to build your credit, right? Let’s think about this. What do you need a good credit rating for? You need it to borrow money. But what if you don’t borrow money? What if you just pay cash? Then there would never be a need to check your credit. The norm here in America is broke, and that is because we are being crushed under a mountain of personal debt. Dave Ramsey says it best: “Normal is broke. Be weird!”

So, you’re in debt, and you want to get out. But it looks hopeless… Where do you start? The first thing you need to do is STOP borrowing money! Just as you can’t dig your way out of a hole, you can’t borrow your way out of debt. You need to stop borrowing and start getting serious about paying down your debt.

The best way to systemically “attack” your debt is to use the Debt Snowball. You list your debts from smallest to largest. You make minimum payments on everything except the smallest debt. Attack the smallest debt with all the extra money you can find! Have a yard sale, work some overtime, sell something on E-bay. Once you cross that one off the list, take the money you used to pay on the smallest debt and add it to your minimum payment on the next smallest debt. Keep doing that until everything is paid off except the house.

Many people ask why you don’t pay the one off with the highest interest rate. Wouldn’t that be the logical thing to do? Yes, but this isn’t about logic. If it were, we wouldn’t have so much debt in the first place! This is about behavior and emotion. If we attack the little one first, we can “kill” it in a month or two and have a quick victory. This pumps us up and keeps the momentum going to attack the next one.

It takes most people about a year or two of concerted effort to get their debts paid in full. Is it easy? NO! Is it worth it? YES! Just ask Jason (pictured) and Charity Loftin, graduates of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. The Loftins just paid off their final credit card in May. It took them about 18 months of hard work to pay off their non-mortgage debt, a total of $35,000! Now the Loftins can say, “We’re DEBT FREE!” You can get there too, if you decide to start the journey. There truly is “life after debt”!

What 7 Pillars Stands For

Proverbs 9:1 inspired my choice of the name “7 Pillars” for my financial coaching business. The verse says, “Wisdom has built her house on seven pillars.” I wanted to convey my desire to help people build their “financial houses” with wisdom. Each of these seven “pillars” will support your financial peace of mind, both personally and in your business.

P – Planning
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” It is important to have a spending plan (a budget), a savings plan, and a debt reduction plan if you want to succeed financially.

I – Integrity
Always tell the truth – first to yourself, then to your spouse, customers, and business partners. You can’t be in denial about your spending habits, debt, or lack of savings and prosper financially.

L – Legacy
What are you leaving behind? You should aim for a both a fortune and a good example! What are you giving now to others, both in terms of your time and your money? “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” ~ Proverbs 11:25

L – Learning
Strive to be a life-long learner. Are you better today than you were yesterday? Do you know more today than you did yesterday? If not, you are falling behind! You should spend some time every day learning, and that includes learning how to handle money better. Don’t depend on others to make your financial decisions for you. Gather information then make a decision that is a product of your own conclusion. Don’t be mentally lazy. Read, read, read! Leaders are readers.

A – Advice
Wise advisors are the key to success. The people you associate with have a big influence on who you are and where you are going. Make an effort to spend time with people who can teach you something and encourage you to be a better person.

R – Responsibility
Don’t make excuses. Being responsible means living on less than what you make, saving, and avoiding debt. Take responsibility for your success and prosperity, because no one else will!

S – Saving
Saving money provides a cushion between you and life, because we all know that life happens! We save for purchases, emergencies, and long-term goals. When you have money saved it gives you security and peace of mind.

If you keep these things in mind when you are making decisions regarding your money and your business, you will be operating with wisdom!

Force of Habit

Habits are seemingly small things, but they have great force in guiding our lives toward success or failure. The dictionary defines a habit as an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. Habits can be our greatest ally or our worst enemy. Good habits are small things that done regularly will yield positive results. If you eat an apple a day and take a walk around the block after dinner, that will accumulate into a healthy body. If you save 10% of every paycheck, although it seems like a small amount, it will accumulate into a fortune over time.

As business philosopher Jim Rohn says, these small disciplines are easy to do, but they are also easy NOT to do. Disaster doesn’t strike on the first day that you skip your walk or substitute a Snickers bar for your apple….Disaster doesn’t strike the first paycheck you decide to spend it all instead of saving some of your money. But you’ve got to be smarter than that! If you continue down that road, disaster will certainly come upon you. You succeed and fail by small degrees everyday, with your wealth, health, and relationships.

If you can harness the power of habit for good, you will certainly have a life of many successes. How? It takes about 21 days of discipline to convert a new behavior into a habit. Work on one good habit at a time, so you don’t become overwhelmed. Healthy people are healthy because of they have good health habits – eating an apple instead of a Snickers bar, taking a walk around the block, etc. Wealthy people are wealthy because they have good money habits – staying out of debt, saving regularly, investing, etc.

Please remember, there is no quick fix for getting “financially healthy”. If someone tells you there is, run as fast as you can in the other direction! Most financial messes aren’t made overnight, and they won’t be cleaned up overnight either. As Dave Ramsey says, “You can wander into debt, but honey, you can’t wander out!” Decide today to commit yourself to good money habits, and watch them accumulate over time into financial peace of mind.

How Having a Budget Can Remove the Money Fights from Your Marriage

“I can’t believe you are buying more clothes and shoes! Don’t you have enough already??”
“How could you go and buy a new iPad when we are already strapped for cash?”
“Who charged $700 worth of stuff on the Visa card last month?”

Sound familiar? If so, you are hardly alone. Most married couples admit to fighting about money on a regular basis. In fact, it is the #1 reason for divorce in this country - money problems and money fights. Getting on the same page with your husband or wife is essential to winning with money. “ Ha! Not likely,” you say. The surprising fix for money fights is having a budget that works for your family.

Now many of you cringe when I say that dreaded “B” word – budget… But a budget is simply a plan for how you are going to spend your money for the month. As Dave Ramsey says, “A budget is you telling your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went.” How does a having a plan for your money take the fights out of your marriage? Once you have agreed that you are going to spend a certain amount of money on something, like clothes, then there is no fighting when you buy clothes. If you’ve decided that we’re going to spend $200 on electronics this month, no one yells when electronics are bought, so long as you keep to the agreed amount. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Working through the budget with your spouse causes you both to communicate about what is important to each of you and your family. There is a learning curve when you get started with budgeting. The first couple of months, you will make a lot of corrections and changes to your family budget and that is to be expected. You and your spouse will probably fight through the first couple of months of budgeting, but don’t get discouraged. It will get easier the longer you do it. Doing a monthly budget is a small price to pay for financial peace of mind!

Why I'm Passionate About Helping People Achieve Financial Peace of Mind

Ten years ago, my life was a huge mess, emotionally, spiritually and financially. I owed three check advance companies money, I owed past due utility bills, and I had bounced so many checks that most grocery stores wouldn’t let me pay with a check. I was engaged to a man whose financial habits were worse than mine. The ironic part was that I was working for my family’s business, Kentucky Rebuild Corp (KRC), as the Accounting Manager. Here I was keeping the books for a multi-million dollar company, but I couldn’t even keep my own checkbook balanced. I felt like a hypocrite. One spring day in 2000, I went to lunch with my Dad (who is also my boss’s boss), and instead of harping on me about my “no good fiancé”, he just looked at me and said, “I’m worried about you, Christine. You just don’t seem happy.” I was quiet for a minute, and then finally said, “You know what? I’m not… So, now what?”

That was the turning point for me. I broke off the engagement and moved into my Dad’s house for three months (which is very humbling when you’ve been on your own for six years). During this time and for several months after, my Dad began to teach me about how to handle my money responsibly. He helped me devise a plan to start saving money, to pay off my debt, and encouraged me to start giving to charity.

Over the next several years, I kept following my Dad’s advice and my finances improved steadily. I also started dating my husband, Nick, who was doing almost all of the Dave Ramsey stuff (before we knew who Dave Ramsey was!). Nick modeled to me what being a “Super Saver” and debt-hater was. We were married in 2003.

One day, it dawned on me that I hadn’t worried about money in a long time. I never realized the amount of stress and worry I had when I was the under the burden of debt until I was finally out from under it. At that point, my Dad encouraged me to teach others what he taught me. He told me that I’d learn even more by teaching other people. I informally coached several of my siblings and friends on financial matters. I asked the leaders at my church (Vineyard Christian Church in Florence, KY) when we were going to have a class to help our members succeed financially. Finally, four years ago, we started offering Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at the Vineyard! I was so excited! I co-facilitated the very first class of FPU, knowing that I would help others but never expecting to learn so much myself.

I was very impressed by Dave Ramsey’s style of teaching people sound financial management principles in a way that is fun and easy to understand. So much so, that I decided to become a Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor.

I really have a heart for offering people hope in their financial struggles. I enjoy helping both individuals and small business owners succeed with money. There is nothing more satisfying for me than to sit across from someone, helping them with their financial plan, and seeing hope stir in them that they too can achieve financial peace of mind!