The Momnificent™ Blog

Conquering Your Paper Tsunami

Are you overwhelmed by the flood of paper that inundates your home each week?  How do you manage all the mail, phone messages, bills, flyers, school papers, children’s artwork, etc.?  In this teleclass you will learn how to create a system for easily organizing, tracking, and accessing all your important family paperwork.  Blair will show you how to get the paper off your refrigerator and counters and into a functional system that will help you conquer your paper tsunami. 

Guest Speaker:  Blair Massey, The Organizing Coach

Blair Massey is the founder of KeepingUpAtHome.com, a website dedicated to helping Christian women around the world get their home, family and life organized.  Through her online program she provides information, tools and coaching with a spiritual focus that empowers Christian women to restore order to their home, take control of their time and start living the amazing life that God created them to live.  If you're tired of being overworked, overbooked and overwhelmed, Blair can help you get organized so you can start Keeping Up At Home.  Learn more at www.KeepingUpAtHome.com

 

If you could ask The Organizing Coach just one question about getting and keeping all your paperwork organized, what would it be? 

REGISTER FOR THIS FREE TELECLASS

 

WHEN:  Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

TIME:  12:30 PM CST (1:30 PM EST, 10:30 AM PST, 11:30 AM MST)

An MP3 recording is provided for those who register if you can't make the LIVE call.

How Life Coaching Can Reduce Your Stress Levels

Eight years ago, when I entered the field of life coaching, I had never heard of life coaches before.  Today, though the field has grown rapidly, I am still surprised by the number of individuals who still have not heard of life coaching.  I'm not sure people are aware of the number of benefits they can experience by tapping into a well-trained and certified coach.

In this day and age, we are living in a fast-pasted world where it seems to be harder and harder to find time for ourselves.  When you work with a life coach, you are forced to slow down and give yourself and your life the time and attention that it needs.  Through his or her assistance, you begin to uncover what is truly important to you, what might be causing stress in your life, and what goals will bring purpose to your life.

There a number of significant life goals that life coaches work with clients on that help to dramatically reduce stress levels.  Here are just a few of those goals.

1. Decluttering your life.  Now, when you think of decluttering you might think of all the physical stuff around your home or office, and that is certainly part of it.  However, decluttering your life pertains to getting rid of all the old thoughts, habits, patterns, relationships, and junk that is dragging your life down.  All of this zaps your valuable energy that you could be using for more productive activities.
2. Balancing your life.  Do you feel stressed, tired, dissatisfied or stuck in a rut?  Chances are, your life is not balanced.  You could have too much on your plate, and need to cut back, or it is possible you are spending your time on the “wrong” activities.  When your thoughts, activities and choices are not aligned with who you are, what you value, and what you envision for your life, the result is stress.  A coach will help you sort that out and change it.
3. Improve Your Relationships.  Our relationships can be our greatest source of joy, or our biggest cause for stress.  Life coaching can help you improve your relationship skills, whether it is communication, conflict resolution, parenting or character building skills.  Learn to make your relationships a priority by taking the action necessary for growth.
4. Health.  Without our health, we have nothing.   A life coach can help you work out a health and wellness plan that works for your lifestyle.  She will help you understand why you sometimes sabotage your success, hold you accountable to your goals, and celebrate with you when you succeed.  Coaching will provide you with specific stress management techniques you can use to take care of your health.
5. Fix your Finances.  Does money stress you out?  It does for a lot of people.  Working with a coach will help you to sort out your finances, set up a plan to get out of debt, make more money in your business, or simply organize a budget to spend and save more wisely.
6. Get Organized.  Are you overwhelmed with disorganization in your life?  Perhaps you don’t know where to start.  A life coach will help you get started, get organized, and stay organized.

So many people say to themselves “I should be able to figure this out on my own.”  They are too embarrassed to seek help, and so they go on suffering believing that everyone else has it figured out.  The truth is lots of people need help, and the good news is the help is out there.  So if you’ve never tried working with a life coach, give it a try.  Life coaches really are for ordinary people.  You never know…you might find yourself a new best friend, partner, champion, trainer, sounding board, supporter, mentor, co-designer, beacon and wake-up call all wrapped up in one individual.

 

How to Save Money as a College Student Away From Home

Now that Mom and Dad are gone, here are a few tips to save some money on food, transportation, activities and textbooks. These are only ideas and are a small portion of what is really possible.

Saving money on food is one of the trickiest things. You can settle for ramen noodles and the off brand of macaroni and cheese for only so long. If you get the newspaper, coupon clipping can truly save you a good amount of money, with just five minutes of looking through the ads. Another help is making a grocery list before you go shopping so you don't buy the unnecessary items, enter favorite snack/ junk food here. College students are constantly running around, and it is really easy to just stop and get fast food. Even though it is cheap, the effects make you sluggish for class and homework. Not to mention it takes a toll on your sleeping routine when you get the late night munchies. 

As for transportation, these are obvious, but most people don't implement them. If you have a car, drive as little as possible. Using public transportation, biking, ever popular long-boarding, and any other way you can find not to use your own gas. This gives you an opportunity to exercise and also to increase fitness to stay happy during those stressful moments. If you live off campus, you can usually get a discount on bus passes, light rail, or trams.

Activities are something that every college student is up for after a long day or long trying week of grinding late night homework. Depending on where you go to school there are countless activities available on campus and off, and they can also be very pricy. Universities and colleges offer discounts on many things ranging from lift tickets for skiing and snowboarding, concerts, and sports games. There is also plenty to do on campus like dances, cultural events, and lots of giveaways.

After tuition, students dread nothing more than paying for textbooks. Just like everything else, college textbooks continue to go up in price. While you might not be able to influence the cost of tuition, there are several sites that are committed to help you save money on textbooks. One increasingly common way is renting textbooks. Some sites, such as CampusBookRentals.com, let you return them within a set time period for a full refund, some with free shipping both ways, and not having to deal with the hassle of trying to resell it for 50% of the price that you paid.

College life can be very stressful, but one of those stresses need not be day-to-day finances. Staying healthy with a good diet, using alternative transportation, taking advantage of student discounts, and renting textbooks rather than purchasing them can save you potentially hundreds of dollars a semester while living away from Mom and Dad - definitely a good thing!

Michael Davis is a team member at CampusBookRentals.com, the pioneer in textbook rentals.  CampusBookRentals.com has served thousands and thousands of customers on more than 5000 different college campuses in the fabulous USA.  They help students save money on textbooks by providing virtually any textbook for rent, paying students for referring friends, awarding scholarships every semester, and contributing a portion of the rental proceeds to a humanitarian project every year.

 

But Mom, I Want It and I Want It Now!

My nine year old has expensive taste.

It probably has something to do with his obsession with exotic cars.

Through his regular visit to his favorite website, Exotic Spotter, he figured out that there are a lot of exotic cars spotted in Carmel, Monterey, and Pebble Beach, California. (The one above we spotted in Maui, Hawaii)

So this finding took Ian on a mission to start researching the possibility of vacationing in these three areas. With his atlas in hand, www.travelocity.com up on one internet window, and www.tripadvisor.com in another window, he diligently began researching hotels and plane fares.  It wasn't too long before he brought his information to Mom and Dad to get permission to plan this vacation that he just had to go on this year.

Now maybe your child isn't quite as unusual as mine in that he or she regularly plans $5000 vacations, but maybe you have a child that wants something that costs $100 or $200.  Or perhaps you have a teen that has no concept of money as she plans out her dream prom night.  You are listening to her as you add up the expenses in your head, thinking she must have completely lost her mind.  And I bet you or your spouse have, at times, dreamed of having a big screen television, taking a trip to Australia, or wanting some new carpet in your family room.

We, as adults, understand that we can't always have what we want right away.  Or do we?  Sometimes even we adults throw a big ticket purchase on a credit card because we want it right now.  We don't want to take the time to save for it, but what does that teach our children?

Well, this morning, was a perfect teaching moment for Ian.  He kept bugging me to tell him if we could take this vacation this year.  Rather than tell him "No, we can't afford it," I said "I want you to figure out exactly how much it is going to cost, and we will open a SmartPig Account to start saving for it." SmartyPig is a great savings tool I found through a financial newsletter I read, and it is a perfect motivator for saving for big ticket items.  As a matter of fact, I opened an account to save for an iPad and a Kindle.

There comes a time in life when children need to start learning about the concept of money.  To have nice things takes hard work and saving.  Once we have our SmartPig savings account set up for vacation, our next lesson for Ian will be on paying bills.  Why does it take so long to save for something we want?  Why can't we have that vacation right now?

The 5 Keys to Unlocking Passion, Purpose and Prosperity

A TRANSFORMATIONAL APPROACH TO SETTING GOALS

Do you set goals and forget about them? Are your goals exciting at first, but you don't take continual action to achieve them? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, join us as Shannon helps you discover a holistic and life-changing approach to setting meaningful and sustainable goals. Learn how to integrate your values which is one of the primary keys to this transformational goal setting approach. You’ll discover how to live from the heart as you unlock your passion, purpose and prosperity to create a positive and lasting impact at home, in your community and your workplace.

Guest Speaker:  Shannon Bruce

Shannon Bruce, PCC is a Mompreneur Success Coach, Co-Author of the book “Direct Selling Power: Expert Advice to Accelerate your Business and catalyst for life change who empowers self-employed Mom’s to break through barriers, reconnect with what’s important and achieve thriving personal lives and prosperous careers. Using her skills as a Professional Certified Coach, Shannon’s greatest gift is her ability to connect women to their heart to gain clarity, find purpose and determine action steps so they can achieve exceptional lives and generate extraordinary business results. Her clients are done striving and are committed to discovering what they’re here for while boldly going after their inspired life vision with courage, confidence and authenticity.

Websites: http://www.shannonbruce.com and http://www.yourgreaterpurpose.com

 

Join us for this 1 hour LIVE teleclass at the Momnificent! Mom Club

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

12:30 PM CST (10:30 AM PST, 11:30 AM MST, 1:30 PM EST)

To register for this teleclass or to receive your free MP3 recording of the call, click here.

80 Positive and Healthy Choices You Can Make for 2010

If you're anything like me, you are beginning to think about what changes you want to focus on for 2010.  In an effort to help you create a positive and healthy life, I am outlining 80 choices you can make for 2010 that will have a great impact on your life.  Pick your top five choices and formulate your plan to achieve these goals.

Personal Development

1. Stop comparing yourself to others and step into your beautiful self.
2. Push through the fear and boldly stretch your comfort zone.
3. Plan better so you can be on time.
4. Vow to end procrastination.
5. Adopt an attitude of excellence instead of perfection.
6. Pay attention to your self-talk - what's your mind saying to you?
7. Share your feelings and then release the ones that are dragging you down.
8. Practice extreme self-care.
9. Don't give up on your goals.
10. Get rid of that which robs you of confidence.

Spirituality

1. Be slow to anger.
2. Forgive quickly and often.
3. Give only with a spirit of love.
4. Take up some form of spiritual practice that fits for you.
5. Use your gifts and talents to serve the world.
6. Use your tongue to build people up.
7. Listen for the voice of God.
8. Pray for your family and others.
9. Let go of the fear and trust God.
10. Pick a charity to give your time or money to.

Fun and Enjoyment

1. Lighten up and laugh at life.
2. Savor the precious moments in life - there are lots of them.
3. Schedule fun for yourself on a regular basis.
4. Be fully present when you play with your children.
5. Take several mini getaways.
6. Listen to uplifting music and dance.
7. Find several reasons to smile everyday.
8. Be grateful you are alive.
9. Declare one night a week a "family fun" night.
10. Put as much energy into having fun as you do working.

Relationships

1. Stay connected to people who inspire you.
2. Set healthy boundaries with people who drain your energy.
3. Thank your family everyday.
4. Nurture your marriage with "date nights".
5. Communicate honestly and positively to people.
6. Make time for your friends with cards, calls, emails and get togethers.
7. Get out and meet new people.
8. Don't neglect your relationship with self.
9. Be spontaneous with your kids.
10. Give lots of hugs and compliments.

Health and Aging

1. Increase your fruit and vegetable intake.
2. Say no to stress.
3. Stop obsessing about losing weight - focus on good health instead.
4. Get your beauty rest every night.
5. Take the "dread" out of exercise by finding something fun to do for your body.
6. Eliminate just one unhealthy food or drink from your diet.
7. Eat dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.
8. Stretch your body daily to keep your muscles limber.
9. Update your wardrobe so you feel good about yourself.
10. Take care of your skin.

Personal Finances

1. Stop using credit cards unless you can pay them off in full.
2. Cut out one area of frivolous spending.
3. Choose a percentage of money to put away in savings and stick to it.
4. Set up a "play" account that is used for nothing but having fun.
5. Find three ways to save money this year.
6. Set up a debt elimination plan.
7. Develop creative ways to increase your income this year.
8. Start a gift fund and contribute monthly to it.
9. Become intimately familiar with your finances.
10. Plan and pay cash for large purchases.

Business and Profession

1. Set your 3 most important goals to achieve this year and focus until they are completed.
2. Pick your top 5 marketing activities that will generate the most results.
3. Pick a business skill you can improve this year and work at it.
4. Give outstanding service.
5. Learn to delegate that which you dislike or are not skilled at.
6. Identify and communicate your personal brand in everything you do.
7. Make your work fun.
8. Give yourself permission to take breaks - it will increase your productivity.
9. Get rid of or develop team members that are dragging you down.
10. Align your personal values with your business or career.

Home and Family

1. Get rid of the clutter in your home.
2. Set up your space so it is easy to stay organized.
3. Decorate your environment to inspire you.
4. Create family traditions that communicate warmth and love.
5. Help your children set personal and academic goals.
6. Set up a family development plan to improve the areas you desire.
7. Make family communication a priority in the home.
8. Use family meetings to celebrate accomplishments and brainstorm solutions to challenges.
9. Develop a team atmosphere to family management.
10. Make only choices that support your family values, priorities and vision.

Happy New Year!!  For help in achieving any of these or other personal, family or business goals, consider making Momnificent! a partner in your success.

The Do's and Don'ts of Child Allowances

The other day the subject of child allowances came up with one of my clients.  She was trying to decide if child allowances should be tied to household chores.  I know there are different opinions on how child allowances should be handled, but I thought I would share a quick reference list based on my own personal experience with this issue.

1.  DO give your child an allowance.

2.  DON'T wait until your children are older to give allowance.

3.  DO give an amount that is fair.

4.  DON'T tie allowance to chores.

5.  DO have a plan for their financial responsibilities.

6.  DON'T forget to be consistent with paying allowance.

7.  DO require your children to save and share money.

8.  DON'T tell your children what to spend their money on.

A detailed explanation on each of these do's and don'ts can be found in chapter 43 of my book, The Momnificent! Life, but ultimately the decision is yours.  You have to decide for yourself how you feel about each of these suggestions.

Do you give your child(ren) an allowance?  If so, what are your guidelines?  How are they working?

Planning Your Holiday Budget

With just over 70 days until Christmas, it might seem a bit too early to be thinking about the holidays.  However, I always advocate early planning to help alleviate holiday stress.  One of the biggest stressors during the holidays is the extra money going out the door.  So why not start planning your holiday budget now?

It is best not to create extra debt by throwing everything on credit cards, so instead start your holiday budget with a fixed amount you feel comfortable spending for the holidays.  Deciding up front helps you avoid overspending, and gives you an idea on how much you need to allocate from your monthly income to put towards your holiday expenditures.

What does your holiday budget cover?

Your holiday budget should cover gifts/gift wrapping, holiday food/baking, holiday entertainment, cards, holiday clothing and anything else you spend money on during the holidays.

How do you make your holiday gift list?

Start your list with the people you absolutely must buy for.  This could include your children, your parents, your spouse, etc.  Decide a reasonable amount you will spend for each of the "must buy for" people.  Depending on the amount of budget you have left over, you can add to this list with the "would be nice to buy for" individuals.

What are the other non-negotiable holiday expenditures?

Next you want to add the holiday expenditures that are extremely important to you.  For instance, you may have a tradition of baking cookies with the kids, or sending Christmas cards may be something you are not willing to let go of.  Set a budget for each of these expenses and add these to your "must buy for" gift items.

What's left over?

If you have left over money on your budget, then you can begin adding activities or people to your list until you reach your limit.

What if your budget doesn't cover the very basics?

Then it's time to get creative.  Look for inexpensive but meaningful ways to give gifts.  Make homemade cards or send free e-cards.  Make agreements with people to skip gifts this year and do a community service project together.  Do a pot luck holiday dinner and share the expense with other family members.  Brainstorm solutions and remember that the holidays are really about sharing love with family and friends.

Setting a holiday budget is crucial to healthy money management.  The last thing you want in January is a surprise credit card bill, and baffled answers to the questions "I spent how much? and How are we going to pay for this?"

Managing Your Money - Why It Matters

How well do you manage your money?  Do you follow a budget?  Are you free from debt?  Do you pay your bills on time?  Do you spend wisely according to the salary you make?

Money may not bring you happiness, but when it's not managed well, it can bring you a lot of pain.  It's not fun when you can't pay your bills or enjoy nicer things in life like vacations, dining out, or new clothes.  You feel cheated when people around you seem to be blessed with more money.  So how can you have more money?

I'll tell you two little secrets I've learned about being blessed financially. 

1. If you are not able to wisely manage the money that you do have, you are sending a message to the Universe that you are not capable of handling more money.  You will not be blessed with more money until you can handle what you currently have.  So put together a plan and a budget that will enable you to get out of debt and live on the money you make.  Pay your bills on time and be a good steward of your money.  When you are able to be financially wise and responsible with what you have, you will be blessed with more money.
2. Give and you shall receive.  I am a firm believer in this concept.  If you hold too tightly to your money, you are blocking the flow of money and abundance.  I'm not suggesting you go out and blow all your money on unnecessary things.  I'm talking about giving to people in need, donating to charity, or tithing at church.  Give whatever you can - even if it's a small amount.  And remember, you can also give of your time and other resources like used clothing and toys.  When you can let go and give to help others, you will be blessed.  You know the old saying:  What goes around, comes around.  I know this to be true.  Every month, I give 10% of what I make to my church.  I am always blessed with money that comes from unexpected sources.

So, if you struggle financially, give these two ideas a try and see what happens.  For those of you who have had personal experience with these two secrets, please share your success stories.