Overcoming challenges!

Please accept our apologies for the long delay between posts. My Mom passed away on February 22, and many other "life's challenges" seem to have overloaded my desk. In any event, life goes on, thank heavens, and we are back to help YOU! What challenges have you faced during the last month or so that you have been able to overcome? Where did you get the strength? Friends? Books? Faith? Please share!

Cut back 10%

Assignment #24: Now that you have totaled and categorized your weeks of expenses, YOU decide where you will cut back 10%. Where? Mobile phone? Pay-per-view TV? Cable service? Dining? Smokes? Where?

Add it up!

Assignment #23: It's been a few weeks now of writing down EVERY cent that you spend. Now get a piece of paper, or use Excel, or Quicken, and transfer each of your spending transactions and categorize them: utilities, entertainment, clothing, food, gasoline, smokes, etc. Total the categories. Done! PLEASE let us know if you have questions!

Just do it!

Assignment #22: Just do it!

Don't be a financial burden on your kids

Don't be a financial burden on your kids

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Increase Income Options

Assignment #20: What options do you have to increase your income? List them on a piece of paper. Expert in something? Contract out your services? More hours at work? Do you offer to do more projects for your boss? Do your neighbors need your services/expertise? Can you partner with someone on an idea? Part-time - Scentsy? Mary Kay? Avon? Health supplements? ViSalus? Juice Plus? Brainstorm.

Bank vs. Credit Union

Assignment #18: Do you do your banking business with a conventional
bank or a credit union? Check out the pros and cons to each. Find out
which features and benefits fit your banking style the best. Are you
with the best financial institution that fits your needs? If not, make
the move today!

Review & Think!

Time to review and think! What assignments are you struggling with? How many ideas of your own did you come up with to lower expenses and increase cash flow? Share them with us so others can learn as well. Questions? We are here for YOU! Need to find the previous assignments? Visit our blog at WeCoachAmerica.com. Happy frugality!

Pay yourself first!

Assignment #16: Most of you have heard this one for quite some time . . . but are you doing it? PAY YOURSELF FIRST! Even if it is only 1% of your paycheck, AUTOMATICALLY have it go into a savings account. Your bank/credit union will do it automatically. Just ask! Get in the habit! Increase your percentage as you lower your expenses. Go for it!

Lower your utility bills!

Assignment #15: It's time to cut back on your utility bills. Heating: lower your thermostat down one (1) degree. Tough huh? Lights: one room at a time - change your bulbs to fluorescent. Dishwasher: Wash dishes by hand at least once per week, program dishwasher to shorter duration and NO heat dry. Washer: use... cold water more often than hot/warm water. Clothes still get cleaned!

Follow up with your insurance agent/financial advisor!

Assignment #14: Have you spoken with your insurance agent/financial advisor yet? Have they returned your call? If not, follow up today.

Reassess all insurance policies!

Assignment #13: Reassess your various insurance policies - health, auto, homeowners, life, and more! Contact your insurance agent and let them know that you'd like to have ALL the options presented to you so that you can intelligently review how to reduce your premiums. Do you need to increase deductibles, lower benefits? Take this seriously! This evaluation needs to happen at least once per year. Do it now!

Assignment #11: This is going to be a tough one, so be forewarned!!!!! ----- Call your wireless provider and CUT SOMETHING OUT OF YOUR CELL PHONE SERVICES! Do you REALLY need texting? Do you have little ones that have a cell phone? Please! Do they really NEED it? CUT BACK! Okay, I know I'm screaming, and please, please accept my apologies! Now, call your wireless provider and shut off those ring tones, texting, whatever you DON'T NEED!

Sign Up For Level Pay Plans

Assignment #10: If you have lived in your home more than one year, contact all of your utility companies (propane, gas, electricity, water) and ask for their "Level Pay Plan". It is a fantastic way to keep your monthly bills consistent - no matter what Mother Nature hands us!

Continue that list . . .

Assignment #9: Review the list you started last week where you have been writing down every penny you spend. How did you do? Continue to write down each and every cent you spend. We will be reviewing this list later in the month. If you have missed an expense here and there . . . no worries! Do the best you can. Your success is all in YOUR hands!

Facebook "Pages"

Assignment #7: While you are on Facebook, go to all of your "Pages", and remove yourself as a Fan from all the retail "Pages" that could entice you to purchase items that you do not NEED.

Friday Follow-Up!

Assignment #6: Friday Follow-up. Review the previous assignments this week, 1-5, and see where you might need to spend a few more minutes today: writing down ALL your expenses, unsubscribing from a magazine, unsubscribing from retailers' emails, etc., etc. Spend today and this weekend perfecting this week's assignments. Any questions, we are here to answer them!

Feed that little piggy!

Assignment #5: After school today, have an interactive conversation with your child(ren) about starting/increasing their contribution to their savings bank. Is it a jar? A can? An actual piggy bank? Whatever it is, start/increase it today. Have them decorate the jar/can so it is THEIRs! No children in your home? Converse with your mate. No mate? Look in the mirror and have a good conversation! Happy savings!

Find previous assignments here!

Assignment #4: Review Assignments #1 through #3.

Magazines piling up?

Assignment #3: If you receive more than one monthly magazine in the mail, which magazine takes you the longest until you find the time to read it? Now cancel it! Today!!! Trust me, you will not miss it, and you will feel refreshed not having the obligation of reading it.

Assignment #2

Assignment #1.1: Continue to write down each and every purchase you make - each and every day. Even if it is just a bag of chips from the vending machine. Write it down. Continue to do this every day of 2010.

Assignment #2: Go to your email inbox and proactively ask to be "unsubscribed" from every retail store from which you receive emails. You will remove the temptation to spend! As you receive new emails from the retail stores you overlooked, "unsubscribe" from them immediately.

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Begins today:

Assignment #1: Go back two days, and write down EVERY penny you spent. EVERY penny! Take a spiral notebook (big or small, doesn't matter, or any paper you have) and write down 01/01/10. Next to it either write a "zero", because you didn't spend anything on that day, or write down each purchase you made. Now write d...own 01/02/10, and do the same thing. Get your kids involved!!!!! Let's go . . .