Archive for August, 2008
How are you managing your finances to pay the utility bills during the current situation of rising prices and sagging economic condition?
Question of the week:
Question of the week is yet another effort by the debtcc team to enhance the community knowledge bank. It’s a weekly contest and every week a challenging question will be thrown before the members for responses. The best answer will be chosen collectively at the end of the week by the debtcc members and the admin panel of the site. The winner of this contest will receive a handsome reward of a $50.
The purpose behind this idea is to encourage the members to share their real life experiences in dealing with the financial challenges.
Though different financial issues are being discussed across the debtcc board, but it doesn’t leave much scope to the members to share their personal experiences. Here is the place where it can be done, and also that the new members can get the innovative ideas to deal with their debts along with the conventional ones.
Question 7: How are you managing your finances to pay the utility bills during the current situation of rising prices and sagging economic condition?
Prices of fuel along with our daily necessities are rising. It is becoming that more difficult for us to pay the utility bills on time. How are you managing your finances to pay the utility bills? Share the ways that you have devised to pay your utility bills on time.
Winner Post
Answer 1: Because I am sure that our utility costs will surely be higher this year I have done several key things.
First, I sat down with my husband and explained our financial situation with him thoroughly. The other adults in the home need to be fully aware so they can more clearly understand the situation.
Second, we both sat down with my daughter and explained WHY we need to conserve, and that she is just as much a part of saving money and resources as we are. The little things like turning the lights out when leaving a room, keeping the door shut when the AC is running, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, not washing clothes unless they are dirty, et cetera. Explain which utilities are expensive and which are more economical. Maybe the stove takes longer but costs less than the microwave? Does the thermostadt REALLY have to be 70 degrees? Does the computer and TV ALWAYS have to be on? Unplug appliances. Wash laundry before going to bed, or first thing in the morning. So much can be with conservation, being frugal, and doing without rather than causing yourselves a bigger problem down the road.
Once all of the members of the household are on board with the goals, you can make a game of comparing last years utilities with this years, and working on making each months or years bill being less expensive, or at least having less usage than the prior month and year.
Paying down my credit cards now will free up an emergency fund if the time comes and we simply HAVE to use that available credit to cover bills. But that is a last resort.
Actively answering paid surveys online is another “easy and free” way to earn a few dollars here and there. And posting on DebtCC of course!
Answer Posted by |smo65d11
The other answers worth mentioning are:
Answer 2: I have had to change my budget all around in order to make ends meet. The first thing I did was cut out the luxury of eating out. It saves a ton of money. We keep it as a special treat about once a month (and that depends on how the month ends). There are a lot of restaurants that offer discounts or even free kids meals, so we try to hit those.
Then I started shopping at the dicount grocery store. Aldi has been a life saver. I cut my bill by more than half by doing my shopping there. The only thing I purhcase elsewhere is some of the fresh veggies and some of the meat.
I got set up on a budget plan with the electric company and make sure my son turns off all his lights before we go anywhere and shut down the computer when Im not using it. Looking at what you need as opposed to what you want has been helpful too. Weve cut back on many extras.
Simplicity is the key to happiness. Instead of “vegging out” in front of the tv, we play card or board games, take walks, and read stories together. Many of these changes have not only helped cut my bills, but helped me lose weight too!!! 
Answer Posted by |jennifer_bailey75
Answer 3: We have learned to cut back on everything and also look at our daily life habits. Here are some examples we have been doing to help, and cutting back on others to save money to pay the utilities such as :
Made a list of all the weeks errands and try to make only a few trips to save on gas
Set our thermostat higher and closed off rooms we dont use. We also caulked around windows and doors since we live in an older house.
Bought a pull-down window blind for our front window outside, to keep out the West sun
Cut out going to the show, and even renting movies for a while. We got together with some friends and now we all share each others movies. This has saved us rental fees.
We dont water our lawn now. The heat has burned alot of it up anyhow and alot of it will come back. I do occasionally water my shrubs and roses so I wont have to buy new ones.
We cut out bottled water. Bought a pitcher that has a filter on it and we keep it in the fridge. I bought some insulated bottle-type things that we fill up when we go anywhere.
We quit going out to eat. I can buy 2 roasts and make three meals off them easliy. I have roast, carrots and potatoes one night. I shred up the rest of the roast and make hot beef sandwiches some other night and then one night I use the veggies for another dish. I make a list and stick to it at the grocery, and only allow so much time in the store to keep from impulse and looking at other things I may just pick up.
These are only a few of the ways we have been cutting down so we can pay our electric and other utilites. Our electric for this month was over $550.00, so we have to cut back. Oh yeah, the reason we arent paying the over five hundred on electric is that I also got us on the average payments each month, as well as some of our other utilites. This way I have an idea what I will pay each month.
Answer Posted by |Bossy4455
Answer 4: The main thing I have done is trying to reduce my utiity bills not only to be able to pay them but also to help the current energy situation. One of the easiest things to do is to put all appliances and TVs on a power switch and turn them off when not in use. If you see a light on when appliance is not in use, it is using power when not turned on. You would be surprised how much you can save. Hang up your clothes instead of using the dryer. Walk, carpool, ride a bike, take the bus, drive a car that gets good gas mileage. Another thing I have done to help pay the bills was to set my bills on the budget payment. I pay the same amount each month instead of paying what I owe. This way I dont have huge bills in the winter. It is spread out throught the year. Lets all think green and it will help not only you but the entire planet.
Answer Posted by |spatterson_40
Answer 5: WELL, I BURN MORE CANDLES TO SAVE ON ELECTRICITY, PLUS IT ADDS SOME ATMOSPHERE AND AMIBIANCE TO MY HOME. SINCE ITS SUMMER, IVE BEEN GRILLING A LOT MORE, TO SAVE ON GAS. PLUS ITS HEALTHIER. TRY TO CALL YOUR UTILITY COMPANIES AND SEE IF THAY OFFER A BUDGET PLAN. AND IF YOUR MARRIED, HAVE THE HUBBY/WIFE SPLIT THAT BILL RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. YOU PAY HALF HE/SHE PAYS THE OTHER HALF, AND PRAY THAT WE GET A RELIABLE NEW PRESIDENT IN 2009 WITH FRESH IDEAS AND A GOOD, STABLE HEAD ON HIS/HER SHOULDERS TO GET US OUT FROM UNDER G.W.BUSHS BIG ASS DIBILITATING THUMB.
Answer Posted by |TINA BOWIE
Answer 6: ”Cut Backs” is the answer. I cut back on everything. From air freshener to zippers and everything in between. I am also loosing weight that I wanted to do by doing this. I have to live below my means, and to be honest I like it. It is less stressfull and I am also getting out of debt this way. The old saying of “Less is More” is VERY, very true.
I am going to make, we all can make it. Give this a try and remember I love you all.
Answer Posted by |Lukeskywalker
Answer 7: I have changed my lifestyle. Fortunately, I live by myself so it wasnt very hard. I dont use my airconditioning, I use floor fans. I light one light at night and use a flashlight if I need to go into another room for a minute or two. I try to cook up several things over the weekend when I have the oven on and eat on them during the week. Ive changed my hours at work so I miss most of the early and evening rush hours. This allows me to take it slower driving (every 5 mph lower results in saving gas) and since I live in an area with hills when I come to a decline I take my foot off the gas and coast down. Almost like the hybrid concept.
Answer Posted by |cparks1948
Answer 8: I am lucky in this environment that my job is still booming. My boss pays for my job travels & I drive a fuel efficient truck. My wife has a large vehicle so we have started planning out her travels to maximize the number of stops for groceries & supplies. If she is not shopping we leave her truck parked as it is a gas hog. We have also installed a clothes line outside to cut down on energy costs associated with our electric dryer.
Answer Posted by |cajunbulldog
Answer 9: i called for entergy they have a program for people on a buget i applied now i only 50 a month on my entergy bill and my other bills also. i put my needs in front of my wants. some entertainment can be avoided its not a need…..you budget your money u sit down and you set how much u want your bills to be set your thermostat to 78 degree and that lowers your bills (entergy) and water if u have a washing machine dont run it as much only do so many loads oout in a week
Answer Posted by |www.diamondprincezz000000
Answer 10: Due to the high cost of energy these days, its been a rough road trying to keep up with my utilities, and it seems when they come due, I never have the entire amount. Ive figured out a system which seems to work for me though. I get paid bi-weekly, so what Ive been doing is purchasing a money order for half the amount of my power bill on each payday, I immediately write the money order out to the power company so I wont be tempted to cash it in myself before my power bill comes due. I also apply this method to my rent, cable, cell phone, etc., but for the most part, I use this mostly for the higher cost bills.
Answer Posted by |Shazzers
When we are in Love, we do crazy things. What special thing have you done / can do for that special someone without overspending?
Question of the week:
Question of the week is yet another effort by the debtcc team to enhance the community knowledge bank. It’s a weekly contest and every week a challenging question will be thrown before the members for responses. The best answer will be chosen collectively at the end of the week by the debtcc members and the admin panel of the site. The winner of this contest will receive a handsome reward of a $50.
The purpose behind this idea is to encourage the members to share their real life experiences in dealing with the financial challenges.
Though different financial issues are being discussed across the debtcc board, but it doesn’t leave much scope to the members to share their personal experiences. Here is the place where it can be done, and also that the new members can get the innovative ideas to deal with their debts along with the conventional ones.
Question 6: When we are in Love, we do crazy things. What special thing have you done / can do for that special someone without overspending?
Love is Life. There is/was someone in everyones life who has/had a special place in our heart. When cupid strikes we simply become crazy and do crazy things. Share your memories or plans with us that you have either done or intend to do for that special someone without overspending.
Winner Post
Answer 1: Someone countless years ago coined the cliche “it is the thought that counts!” If you are lucky as I am that still rings true.
I have been known to stop at the side of the road and cut flowers and bring them home to my wife, or make my own Valentine and write the message from my heart rather than buying the words of a stranger. Giving your loved one a pedicure or a foot massage is another gesture that says you care. All these things are free and mean more than the expensive gift that had little thought. There is no reason to shut down during times of financial stress when the only good thing you may have is your significant other. Accepting every apology and never bringing up the past is both free and a great investment in the future of your relationship.
Answer Posted by |frogpatch
The other answers worth mentioning are:
Answer 2: Being in love, especially a “new” love, can evoke emotions that perhaps you didnt know existed. Suddenly your life takes on a new meaning, purpose. With that comes the desire to show that “love” just how much they mean to you. Society has taught us that material things equal caring. The more you get, the more you mean to someone. Not so much in my book. Anyone can buy a gift but “gifting” your heart and time to someone special is truly an experience of a lifetime. Once that has been accomplished the rest is easy. A “love” doesnt expect you to “do”, they desire you to “be”. BE there through it all, good, bad or indifferent. My ideal day of “being” is, cooking that special dinner just because, making that certain dessert that takes you half a day to make, (and another half just to clean up!) watching a football game (or a chick flick) on a Sunday afternoon, when you KNOW you have a million other things you should or could be doing, and when the end of that day comes, saying “I love you”, and meaning it. “Priceless” without benefit of being in the poorhouse!
Answer Posted by |llw1995
Answer 3: The key to doing something special is knowing the person for which you are doing something special. I made a cd of special songs for a person once and added little pictures to it to make it into a special presentation just for them because they had a passion for music. Also I have written a heartfelt letter of all the reasons why I love them and will cherish them in my life. This doesnt even have to be a romantic love as I have done it for both my mom and dad, its amazing how much you realize when you get older. Also if a person likes being pampered you can set up your own mini spa at your house and do their hair fingers and toes and even give them a massage, all for less than they would pay at a real spa, and they have the extra special attention that you cared enough to do it for them. Just some ideas.
Answer Posted by |leathernlacekitten
Answer 4: My boyfriend was feeling a little homesick, being 2,500 miles away from his family who live in a rural area in Utah. To make him feel more at home, and to make his birthday extra special, I called his mother up and asked her for her shepherds pie recipe. On the night of his birthday, he came home to his favorite home made dinner. He was also pleasantly surprised when I brought the cake out I had made, also a family recipe. On top of the cake were oreo crumbs and little plastic models of farming equipment. With a grin slapped on his face and the love gleaming through his sapphire eyes, I knew I had accomplished my goal: to make him happy.
Answer Posted by |Michelle Gonzalez
Answer 5: I have learned over the past years that the best gifts you can give to someone are time. The most important thing I did for my son was to make more time for him. He, like any other child, asks for things all the time. Usually, the most recent commercial items. I explain to him about our budget and we compromise on small things. Hes incredibly excited about our next big event. We are going next weekend to a park not too far from here, about a 20 minute drive. Well pack a cooler with hamburgers, pasta salad, chips and dip, and fruit salad (all made at home), take our charcoal and lighter fluid and grill at the park. After that, well play on the playground for a little while and then take a swim in the lake.
The next adventure is a camping trip on Grandmas property!!!
For the different type of love. When my ex husband graduated from college, I wanted to do something extra special for him, but I was pretty much broke and didnt have the extra to spend on a nice gift for him. Instead, I decided it might be nicer and more romantic to stay in. I rented his favorite movies, and spent most of the day preparing a home made meal, everthing from scratch. I wanted it to be extra special.
Answer Posted by |jennifer_bailey75
Answer 6: For a very dear friend whose father was dying, I cleaned her entire house while she was away. When she came back from her fathers funeral, exhausted emotionally and physically, she returned to a spotless home.
It cost me only time and a little labor, and 5 years later, she still tears up thinking about how she felt so cared for in a time of true need.
Answer Posted by |Myra Emmons
Answer 7: Love for each other can be showered through-out the year. It doesnt require a specific day to remember your loved one. Love is not a remembrance day. Love is all about Caring and Sharing, be their for each other at all times (both highs and lows). According to my sweet wife the sweetest and most expensive gift I ever gave her was on our Wedding party where I sang “I want to Spend my Lifetime Loving You” (from the film “Mask of Zorroâ€) for her.
Answer Posted by |enlightened
Answer 8: To me, love is priceless. I once made a coupon booklet for my sweetie that was good for “1 romantic dinner”, “1 massage”, “1 batch of cookies”, “1 bubble bath” and so forth. I went to the craft store and just picked up some colored paper and printed them up and stapled it into a booklet. The whole thing cost maybe $3.00. The idea is that it is a gift that can go on for days or months and doesnt die like flowers. Its thoughts and time together.
Answer Posted by |jenoliver33
Answer 9: I think the best thing a woman can do for her man is totally free – When he gets home from work meet him at the door with a nice meal dressed in lingere (or nothing at all). Food and sex – Thats the way to a mans heart! And it will mean much more to him and stick much longer in his memory then buying him some expensive gadget.
Answer Posted by |goudah2424
Answer 10: They say the way to a mans heart is through his stomach, and there is some truth to that.
When I was living with my boyfriend of a few months while relocating for a new job, it was sometimes difficult to come up with inexpensive “dates,” especially since the relationship itself had been long-distance and for less than a year. One night, I pulled out one of those Chef Boyardee Home Pizza Kits ($3.99) and a bag of shredded mozzarella, and we made our own pizza while staying in and snuggling up in front of some “Scrubs.” It was WAY tastier and more nutritious (one of our other favorite dates is going to the gym together) than ordering Dominos or going out, and we got to spend quality time in the kitchen together!
Answer Posted by |Ashley1216830082
What can you do to earn extra $ to reduce your debt burden?
Question of the week:
Question of the week is yet another effort by the debtcc team to enhance the community knowledge bank. It’s a weekly contest and every week a challenging question will be thrown before the members for responses. The best answer will be chosen collectively at the end of the week by the debtcc members and the admin panel of the site. The winner of this contest will receive a handsome reward of a $50.
The purpose behind this idea is to encourage the members to share their real life experiences in dealing with the financial challenges.
Though different financial issues are being discussed across the debtcc board, but it doesn’t leave much scope to the members to share their personal experiences. Here is the place where it can be done, and also that the new members can get the innovative ideas to deal with their debts along with the conventional ones.
Question 5: What can you do to earn extra $ to reduce your debt burden?
In today’s world of rising prices along with debt burden almost every one of us are struggling to make the two ends meet. In this situation, how can you increase your income to become [url=http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/debt-free.html]debt free[/url]?
Winner Post
Answer 1: Increasing your income is something most everyone would like to do. There are quick ways to do it and some that take a bit more time.
For quick cash, there are things like holding a garage sale. Make the most out of your sale by inexpensive advertising (signs) and telling friends and neighbors. Then make sure you have cleared your closets of all the junk you havent used (in at least a year), clothes that dont fit and things you just dont like. Price them reasonably (nothing less than 50 cents) and you should be able to make a little pocket change at the least. Whatever you dont sell, donate to charity and get a receipt so you can use it at tax time.
Getting another job is way to pick up some extra cash too. Another job can be something as simple as evening or weekend babysitting or housesitting. You would be surprised at what people will pay for a responsible adult to babysit. I personally have babysat for a lady who routine pays $100 for an evening (4-5hours) of babysitting her 3 school age kids.
Another job could also be working in a department store. Christmas is approaching and stores are always looking for Christmas help. Dont wait until the season though, because the stores start hiring several months before the official start of the Christmas season.
If you are a college student, check with your student services office. Almost all will have job offerings. One of the best jobs I ever had when I was a student, I got from reading the job board at school.
If you attend church, call the church office and ask to put a blurb in the weekly bulletin or monthly newsletter advertising your skills and that you are available for work.
Tutoring is another way to make some cash. Are you good in math? Math tutors are always in need. Im a teacher and I tutor three days a week after school for an hour each day. I make $30.00 per hour. I know I couldnt go and work for 3 hours each week and make $90.00, so it works out good for me. Examine your own areas of expertise and see if you have a skill someone else could benefit from.
These are just a few ways that you can try and get make some extra money to help make ends meet. Consider one or all and go for it. Good luck!
Answer Posted by |Lorri
The other answers worth mentioning are:
Answer 2: Ive struggled a lot since my husband walked out about 2 years ago. The most important thing I fee I need to do is build a “cushion” (I dont mean a pillow stuffed with money, though that would be nice…). Its been difficult to get caught up with the bills that we were behind on before he left, and therefore put me further behind. I found that my hobby could be somewhat profitable. Being a single mother, with a “special needs” child, it is out of the question for me to work a second job outside of the home. Instead, I try to make some profit from my hobby. If you have a creative hobby such as painting or sculpting, you never know who may want to purchase your work. I also have swallowed my pride and asked to borrow money from family to pay off the biggest bills. They usually wont charge interest, and if they do, it isnt going to be nearly what Id be paying if Id struggled along with the original bill. Im slowing getting to the place I need to be.
It isnt easy, but Ive learned to avoid the “traps” and quick fixes. Finding this site has also helped me dramatically!!!
Answer Posted by |jennifer_bailey75
Answer 3: I have increased my income by de-creasing certain non-neccesities in my life…such as the daily latte and muffin, washing my own car, clipping dry cleaning coupons, brown-bagging my lunch to work and buying in bulk. When I sat down the worked the numbers, just these small changes “increased” my income by almost $400 a month!
Answer Posted by |jenoliver33
Answer 4: Before you go out and get a second job, try makeing smarter purchases and counter attack your everyday routine with something that would cost you less out of pocket expenses and use those savings towards paying off your debts. As an example, rather than going out to eat during lunch time, bring your own lunch — I save $100 a month and that money goes towards my credit card. Rather than paying the $15 minimum, I am able to pay 6 times that amount which brings me even closer to being [url=http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/debt-free.html]debt free[/url]. You can also make simple sacrifices such as shopping less at expensive outlets, carpooling, buying a membership in a bulk outlet store such as Sams Club (the membership literally pays for itself), cancel your newspaper and magazine subscriptions and read them online, etc. Use the money you save from these small sacrifices towards paying off your debt.
Answer Posted by |Amanda Webb
Answer 5: There are several things one can do to increase income. One of the things one can do is get a second job, even if it is part time, every little bit helps. This can be one person or both people if they are a couple. My husband works a second job but does not want me to because he feels that one of us needs to be home for the kids, well now for my daughter. Another thing that can be done is cut out or at least reduce the amount of eating out and unnecessary things. Not saying that they have be cut out 100%, but cut back anyway. One could have a yard sale and get rid of things that are not needed or used. That can give one some extra money to help with whatever needs to at the time. We had a yard sale a few weeks back and made over $200. Stay away from payday loans for they get one further in debt. Do not accumulate any more debt by taking out loans or anything on that order. Make a budget and stick to it. Start paying off what you owe, even if it is a little at a time. One has to start somewhere. If you have credit cards, pay the minimum on all but one and pay over the minimum amount, even if it is $10 extra each month. Once that card it paid off, then take the amount that you have been paying on that card and apply it toward another card, and when that card is pay off, continue on until you have all your cards paid off. This can work on other debts too. Do not use credit cards unless it is an absolute emergency. Learn how to say no to the kids once in a while. They do not need to get everything they want…their needs should be taken care of first. Do activites that do not cost anything or costs very little to do. Go to the park, museums or someplace like that. If you want to go to the movies, go some place that offers discount tickets. Around here we have a couple of theaters that sell tickets for $1.50 or $2.00. Granted they may not be new releases, but if they are something we havent seen, that is ok. Another thing we do is save our change. We put our change in a jar and it can add up fast. It is great to know it is there when we need gas or milk or something like that. In a way, it is like paying yourself.
Some of the ideas I mentioned may not be earning extra money, but it will help with not having as much money going out, which in turn puts more money in your pocket and more money to help toward paying down your debt.
Answer Posted by |2nband
Answer 6: One good way to earn some extra money is registering at any market research places in your area. Also, check craigslist daily for any research groups you could qualify for. They usually pay $50 to $200 for a couple hours of your time, and many times you get to try some new product or make your voice known. If you live near a major city, these are usually going on weekly. You could also do surveys online, but these are harder to qualify for, and pay much less then the focus research groups mentioned above.
Answer Posted by |goudah2424
Answer 7: You can get a second job. Put all that income towards your debts.
You could sell some of your things you dont need. Ive sold jewelry to get extra money when I needed money for payments. It hurt, but I needed to do it.
You could ask to borrow money from a family member or friend. Might be awkward, but you could work out a payment arrangement that would be better for you. At least a family member wont charge you 30% if you are late on a payment.
You could brown-bag it to work. Eating out & getting coffee everyday is a lot of money. Take that money you would have used & put it away somewhere safe (bank, secret stash in house) somewhere that you wont be tempted to spend it.
You could try & restructure other bills. Contact the lender & see if they can lower payments for you. Take the money saved there & apply to other debts.
Apply for a [url=http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/debt-management.html]debt management[/url] program. The DMP can negotiate lower rates, get you one lump payment-which might end up saving you in the long run. I know for me entering a DMP saved me about $150 a month.
Dont spend as much. Think about what you really WANT vs what you really NEED. Budget it out. See if your budget can allow for it.
Freeze your cards. You could put your credit cards in water and then freeze them. Keep one out for emergencies-just in case you have one. The others, if you feel tempted to use them, then you can take them out of the freezer, let them defrost while you think about what you want. By the time they defrost you can have a clear head.
DONT take a out a Pay Day Loan. They sound nice but they are TROUBLE. They will get you deeper in debt FAST.
Answer Posted by |lawn1016
Answer 8: I generally prefer to live alone in my apartment. But sometime back I was in the middle of a “Debt Soup” (I prefer to call it so). To get out of it I decided to open up one of my two-bed-room apartment. It helped me a lot to payoff my debt.
I was also a fashion buff and used to spend a lot of my income towards funky clothes and accessories. But after I got debt ridden, I sold most of these funky stuffs to the vintage store in our locality. To my utmost surprise, I got a considerable amount of money out of this. Wow…there are so many idiots like me to buy these funky old items.
Thanks to the above that I am living a [url=http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/debt-free.html]debt free[/url] life. 
Answer Posted by |phoenix
Answer 9: I have done numerous things in the past to get more money to help me out of debt. When it was posssible, I took a second job and applied all of the money from that job to a debt, along with the original payment to get it paid off sooner.
I have also gone to some businesses around here and done some office cleaning at night. I went to the Historical Museum and asked them if they had a job, I knew they had meetings and banquets in their basement. They hired me and I was able to do it on weekends or a few hours at night. There are also some schools around here that advertise for night janitorial positons.
I have also gone to different churches and worked at the nursery on Sunday and Wednesdays.
And the last thing I did was, to go apply for a substitute teacher. They pay more if you are degreed, but the pay is good if you arent, and you work when the kids are in school and off when they are off.
All of these things and a few other little things has helped me [url=http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/getoutofdebt.html]get out of debt[/url], along with cutting out alot of extras, and a little sacrifice. In applying the extra money to my debt, I did the lowest one first, along with the original payment, slowly got me out of debt, where I intend to stay!
Answer Posted by |Bossy4455
Answer 10: Ive always had a part-time job to supplement my regular income–even working a couple hours in the evening or on weekends helps! I also complete surveys for a small amount of cash–its nice to get a check in the mail for $5-25, just for spending a little time giving your opinion! Selling items at garage sales or Ebay can also be a nice supplement to your income.
Answer Posted by |saxy_soprano
How are you going to spend your stimulus check?
Question of the week:
Question of the week is yet another effort by the debtcc team to enhance the community knowledge bank. It’s a weekly contest and every week a challenging question will be thrown before the members for responses. The best answer will be chosen collectively at the end of the week by the debtcc members and the admin panel of the site. The winner of this contest will receive a handsome reward of a $50.
The purpose behind this idea is to encourage the members to share their real life experiences in dealing with the financial challenges.
Though different financial issues are being discussed across the debtcc board, but it doesn’t leave much scope to the members to share their personal experiences. Here is the place where it can be done, and also that the new members can get the innovative ideas to deal with their debts along with the conventional ones.
Question 4: How are you going to spend your stimulus check?
By now you might have received the small gift from Uncle Sam, your stimulus check. And in this hard time, with the gas price soaring and the magnified household bills, it is no less than a fortune for you. You must have some plans with the check! Share with us, how you are going to spend it to fill-in the gaps between your income and expenditure?
Winner Post
Answer 1: Thats a fairly easy question to answer. Im getting caught up on my financial obligations, whats left over I am depositing into an emergency fund which will accrue interest. I hope that will give me some incentive to add monies to in the future, so it will increase as time goes by. Im going to call it my unpayday loan fund. lol
Answer Posted by |Shazzers
The other answers worth mentioning are:
Answer 2: Since losing my husband of 22 years at His age of 42, I plan on using my stimulus check to start a savings account for our son who took care of his father for many years and had to grow up too fast. Giving back to my son and my neighborhood children is what life is all about. My son and I are very close and as we have no family (both of us are only children), he deserves a little joy and something for himself.
Answer Posted by |Dale Seaverns
Answer 3: Actually, I have a specific item I need to purchase. I am by trade an exotic dancer, and am planing to buy myself a nicer pair of TA TAs. I have wanted this for years and will finally have enough to do it. May sound strange to some, but it is my way of life.
Answer Posted by |jenoliver33
Answer 4: We have already received our check, direct deposit, and like most people, we used it to pay bills, take care of some things that were unexpected and took a little of it to go out to dinner together, which is something we very seldom do. We were able to get caught up on a couple of things, pay off a couple of small things, we even managed to fill up the vehicles all the way for the first time in I dont know how long. We were also able to help my brother out by getting him some groceries and his utility bill, he is only getting approx 20 hrs a week at his current job, so due to him not getting a check, we helped him out with what we could. Of course we received ours in May, so there is nothing left, but it greatly helped with some things. Just wish a dollar stretched a little further.
Answer Posted by |2nband
Answer 5: Well, since the US Government has determined I am too poor, and therefore I dont need to be economically stimulated, I will not be getting a stimulus check. I just find it incomprehensible that someone would have had to make a certain dollar amount in 2007, which I didnt as Ive been unemployed for well over a year, in order to be deemed worthy of receiving the measly $300 being sent out. What this tells me is the government has pretty much deemed that I am absolutely unworthy because I am living at, or more likely below, the poverty level. Funny thing, I can only qualify for food stamps in my state; not any other type of public assistance, because I have no children. However, I could desperately use it! I would say that $300 would have probably fed me for a month or so, or put gas in my cars fuel tank so I could better afford to look for work.
So thanks US Government, I will be sure to remember who helped me out, when I really could have used it, when election time comes around!
Answer Posted by |UnemployedRon
Answer 6: I am spending my checks on new beds for my children. Because of the increase in everything (expect of course my paycheck), my poor children have been sleeping on old beds that are broken. The money I will be receiving is because of them so I am going to spend it on them. Any leftover money will go to pay down debt.
Answer Posted by |spatterson_40
Answer 7: I did what the government probably didnt want me to do–I put gas in my car and paid on some bills. Oh wait, I DID spend a couple of those dollars on a cheeseburger, so I guess I gave a bit of it back to my local economy.
Answer Posted by |saxy_soprano
Answer 8: 100% of my stimulus check is going to pay off current [url=http://www.debtconsolidationcare.com/credit-card.html]credit card debt[/url]! Thank you Uncle Sam
Answer Posted by |Nicholas Fulton1213885178
Answer 9: Gas for my car – That will give me about 2 weeks of driving!
Answer Posted by |goudah2424
Answer 10: i plan on getting some work done on the car,then
the rest goes into the bank.
Answer Posted by |paulmergel
Should women take control of their finances or should they forward that responsibility to their husbands?
Question of the week:
Question of the week is yet another effort by the debtcc team to enhance the community knowledge bank. It’s a weekly contest and every week a challenging question will be thrown before the members for responses. The best answer will be chosen collectively at the end of the week by the debtcc members and the admin panel of the site. The winner of this contest will receive a handsome reward of a $50.
The purpose behind this idea is to encourage the members to share their real life experiences in dealing with the financial challenges.
Though different financial issues are being discussed across the debtcc board, but it doesn’t leave much scope to the members to share their personal experiences. Here is the place where it can be done, and also that the new members can get the innovative ideas to deal with their debts along with the conventional ones.
Question 3: Should women take control of their finances or should they forward that responsibility to their husbands?
Since ages man has been the bread earner and the person running the financial show at home. Do you think women should step in and start taking financial responsibilities? If yes, then how should they start managing their finances?
Winner Post
Answer 1: I believe that control of the finances should be a joint responsibility. Especially if both parties are contributing to the household. A budget should be made by both parties and stuck to. A portion of each pay should be deposited into a savings account for emergency situations that may come up. Both husband and wife should have an amount for personal expenses. The balance should be distributed toward household expenses. Payments out of the checking account should be overseen by both.
Answer Posted by |strangclan
The other answers worth mentioning are:
Answer 2: Personally, I think that both partners should have an active roll in making financial decissions. One of the things I would have done differently in my marriage would have been to make my husband sit down with me when I was taking care of the bills. It isnt fair to let one person worry about how the electric bill will be paid this month while the other is longingly staring at the classified ads at motorcycles.
Communication in everything is very important to any marriage. You work together as a team and when things get tough you work it out together. Money is one of the number one topics that cause fights in marriages.
Obviously there are some instances where one spouse is better at handling finances than the other, and therefore that person is the one who plans the budget and arranges the bills. But there still needs to be communication, not a solid, end-of-story hand off of the bills.
Answer Posted by |jennifer_bailey75
Answer 3: I believe then and now that if it is a bill or debt that accured before the marraige then the wife should take most of the responsibility for it but at the same time let her husband know that she needs to take care of it and maybe he will be able to help out with the other bills that they have together. I would not ask my husband to take care of a bill that I built on my own before I met him. I would want to do that on my own. Unless he offers to help out in some way then thats different. She should try and manage HER finances with her money and share the bills they have together with THEIR money.
Answer Posted by |nicole.roman
Answer 4: Women should always be responsible for their finances because if a woman relies solely on her spouse to manage her finances,when something catastrophic happens such as an illness,divorce or worse case scenario death she will be lost as to how to even balance a checkbook. The time for a woman to manage her own finances starts before she even becomes a wife. It should start the minute shes old enough to start receiving an allowance when a child or when she gets her first job. I work in hospital as a case manager/social worker and have come across many situations
where a man comes in with terminal cancer and he is the only one in his household who manages the finances and when the worse happens, it is left up to the surviving wife to handle everything including the mortgage,checking,car payments,funeral arrangements and alot of times they dont know how and there is no children or extented family to help and then it becomes the responsibility of hospital social workers to try and assist the best they can.
Answer Posted by |naida.kent
Answer 5: I believe that marriage is a sacred bond between two people. Those two share their lives together including the responsibilities. Spouses should work together to help each other out, if they have separate accounts and are comfortable recording transactions in the register themselves then that is the way they should do it. If one of them does not feel capable of doing it then the other should offer to help. If they have joint account(s) then they should work together in managing it.
Answer Posted by |JCEMT
Answer 6: Whether one is a man or a woman makes no difference when faced with financial responsibilities. However, in response to the question: Women (and men for that matter) should manage their finances with frugality and in a non-objective manner. For starters, I recommend creating a conservative monthly budget strategy. Do not spend more than you can afford. Focus on eliminating your highest interest debt first (if you have debt). Start saving sooner than later if you can to take advantage of the power of compounding interest. Seek the help of a professional if managing your financial responsibilities are more than you can handle.
Answer Posted by |Nicholas Fulton
Answer 7: At our house, I am the one that takes care of most of the finances, per say. My husband has never reallys hown any interest in doing it. But I do include him in everything as far as what we have to pay, how much the bill is, where we stand financially, etc. I personally think it should be a joint effort. You never know what is going to happen to one or the other and I feel that both needs to know what is going on and share the responsibility. Over the past few years, I have really pushed my husband more and more to get involved in the finances. I think it should be an equal partenership. And to be honest, I do think women are taking financial responsibilites in todays world. Too many of us work and want to know where the money goes and a lot of us are or have at one time been single parents or spouses of someone that was in the military and we had to take responsibility. I believe it is important that both the man and woman should share the responsibilities and work together in that area.
Answer Posted by |2nband
Answer 8: Women should handle their own finances and share the responsibility with their husbands/boyfriends/significant others, regardless of who makes more money. Ill never forget a neighbor of mine from when I was a child. They were the sweetest people. He passed away suddenly and at 65 years old, my neighbor (his wife) knew absolutely nothing about their finances. She didnt know their bank, how much money she had, how to write a check and she was terrified. No one should ever feel that way. Understanding how to handle money, how to balance a budget, and where you stand financially is a major key in what I like to call “living happy”. My three steps are:
1. Make a list of all bills and expenses
2. Make a goal (how much you want to save, when you want to have your bills paid off by, etc)
3. Seek out financial assistance. Your bank often has someone who can help you with this or ask someone you know who has great financial standing.
Answer Posted by |laurie.allen
Answer 9: Now-days with economy as it is, I feel that it is the womans perpective to run her own finances, even if she has a sweet open-the-door, pull-out-a-chair kind-of-a-guy. People change and it has been proven. Especially when it comes to finances and when there are two involved in the relationship, things are not as lovely as it seems when it boils down to money. Because a mans way of what he wants to do with his money is different from what a woman wants to do with the money she has sweated for. Mens toys are cars, and fancy ones for the man who can afford them and it is totally different from a womans perspective of what she really likes. For the wife and mom, its living expenses and more surrounding her to-be children, theyre included as well. Not saying that a man is unemotional when it comes to children, a woman just have a natural instinct on the little extras a child may need and want, as well as what is necessary for them (educational, doctor care, etcera…and all the lttle extra things that add up as they grow. A mans concern should be to upkeep the financial status when it comes to the womans house and utilities, but the woman should have more say so when it comes to interior decor and food and clothing expenses, (after all, home is where the family begins in a setting where it is a peaceful environment for all.) When daughter grows up and wants a new setting for her bedrooom, it should be up to the mom to make the decisions. A woman should be comfortable in her surroundings. A man should understand that! Would your daughter be comfortable in a room decked with spinning wheels and checker race cars on the walls and an plain bunk bed with no feminine qualities if she ask dad to fix up her room? Now dont get me wrong there are men who knows womans preference when it comes to shopping, but few are women who find them! Because the first thing a man will probably say to the woman, who just walked in the house with a sexy dress and shoes to die for, “Honey what ya go out and buy that for? We dont need it”. Yea but I do, so I can keep you looking at me, (I threw that one in there for laughs). What if the child needs extra things for camping, seasonal clothing, all that needs to be addressed to the mothers concerns. Why do you think we women are designed to carry babies? Cause God saw that a mans place is to take care of a womans needs financially. But to let her deal with the responsibilities of monitoring the financial status within the home. and the man just provide what it takes to have one. This is not to say that a woman can lavish herself with expensive things that are not affordable, but to properly dispurse amounts to where it needs to go, so family can be happy. After all the woman has to cook, clean, and do more than the man has to around the house. Because when he comes home from work, after she has been in the house all day or even shared in the responsiblities of work, she still has to look after a ton of things and she should definately have say so over the managing of money in the home. But if a woman happen to run into a man that completely comes home and tells her that the rent is taken care of as well as the utilities, and the rest of the money is hers to manage then…shes got a good catch! He would never have to fish for another, after all Money is the root of all evil, if its not in the womans hands! This reading has nothing to do with my family, Mine is fine and dandy. This is s based on my view of other family lives.
Answer Posted by |Verdelle
Answer 10: Very simply, YES! Women should take control of their finances. Generally in a two person relationship, one person may have stronger skills in financial management. This person (male or female) should be temporarily in control as both partners receive financial counseling and make a mutual financial plan.
In order for any plan to work both partners need to be on the same page. It is important for a couple to make a plan that works for THEM individually, based on their individual strengths and weaknesses.
Answer Posted by |luv2laugh
