OODC: How did you get started blogging and tweeting?
@LifeandFinances: When I began my money management coaching business I realized I was limited to helping only those who engaged in my services. I started my blog to touch as many other people as possible who were seeking money management help. I first started blogging under my personal blog, KimStaudenraus.com and soon realized that I needed a blog that was focused more on finances, that is when I expanded TranquilityFinancial.com to include a blog.

As far as Tweeting, I am fairly new to that, and again, use it as another great avenue to spread the word of debt free living.

OODC: You work as a financial coach. Do you think everyone who has financial problems could use a financial coach?
@LifeandFinances:This is a great question. Quick answer is yes, if someone has a problem they most likely need some coaching or mentoring from an experienced non-biased third party to help them get a different perspective, provide some recommendations and encouragement to help them out of their problem.

OODC:Do I think everyone with financial problems needs to “pay” for a coach?
@LifeandFinances:No. At least not at first. So many times people in financial distress are very quick to throw money at their problem because they are desperate for help. Some think that help from a coach might be a “quick fix” to their problem.

I encourage those with financial problems to first seek out free help by reading financial blogs as well as through a forum or email discussion with a reputable money coach who has the goal of mentoring and teaching people the basics of money management, dealing with creditors and related financial situations. This way they are able to get to know the coach a bit as well as get an idea of the type of changes they may need to make to their lifestyle before investing with a coach.

Similar to any type of problem, before coaching will be successful one has to admit they have a financial problem and be willing and ready to make changes to solve that problem. If after understanding the type of changes they may need make and willingness to make those changes, that is when I would encourage a fee based coaching or mentoring option. It is very difficult to get out of debt without some third party support and encouragement.

OODC:I’m sure you’ve helped a lot of people gain financial freedom. Can you share one of your biggest success stories with us?
@LifeandFinances:I would love to. I had a couple in their late 50’s. They were $35k in credit card debt. They had more than just financial trouble they were in a marital crisis due to their finances. The husband was a very proud man, and in no way wanted to be a part of the coaching process but he loved his wife dearly and that is why he was there. His wife was the one who knew they were not only headed toward a financial disaster but divorce as well.

Both were so unhappy with the situation they had stopped communicating, they basically had giving up on each other and were drowning their sorrow by buying “stuff” they could not afford just to get a brief shot of “happiness” at least until the next credit card bill came.

Not only did I work out a budget for them, as well as recommend some things to sell, I also encourage them to begin reading and going through the workbook “Love & Respect” by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. I did this to help open up their lines of communication again. When it comes to a couple and money, it is imperative that both spouses are on the same page and communicating openly about money in order for financial freedom to be achieved in a marriage.

This couple had to learn all over again how spend properly and manage money, but they also had to relearn how to be a couple, to work together. Well, to make a long story short, they are now debt free except for their home, their plan is to have that paid off in 4 years and retired totally debt free.

Yes, their financial success was great, but what really made this a success story for me is that they are a communicating happy couple again.

OODC:What do you hope people gain from reading your blog?
@LifeandFinances:First and foremost “hope” regardless of the situation you are in, there is always hope, especially through the help of Jesus Christ. Secondly, you are not alone. Many people think “we are the only one in this situation”. My goal through blogging is to show that you are not alone and that success is possible for everyone regardless of how much debt there is or how dire the situation appears.

OODC:Who are some of your favorite money tweeters?
@LifeandFinances:@christianpf, @MH4Christians, @moolanomy, @paidtwice, @FrugalHacks, @providentplan, @DebtProofLiving.

Thanks again to @LifeandFinances for being part of this week’s Twitter Tuesday Profile. Want to be considered for an upcoming profile? Just tweet me!

Twitter Tuesday Profile: @LifeandFinances is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

“Borrowing” Music and Movies from File Sharing Sites

Some people hate the idea of spending a buck on a song, every time they want something new loaded on to their iPod. But is it really fair to get that music or movies for free using file sharing websites?

Taking More Than You Need

You may not want to spend the money on plastic silverware or napkins, but is it really ethical to take more than you need when you’re at the fast food joint?

Re-Gifting

If you get a gift you don’t want, is it OK to save money by giving it to someone else? It may be tacky, but is it wrong?

Using Fraudulent Coupons

Photocopying coupons is not allowed. But plenty of people do it, hoping that a rushed cashier won’t notice. There are also lots of people that create fraudulent coupons so they can save money on products they need. Isn’t this the same as stealing?

Questionable Frugality: Saving Money at What Expense? is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Paying Points

Offering to pay some or all of the origination points for the buyer can be a huge savings. These fees, charged by lenders, are equal to one percent of the total loan amount and typically ranges from zero to three points, depending on the interest rate.

Buying Down the Interest Rates

With interest rates at historic lows, this may not be a widely used incentive. But it is possible to buy a lower interest rate by paying additional points in the beginning. Offering to pay down the interest rate will help your home seem more attractive to cost-conscious buyers.

Home Warranty

A home warranty can be added protection against costly upgrades and fixes. The buyer will have additional peace of mind knowing that major appliances and core systems are covered by a warranty. Warranties are usually only a few hundred dollars.

Covering Closing Costs

Buyers these days may be required to put more cash down on the home they purchase. That means that offering to pay closing costs could be a big help. It will save them several thousand dollars and may be the reason why they choose your home over others.

Money for Upgrades

If your home needs new carpet or appliances you may want to consider giving the buyer cash for these. They’ll enjoy being able to pick out the products they want and not having to pay for them.

Helping Your House to Sell with Incentives is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Performers include McGraw, Hill, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Lynyrd Skynrd, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and ZZ Top. Perfomer Julie Roberts is one of the flood’s victims, too. “We went upstairs to the second floor and had to wait to be rescued for about 5 1/2, 6 hours. We lost our home that day. We lost all of our belongings, all of our cars, but we were rescued and my four dogs were rescued,” she told Yahoo!. In addition to losing her home she broke her ankle. “It can heal. I’m alive and my mom’s alive and my sister’s alive, and I’m here to talk about it, and I’m here to sing tonight. So I feel very blessed.”

Ellen Lehman, president of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, says Nashville’s flood victims are starting to feel a major financial pinch. “Since the flood, (families) are not only required to pay their mortgage and the rest of their bills, but they’re also needing to pay rent,” she told Yahoo! News. “Going forward…they’re going to have to find the money to rebuild. That is a huge unexpected burden, and there will be people who can’t financially put together a package that will allow them to do that, and they’re going to have to walk away from their homes.” More than 37,000 people have filed claims with FEMA. Concert organizers hope to raise $2 million to help.

Musicians Gather to Raise Money for Flood Victims is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

1. Unlimited Long Distance: We’ve all been hearing the term “bundle” from the different companies. However if you don’t make a lot of long distance calling, you may be wasting your money. CBS says a bundle plan often costs about 20 bucks more than a local plan, so just evaluate your long distance and see if it’s really worth it. As an alternative, buy long-distance service from a reseller like Pioneer Telephone or maybe sign up for a voice over Internet protocol from a carrier such as Vonage.

2. Frequent Flyer Rewards Cards: Many of these benefits have been shrinking. More miles are needed, there are less flight schedules and there might be booking fees. You might also have to pay annual fees that might not make it worth it. A better deal is to get some cash-reward cards instead, suggests CBS. Blue Cash from American Express offers up to 5 percent cash back on purchases.

3. Checking Accounts That Pay Interest: With this deal, you may only get 0.13 percent interest, but it requires high minimums. So forget about interest from checking accounts and look for a no-fee checking account. You can also shop around for banks and credit unions with good deals.

4. Overdraft Protection: This can be just a way for banks to earn some extra cash. Now the government has passed rules that will require banks to get your approval before making you take overdraft protection. An alternative is setting up a savings account that’s linked to your checking. Funds can be transferred if you have an overdraft.

5. Extended Warranty Protection: Experts say DO NOT buy these for appliances and electronics and products don’t usually break within that time frame. You can actually check with your credit card and they may extend the warranty for a year.

6. Going-Out-Of-Business Sales: You may not really be getting a great deal like you expected, says CBS. You might even be better off buying from another business that is trying to compete with them. Check out Price Grabber, Price Spider or Shopping and do some comparison shopping.

7. Paying for a Credit Report: FreeCreditReport.com really isn’t what it says. Order a report and you get a 7-day free trial membership, but if you don’t cancel they bill you per month. Take a look at Annual Credit Report instead. It’s truly free. You can also go to Credit Karma.

8. Fraud Alerts: CBS says do not pay for identity-theft-protection services. You can do it yourself and it’s free. Just review your statements regularly and look for unauthorized charges. Only use fraud alerts if your wallet was stolen or something else happened.

Phony Bargains is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Part Three: Information to include on your financial accounts form (a link was provided in the previous post)

Investment Accounts – Include your 401(k), 403(b), 457, TSP, Roth IRA, IRA, stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

Bank Accounts – This means your checking, savings, money market, CDs and any others with a credit union or bank.

Real Estate – Make sure you list the addresses and the financial status of them.

Will – Bankrate says 58 percent of Americans do not have a will. You need one, says Sangl.

Power of Attorney – Healthcare POA, Limited POA and any other legal assignments.

Insurance Policies – Make sure you include life insurance and insurance on possessions.

Valuables – List jewelry and other valuables and their locations.

Safe Deposit Box – List it if you have one and where it is located.

Part Four: Finding free or cheap resources

You can find a free healthcare power of attorney with AnMed Health Center here. There are many free legal documents like a will and power of attorney. If you have a lot of assets, Sangl suggests meeting with an attorney. Good luck!

More on Getting Organized Financially is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Part One: Understand why you are doing it to begin with.

Sangl lists some reasons why you should get organized financially:

Control – It’s hard for the finances to run out of control when you are focusing intently on your financial affairs.

Improved Financial Focus – We tend to improve what we focus our attention on.

We will all die one day – Why not have it all organized for our family?

Part Two: Prepare a list of all your financial accounts.

I am actually not as organized as I would like to be in many areas of my life. But with a little one on the way, I am making sure things are in order around the house and financially. Making a list of all your financial accounts will probably be challenging, says Sangl. Gather your financial statements so you can put together a one or two page document that details your finances. Here is a Free Tool (Financial Accounts Form (MS Word) or Financial Accounts Form (PDF)) to help!

Getting Organized Financially is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Going through this lesson highlighted some big ways that I waste time throughout my day. For starters, I constantly check email. I basically have my email account open and every time a new message appears I read it. This is a huge time-waster for me because it distracts me and throws me off course, taking me away from more productive activities. I have a similar problem with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Rather than setting aside specific blocks of time for these activities, I use them as a crutch for avoiding tasks that may not be quite as enjoyable, but that are far more important. So now I am setting aside certain times in my day for brief email and social networking checks. Dave says each task falls into one of four quadrants:

I. Quadrant of Necessity: Things like a crisis at work or an emergency fall into this category. It represents tasks that are both important and urgent. These are activities you should do.

II. Quadrant of Leadership: Items that fall into this area include preparation, planning, relationship building, reading, prayer, and exercise. The items in this quadrant have low urgency but are very important. These are activities you should do.

III. Quadrant of Deception: Examples of tasks that fall into this category include someone else’s crisis, phone calls and interruptions. These are activities you should delegate.

IV. Quadrant of Default/Waste: These items are not important or urgent. They include watching TV, gossiping or doing anything in excess. These items should be discarded completely or delegated.

One point to consider is that everything that is in the second quadrant will be moved to quadrant one if it is ignored. For instance, if you ignore your health by eating poorly or not exercising that will become an urgent situation. Dave Ramsey highlighted the importance of a to-do list saying that studies have shown spending 15 minutes every morning on a To-Do list will give you an average of two hours a day in productivity. Some tips for saving time and being more productive include:

* Avoiding meetings that wander
* Preparing for meetings ahead of time
* Keeping your desk organized daily

Next Lesson: Finding Financial Peace in your Business

The Dave Ramsey Way: Time Management and Getting Organized is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Officials say they’ve told AIG, General Motors Co, GMAC Inc, Chrysler Group LLC and Chrysler Financial Corp to lower salaries for 2010 by one-third. However, companies like Bank of America and Citigroup have repaid the bailout money they received which means they’re not subject to as much regulation in salaries.

I have many friends who have experienced pay cuts, furloughs and loss of benefits in the past year. But I’ve also had other friends who have lost their jobs altogether. I don’t know of any friends who used reduced pay as a primary reason to leave their job, but it may have been a factor. I think deciding whether or not to stay when a company announces pay cuts largely depends on how the subject is approached. For companies who cut pay to certain employees, but not executives, it’s a bit harder to swallow. But for companies who announce cuts with positive attitude that lets everyone know all employees are in this together it may be more motivation to pitch in and turn the situation around. What do you think– would you do the same job for less money?

Would You Do the Same Job for Less Money? is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Seminars are now being offered at churches throughout the U.S., according to the article. Our financial pastor, Joe Sangl, is traveling to churches in areas such as Missouri, Florida, Kentucky and many others sharing his Financial Learning Experience. In South Florida, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University has been very popular. There are 4,000 churches that have started offering the classes throughout the country.

A spokeswoman for Ramsey said the average family pays off $5,300 in debt after taking the class. And they save $2,700 within three months. With the recession it seems people are definitely finding these classes appealing.

According to Crown Financial Ministries, the Bible offers more than 2,000 verses related to money. Sangl and Ramsey both discuss Bible verses in their classes. Sangl’s class schedule: New Life Center in Bridgeton, MO March 6 and 7. New Spring Church in Greenville, SC March 11, Cowee Baptist Church in Franklin, NC March 14 and Main Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, KY March 20-21. Check out Ramsey’s website and you can type in your zip code to find a class near you. You can also attend online.

Here are some websites that I found that might be helpful as you follow a Biblical-based financial plan:

Christian Financial Planner

Biblical Stewardship

Crown Financial Ministries

Christian Money

Christian-Based Financial Classes on the Rise is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help