We started conservatively with inventory. Inventory can cost big bucks. We bought our product from artists and started out small so we could get a better idea of which products people liked, and what didn’t sell before investing in more. I also looked for local artists to work with so I wouldn’t have to add additional costs for shipping.

We used each other’s strengths. Because there are four of us we were all able to bring strengths and connections to the group. We used our connections to get free photography, a great deal on web design and free promotion. Since one partner had the resources to create promotional videos, she did that for free which would have cost us thousands of dollars had we hired someone to do that.

We used free resources. I lay out a lot of the free resources we used in the post on Design Sponge, but these included free a toll-free number, free phone conferencing and a free shopping cart.

Do you have any examples of great freebies you scored or ways you save a lot of money on your small business? We’d love to hear them!

Saving Big Bucks on Your Small Business is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

1. Freelance Photographer: Median Salary $47,800 Along with strong photography skills and special equipment, you’ll also need to be business savvy to get your business off the ground.

2. Private Detective: Median Salary $50,600 This one may sound exciting and glamorous but it will require a lot of work. You need to have knowledge of the law, psychology and critical thinking skills.

3. Elevator Mechanic: Median Salary $61,500 You may be required to work odd hours for this job and you must be knowledgeable of complex mechanical systems.

4. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator: Median Salary $79,100 This one is definitely a well-paying job, but you need to make sure you have an understanding of physics and engineering.

5. Personal Trainer: Median Salary $37,500 A lot of trainers have college degrees, but you can get a certification instead. Make sure you have skills in nutrition, anatomy, first aid and customer service, says the article.

6. Director of Security: Median Salary $62,400 This job really requires a lot of on-the-job training. You may start as an assistant and work your way up to director.

7. Air Traffic Controller:  Median Salary $60,200 This is a competitive field and requires special testing from the FAA. It can also be a stressful one.

Careers You Don’t Need College For is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Open Communication

We knew it was important to lay everything out on the table before finalizing the roommate situation. We worked out a price, and explained how much space including closets would be available. We didn’t want our roommate to think there would be room for lots of furniture when their isn’t. We also determined when rent would be paid so that there are no questions after move-in day.

Prepare the Space

Make sure your new roommate’s room is clean. You’ll start the new living arrangement out on a positive note when you give them a welcoming place to call home. This includes emptying out the closet space, drawers and under the bed.

Make Room in Communal Areas

It may be your home, but now you’re opening it up to someone else. That means sharing in communal areas, too. Clean out some room in the linen closet, a coat closet and in the kitchen. Make sure there is some space for their food in the fridge and maybe they’ll be less likely to eat yours.

Have a Key Made

Make sure they can enter and exit your home with ease. Have a key made before their arrival. And test it to make sure it works.

How to Prepare for a New Roommate is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

• Develop a mission statement for your life. This is one line that clearly states your focus.
• Write a specific goal(s) that supports your mission. This will help you understand the purpose of your mission.
• List the benefits of achieving the goal. In times when you get discouraged this will help you reaffirm your mission.
• Anticipate possible obstacles and solutions. Anything worth having takes work. By understanding what challenges you may encounter you’ll be more prepared for them.
• Write detailed action steps and deadlines to achieve the goal. This will help any goal seems more manageable.
• Integrate the action steps into your planning system. Action steps give you a clear path towards your goal.
• Determine a method of tracking your progress. If you’re not able to see that you’re making headway you may get discouraged.
• Write affirmations to support your belief in your ability to accomplish the goal. These will be important during times of struggle.
• Develop a visual representation that effectively reminds you of your goal. Keep this handy and look at it daily to keep your eye on the prize.

Goal Setting to Improve Personal Performance is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Some artists say it’s nearly impossible to be successful on Etsy. That’s because Etsy officials say there are about 400,000 active Etsy sellers. Active sellers are people who have sold products on the site within the past year. The competition is particularly tough for those who choose to create in popular categories like jewelry.

There are other online marketplaces for crafters and artists if Etsy seems too tough. Other sites are SuperMarket and Artsefest. You could also sell your crafts and art at a local craft show. Or talk with an art studio about showing some of your work. Even if you don’t end up selling your crafts, they could still save you money. Give them away as gifts for a low cost alternative to giving store bought items.

Is it Possible to Turn Your Hobby into a Money-Maker? is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

1. MissingMoney.com: Bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, mutual funds, uncashed checks, utility deposits, escrow accounts and more.
2. Unclaimed.org: $32.877 billion in forgotten assets.
3. PBBC.gov: Unclaimed pension benefits.
4. IRS.gov: Unclaimed tax refunds.
5. TreasuryDirect.gov: Uncashed savings bonds.

All of these searches are free and take just a few minutes. You’ll need to put in basic information including your name and social security number. CBS News says it varies from state to state, but if you discover that some money is owed to you you should receive it within a few weeks. “The Early Show” says a lot of viewers found money ranging from $10 to several hundred. After the segment on missing money aired, the website MissingMoney.com saw an increase of two million searches on their website with about 85,000 people finding unclaimed money.

CBS News Helps Thousands Find Missing Money is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

* I will be your personal assistant for 1 hour for $5
* I will record you a rap/hip hop song for $5
* I will write 5 comments with SEO backlinks to your site for $5
* I will convert your baby into animal costume for $5
* I will design flash intros for your site for $5
* I will send a shout out of your website to 19,000+ people for $5

As you can see, the posts range from practical to obscure. If you find a service that sounds like a good deal, simply contact the seller, explain what you want them to do and pay them $5 for their work through PayPal. If you’re using the site to make money, beware that despite the assumption that you’ll make $5, you actually will only make $4. The website keeps $1 for themselves as a service fee. The site started in December of 2009 and already it appears that a lot of people are using this as a way to earn extra cash or for finding cheap labor.

Earn Extra Cash $5 at a Time is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

* Try SnagAJob.com. It’s a great resource for people who are looking for hourly employment. It can be a great place for your teen to start their search.
* Help them prepare. If you’ve never had a job interview, the process can be scary. Help your teen prepare by going through a few mock interviews.
* Apply often. Don’t let your teen get their heart set on working at one place. They’ll learn great skills just going through the interview process even if they don’t get hired.
* Hit the faithful locations. Fast food joints, grocery stores and some clothing stores are known for hiring teens. Make sure these make it on your teen’s list of places to apply.
* Think out of the box. Plenty of businesses need help with social media. And often this is an area that today’s teens excel. Help them to focus on some unique services they can offer local businesses.
* Consider the family business. If the competition is too tough, working at the family business may be a good option for your teen. They’ll get experience which may help them stand out from the crowd in the future.

Need a Summer Job? Start Now is a post from: Out of Debt - Christian Finances and Debt Help

Right from the beginning, Ramsey says you should be specific about the type of person you are looking for and what the position pays. He says it’s a big waste of everyone’s time when you’re not upfront about compensation. He also says what you’re selling is not a job, but an opportunity to do something that matters. In any position, you should be able to find a reason why it is important work.

The interview process is key for finding the right people for your team. Initially, interviews should be no longer than 30 minutes and you should let the interviewee do most of the talking. Here are Ramsey’s 12 steps for making sure you get the right person for the position:

1. Pray
2. Define the job in written form
3. Review the resume
4. Have them take a personality test
5. Determine if you like them
6. Find out if they’re passionate about it- do they light up when talking about this position?
7. Talk about compensation and benefits
8. Review their personal budget to make sure that they could live on what you plan to pay them
9. Follow up with references
10. “Interview” their spouse, take them out to dinner
11. Review company and personal mission statements
12. Put them on a 90 day probation

Once hired, if the person doesn’t perform to your expectations figure out if it’s an education problem, a character issue, of if they’re lazy. Give them more grace because that is what you would want and remember that incompetence isn’t evil– we’re all incompetent at something.

The Dave Ramsey Way: Hiring the Right People for Your Team 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