 My dear sweet sister is a dedicated mom, sister, and auntie who has a career as a nurse at Children’s Hospital. She’s also 14-years clean from drugs and alcohol.
I am amazed when I talk with her and listen to some of the steps and challenges she takes to continue to live a substance-free life. Ironically, much of what she’s shared with me about being drug-free relates heavily to being financially free. Just like being drug free, it’s easy to stay free for a while, but how does a person stay that way? Making financial changes are a lot the same way. It’s easy to save money for a while, to slow down on the lattes and mimosas, salon visits and stay-cations, handbags and hair-dos. But old habits die hard, and those weekly Target runs are hard to stop. I know. Here are a few lessons my sister has taught me along the way: 1. Don’t Make a Reservation to FailMy sister would often say that some people are “making a reservation to fail.” Drug users often make excuses to get high. “Life is tough and I can’t take it.” “I need an escape.” “They did me wrong.” “I was abused as a child.” “I can’t get over the hurt.” Excuses produce failure. They are nothing more than a reason to fail. An excuse is worse than a lie, because an excuse is a lie that you are guarding. When we make unnecessary purchases, we’re often justify it by telling ourselves that we deserve it. “Everybody else has one. Why them and not me? “I will pay it off with my next check.” “I will start saving next month.” “I work too hard not to have what I want.” “My children will have more than me.” Excuses are not reasons to buy. Remember, if you keep thinking about an item, you are more likely to buy it. So, don’t even think about. Don’t make a reservation to fail. Don’t think about those things you know you can’t afford or shouldn’t have. If you have made a dedicated commitment to save X number of dollars per month, then you can’t go to the store to look. Perhaps you can’t go on vacation this year. Maybe you should go shopping in your own closet. I don’t care if the item is on sale, once you commit to stop buying your word to yourself is “No.” Keep your promise to yourself. Stuff ain’t chasing you, you are chasing stuff. 2. If You Don’t Touch It, It Won’t Touch YouMy sister would also say to me, “If you don’t touch it, it won’t touch you.” Drugs don’t come to your house, knock on the door, and say “Hey go get some money, let’s go get high.” Nope -- you’ve gotta go to the drugs. You have got to make a decision. Shopping and wasteful spending is like that drug. That $60.000 car, didn’t call you up. That Chanel purse, didn’t jump on your arm. The fact that you maxed out your credit card on eating out didn’t chase you down. An iPhone 10 didn’t make you buy it. You did it; you made a choice to make the purchase. So, don’t touch it and I promise it won’t touch you. Stay away. Leave it alone, and it will leave you alone. 3. One is Too Many and a Thousand is Never EnoughIf a person thinks just one more hit will be OK, they are wrong. Not even one hit is acceptable. Your desire for STUFF is no different. We don’t have 1 pair of shoes, we have hundreds. And event with our hundreds of shoes, we can still go into a store, walk over to the shoe department and claim that we need those shoes. We don’t need them. We want them. We never have enough. Until we come to terms with enough is enough, one more will never be enough. I asked my sister why she uses the term RECOVERING drug user. She said, “because you never graduate. You will always be in recovery. There is no end.” You can never go back to what you used to do, so the journey will continue forever. I have never heard one of these new credit clean-up companies say that they will fix your thinking. You can get your credit fixed every other year, but if you don’t change your thinking about money, about your resources, about living beneath your means on a continual basis, you will never be free. You will never be in total recovery. Change your mind, and your money will follow.  Everybody wants it now, and everybody needs it yesterday -- instant results.
Well, cleaning your credit is never a quick fix. I know, I know -- your cousin’s best friend told you that they can clean your credit in a quick month for a few hundred dollars -- no problem. Don’t believe the hype. But not to worry - although there’s no magic formula for a credit quick-fix, there are a few things that you can do to you see big changes, fast. Here are a few tips: 1. Pull your credit score and your credit report know and get familiar with what you’ve got to deal with. A good credit score is considered to be over 720. I know what you’re thinking; “I already know my credit score is damaged and I’m afraid to see it.” But the only way to get better is to know where you’re starting. Knowing your credit score is like stepping on the scale after not working out for a while -- it’s a little frightening at first, but comforting to know what you’re dealing with. You might feel a long ways away from 720 right now, but with a little bit of mindfulness, consistency and care, your score can get there. We recommend using www.annualcreditreport.com for the best results. 2. If you have credit cards, ALWAYS pay on time. Thirty-five percent of your score depends on you paying on-time. Did you know that being 30 days late can show a decrease in your score by up to 90 points? That’s a big deal! 3. Never go over 30% of your available credit. If you have a Visa with a line of credit of $1000.00, you should never use over $300.00. Although you have the ability to use the entire line, don’t do it! When you use over 30% of your availability, it your credit score is reduced. Note: your utilization is based on the average of all your credit cards. 4. Your score increases when you have a variety of open credit. Lenders typically like to see that you've used a variety of accounts responsibly. For example, my credit score was 820 when I left corporate America to start this ministry. After I paying off my car, my credit cards, and school loans, my credit score dropped 40 points. I called, asked why, and they said because I no longer have a variety of debt. No worries! If you are still in the mid 700’s don’t worry about having a variety. Have at least 2 major credit cards. This will also boost your credit. Remember to build credit, you need to have credit. If you have trouble getting a credit card, go get a secured card. Check out this website to see some of the best secured credit card options. #5. If you are just beginning to build your credit, see if you can become an authorized user on a family member's credit card. If you have mom, dad, sister, brother, or know someone who has excellent credit on a credit card, you can become an authorized user and their excellent credit will then be reflective on your credit score. The good news? You will not be responsible for their debt Bad News? If they become past due on the credit card, that past due reporting will also be reflective on your credit report and score. You can do it -- you can build your credit! Focus, be determined, and build your score! Learn how to manage your mind, and your money will follow…
A great resource for money management and credit counseling classes throughout the Dallas area is the Texas Workforce Commission and the City of Dallas Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas program. Classes are held in their centers all over the area including in Dallas, Irving, and Grand Prairie, * Generally, these are PUBLIC and FREE classes (except as noted) June 5, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – GRAND PRAIRIE CENTER 801 SOUTH STATE HWY 161, BANK OF AMERICA BLDG, SUITE 500 GRAND PRAIRIE, TX 75050 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm June 13, 2018 (Wednesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – SOUTHWEST CENTER 7330 S. WESTMORELAND, SUITE 200 DALLAS, TX 75237 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm June 18, 2018 (Monday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – PRESTON AT ALPHA WORKFORCE CENTER 5955 ALPHA ROAD, #200 DALLAS, TEXAS 75240 SEMINARS: 10:00am-1:00pm June 27, 2018 (Wednesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – IRVING CENTER 2520 W. IRVING BLVD. SUITE 100-BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING IRVING, TX 75061 SEMINARS: 10:00am – 1:00pm June 12, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – OPPORTUNITY WORKFORCE CENTER 1610 MALCOLM X BOULEVARD, SUITE 201 DALLAS, TX 75226 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm June 21, 2018 (Thursday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – GARLAND WORKFORCE CENTER 217 N TENTH STREET GARLAND, TX 75040 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm June 19, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – MESQUITE WORKFORCE CENTER 2110 N Galloway Avenue MESQUITE, TX 75150 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm June 14, 2018 (Thursday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS - PLEASANT GROVE 1125 S. BUCKNER ST. DALLAS, TX 75217 SEMINARS: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Learn how to manage your mind, and your money will follow…
A great resource for money management and credit counseling classes throughout the Dallas area is the Texas Workforce Commission and the City of Dallas Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas program. Classes are held in their centers all over the area including in Dallas, Irving, and Grand Prairie, * Generally, these are PUBLIC and FREE classes (except as noted) March 6, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – GRAND PRAIRIE CENTER 801 SOUTH STATE HWY 161, BANK OF AMERICA BLDG, SUITE 500 GRAND PRAIRIE, TX 75050 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm March 14, 2018 (Wednesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – SOUTHWEST CENTER 7330 S. WESTMORELAND, SUITE 200 DALLAS, TX 75237 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm March 19, 2018 (Monday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – PRESTON AT ALPHA WORKFORCE CENTER 5955 ALPHA ROAD, #200 DALLAS, TEXAS 75240 SEMINARS: 10:00am-1:00pm March 28, 2018 (Wednesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – IRVING CENTER 2520 W. IRVING BLVD. SUITE 100-BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING IRVING, TX 75061 SEMINARS: 10:00am – 1:00pm March 20, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – OPPORTUNITY WORKFORCE CENTER 1610 MALCOLM X BOULEVARD, SUITE 201 DALLAS, TX 75226 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm March 8, 2018 (Thursday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – GARLAND WORKFORCE CENTER 217 N TENTH STREET GARLAND, TX 75040 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm March 20, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – MESQUITE WORKFORCE CENTER 2110 N Galloway Avenue MESQUITE, TX 75150 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm  Learn how to manage your mind, and your money will follow…
A great resource for money management and credit counseling classes throughout the Dallas area is the Texas Workforce Commission and the City of Dallas Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas program. Classes are held in their centers all over the area including in Dallas, Irving, and Grand Prairie, * Generally, these are PUBLIC and FREE classes (except as noted) February 6, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – GRAND PRAIRIE CENTER 801 SOUTH STATE HWY 161, BANK OF AMERICA BLDG, SUITE 500 GRAND PRAIRIE, TX 75050 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm February 14, 2018 (Wednesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – SOUTHWEST CENTER 7330 S. WESTMORELAND, SUITE 200 DALLAS, TX 75237 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm February 26, 2018 (Monday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – PRESTON AT ALPHA WORKFORCE CENTER 5955 ALPHA ROAD, #200 DALLAS, TEXAS 75240 SEMINARS: 10:00am-1:00pm February 28, 2018 (Wednesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – IRVING CENTER 2520 W. IRVING BLVD. SUITE 100-BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING IRVING, TX 75061 SEMINARS: 10:00am – 1:00pm February 20, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – OPPORTUNITY WORKFORCE CENTER 1610 MALCOLM X BOULEVARD, SUITE 201 DALLAS, TX 75226 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm February 8, 2018 (Thursday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – GARLAND WORKFORCE CENTER 217 N TENTH STREET GARLAND, TX 75040 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm February 20, 2018 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – MESQUITE WORKFORCE CENTER 2110 N Galloway Avenue MESQUITE, TX 75150 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm Learn how to manage your mind, and your money will follow…
A great resource for money management and credit counseling classes throughout the Dallas area is the Texas Workforce Commission and the City of Dallas Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas program. Classes are held in their centers all over the area including in Dallas, Irving, and Grand Prairie, * Generally, these are PUBLIC and FREE classes (except as noted) December 5, 2017 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – GRAND PRAIRIE CENTER 801 SOUTH STATE HWY 161, BANK OF AMERICA BLDG, SUITE 500 (map) GRAND PRAIRIE, TX 75050 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm December 13, 2017 (Wednesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – SOUTHWEST CENTER 7330 S. WESTMORELAND, SUITE 200 (map) DALLAS, TX 75237 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm December 18, 2017, (Monday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – PRESTON AT ALPHA WORKFORCE CENTER 5955 ALPHA ROAD, #200 (map) DALLAS, TEXAS 75240 SEMINARS: 10:00am-1:00pm December 27, 2017 (Wednesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – IRVING CENTER 2520 W. IRVING BLVD. SUITE 100-BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING (map) IRVING, TX 75061 SEMINARS: 10:00am – 1:00pm December 19, 2017 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – OPPORTUNITY WORKFORCE CENTER 1610 MALCOLM X BOULEVARD, SUITE 201 (map) DALLAS, TX 75226 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm NEW LOCATION: December 14, 2017 (Thursday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – GARLAND WORKFORCE CENTER 217 N TENTH STREET (map) GARLAND, TX 75040 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm NEW LOCATION: December 19, 2017 (Tuesday) Center Name: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – MESQUITE WORKFORCE CENTER 2110 N Galloway Avenue (map) MESQUITE, TX 75150 SEMINARS: 1:00pm – 4:00pm IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Until further notice, seminars are no longer being held at the WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – TOWNE MARKET CENTER, 3402 N. BUCKNER location.
Don’t Be Tricked
I set the alarm clock for 2 a.m. Sure enough 2 a.m. sharp I hear beep beep beep. I shake my husband and ask, “Are you going with me?” He laughs…”heck nooooo! Are you really going?” he says. “Yes!” I say with total excitement, “It’s going be a lot of great sales!” He said “ok, be careful”, and rolled over back to sleep. I stumble out of bed, get my jacket, my purse, my sales papers, and hit the door. First stop, Walmart, it is as busy as free ticket day for the Super Bowl. I get in there, and just as you’d know it, that great priced TV was gone. People are running around like ants, so I join the party. Wherever people were running, that’s where I went. It was a frenzy. I have been stirred up for this night for weeks by Television ads, Radio promotions, and Newspaper circulars. Did it work? Yep! Prov 27:20b The eyes of man is never satisfied That was about 8 years ago. A few years ago, I spent Thanksgiving in Georgia with the In-laws. I went with my Sister-in-law to a mall. We waited outside, in the cold, for hours for boots that were on sale. You may ask yourself why? Well, it’s simple… I just got caught up in the chaos. Now I’m older (in financial terms) and I’m wiser. I now realize it’s a trick. Its intent is to get me ready to spend, to shop, and to be a part of what retailers deem, a natural part of the holiday season. Spend, Buy, and Purchase, no matter what. The goal is profit. Black Friday was created in 1966 in Philadelphia by a department store that gave away stamps. Now, this tradition has morphed into an established, clever strategy, riddled with trickery. Eph 4:14 ISV Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray You’ve got your…..
Stop the Madness! Here are a few “Stay” Tips:
1 Cor 13:11 New Living Translation >When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
 Don’t Settle for Inappropriate Bad Company
Wait for Who and What God has for you! Don’t worry about Looking a certain way. You will spend a lot of money and time attempting to fit in. You are wonderfully and beautifully made. When you fully realize that you won’t spend so much time on accumulating stuff that won’t satisfy that inner longing, you’ll realize it’s only stuff. (Psalm 139:14-16) Wait for who God has for you. Don’t settle, and don’t use trinkets and things to gain friendship and love. Don’t give your money, your time or yourself away. (Psalm 119:9-10)Speaking of things that God has for you. He loves you, and wants the best for you. So, don’t waste time. Use time according to God’s instruction. Go straight to college continue and go as far as God allows. Knowledge is never wasted. Enjoy your younger days, it will be the least amount of worry and responsibility you will ever have. (Pro 3:3-15) Be Dogmatic in Saving for Your Future Don’t use your money on stuff that doesn’t last and doesn’t matter. (Psalm 119:36-37) At 25 years of age you will buy a mink coat. You paid over $10,000 for that coat over 30 years ago. I did some calculating. Had we put away that $10,000, and not saved another penny, from the age of 25 until today, we would have saved an extra $96,683.79 .* Girl, can you believe that! Seek the Word of God concerning good stewardship. He has so much to say about money and things. Go places, See the world, and give to those who are in need. You’ll see, it is indeed a pleasure to give. (2 Cor 9:6-8) Don’t Care, Don’t Covet, Don’t Crave, Don’t Conform Focus on Godly things. If you focus on things that matter, you will save money, time, energy and hardship. Know that all this other stuff will burn. After a few years you will see that all the things you’ve acquired won’t mean anything. You won’t even remember them. (Titus 2:11-12) (Romans 12:1-2) Now Rochelle, you were very wasteful in some situations. Pray before you purchase. If you already have one (of an item), you don’t need another 50. Enough is enough Pumpkin. ( Pro 6:6-8) (Pro 21:5)In closing, I love you so much. I love you enough to allow the creator of everything to tell you, control you, and direct you in every facet of your life. God knows what’s best for you. God wants the best for you.( Jer 29:11-13) Remember Three Things: #1. Listen to the Holy Spirit. #2. Follow God’s word in regard to Stewardship. #3. Keep your word to yourself. Bless you. Love you. Me. Note: Others who read this–Write your financial story to your younger self. Share it with the young people in your life. |
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