The Giving Challenge Update

A month ago, I wrote about being challenged to be a better giver for 90 days. Well I am finally here to report whats been going on in my life since I have challenged myself a bit more this new year.

1. Hosting fpu became official (My first class)

2. My Pastor gave me permission to advertise the class at church and the church staff have been amazingly helpful with this process.

3. My very good friend who owns a local news paper gave me FREE AD space for an entire month to promote my class. I may even have some live coverage of my preview class by the media which is very exciting!!

4. I have learned more about how to pray and how to stand on my faith.

5. My friends are being very good supporters of me when I really need them the most.

6. I had a car break down scare and it turned out to be nothing major.

7. When my car broke down I was just around the corner from my house so I walked right home.

8. New years eve was amazingly fun and I had some great quality time with my family over the holidays.

9. Work is going great and I am much more happy to be there and working towards getting there on time!

10. I paid cash money to get the FPU class of the ground on top of slashing my paycheck in half for paying off debt.

These are just some things that are happening in my life and I am very excited about the next 2 months. If you haven't gotten in on this giving challenge I dare you to just try it and you won't regret it!!

Operation Organize My Life

The pile of mess you see is an accumulation of the past 4 years, doesn't look like a lot but trust me it is. Since I will be hosting financial peace university in a few weeks, I felt it was important to get my home life organized, so that I don't become overwhelmed with class, work and hair school.

The plan is to separate all my documents into important vs non important and put them all into a file. I want to get all my tax documents together as well as everything pertaining to my rental home.

This process is way over due and it makes me anxious even looking at the pile of stuff but it must be done!

How do you stay organized?

The Case For Stay at Home Mothers

So if you haven't heard I want to be a stay at home mom. Now before you get all worked up about it let me clarify that I do intend to work, just not in the traditional sense.

I didn't use to want a big family until this past year, but the decision to stay at home was decided when I realized I could afford to two years ago . In fact it's one of the main reasons for getting out of debt. Even though I'm no where near becoming a mother yet, I wanted to make a case for the ones that already are (by choice). As I have talked to many of my girlfriends, they believe that you MUST work and there is no way you can't be at home with kids.

I believe this to be untrue and let me tell ya why. One, Lifestyle plays a big part in being able to stay at home. That means, no 250,000 homes, no fancy cars, or decked out wardrobes. I decided that once I became a mother none of that "Stuff" would ever mean more than my children do. Do I want nice stuff? sure but I won't sacrifice my kids time with me vs a day care, or their college funds. Two, Day care cost way to much!! Most people don't factor in all expenses when deciding to work a traditional job or stay home. If your not an avid budgeting guru you could spend way more in food, clothing, gas and other "gotta have its" during the processes of keeping your child in day care. Eventually it all adds up to my entire check, why do that when I could cut back and save by staying home with them.

Lastly on my list im lazy!! (kidding). Its a very rewarding thing. I don't want to live my life working and missing out on those precious moments my children will have while I am at work all day, its just not worth it.

Currently I am In the process of paying off my debt and obtaining training in fields that will allow me to still work as an entrepreneur, making my own hours and care for my kids. Its such an exciting feeling, now all I have to do is convince the man in my life that this is the way to go.

So what do you think, should all women stay in the workforce? Is being a sahm much more valueable than a steady paycheck? Would you be willing to cut back a life style to care for little ones or do you feel you were born to work so thats just the way it is?

Overdraft Fee Bluez

So I have been reading about this new bill being passed about stopping banks from charging fee's for over drafting bank accounts. While I think this is totally ridiculous (though im not for banks) I still don't find it feasible that the government should have to step in a save people from themselves. Are the fee's ridiculous? absolutely but people need to learn a lesson called accountability for there own money. U.S. banks will collect a record $38.5 billion in overdraft fees this year, according to a recent CNN Money article. These overdraft fees accounted for more than 75 percent of service fees charged on customer deposits. As I researched this topic a little more I discovered what the banks actually are charging people.

Bank of America : When you do not have enough available funds in your account to cover an item, and we decline or return the item unpaid (a returned item), we charge a $35 NSF: Returned Item Fee.

Chase Bank : The first overdraft within a 12-month period is charged at $25, the second the fourth at $32 and the fifth at $35.

Suntrust Bank: Charges the highest overdraft fee for a single overdraft at $36, according to to the Consumer Federation of America

Citizens Bank : Charges a $39 fee after three overdraft items and follows with two separate "sustained" overdraft fees for repeat offender

So what can we do to protect ourselves against these fee's? Simple, you must do a budget, know whats coming in a going out each month. Write how much money you have at the top of a sheet of paper and write down what you are going to do with it.

Sounds simple I know but so many people are spending money they don't have that it is costing them hundreds of dollars a year. Its time to start being responsible with our money and stop being lazy. Balancing a check book is just as important as waking up on time for work so lets not continue to neglect this area of our lives. Pledge today to never be a victim of overdraft fee's ever again because you are an adult who knows how to manage money.

Validating a Debt

Here is a letter I found from the credit info center website, if you need to verify an account. Please remember any letters sent to creditors must be certified return receipt requested, This way you can verify they received the letter and also keep track of how long it takes to get a response.

Dear creditor

Under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act, I am allowed to challenge the validity of a debt
that a collection agency states I owe to them. Keep a copy for your files and send the letter registered mail.

Your Name
123 Your Street Address
Your City, ST 01234

ABC Collections
123 NotOnYourLife Ave
Chicago, IL

Date:

Re: Acct # XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is being sent to you in response to a notice sent to me on September 30, 2002). Be advised that this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.

This is NOT a request for “verification” or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.

Please provide me with the following:

• What the money you say I owe is for;
• Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
• Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
• Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;
• Identify the original creditor;
• Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account
• Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state
• Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent

  These questions should be answered also

  Who is the current owner of this alleged debt?
  
  Who is the original creditor for this alleged debt?
  
  If [NCO/AIS] is the current owner, when was it purchased?
  
  Who was it purchased from?
  
  Have you assigned the alleged debt to another entity for collection?
  
  If so, who?
  
  If [NCO/AIS] has sold or otherwise transferred this alleged debt, to whom was it sold and when.

  At this time I will also inform you that if your offices have reported invalidated information to any of the 3 major Credit Bureau’s (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) this action might constitute fraud under both Federal and State Laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found on any of my credit reports by your company or the company that you represent I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you for the following:

  • Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
  • Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
  • Defamation of Character

  If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested in the following Declaration, I will require at least 30 days to investigate this information and during such time all collection activity must cease and desist.

  Also during this validation period, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to any of my credit reports, I will consult with my legal counsel for suit. This includes any listing any information to a credit reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated or verifying an account as accurate when in fact there is no provided proof that it is.

  If your offices fail to respond to this validation request within 30 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my credit file and a copy of such deletion request shall be sent to me immediately.

  I would also like to request, in writing, that no telephone contact be made by your offices to my home or to my place of employment. If your offices attempt telephone communication with me, including but not limited to computer generated calls and calls or correspondence sent to or with any third parties, it will be considered harassment and I will have no choice but to file suit. All future communications with me MUST be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter by USPS.

  It would be advisable that you assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action. This is an attempt to correct your records, any information obtained shall be used for that purpose.

  Best Regards,

  Your Signature
  Your Name

Letter To a Creditor

Dear Creditor,

Its been a while since we have spoken. I know I have been avoiding your calls for some time now. You know its not that I don't want to talk to you, its just that every time one of your representatives call my house they are so rude. I know I owe you money, and I intend to pay you back, soon as I get a job and make enough money to feed my family. Last week you called my house and threatened to take me to court and garish my bank account. While I appreciate your enthusiasm Its unfortunate that you won't be collecting this time around.

You see you have fallen below the yellow line this month. I realized that when I did my budget I had to first feed my family, keep a roof over their heads, make sure they had lights and heat. When I got to the end of the money there was nothing left to give you. I do hope you understand this and don't take offense because its nothing personal, I do all my creditors this way. Now that I know my rights I won't continue to allow you to harassment me day in and day out. You can't harm my family with your tactics and you cannot convince me any longer that YOU come before them. So you say you can hurt my credit, well go ahead, turns out I won't be borrowing money ever again so I guess it doesn't even matter. I do however want you to know that I am a person of integrity and I intend to pay you back as soon as I am able to, after all I did purchase that flat screen, dvd player, digital camera and laptop with YOUR money.

Again, I thank you for calling me checking up on me and I hope to talk to you soon. Please though, don't call me I will call you......

Sincerely,
Mikki

The Nguzo Saba # 6 & 7 Kuumba Creativity & Imani Faith

So I totally missed yesterday but no need to fret because there is still today and two in one is better than none!!

Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

December 31, 2009 was a great day as 5 churches celebrated the new year, it couldn't have represented both of these principles better. We celebrated a collective effort working together to bring forth Gods glory even in the midst of several denominations we all set out to have one common goal, community. As we end the celebration we remember all seven principles that represent one thing which is helping each other advance. Also we remember that with out faith nothing can be done for faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I believe this will be an amazing blessed year for my finances and spiritual growth. As I have stated many many times that when I changed my habits financially everything around me also changed. I can not thank God enough for what he has done for me, restoring my faith and allowing me to return to him as a child of God. My prayer for everyone in this new year is that we will become better people than the year before, we will reach out to those in need, and teach one another the things we have learned be it out accomplishments and failures.

I now know what its like to live full in the Christ and there is NO WAY I am turning back!! Let 2010 be a beautiful one for all of my family friends and bloggers who share one common goal, educating each other and loving one another.

Happy New Year!!