September 2012
This publication is made possible by:
AprilandDemcember Christian Life 365
Issuu.com
Published Using
Publishing Rights
From the Desk © Publishing Rose.studio6@yahoo.com President
Rosanna Christopher rchristopher@circleofbelievers.com
Editor
Rosanna Christopher
Contributing Writers
Wylea Miller Ann Christopher George Christopher
Account Executives
Rosanna Christopher Ann Christopher
Neither Issuu ® nor Microsoft ® Office 365 are sponsors or paid endorsements. These shout out’s were for free!!
April And December September 2012
3
Credits Image Credits:
The About Bar:
Cover Image: “money stack” 123rf.com; “economic symbols” from opengraphicsdesign.com Intro Image (from top to bottom) “money stack” and “community; from 123rf.com; Departments
From top to bottom: 123rf.com; Shutterstock.com; clicker.com
Focus on Living “Swirl” from Blingcheese.com Tools for life : Techno Money background from yaymicro.com; App photos from Google Play app store; Walgreens, Sonic and Zaxby’s from official sites. Page 11 Ad “Orange Honeycomb Background” from Shinytinfoil.com
Ann Christopher for Answers from Ann: Ann Christopher who’s maiden name is Owens is married to Pastor George Christopher of Rossville GA. She is the first lady of Midway Independent Christian church and is also the creative talent behind “Divine Manna”, and also a contributing writer for “Tools for living”.
Answers from Ann Female with glasses clipart from Clipartof.com What you said “Big mouth” from canstockphotos.com; Hummer washout from carz96.com; iPhone 4 washout from ilounge.com; Handcuffs from floreyinsurance.com Words “talking orange from clicker.com Who’s Counting From top to bottom: “ATM” from
sfweekly.com; “Orange tree”
from 123rf.com; “Snickers bar” from candystands.net; “Bank Header” from Authursclipart.org. Return on Investment “Blackboard” from 123rf.com as used on smashinghub.com
Wylea Miller for Sister’s Sweets: Wylea is a college student who also works at a preschool in Ringgold Ga. She is a sales associate at Cato Fashions in Fort Oglethorpe and is a partner in the Sister’s Sweets Bakery business. She attends Life Restoration in Ft. Oglethorpe and is a supporter of Studio6Network.
Copy and paste all items sourced are credited in the article Don’t mind if I do Money boarder from 123rf.com Go Organized all items sourced are credited in the article Snatch “Roberto Cavalli Fall/ Winter 2012 outfit” from robertocavalli.com Page 29 ad Pandora logo from Pandora site; “Headphones” from clicker.com The name is…
Picture of Jason Upton from Jasonupton.com
I think they like me All images form 123rf.com; Around the Web “relationship graph” from thumbs.gograph.com; Images clockwise from top: “Blue phone” from radheart.com; ‘green question mark’ from clicker.com; ‘magic wand’ from canstockphoto.com; “burning money’ from cliquen.org;; ‘purple dollar sign’ from spreadshirt.com Out and About air plane from clicker.com; theater masks and movie tickets from 123rf.com
Tiffany Alcott is a Financial Professional Advisor out of Knoxville Tennessee. The mother of two and wife of an accountant, enjoys lending her tips and advice to working mothers especially single mothers. This is her first time writing for a publication.
-A letter from the e-Editor: And the world goes round This issue is tough. It drilled into each individual who touched it. Money is one of those issues that will make even the strongest man weak. It a playing field that is so unlevel that it is hard to keep balanced. We wanted to give you practical and sound advice on how to save money, spend money and view money. We address the common subjects that come to mind when you say “Christianity and Money” in the same sentence. Our ‘Answers from Ann’ column addresses tithing and bankruptcy. Other feature articles give you information about credit counseling and money saving tips. This issue even gives you advice on how to apply and interview for those scarce jobs. We wanted to make this issue count…pun definitely intended. As you read down the lists of do’s, don’ts, tips and tricks, I hope you start to think more about your financial state. I know you are probably saying “I think about it every day!” While I am sure you do, you probably are thinking about how little of it you have. To ease the pain of this economic situation, we also recreate outfits and give you a little humor with our Words and What you said columns…because laughter is free. I challenge you to think, not about how little you have, but how to use what you have more wisely and cautiously. We are not going to jump on the TV preacher’s band wagon and y “Do as we say God will make you rich.” No, instead we will say “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” We may not be money rich, but we are rich in the grace of God and the hope that abounds us.
-Rose
April And December September 2012
5
Departments
In Every Issue Living Matters Focus on Living
7
Tools for Living
8
POP: Money
10
Word of Mouth Answers from Ann
12
What you said
15
Who’s Counting
16
Words
17
Life and Style Organized Go
20
Copy and Paste
24
Scene Stealer
26
Penciled in Out and about
31
Around the Web
32
Spotlight
Tastefully Done Sasso
35
The name is: Jason Upton 27
Focus on Living: Nothing to lose -R. Christopher
When I started thinking about the directions to go in for this focus, it was hard to pinpoint one certain angle. There are so many directions we could take this, but seeing how this is deep enough water as it is, we will say that honesty is the best policy and explore the simplest of truths concerning needs. Money, finance and survival are touchy subjects in the middle of this economic breakdown. We will steer clear of t.v. ministry speech about how buying a prayer cloth, statue or book work will make you filthy rich. We’ll start instead acknowledging that you don’t have to be dirt poor to serve God. On the other side of that coin, (no pun intended) being better off than most doesn’t get you a first class ticket to hell either. When you take a look at Psalm 34:10 and Psalm 37:25 the words of David make it very clear that while God may not give you everything you want, He will supply everything you need. We need only be rich in spirit. Trusting and leaning on God’s word means that you are open to receive every blessing he has for you, whether it is basic or extravagant! Further evidence of this is Matthew 6:31-33. It says “Do not worry saying, “What shall we eat?” or “what shall we drink?” or “what shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” The real key to unlocking faith in this time of economic crisis is really the last verse. “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” The “these things” portion is the mystery behind seed faith. Peace that surpasses all understanding, joy that is literally unspeakable, and hope for a very uncertain tomorrow. We don’t need to worry so much about how to make the ends me. We can truly count it all joy that God has really given us nothing to lose and all to gain. Our souls are His, and He is our portion.
April And December September 2012
7
Whether it’s finding the cheapest gas prices or getting a large drink from your local drive in for under a dollar, you can be sure of is there is an app for that! With money tight we need not look any farther than our smart phones and 4G mobile devices. If you want your phone to not only be smart but save you money too, here is a list of app types you should seek out.
Download a barcode scanner: With either the QR scanner for your iPhone or the Zxing Team Barcode scanner from the Android market, you can scan a barcode and get price comparisons on just about any item. You also have access to reviews on certain products.
Don't forget to text: You have to save money where it counts and that even means on eating out. Places like Zaxby’s and Sonic have by text sign ups that let you get exclusive deals on menu items. Just look around or ask as some stores have the same program.
Download a coupon app: Apps like Coupon IQ for iPhone and Grocery Smarts for Droid help you comparison shop and send coupons straight to your phone. You can also download apps like ‘The coupon App’ that let you source coupons for restaurants and department stores too.
Download a business or drugstore app: It’s always helpful to have a department store app. If you pick up prescriptions regularly, you may find your drug store app helpful. Both Wal-Mart and Walgreens apps let you scan barcodes from another store to see if it is cheaper at their store. You can also opt in to receive sale notices.
September 2012
Get directions by price: Apps such as Poynt or Where can guide you by price. Just tell the app what you want to find the best price on and wala, you’ve got directions to saving money!
“But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.” – Job 5:1616
“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” -Psalm 37:16
“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will straighten out almost every other area in his life.” –Billy Graham
“Good nature is worth more than knowledge, more than money, more than honor to the persons who posses it.” – Henry Ward Beecher
Dear Lord, we struggle every day to make ends meet. Many times we fall down on our needs and responsibilities in order to get instant gratification from the frills and wants in life. Help us to be more responsible with the blessings you have given us. Not just money, but with all of your possessions you have lent us for a while. Help us to be more generous, more giving and more compassionate. Lead us to a place where we give, not out of want but out of love and kindness. Help us Lord to be more of a living sacrificing as you are. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
Studio6Network
Circleofbelievers.com
“Less Religion, More Personal”
“Christian Life as it happens, the way it happens”
“Small in number,
“Baked with Love”
Big in heart”
April And December September 2012
11
Answers from Ann! Let’s talk about cash advances, bankruptcy and tithing shall we? Dear Ann; I am a single 28 year old woman with no children. I had a habit of spending money before I’d even get it. I am really trying to work at getting my self out of the debt I’ve dug myself into and it is going okay except for one thing. I find myself being behind on certain bills and sometimes my rent because of the finance charges on a payday loan I can’t seem to get out of. Any advice? I’m up to the max amount of $450 and it seems impossible to not rewrite every time. What can I do to end this? -Maxed out on Interest, Knoxville, TN Dear Maxed out: Are you sure you aren’t my daughter trying to write me anonymously? I’m just kidding! However, my real daughter (she’s probably blogged this already so it’s okay that I disclose!) recently went thru the same thing. She could have asked us for help, but instead, she made arrangements with her land lord and worked out a payment agreement so she could push the payment back and get completely out of the advance. I am not sure of your pay schedule but if it is bi weekly and you use one check for rent and the other for utilities, this could be a great option for you. Another thing this depends on is your absolute honesty with your landlord. Prayerfully, my daughter has a wonderful land lord who understood the situation when she contacted him. What she did is forgo the rent at the beginning of the month and pay utilities. This meant that she had used the previous check for utilities already. She just paid them again in advance.
The light bill was a little tricky, but everything else was a set payment. She then explained to her landlord she would use the following check, which would have been utilities, to get out of her loan. Then she would use the next two checks to pay her rent. This meant he would get two rent checks back to back because she had paid utilities back to back and had the following month covered. If your land lord or your schedule of pay is not as forgiving, you may be able to talk to the pay advance company about options they have. The one my daughter used had a payment program which allowed her to pay 20% of the loan each payday until it was paid off. Yours may have the same or similar options. If you have family that understand your situation and see your efforts to crawl out of debts clutches, you may ask them to help you pay one of the installments so you can make your rent on time. However, if you don’t feel as though you can pay them back later, don’t offer too. This can ruin their positive outlook on your efforts if you promise to pay and then retract. I really hope this helps. I want to applaud you for your efforts to get a grip of your finances especially by being in your late 20’s. Most women don’t try to clean that up until much later in life. I wish you success and you have my prayers that it will all work out.
Dear Ann: I am in over my head in debt. I have desperately tried to get out by paying at least something on all of my bills but with three teenagers and the two meager incomes of my wife and I, many of the payments don’t even cover the interest. We feel as though we are spinning around in circles. We mentioned to one of our deacons at church that we were considering bankruptcy. Big mistake. We ended up in the pastor’s office with the deacon we confided in as well as four other deacons from the church. Instead of offering to help us, the basically condemned us to hell for “being evil” a direct quote from Psalms 37:21. Needless to say we will not be going back to that church out of sheer embarrassment, but we still need advice? What can we do? Ashamed and drowning, Fort Worth, TX
keeping up with or making the actual payment. Someone else does it for you by taking money from your check. Look at the list at the end of “Answers” to see links that will help you identify which option is right for you. No matter what you choose, PRAY about it. God can lead you to an open door of a solution to your debt problems that keeps you both honorable and above water. He could also take this opportunity to work a miracle. His guidance is far more important than any advice I could ever give you. Look at the year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25. God actually called for a pardon of debts. It would be different if you weren’t trying but you are. Continue to pray for the right answer and God will provide it. But, just so we are clear, you are not on your way to a first class seat in hell if you file for bankruptcy. Only God knows the depth of your circumstances, the intent of your heart and the blessings he has in store for you…don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Dear Ashamed and drowning: Let me start by saying that I will be praying for the Pharisees that scorned you, as should you. They, so called pastor included, need to read the Bible they so blatantly throw at people. Yes, Psalm does mention those who borrow with no intent to repay. However, you have clearly been trying to pay your debts, but when children are involved, it is easy to get in over your head without even realizing it! If you are in absolutely no position to consider debt management or consolidation (see the Around the Web in this magazine for reputable sites) then you should in fact consider bankruptcy. Not all forms of bankruptcy completely pardon debt. My husband (A Pastor!) and I have been out of bankruptcy for 10 years now. The trustee would take money from his check and PAY the creditors. Sometimes it just means that you are not responsible for
Dear Ann: I just recently started going back to church after a long hiatus of backsliding. I am enjoying my journey back to God but I still can’t figure out why I need to tithe. If I want to give money I should be able to give when I want. The Bible said that you shouldn’t give to get something back in return, which is what it seems like tithing is to me. Do I necessarily have to tithe? -Going against the crowd, Charleston SC
April And December September 2012
13
Here are some links Dear going against the crowd: Your answer comes in the form of a series of questions. When you are at church do you flush when you go to the bathroom, sit on a pew to worship and read using lights? If you answered yes to any one of those questions you my friend need to tithe. Tithing is not about being made to give money. It is about taking care of home ... your church home. Who do you think pays the bills; it’s not all on the shoulders of the preacher. If you go and partake in the communion of your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, you are to have respect and adoration for the ‘house’ you gather in. Just like the home you live in there is property insurance to be paid, an electric bill to pay and cooling and heating expenses. Not only are you taking care of the buildings physical attributes when you tithe, you also take care of the spiritual needs of the church as well. Missions need funding, community kitchens and food drives need to be hosted in order to connect to the community and draw more to the gospel of Christ. Tithing is not a glory show as some people do try to make it as such. It is necessary for the advancement of the church and the community it resides in.
that may be helpful in gaining financial freedom:
Bankruptcy laws and types by state: Total Bankruptcy Bankruptcy or Consolidation…which is better? Consolidation Care What is and how does dept management work? Hamilton Debt Relief
Need an answer from Ann? Visit www.circleofbelievers.com and click the “Contact us” button on the menu bar and “Ask Ann” on the sub bar!
The most expensive thing I ever bought was a 2009 Hummer. Not only did I do it just before the gas prices started to rise, I bought it using a current girlfriends credit...knowing I was about to break up with her! Yeah, I was gloating that she couldn’t take it away because it was in my name when I totaled it. I was so asking for it! I learned my lesson well though. Being a jerk gets you nothing!
The most expensive thing I’ve ever bought was and iPhone4. I regret it because I’m away at college and I told my parents I wrecked my car to get the cash. Two days after I bought it, I dropped it and the screen shattered, on my way to try to get it fixed…I really did wreck my car! Man was that hard to explain to my parents!
-C. Riggden Newark, NJ
-J. Mullis, Kennesaw GA
●
●
●
I ended up paying a speeding ticket for a guy who wasn’t my boyfriend at the time. I didn’t find out until after we were dating that the speeding ticket wasn’t just a ticket. He apparently had “illegal substances” in his car when he was pulled over. Needless to say, that relationship didn’t last long! -M. Vecchio Chickamauga GA ●
●
●
April And December September 2012
15
There are roughly 2.2million ATM’s in the U.S Staticbrain.com
There are over 100 varieties of Oranges Wiki.answers.com
Snickers is the most eaten candy bar Askmen.com
There are around 7000 banks in the U.S Financemymoney.com
Christ allows his money to be taken from him…but never his sheep! -Unknown
If there is no hell, a good many preachers are obtaining money under false pretenses! -Billy Sunday
Nothing, I am sure, has such a tendency to quench the fire of religion as the possession of money. - JC Ryle
It’s about time we stopped buying things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like. - Adrian Rogers
April And December September 2012
17
Feature
to that? Or you might say “I do that all the time but then I don’t even get any gas money back! Now what do you think? To both I say (I know I called you ungrateful but don’t get snotty with me!!) Listen to yourselves right now! Sound familiar. YOU sound -R. Christopher
like the ungrateful people you so graciously tried to help. Always a politely placed ‘but’ or a primly inserted ‘thank you anyway’.
Do you know anyone who is so selfish and self centered that there ungratefulness makes you want to vomit? I mean come on, I’m being real here! They only think of themselves, they have no concern or care about anyone else’s feelings or problems for that matter and more annoyingly enough, you go out of your way to do something nice for them and they don’t even say thank you. Yeah we all know someone like this. Especially if you own a mirror! Yes. I did just call you ungrateful! I have called myself an ungrateful little brat all week. We are all
There were ten lepers that were healed that day along the road side, but only one came back. Jesus knew what was going to happen, but still he marveled. “Where are the nine?” He asked. But even as he knew, he did it anyway. He healed them. And the beauty of it is he healed them with purpose!! He knew that even tho ten would be physically healed but one would be spiritually healed. Why sacrifice ten for none?! His sole purpose was to save ALL. But for that to happen ALL had to accept him. Knowing he couldn’t and his father wouldn’t make all receive
ungrateful little snots at one point in our Christian
him, he chose to receive all!!
lives or another. We pray so hard and so long for
You see my point. Again I say it’s not all about us.
something from God that we know we don’t need, deserve or even really have to have only for him to grant us our request and have us not be satisfied. If we don’t want one thing, we want two other things and we want them only for ourselves! When was the last time you went to the store and bought food for someone you knew needed it even tho they didn’t ask for it? How about just buying enough cookies for all the girls at work to nibble on during the day? What about a phone call to a neighbor, “I am on my way out, do you need a ride anywhere?” Just think about it for a moment. You might say, “Well, miss smarty pants I did that just yesterday and the apparently I was supposed to buy wheat instead of white and they normally eat Sunbeam but Great Value would do! What do you say
Who’s watching every time you go pick up Jasmine or when you go shop for Uncle Raymond, who coincidentally is not your uncle! They stand back in awe of you just like the Pharisees stood in awe of Jesus “Man, he’s better than I am. I wouldn’t do a thing for old so and so! That’s a good guy!” Of the many that we serve in life for the glory of God, many of them will see a need met, some of them won’t care, and maybe only one will return to God knowing the power of his will that was manifested thru you. Whatever the return on investment remember the broker we work for!
versonaaccessories.com
April And December September 2012
19
A bedroom should be a sanctuary but that doesn’t mean it should be bland and boring. You should contrast colors in your sleeping abode just like you would in the rest of your house. Red evokes passion, while blue is calming. We decided to calm down our exciting red room with some cool blue accessories, including some we made ourselves!! A.
We believe that when you first walk into the room you should be able to see the bed. Our room had two windows flanking the wall that our bed ended up on so we chose this Real Red color by Sherwin Williams for a focal wall color. The rest of the room (this color ) was done in Sherwin Williams Granite Peak which is a deep rich gray with cool blue undertones. The undertone of blue led us to the accessories.
B. Well it’s a bed room after all so we had to have a bed! This Noir Queen 4 Tahoe Bedroom furniture from Macy.com was perfect for our little room. With hardly room for a closet, the bed gives us some much needed extra storage. The headboard has drawers on either side and an open shelve on top. Underneath the platform bed are more drawers. It even has night and reading lamps built in. The wood flooring is lighter but that’s okay. The dark wood of the bed is the same as the darkest grain in the floor. C. Now we had to dress our bed. Putting a red comforter on would be overkill. We opted to make our own bedding using a cleaned comforter found at a thrift store. We used bedding fabric and piping from a bargain fabric store that was on closeout. All and All our homemade bed spread cost a whopping $30. HGTV much? D. We could have made the pillows as well but, we couldn’t pass up these Red bedding pillows from Kingqueenbedding.com. The different textures and patterns bounced off the wall and toned down the dark wood. It is perfectly okay to mix multiple patterns in a room, just make sure that the colors are complimentary to your main color scheme and have the same pattern scale. The red pillow that is covered in white flowers work because the pattern is all over the pillow. We
were able to balance it out with the scale of our accent fabric on the bed spread. E. Speaking of our bed spread, the color in the tie dyed fabric made us think beach cottage, even though the bed is dark wood. We choose to hang these fabulous curtains from China-hometextile.com. The curtain color brings the Granite peak wall color from the rest of our room over to the focal wall. They curtains unify the space and make the flow of the room cohesive to the eye. F. We love to bring in at least one quirky piece into the room. In this case the Verner Paton Sea Shell Chandelier from thelollipopshoppe.co.uk made the perfect fun element. Continuing the beach cottage theme, we let the chandeliers flank the bed. They draw the eye inward and further lighten the dark wood tone of the bed. G. We were still feeling crafty from the bed spread project and decided to make our own floating shelves. Using wood stock and MDF, we wall cleats that our finished shelves could slide onto. Once the shelves were on, we secured them to the backing using screws. To learn how to make your own floating shelves click here. H. Finally we add and ocean…I mean a rug! This rug that we found at Boldrugs.com had the same warm blue of the curtains and some green and purples that are also complementary to the deep red of the paint. I.
We just needed to accessorize our shelves and we were done. We used two three vase collections and a yellow Solstrale Vase from Ikea.com; Deep purple rubber vase from panicdesign.com; Massier Vase from kovers.com; and added our own pictures and books for an excitingly relaxing bedroom make over
April And December September 2012
21
Feature
Do’s and don’ts that save you money -Tiffany Alcott When it comes to money, we all have a pretty tight belt right now. We clip coupons and source deals on the internet, but there is more to saving money than that. Below are do’s and don’ts that will keep money in your pocket longer.
Don’t use your debit card for groceries. Instead, take cash. When you use your debit card you have a false sense of how much money you actually have allocated for groceries. By being able to physically see the amount of cash you have dwindle down, you have a better chance of sticking to your grocery list. Don’t use a payday loan company for long term. Sometimes you get in a pinch for cash when big emergencies come up. Always make a plan for paying off the loan and not re-writing. This may mean you have to call around and make payment arrangements for utilites and credit card payments but, late fees are far less harmful on one or two late payments than the interest rate on a payday loan and the amount of money you lose per check. Do make a monthly budget. Of course it is time consuming but put your Microsoft Excel skills to use and make a budget sheet. House, car and insurance payments as well as some utilities have set and predictable payments. You should budget for eating out and entertainment as well. If you like to
hit the Red box at least four times a month, put that in the budget. See the Around the Web section in this magazine to find programs that have easy to set up spreadsheets. Don’t open department store credit cards! The interest rates on store cards are usually much higher than Visa, MasterCard or Discover branded cards. It is less about missing a payment and being charged unreasonable interest and more about not being tempted to go off your budget and buy only to find that you can’t make the monthly payment. Leave the temptation alone and pay cash. Do take advantage of points programs. If it is a credit card points program, make sure to budget for not only how much you want to spend on that card, but for what you want to use that card for. Don’t go wily nilly and start using your credit cards at every gas station and grocery store you frequent. Instead set a limit and a place or even product you want to use each card for. This way you earn your points or cash back but you can still make the payment at the end of the month. Do invest in a Healthcare Flexible spending account. Especially if you have children. Yes, this is some extra coming out of your check, but you get to
decide the amount. There is nothing worse than having to make a trip to the E.R. and not knowing how in the world you are going to pay for it. Check with your healthcare insurance company and see if it is included in your healthcare plan and how it works. Learn how to cook! I am really being serious here! Society is finding it’s way back to the kitchen and in these hard economic times, that is a good thing. Do the math! If you pay almost $25 bucks for spaghetti dinners for your family, you’d come out way better buying the ingredients and making it yourself. Not only will it be cheaper per person, you may not use all the noodles in that one meal, leaving you the option to make a carbanra latter or make baked spaghetti out of the leftovers the next day. Use gas programs. Major grocery chains have them. Kroger, Bi-Lo and Wal Mart are among the many who give you points or money off at the pump when you shop at their store or purchase a gift card, open a store card, or join their loyalty program. Save your coins. Sounds old school, but if it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it! Get yourself three mason jars and label one “giving”. When you fill this one up you can either use that money for a gift for someone in need, or as extra for tithing. Label the second one “savings”. This one when full will obviously go into a savings account. Label the last one “Towards”. Give this one a goal. It can go towards games for family night, that new pair of shoes you have been eyeing or toward that head light you know is about to blow!
department store cards. Eating out and not thinking realistically about your wardrobe waste money fast. Sign up! While you aren’t to give into those department store cards, you can sign up for e-mail or text alerts about sales and specials. Look for items that stretch your wardrobe and only buy when they are on sale. Use thrift store finds to spruce up the house and using cleaning items that you can find in your pantry also help save money. Make use of tips from your utility company. Sewer and electric authorities spend tons printing those flyers you stare at but never pick up when you go pay your bill and those tip banners you bypass when you pay on line. The money they spend to give you this advice is yours, so you might as well check out the tips! Insulation, thermostat settings and good water practices save you more money than you think. Last but not least take a look at your credit report! I recommend creditsesame.com. Not only will it show you your credit score, but it will help you identify a goal with your credit. You can get help on this website to rebuild your credit, refinance your home and more. It’s a great alterative to just looking at your credit score. Credit Sesame actually helps you understand what you are looking at and gives you the tools to help you know what to do with it.
Cut out your bad habits! Certain bad habits cost way to much money. Yes I am going to say it…smoking and drinking are bad habits than can save you money immediately. The other one goes hand and hand with learning to cook and not giving in to
April And December September 2012
23
Get your money right with either this Rosa multiflora Cotton
Wallet or this Cotton 8 screens men’s wallet both at Aliexpress.com
This Pina Zangaro Vista 11x14 Pina screw post presentation book is playful, elegant and bound to get you noticed. Available at Amazon.com
Customize your own coupon organizer with almost any cover style at Zazzle.com
Save money and take lunch in this beautiful Natural Wood Bento Box available at Boulderbento.com
Protecting credit unions and the consumers who own them through effective regulation
Click to find a credit union near you!
National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3428 If you have questions about NCUA: Go to our Contact Us page or call 703-518-6300
April And December September 2012
25
We snatched this classic Roberto Cavalli look which costs thousands‌.. From Fall 2012 Sweater Dress $1,170 Belt $810 Python Leggings $580 Diva Clutch $1,015 Black Pumps $605
Total Cost $4,780
Click here to snatch this look.
‌.And turned it into an outfit that costs less than $150 Basic Editions fitted ribbed turtleneck $12 (If you’d rather have a long sweater dress, find it at Drjays.com for $14.99) Red Python Leggings from 2bStore.com $45 Kenneth Cole Faux Croc Clutch $24 Knot Front Patent Pumps from Charlotte Ruse $33 Belt, Color block ring and Filigree teardrop earrings from Forever 21 $9, $5, and $6 respectively
Total cost $134 And we even added jewelry! Click pictures to snatch each piece.
April And December September 2012
27
Click here to listen to Studio6ON
Bio
Music
Born in Minneapolis MN
Albums
Birth date: Dec 15, 1973
Glimpse
Now lives in Wisconsin
Jason Upton Live from
Is the Minister of Music for Body of Christ Worldwide along with his band Key of David
Dublin Family Music On the rim of the invisible world
Song style is contemporary Gospel
Studio 6 Favorite Tracks Freedom
Lyrical focus: dying to certain things only to
Freedom Reigns
have Christ make
Dying Star
them new things.
Find him on the web at: http://www.jasonupton.com
April And December September 2012
29
Feature
Steps to make your job hunt successful Like many others out there, you are seeking a job. This may be your first job or one of many. You may be looking to change career fields or just need to pick up an extra source of income. No matter what the reason, you need for your job search to be successful. Here are a few steps you will need to take and some tips on how to make them count. Step 1: Prepare yourself In order to get noticed in the positive light, you my friend need a resume. Yes, potential employers still look for resumes. In fact, if you want to get noticed just hand one over and watch the look on HR’s face! It’s quite priceless. Now, the whole objective behind doing a resume is to get the job…period. In other words you no longer have to list an objective on your resume. You do however need to have a cover letter. This means that you will need to tailor your cover letter for each job you apply for. You can’t get lazy in this area. Search the actual job listing for key words to use in your cover letter for that companies position. For example, if Business A is looking for a reliable person who can use Office Suites programs, hone in on the key word and include it in your cover letter. Here the key word is “reliable”. Many HR Executives use key words to sift through the resume’s faster. Using them in your cover letter is so much of a time saver and headache reducer; you just might get rewarded with a call back. Another tip in the “Prepare yourself” category is to use a business card with a QR code on the back. When you go to job fairs or just out picking up applications, you can hand off a business card that has your basic information on the front, such as name, phone number and email address. On the back you can put a QR code that links to your on line portfolio page or resume profile. This code, when scanned by any smart phone, will take the potential employer to what they are looking for….YOU! You can use sites such as Linked in and Branch out to create free profiles and resumes. While we are on the subject of social networking, it might be a good idea to check your Face Book, Twitter and MySpace profiles. Employers are now taking a look at pages to get an idea of potential candidates. Though they won’t be able to see your entire profile on certain sites, that profile picture of you stone cold drunk in Cancun wearing a sombrero and holding a cat by the tail, or that racy bathroom photo shoot you did after your divorce is not a good look for your professional career. You want your profile picture to be as professional as possible, as well as any “About me” sections.
September 2012
Step 2: Get Noticed Now that you have an awesome resume and high tech business cards, you need to get dressed. No really, I mean get dressed! The next step is to apply. It’s okay to be in your pj’s if you are applying on line, but if you are going to pick up applications; you need to dress like you already have the job. I recommend going to a desired business regardless of how you need to apply. You worked hard on that resume and business card. Potential employers need to make sure they don’t bypass your application when you apply. Give them a well dressed and properly groomed image to put with the name. No slippers, no ripped clothing and for goodness sakes no facial piercings. They may be more acceptable in society, but they are still out of code and out of place for many professional jobs. By now you either have application in hand or you are in front of an application screen. Now you can slow down. Take your time filling it out. This tip is for a couple of reasons. The slower you write, the more legible your writing will be. If it’s on screen, and if it’s on paper, you need to read all the questions and fields carefully so that you don’t miss or inaccurately answer a question. Nothing is more annoying to a potential employer than someone who walks in with an amazing resume and appearance only to find that they don’t pay attention to detail and can’t spell nor tell the difference between ‘there’ and ‘their’. Please, please, please make sure you give proper phone numbers, names and title of contact for previous employers. If you are not sure, pick up the phone book. HR personnel need to spend time in awe of your application, not trying to find out whom to get a reference from. Also, if you find that your previous employer uses and Verification hotline, it is a good idea to call and get that number as well as the necessary codes and information to complete the verification. When it comes to the references you list on the application, the same rule applies to listing on the resume. Call the contacts you plan to use as references and ask if you can. This way they will be expecting a call from a potential employer. You will need to list as many as five on your resume and usually three on your application. Be sure you are using different contacts if possible and keep “personal” references down to a total of three between your resume and application. Don’t be fooled by the title of this category. You want “professional personal” references of people you worked with, not worked for as your “personal” references. Each field usually has a place to describe your duties at previous jobs. Do not over embellish! Be as specific as possible in the space provided but don’t go overboard. Also be sure to give accurate dates. Your resume should help you with that. Lastly, sign and date all the appropriate places. Even electronic applications require a “digital” signature. Read all contingencies and acknowledgements before you sign.
April And December September 2012
31
Step 3: Choose your words wisely Now you have a few interviews lined up. When it comes to interviews there are two types of people- those who interview well and those that interview…not so well. If you want to be the type that interviews well, the most important thing to do is the research the company you are interviewing for. You want to know general info such as what their Corporate Goal (Core value) is and how many establishment they have total and in your area alone. It is also a great idea to look at their community ties as well. You can use this information to answer some of the most important questions in the interview. One of those questions will be “Why us?” This will be a piece of cake if you researched. If they give back to the community on a frequent basis, and you love that sort of thing, tell them! Only use the information that you find pertinent and in common with what you like and believe. Again, don’t over embellish and for goodness sake don’t lie. HR can sense when you’re trying too hard. This interview is prep for the learning process you will encounter when you get the job. You will need to take the information you are given and make use of it…start that process now. The next question may be “why now?” If you’ve had lapse in employment be prepared to explain the gaps. The tricky thing is, in today’s economy, many people who started out a ‘professionals’ in a concentrated field are now working jobs in fields they haven’t even thought of. NEVER give a potential employer the feeling that you applied because “it’s a job”. This sends the message that when twenty cents more comes along you’re out the door! Instead, think about what you feel you can get out of the job, even if it’s not in the field you’ve been in. Turn your choice of application into a goal. If you previously worked in retail, and you’re applying for a call center job, you could say something like, “I have really enjoyed working retail, but, I didn’t really have room to advance. I have heard that your company does many internal promotions. I think bringing my customer service skill to your call center is a good opportunity for me.” It’s not an embellishment or a lie. You can’t find a face to face retail job, but those skills also come in handy over the phone. The principle of customer satisfaction is the same. Use it. Lastly, there is the question that I ask the most, that surprisingly many people are thrown by… “Tell me; what are your weakness?” The looks I have gotten. Everyone has improvements. If you think you don’t you are lying to yourself. What are your weaknesses? With this question don’t just answer it. You have to state a plan to overcome it. Think about it. Even though you’re in a tough place right now, you are making a new start of sorts. Now is the opportunity to perfect your work skill. If you are known to be too forgiving, state it. Just remember you have to come up with a way to improve it without making the potential employer feel like a test lab. For example, “I have been known to be too forgiving. The good thing about that is that here, there are plenty of guidelines in place to make sure that ensure that I am giving great customer service without feeling as though I am personally responsible for resolving someone’s issues.” The key to getting a job in this tough economy is preparation and research. Even, though it’s hard and everyone needs to work, try going after jobs that you will enjoy doing. Sincerity always shines through. Remember to be sincere, honest and realistic and your chances are greatly improved. God bless and go get ‘em!
Christian musician’s summit Nashville, Tennessee | October 5-6, 2012 Ten Dollar Worship conference With Charlie Hall McDonough, Georgia | October 6, 2012 Unite Worship conference Boston, Massachusetts | October 8-9, 2012
Click an image to read synopsis Courtesy of Christianfilmdatabase.com
Find out more at http://www.rockofagesfestival.com/
April And December September 2012
33
Sasso The Hardware: Two mixing bowls Two cookie sheets one lined with parchment paper A melon scoop or a teaspoon A wooden spoon A teaspoon (if you are not using a melon scoop, this will be your second spoon!) The ingredients: ¾ cup of peanut butter, softened ½ cup of Chocolate morsels ¼ cup of confectioners’ sugar 1 tsp of cinnamon A pinch of nutmeg A pinch of salt ¼ cup of half and half 1 tsp of vanilla flavoring 1 tsp of butter 1 cup of coconut Preparation: In one of the bowls, mix the peanut butter and spices together. Cover and let chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours but overnight is best. In the second bowl melt the chocolate morsels into the cream using a double boiler over low heat. You can also do this in the microwave by heating it for one minute, stirring and continuing to heat for a minute and stir until it is melted and incorporated. While the mixture is still warm, add the vanilla and the butter. In a 350 degree oven toast the coconut until golden by putting it on one of the cookie sheets. Once the coconut is toasted and the chocolate has cooled you can now take out the peanut butter. Setup a station by placing the ingredients in order from left to right place the peanut butter, the chocolate with a wooden spoon in the bowl, the coconut and the other cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Scoop out the peanut butter with either a small melon scoop or a tsp. The tsp would make the stone shape as you will not be rolling these in your hand. Put some of the chocolate in the wooden spoon and place the scoop of peanut butter on the wooden spoon. Roll it around. Now deposit the covered peanut butter into the coconut and use another spoon to roll it around. Place on your final cookie sheet and continue the process until you have used all the peanut butter. Chill the sasso for at least 3 hours before serving.
April And December September 2012
“And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church and the very gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16”18
The common ingredient: The word ‘Sasso’ means rock in Italian. The creator used the shape of the dessert to give it a name. Isn’t it wonderful that God has given us a name! A name that no other could name that we will receive when we reach home. But as for now, among the many titles he gave us as he walked on earth, the church is one of them. Thing of the ways you have needed God to be a cornerstone for your foundation of life. Take a moment to thank him for being your rock.
Prep time: 8 mins Cook Time: none Serves: Makes about 24 Sasso Notes
35