Financial Freedom....Start The Process

Money can have such an amazing hold on us.  How is it that we can afford to pay $1.48 for a pop a day, which totals $44.40 a month, but we can’t pay for a massage to ease stress and tension.  We can spend that $45 on pop that rots are teeth and our gut, but we can’t “afford” a gym membership that is nearly half that expense a month! So many of us spend $2.57 on a bottle of kitchen cleaner when we could make eight times that amount for $2.00 all on our own with materials that are less harmful to us.

     Like so much of life, our financial freedom is in a great deal of our control.  Also, like life, when you are in the thick of it, it is hard to see the true possibilities and realities of the situation.  There are so many ways you can cut expenses to help give you a little cushion each month, but it takes some effort to sit down and organize the possibilities; and it takes will power to follow through with it. 

     There are a couple of solid ways to get some advice to help you through the process towards financial freedom.  “Financial Peace University” is a good program that helps walk you through making change.  However, many of you are looking for some more direct one on one attention and you are ready to get more serious with your plans…check out a Financial Architect near you.  It is very possible that they don’t cost you a dime, but they sure save you A LOT  of dimes!

Making change can be like ripping of a Band-Aid or it can be a progressive move towards a place you want to be.  The point is just begin the process

Keep A Fresh Perspective...Who Knows What You Could Miss!

Many years ago, a large American shoe company sent two sales representatives out to different parts of the Australian outback to see if they could drum up some business among the Aborigines. Some time later, the company received telegrams from both agents.

The first said, "No business here . . . natives don't wear shoes."

The second one said, "Great opportunity

here . . . natives don't wear shoes!"

(John M. Capozzi)

New "Free" Class Starting: A Matter of Balance

Winter is here to stay and along with it came the inevitable snow and ice.  This can put a huge damper on anyone’s social life, leaving many pf us with the “winter blues.”  Many times we are unable to safely go places, and are hesitant to leave home due to the possibility of an accident or falling.  Soon spring will come and we will get back to not thinking twice about stepping out the door.  For some people though (this may be you or likely someone you know) that fear of leaving the house never goes away due to a lingering concern of having an accident, falling, and feeling helpless.  Agape Therapy offers a class called A Matter of Balance to help individuals with those very real and burdening fears of falling.  If you are: concerned about falls, have sustained a fall in the past, restrict activities because of concerns about falling, are interested in improving your flexibility, balance, and strength, and are age 60 or older ambulatory and able to problem-solve this class is for you.  A new session will be beginning Feb. 7^th 2012 at the Cedar Falls Agape Therapy and will be provided free thanks to the Wellmark Foundation.  For more information and to sign up please call 277-3166.

Organization and Balance As A Wife, Mom, and Physical Therapist

By Suzy, PT
                                          

I  am blessed to be able to work half days at Agape Therapy.  This allows  me to have more time at home with my two young children.  It also means  that if I don't stay organized, life can get a little out of control  quite quickly.  Even though my schedule at work is consistent, other  activities aren't always that way.  

The  best way I've found to stay on top of things is to use my iPhone and  it's apps to keep track of things for me.  In this day and age it seems one can't go anywhere without the silly phone.  (At least, that's the theory....  sometimes it is out of earshot and I miss a call or text, much to my husband's chagrin!  Oops!)  Since the phone is my closest sidekick, I make it work for me.  I use iCal to keep track of  the schedule.  I have a Groceries app that I make a list in when I think  of things or use things up that syncs with my husband's phone so we can  attack Wal-Mart in half the time it used to take.  I use Reminders app  for things that come up in the midst of something else, or for things I  want to remember to do at a certain time as the phone will alert me.  

Being organized also allows for life to be more balanced.  With all of the different responsibilities I have, it's easy for one thing to take over my focus.  I have to remind myself (this time without my phone doing the work) to be in the moment where I am as much as possible.  When I am at work, I need to focus on work knowing that my kids are being well taken care of by our daycare provider and that my husband is doing his job at his work.  When I am at home with my kiddos, I need to focus on them to meet their needs and keep the household going.  When my husband gets home from work, I need to facilitate family time.  There are definitely things I need to work on to continue to work on balance in my life.  By the end of the day I'm tired, but I want to work on focusing on time alone with my hubby.  I also need to work in some time to focus on me.  I'll have to put in an appointment in my phone.   :)  I guess I'll make these two things my New Year's Resolution....    Though at times juggling all of these things gets a little overwhelming, I'm am SO thankful that God has placed the blessing of a husband, 2 great kiddos, and a job  in my life!