ENCOURAGED IN HEART

This week I want to touch on budgets again.  My company recently did their annual pay raises for everyone.  Thankfully, Steph and I had some extra cash every month to allocate.  We decided to move some money around and hit some of our long term financial goals.  We are putting a lot into my company 401k because it is bouncing back nicely from the pounding it has taken.  We are also not putting as much into savings and instead buying some term life insurance.  We want to make sure that we are taken of in case something terrible happens.  Not to sound negative but our financial mission it to plan for the worst case scenario. Lastly, we’re funding the 529 plans already established for Jake and Cal’s futures.

My question to you is, how are you / have you allocated any extra cash you have received? Do you have a plan in place for the next step when money comes in? We’ve found it’s better to have a next step in place, than to make an emotionally based decision (which has left us empty handed at the end). What are some of your financial goals?  Please don’t be shy to share and encourage other people.

Just a few highlights from my professional resume:

Five years United States Air Force Officer received Honorable Discharge
Outstanding Company Grade Officer Information Manager for my Major Command
Anti-Terrorism Instructor
Special Agent of the Quarter
Firearms expert on both handgun (M-11) and rifle (M-16)
Published author (that is, as of November 2009–woo-hoo!)
Freecyle Reject-ee

REJECTED by Freecycle? WHO gets rejected by Freecycle? Well, I guess me. I’m the only one (that I’m aware of) that falls into this category…the “Freecycle Reject-ee” category.  While there is something innately special about that being alone in that category, I don’t go around bragging about it or anything. I just rant about it here on my blog!

I thought Freecycle was well, “free”? Free to all! Apparently not!

My sister Mary gave me a beautiful red Vera Bradly messenger bag that she obtained from Freecycle and I love it! It is currently my, “Shack-Attack bag” which is no small duty for such a pretty purse. My friend Kimberly showed me the huge bag of Legos that she obtained free, from Freecycle. So I’m seeing the love but not feelin’ it and I want to!

It’s taken some time to lick my wounds, and I’m back up for the challenge. As you special Freecycle members already know, you just can’t click on http://www.freecycle.org/search and become a member. No. There are requirements.

All membership requests for ChantillyCentrevilleVAFreecycle need to be approved by the moderator. You will receive a confirmation email when your membership has been approved.

For those of you who’ve had the honor to be part of the Freecycle clique, I’m soliciting some advice. My potential membership is in your hands. What I need to do is this:

Please tell the group owner about yourself and why you would like to join the group (200 characters maximum).

I’m a writer, the word count thing is, can-do-easy. I’ll avoid posting my above resume to meet the “tell the group about myself” and I’d like to stick to the “why I’d like to join the group” part. I’m a Christian, so I can’t lie but I fear that I need some help in the finesse department. As a former cop, sometimes I just like to cut to the chase, hit the bottom line, go for the confession…but that’s not what is needed here.

Here’s a few drafts that I’ve come up with:

VERSION A:
If you turn down my request to reduce the carbon imprint on God’s beautiful earth one more time, I will be forced to put my carbon imprint somewhere else.

VERSION B:
I love free stuff, I can’t help it, it’s in my blood. Please allow me access to free stuff.

VERSION C:
I’ve got good second hand stuff, make me a member and I’ll share!

VERSION D:
I’m sorry that I posted honestly last time, that I wanted a new patio table. I was mildly delusional after my husband and I vacuumed one zillion shattered glass pieces outdoors for four hours. I had an overly-entitled moment. I loved that glass patio table and was eager to find a replacement. Please forgive me and make me a member already.

VERSION E:
I love the earth that God gifted us with and I want to keep stuff out of the landfills. I would like to network with others that feel the same way.

So, is their any version that you think is better than the next? I don’t take group memberships lightly so I would like to put my best foot forward. If any of you that are in the “clique” have any tips, I’ll take em’!

My friend Leslie has TEN free Women of Faith tickets for this weekend – if interested, please email Leslie at: denandles@msn.com

Free is a mighty good price…heck, I’d snag one up if I wasn’t out of town at a Writer’s Conference this weekend!