jlarson's blog

As a nonprofit agency working to help those we serve, we would like to invite you to have a voice in our annual stakeholder meeting. We will discuss our programs and give you an opportunity to share your ideas with us as we work together to provide the best service possible.  Please join us September 14th at 7:00 PM at our home office. We look forward to seeing you!
 
What:    Annual Stakeholder Meeting
When:    September 14th, 2010 @ 7:00 PM (CST)
Where:    FLCS Home Office

Are you working hard to get your debts repaid?  Maybe you’re one of our clients going through the Debt Management Program and have been working diligently to get unwanted credit cards paid off, or possibly someone who is trying to clean up their credit report.  We understand that this can be a tough road, although we also know how rewarding it is to accomplish your goal of becoming debt-free.

Do you find yourself wondering where God is in your situation? Do you feel abandoned by God? Are you angry with God for not hearing your prayers? I too have been in your shoes. Days can often feel unbearable; you spend countless hours wondering how God could allow your situation to become so desperate.
 

I love heading out on a Saturday for a day of thrift-storing with $40 in my pocket and a hope to find something that I just can’t live without… well, okay, maybe I could live without it, but it would look cool in my house! Here are a few tips for having success every time.

In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

How many times have you set up your budget and only listed the bare necessities? This is the perfect way to set your budget up for failure! When you are listing all of your expenses, make sure you list an amount for things like eating out, clothing, and recreation. This is what will actually make sticking to your budget each month, FUN. If you don’t budget for those tickets to the baseball game or that new dress, how guilty do you feel buying them? You end up using money that was supposed to be used for another bill – or, you end up just putting it on a credit card.

Both the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans or FDSLP) consist of what are generally known as Stafford Loans for students. The main difference between the two is one is a subsidized loan while the other is an unsubsidized loan. This article will provide you with more information on both loan types and the different repayment options.

I had it placed on my heart to write something in regards to marriage and money. In no way am I an expert in either field, but I believe there is something to be said. Looking at current statistics, about half of all marriages end in divorce. This number is very alarming to me. What also is alarming is that most of these divorces are the result of money issues. Couples get worked up and angry over their current financial situation and think they can do better financially on their own.

Over the past year, the economy has been difficult and many people have lost their jobs. This can be very devastating for people and their families. With any job loss comes additional stress of continuing financial obligations and the search for new work. This is where we may be more worried than we need to be. So many times, we get stuck in a routine and anything outside the routine makes us nervous. As with a job that we have known for sometime, it is difficult to think about doing anything else.

With all the new changes coming into effect with credit card laws on February 22, 2010, part of those changes may affect your rewards program. Make sure you read any correspondence you receive from your credit card companies to see what changes are happening specific to your account. Be aware of changing point values, making your reward for spending not quite as lucrative any more. Also, look out for any new fees that may be associated with your rewards program, as credit card companies attempt to boost their profits.