Unless you are living under a rock or in a cave, you know and are well aware that we are still in the midst of an economic "crisis". This scares many people. The fear of losing your job, your home and/or your investments can be overwhelming. 

However, the one thing I have observed recently is that this "crisis" is forcing people to stop and think about their particular financial situation and have a desire to become more aware of where their money comes from and where it is going.

The number of people per month who are still applying for unemployment compensation in the United States is staggering.  Of the nearly 52 million U.S. homeowners with a mortgage, about 13.8 million, or nearly 27 percent owe more on their mortgage than their house is now worth, according to Moody’s Economy.com. Most people have seen their investments and retirement funds decrease by approximately forty percent. The average American has approximately $10,000 of credit card debt. No wonder everyone is scared.

Many have attempted to cut back on spending in order to make ends meet and attempt to get out of debt. However, without a plan in place, you cannot be successful. If you do some research, you will find that many financial advisors and other "experts" have put together systems for creating a solution to your budgeting woes. I have found them to be very complex and time consuming, discouraging most people from utilizing them.

In order to successfully create a plan for financial success, you need to create a budget. A budget will provide you with a way to not only analyze your income (by way of a pay check, investment rental properties, alimony, child support, governmental benefits, etc.) but will provide a visual aide to see where the income is going. You cannot budget your money if you don’t know where it is going.

So, how do you begin to even create a budget, you ask? You will need to determine your income, determine your expenses and then create your budget based upon that information. This can sometimes be a complicated and time consuming process.

You will need to determine whether your monthly expenses exceed your monthly income. Does your current problems involve the inability to save month each month? Do you wonder where all your money is going each month? Do you feel that your life is getting out of control because of your finances?

If so, you need to develop a personalized budget so you can better manage your finances. Ask yourself - "How can I possibly manage my money if I don’t have any idea where it all goes each month?" The answer - you need to become more disciplined with your money.

Many people make the mistake of cutting back so drastically that there is nothing left to enjoy. Many get caught up in the "this minor expense won’t matter" syndrome. Before you know it, "these minor expenses" are added over and over throughout a month and before you know it, they really add up. This is sometimes where overspending occurs. And, don’t forget that budgeting needs to include saving money. Planning for those things you enjoy makes it much easier to stick to your budget in the long run.

You may ask why it’s so important to record all of your expenses. It’s important because, if you don’t track your expenses, eventually they get out of control. You need to have a system and it needs to be documented.

Now, more than ever, everyone is looking for that simple way to manage and budget their money. No one wants to take time to work with a complicated system.

No one has the time!

Take the first step now. Acknowledge that you need to get on a budget and commit to finding the support and tools necessary to get it done!

If you need some assistance, I have developed the "U Can Do It Budgeting System" based upon the budgeting system I have used for myself for over 25 years as well as my years of experience setting up personalized budgeting systems for my clients. Visit the ABS Store right on this site learn more.

In the meantime, have a great week!

I love to find stories about getting organized! 

Now, even CoverGirl make-up has jumped on the organizing bandwagon and has developed a numerical system for matching up their various types of make-up. 

They claim to have taken the guesswork out of finding your TRU shade with their TRUblend makeup organized system.  This includes liquid foundation, concealer, pressed powder and blush.  The system is numbered from 1 through 6 (1 being the lightest shade, 6 being the darkest shade). 

For example, if your TRUblend liquid makeup is a 2, then your TRUblend pressed power, concealer and blush are also a 2.  

Organizing can be so beneficial, even when it comes to purchasing  your make-up.  Gotta love that!

Now that that problem is solved, if you have any other organizing issues you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Have a great week!

I received the following information from my accountant today and thought I would pass it on.

The IRS frequently reminds taxpayers to beware of identity theft scams. Two of the latest phishing scams include one offering inherited funds, lottery winnings, or cash consignment and another offering a bogus tax refund. Scammers use the IRS name, logo, or website in an attempt to convince taxpayers that the scam is a genuine communication from the IRS. Scammers may also use other federal agency names, such as the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After obtaining personal information, identity thieves use the victim's personal data to steal his or her financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services, or benefits in the victim's name, and even file fraudulent tax returns.

Please note the IRS does not discuss tax account matters by email. So, contact your accountant if you receive an email, purported to be from the IRS, requesting personal information.

Hope you find this information helpful.

I found this information and thought it might be helpful so I am passing it on...

Since an estimated 250 million computers became obsolete in the past five years, recycling e-waste has never been more crucial.  But figuring out how to do it isn't always easy. 

To help the eco-conscious with this dilemma, STAPLES has gotten involved and has launched an in-store e-waste recycling program. 

Drop off home-office equipment (computers, monitors, printers, fax machines) to any store nationwide, no matter where you originally purchased it, and for just $10 per item, the chain will recycle it according to the EPA's standards.

Bring in your extra keyboards and mice, too - they'll take care of those for free.

Hope you find this helpful in getting rid of your old home office equipment and feeling good about doing so.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting that home office organized, contact me at A BETTER SPACE.  I will be more than happy to help.

Have a great week!

Not sure if you've heard about the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act that is going into effect on February 10th, 2009.  It basically says that children's toys and clothes must now have some sort of proof that they do not contain lead or pthalates.  (Pthalaes are chemical plasticizers used in many products to improve performance or appearance.  For example, they turn rigid plastic into supple vinyl). 

As a result of this Act, there can no longer be any selling or children's toys and clothes manufactured before February 10, 2009 without such proof on ebay, Craigslist, yard sales and church/organization consignment sales to name a few.  This would certainly have a major effect on families struggling in this economy, not to mention professional organizers like myself who advise people how to dispose of their unnecessary household items.

It's a BIG problem.

If you do a google search for the site Fashion Incubator, you will find common-language information there about this issue.

To give you some background, back in early Fall, Congress passed a knee-jerk, feel-good law that is completely unable to be maintained.  If it is implemented without revision, it has the power to bankrupt the entire economy!  That would be the consequence of a very, very poorly-written piece of legislation.  It would make it illegal to sell non-certified items after February 10.  That means every piece of current inventory in every store, boutique, thrift-shop and home business becomes "illegal" on February 10th without destructive and expensive testing.  Some retailers purchase their stock about two seasons ahead of time.  They will have to discard and reorder entirely which can ultimately bankrupt them.

The law as it currently stands demands excessive and expensive testing at "each" level of production, even if that element of a product has already been tested during creation and subsequent production steps.  It affects "everyone" at some level, some of us more drastically than others.  The small "good guys" will be put out of business by this law, and quickly, if it remains without revision.

There are suggested revisions to the law which bring it back in line with current stringent Consumer Protection Agency guidelines, by allowing the transfer of certification through the production process.  In other words, the small maker of, say, wooden salad bowls or hand-rubbed bookcases, buys his wood from one of the many certified organic vendors, he can use their certification as part of his.  Their certificatons would pass down through his product...all the way to the consumer without putting anyone out of business.

The end result of the revisions to the law as it currently stands would enable you, the consumer, to confidently list items for "sale" as you are decluttering, without fear of jail or reprisal.  These revisions, which hopefully will be implemented, would then enable consignment stores and places like Goodwill to continue to accept "donations".  As it currently stands, they would not be able to sell used clothing or items that could be used for/by children under 12 unless every single piece carries a certificate of testing for the regulated substances. 

There is no way to legally sell an item without the certification acquired from testing, which in fact, destroys the items being tested and is estimated to cost $300 to $500 "per component" tested, "per item.".

This 85 page Act was passed and signed into law by the President without sufficient discusssion.  The vast majority of Congress members interviewed had "not" read any substantial portion of the bill beyond the title which sounded good to them!

We must take action immediately to contact our congressmen to get the revisions to this Act implemented prior to the February 10th deadline!  It is crucial to our economy and to the effects on the ecology.  (Keep in mind that if we can't donate or sell our excess when decluttering, we will have to throw the items away in the landfill and that is what we are all trying to avoid these days, are we not!)

This is a very serious issue that needs serious attention.  Get involved!  Don't let February 10th come and go without doing something about it.  This Act, as is currently stands, will have devastating effects on us all.

Buyer Beware! 

Everyone is out and about shopping for those holiday bargains.  In the meantime, as a result of the nation's poor economy, you might be noticing how many long standing businesses are going out of business.  Such companies, such as Linens & Things, Circuit City, Atlantic Books Store, Oskar Huber are having "liquidation sales".

In the past, whenver I heard this term, I thought that the company is looking to liquidate their inventory until they actually close their doors.  However, I just learned that many of these "Going Out Of Business Sales" are, in fact, being run by actual "liquidators" hired by the company to mark down the items and sell as much inventory as possible.

It has recently been brought to my attention, however, on a local newscast that the reductions are marked down from the "original price", not necessarily the price it was selling for the week before!   In some cases, the liquidation price is actually higher than the sale price was and not a true "bargain".  This tactic can be very deceiving.  The consumer believes they are getting a good price, when, in fact, they are paying more than they should.  

I highly recommend that you do your research on those products before making that purchase.  Know your prices!  You do want to get the best deal, not what they want you to believe is the best deal.

So, go and find those "true" bargains.  In the meantime, if you have any questions or problems you would like me to address, please feel free to contact me.  I would love to make your place A BETTER SPACE.

Wishing you happy holidays.