Being Organized Can Affect Your Credit

I am doing something this week that I used to do at least twice a year.  I have not done it since I had kids.

I am writing letters to credit card companies whose cards we no longer use and have a zero balance to CLOSE THEM!  In our case too many open revolving credit accounts was negatively affecting our credit rating!

We recently turned in our leased vehicle.  While we were closing the deal on our new van we were joking around about our credit ratings and whether mine was higher than my husband’s etc.  Well, she told us that with the ‘new law’ (whatever law that is in Michigan) she could tell us our own scores.  

Mine (mid/high 700’s) was higher than my husband and the last time we checked his had been higher.  We quickly put two and two together and realized that he had taken over the ‘Moving Balance Card’ (this is the card that has zero percent interest for a certain time - we move our balance as soon as the introductory rate goes up) and it was affecting his credit.  The finance woman also said that she could give us a print out of both our credit reports.  Sweet!

With FREE reports in hand I am now ready to get organized and send form letters to all accounts that need closing.  If you’d like to use my form letter to close your accounts just contact me and I’ll send it to you.

 I have been tagged by Neena at AMom’s Life.

This is sort of a blogging game called a meme where another blogger links to you and asks you to do a post on a specific topic - usually about yourself. You then write your post and tag other bloggers, and the game continues.

Of course, every game has rules, so here they are:

The Rules:Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog post with their 7 things as well as these rules. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. Remember to leave a comment for them letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog.

7 Things About Me

1. In my past life (meaning life before kids) I was a Landscape Architect & Planner.
2. I have struggled with my weight my entire life.
3. My brother once introduced me to someone as the funniest girl he’s ever known.  Then I could not think of one funny thing to say.
4. I am a recovering perfectionist.
5. I am a very honest person.  Now, in my late thirties, I have learned the art of keeping my mouth shut.  In my twenties I thought everyone appreciated honesty - not so!
6. Being at Torch Lake soothes my soul like nothing else I have ever found.
7. Having my babies “late” (35 then 37) turned out to be perfect timing.  I think I’m a better mommy because the time was right for me to appreciate what a blessing they are.

I am opting out of tagging anyone at this point!

Every now and again I come to a point where my personal accounting system needs a total overhaul.  I am about at that point right now. 

I think it’s starting this time because I’ve been sitting in the hot garage with nothing to do between customers but think about how to use the money we’re making on the sale and realizing that I need to make a lot more.  It was enough to send me into the house a couple of times frantically scanning for more to sell.  More, more, my brain was saying as my eyes scanned the household horizon for things that people would want.  Now, do not get me wrong its not like I am in dire straits.   I think it might be more of a garage sale disease.  Its the same one that makes people put on perpetual yard sales.  You know the house in your neighborhood where there is always a sale going on?  Its the buy low sell high frenzy that can take over.  I could feel it coming on as women searched through my piles of awesome baby clothes and bought bags and bags of them.  Anyway, I digress.

Sitting and thinking about what to do with extra cash has made me start thinking again about how I could reorganize my budget and find extra cash there.

I will spend this week looking into my finances and how I can make adjustments that will make me feel like everyday is a garage sale!

Its Small Business Week is your desktop clear?

Look at your desktop.  How much clear usable space do you see?

Did you know that working with a clear desk increases productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction? (per Karen Kingston in Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui)

In honor of this week geared towards the small business I challenge us all to keep our desks clear and see how it impacts our ‘To-Do Lists’.  I want to see if I really get more done.  I think I will since having everything organized ALWAYS give me a sense of peace.

If you’d like help contact me.  I have some great tips for clearing clutter and starting clutter freeing habits.  There are also great resources out there on-line!

For me clutter has taken on new meaning since I’ve had children.  My life prior to having kids was definitely NOT clutter free, but I am starting to forget that fact.  Some days I feel like my PILES have been sitting there for months.  I think my husband would attest to that.  And the worst part is that it causes me to not feel like myself.  I could say that I ‘Do not have time’ and that would be partially true.  A bigger underlying cause is the phase of life I am in right now.  Two small children, unemployed, trying to create a new career, etc.  Things are chaotic.

Yes, I always have had some areas of the house where strict organization was not required.  Like when we moved into our new home in 2003 we used the laundry/utility/office as our ‘crazy’ room.  This was the room where we staged our moving boxes and the rest of the house looked like we’d been in for months.  It was our secret weapon.  It was never intended to be the ‘insane’ room. 

I did not expect that I’d get to a point in my life where it’d be difficult to stay on top of this room.  The inability to maintain order with kids has been the biggest surprise about having babies.  And what’s really bad right now is that I am doing business out of this room.  So, during Small Business Week I am looking at how I can clear the clutter/chaos from this room.  Our garage sale this week will help, but I must do more. 

I talked yesterday about having clear space on the desktop and I need to heed my own advice and implement my own tricks/tips. 

What is clear one day may not be the next unless there is a workable plan in place!