I took a moment to step back this last week to re-examine the Balanced Life and what it was here for. I designed this website as a way to help people. What I realized was that I was a afraid to share some hard truths along the way.

Honesty isn’t always accepted with wild enthusiasm. We all say that we want people to be honest but what we mean is we want honesty to a point.

I’ve decided that the only way this site will serve the people I created it for was if I was honest.

So, here I start. I realize some of what I’ll say will be contraversial, but I hope everything I say will make you think.

First, THIS is completely out of balance!! [Follow link to story in the Washington Post]. For those of you who don’t want to go to it, the story is about a local councilwoman who is being overrun with requests for help.

The title of the story is, “A Hundred Anxious Days: In a South Carolina Town Where the Downturn Has Deepened Since the Inauguration, Two Obama Supporters Have Struggled, Going From ‘Fired Up’ to Tired Out”

I have a degree in Politcal Science and have followed Politics closely since I was a sophmore in High School. It fascinates me. One thing I learned in college was that many constituents contact their congressmen/women with problems.

Since WHEN is Government the solution to our every ill?

I hope that with this website people will begin to learn the JOY and FREEDOM inherent in self-sufficiency, self-denial and self worth. I know what it feels like to go hat-in-hand to the government. When my husband was diagnosed with cancer he was our sole income earner. We had four young children. We received food stamps but were told we could not have any other aid. That lasted a few months and then he was back to work, and we were on our own again.

I understand what so many thousands of people are facing right now. We were 8 days from foreclosure. We were missing meals, my husband more than anyone else. Despite that I’m glad we were not given more aid. It forced us to learn how to function without the government asking us to to provide documents if our income went up $10. The system is designed to keep people from getting out.

I want to help you build up your reserve and get in balance. It is a hard road but one worth walking. You don’t have to answer to bureaucratic red tape. So, right now, try to find one problem that you can address without looking to outside help. If you do need outside help, see how you can work together with your neighbors and individuals in your community to help each other. During World War II people had “Victory Gardens”.  My grandparents’ generation knew what it was to be a good neighbor because people still helped each other.

In our increasingly fast moving society we’ve lost a sense of community. Why not take the initiative. If you are really good at making bread and another neighbor is great at growing beans why not swap services? I’m a writer and I’d gladly edit someone’s resume if they’d watch my kids for a couple of hours so I can work.

Each of us has gift, talents and interests. Charging money gives the perception of increased value, any maybe some things are worth more, but if we will take the time to try to USE our abilities to help each other…We can start to get in balance.

Stop running to the government for help. Who cares if your taxes paid for it. The only way things will change is if we start changing ourselves.

All this talk about bailouts, subsidies, shovel-ready projects and unemployment projects are meaningless if you’re hungry. The government wasn’t put there to insure you got everything you want. It was not there to make sure I get everything I want.  It is time for us to start to pursue the life we want in earnest.

I’ve started by planting my garden and reading books on business. What are you doing?

Tiffany Colter is a passionate freelance writer whose credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach not only to create a great story, but also to mentor other writers, Tiffany can always be found in the presence of a book or laptop. A former world traveler who is fluent in three languages, she strives to reach those who are hurting around her.     She enjoys helping others build a strong business and writes a daily marketing blog for writers called the Writing Career Coach and a common-sense money management site, TheBalancedLife.com. Tiffany lives outside Toledo, OH with her husband, a recent cancer survivor, and their four girls.

Spring is coming and you can plan now for this delicious, cheap and FAST summer meal.

We plant about a row of lettuce [bib or whatever you prefer], a parsley plant, a rosemary plant, a basil plant and cilantro [if you like it].

What is great about these is all of them are small enough that you could grow them inside in a series of pots. We live outside Toledo, Ohio which is pretty far north. It is where Lake Erie, Ohio and Michigan all touch. Even this far north these things are grown in June and ready to eat. The following recipe works for us a couple times a week and ends up costing about $1.50-$2.00 TOTAL for the meal for 6 of us.

I buy the boneless/skinless frozen Chicken Breasts when they go on sale. I also buy the baguettes for $1.00 when they go on sale at the grocery then I cut them in 1/2 and wrap them in aluminum foil and freeze.

To assemble this quick and easy meal do the following.

1. Pull out a Frozen Chicken Breast and put it in a skillet with a tight lid. Put in enough water to go 1/2 way up the piece of chicken. Cover tightly and cook on high.

2. While that is cooking grab basil leaves, Rosemary, Parsley, Cilantro [if you like it], Lettuce leaves from your garden. Grab a clove of garlic from your fridge. Wash everything well and dry it on paper towels or in a lettuce dryer.

3. Check the Chicken and flip it over. It is still frozen in the middle. Add water if necessary.

4. Chop up the herbs and pull out 4 tablespoons of butter [I don't use margarine. I use real butter.] Put the butter, herbs and minced garlic in a bowl and set it on the counter so the butter can soften.

5. Pull a baguette from the freezer and warm it in the over.

6. Pull the chicken out and slice it thin [or even chop it if you prefer.] It is still raw in the middle and that is fine. Dump the remaining water from the skillet. Put the chicken back in the skillet, add about 1/4-1/2 cup Italian dressing to the chicken and cook until it is completely done.

7. Pull the baguette out of the oven and slice it long way.

8. Stir the butter and put it on the bread.

9. Put the lettuce leaves on a plate, spoon chicken on top and serve with the buttered bread.

Despite all the steps you see here this is done in 15 minutes or less. Fast, easy, healthy and filling.  I serve this for a quick meal or when I have friends over for dinner in the summer.

Save money without depriving yourself.

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Tiffany Colter is a passionate freelance writer whose credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach not only to create a great story, but also to mentor other writers, Tiffany can always be found in the presence of a book or laptop. A former world traveler who is fluent in three languages, she strives to reach those who are hurting around her.     She enjoys helping others build a strong business and writes a daily marketing blog for writers called the Writing Career Coach and a common-sense money management site, TheBalancedLife.com. Tiffany lives outside Toledo, OH with her husband, a recent cancer survivor, and their four girls.

People who hear about a money website usually make two assumptions: it’s about investing or it’s for people who are flat broke. Well, neither is true for The Balanced Life.

I have known VERY wealthy people who had a poverty mentality. Their every thought was about capturing more and clutching to what they had. They feared every penny they might have to spend and they dreaded each purchase. They were encapsulated by terror. For them, money was to be stockpiled and never spent. It was to be saved “Just in Case”. The problem was when “Just in Case” happened, they screamed and fumed about spending the money. They were out of balance.

This website is for EVERYONE. Having a balanced attitude toward money is crucial whether you earn $30,000 a year or $300,000. It is necessary if you have $1 million in savings or $1. You need to remember that money is a tool. It is neither a savior nor a friend. It isn’t an expression of love. It isn’t the answer to every problem.

We told our kids one day “You know, even as we earn more money we will still have a budget. We will not buy everything we want, even if we can afford it.” Our kids were shocked. They had bought in to the notion that if it is there it is to be spent.

One of the things I’m going to cover in my free webinars in April is the way our family determines how much we can spend on fun stuff. This is very important to keeping EVERYONE in balance, whether a saver or spender.
I have are days I’m just so frustrated with trying. I don’t want to keep track of it anymore! But I’ve seen when I push past that wall, I feel better on the other side.

So I keep working and keep trying.

I hope you will join me.

Make sure if you want to be in the webinar that you sign up for “The Balance Sheet” newsletter and indicate that you’d like to know about webinars. I am limiting each webinar to 10 people so that everyone will have plenty of time to ask questions.

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Tiffany Colter is a passionate freelance writer whose credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach not only to create a great story, but also to mentor other writers, Tiffany can always be found in the presence of a book or laptop. A former world traveler who is fluent in three languages, she strives to reach those who are hurting around her.     She enjoys helping others build a strong business and writes a daily marketing blog for writers called the Writing Career Coach and a common-sense money management site, TheBalancedLife.com. Tiffany lives outside Toledo, OH with her husband, a recent cancer survivor, and their four girls.

With April will come the launch of Free Webinars on both this website and my Writing Career Coach website. I’ve decided to limit each webinar to 10 people so there will be plenty of time to ask questions. If you want to be notified about upcoming webinars and topics FIRST please sign up for The Balance Sheet using the form on the right. If you are already signed up, you will receive word soon on how to register.

Each month I will cover the SAME topic each week so, if you can’t make the first one, you won’t miss out. I will schedule some during the day, some on weekends, and some in the evening.

But until then, what can you do to save money? What can you do to get in balance.

Today I want to address the issue of coupons. When should you use them, and when aren’t they helpful.

For years I was a huge coupon shopper. I used them for EVERYTHING. If there was a coupon, I bought it. I loved the feeling of seeing “You saved $50 on this order” at the bottom of my receipt.

But when we had to really cut back expenses I had to reevaluate the usefulness of coupons. Below are just a few tips on when to use coupons and when it may be better to leave them at home.

Use Coupons when:

-It is a product or brand you usually use [or is cheaper than your usual brand]

-Using the coupon will give you large savings on something you would normally buy [ex: buy 1 gallon of milk and get 1 dz eggs free]

-It can be combined with in-store savings to get a special treat for a low price. [Sometimes it's nice to treat the kids, or yourself, as long as it isn't a weekly habit.]

Watch out when:

-They require you to purchase 2 of an item for 75 cents off. Many stores double coupons these days so using a lower coupon on one item and getting it doubled will save you more money.

-It isn’t something you usually use AND it is not something you’d buy without a coupon.

-When it becomes a compulsion to see “amount saved” rather than actually saving money on your grocery bill.

The bottom line is to make coupons a means to savings, not a game where you try to save a percentage. If you save 30% on your grocery bill but end up paying $25 more than you would have without using coupons [by buying generic or not purchasing the product at all] then coupon-free is your best option.

So sign up to hear about the free webinars and I’ll see you soon!!

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Tiffany Colter is a passionate freelance writer whose credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach not only to create a great story, but also to mentor other writers, Tiffany can always be found in the presence of a book or laptop. A former world traveler who is fluent in three languages, she strives to reach those who are hurting around her.     She enjoys helping others build a strong business and writes a daily marketing blog for writers called the Writing Career Coach and a common-sense money management site, TheBalancedLife.com. Tiffany lives outside Toledo, OH with her husband, a recent cancer survivor, and their four girls.

Facing our finances isn’t always easy. In fact, many people don’t even worry about them until they become a problem. These postings are designed to help us keep a balanced look at where we are and where we want to be.

Where is it all going?

It’s Friday which means Payday for many people. So, do you know where your paycheck is? Do you know where it is going?

It is easy to fall in to a Friday mentality. I have two kids who are having birthdays in the next 6 weeks. One is on a Friday, another is on a Saturday. Both fall on the weekend of Paydays.

Does that mean that I can spend more because of where their birthdays land on the calendar?

No.

The other bills don’t disappear in celebration of my kids’ birthday any more than they disappear for my birthday or “Just because I want them to”. The reality is we have to get beyond a “Feast or Famine” view of our finances.

Consider what your attitude is toward money. Do you expect that things will be better in a few months? If so, what are you basing that on? Are you making changes to build yourself up so you can be sure there will be extra money when you need it?

What are some of the positive changes you are making to improve your financial future?
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Tiffany Colter is a passionate freelance writer whose credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach not only to create a great story, but also to mentor other writers, Tiffany can always be found in the presence of a book or laptop. A former world traveler who is fluent in three languages, she strives to reach those who are hurting around her.     She enjoys helping others build a strong business and writes a daily marketing blog for writers called the Writing Career Coach and a common-sense money management site, TheBalancedLife.com. Tiffany lives outside Toledo, OH with her husband, a recent cancer survivor, and their four girls.

Money Saving Ideas is a section designed for any person, no matter their current financial situation. This section has a variety of tips on saving money in different areas. If is for people who want to save money, or NEED to.

Today’s tip is simple and delicious. Buy a chicken.

I was at my local grocery [Toledo, OH] this past week and whole chickens were only $3-$4. Did you know you could make 3 meals out of a single chicken? It’s true. Roast it on day one. Boil it on day two. Skim off the meat when you boil it and mix it with refried beans to make a yummy chicken and bean burrito. On day 3 you have the base to Chicken noodle soup, chicken with dumplings or, Chicken vegetable soup. Not only will you save money [a $4 chicken spread over 3 days is pretty economical] but you’ll save time!!

And don’t forget about the health benefits.

The Balanced Life has some exciting things coming. Later this week I’ll begin launching tips for people facing Cancer and other sudden illnesses. As the wife of a recent cancer survivor I understand the emotional and financial turmoil of that disease.

I’ll also be announcing the star of our webinars. These FREE thirty minute events will share tips on living a balanced life as well as offer you the opportunity to ask questions. Make sure you let others know. Each week we’ll be able to accomodate up to 22 participants which gives lots of opportunities for people to take advantage of it. Sign up using The Balance Sheet sign up on the right and click “webinars”.

I’ll see you tomorrow with more tips to help you live the balanced life.

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Tiffany Colter is a passionate freelance writer whose credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach not only to create a great story, but also to mentor other writers, Tiffany can always be found in the presence of a book or laptop. A former world traveler who is fluent in three languages, she strives to reach those who are hurting around her.     She enjoys helping others build a strong business and writes a daily marketing blog for writers called the Writing Career Coach and a common-sense money management site, TheBalancedLife.com. Tiffany lives outside Toledo, OH with her husband, a recent cancer survivor, and their four girls.

Hidden Leaks are the little areas where money is slipping away unseen. These are small drips that can add up to hundreds of dollars each year. Plugging these hidden leaks are one way you can save money without feeling the pinch.

Here is a great article I found about how you can save $50 a day by making some changes in a variety of areas. Which of these will help you live the more balanced life? Follow the Link here.

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Bio
Tiffany Colter is a passionate freelance writer whose credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach not only to create a great story, but also to mentor other writers, Tiffany can always be found in the presence of a book or laptop. A former world traveler who is fluent in three languages, she strives to reach those who are hurting around her.     She enjoys helping others build a strong business and writes a daily marketing blog for writers called the Writing Career Coach and a common-sense money management site, TheBalancedLife.com. Tiffany lives outside Toledo, OH with her husband, a recent cancer survivor, and their four girls.

Money Saving Ideas is a section designed for any person, no matter their current financial sitation. This section has a variety of tips on saving money in different areas. If is for people who want to save money, or NEED to.
Decide your weekly meals ahead.

It never ceases to amaze me the way my food budget creeps up every time I decide it isn’t necessary to plan our dinners before going grocery shopping. Why is this? Well, I have a few theories.
1.    I always realize that I forgot to get a main ingredient. That means I have to zip to the grocery to buy a can of tomatoes. Of course, while I’m there I need to pick up 7 other things…and a 99cent movie from the self-serve kiosk. So that silly can of tomatoes just cost me $15.
2.    The next reason it costs me more is I spent thirty minutes each night figuring out what to make. While I’m trying to see what ingredients I ACTUALLY have the kids are devouring every snack known to man. No wonder I go through pretzels and apples so fast.
3.    And on time, they say time is money so how much time am I wasting every day trying to figure out meals?
4.    It cuts down impulse buying. Instead of getting everything you MIGHT need at the grocery, I’m only buying the things I know I WILL need. That alone can cut many food budgets! It cut ours in HALF!
I’m sure I’ll come up with more another day. This is just what I have so far. Think I’d love to hear from some of you on ways you’ve saved money on groceries. I’ll share them with the readers. You’ll be famous.

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Bio
Tiffany Colter is a passionate freelance writer whose credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach not only to create a great story, but also to mentor other writers, Tiffany can always be found in the presence of a book or laptop. A former world traveler who is fluent in three languages, she strives to reach those who are hurting around her.     She enjoys helping others build a strong business and writes a daily marketing blog for writers called the Writing Career Coach and a common-sense money management site, TheBalancedLife.com. Tiffany lives outside Toledo, OH with her husband, a recent cancer survivor, and their four girls.