Just Melancholy

When my husband and I first started out, we were very money strapped. I soon began to understand why they say that couples argue frequently and even get divorced over financial issues.

Especially in our “more” society, it can be tempting to try to stay up with all the latest and nicest cars and fashions. However, this choice is not always practical or good for the wallet.

Here are some creative ways I found to earn an extra income.

-Babysit - This is great if you already have kids or are good with kids.

-Clean houses, blinds, etc . - This is completely flexible and can turn into a great side business.

-Freelance jobs - With the use of the internet there are many opportunities for freelance writing, advertising, internet marketing, computer work, etc.

-Sell items on eBay - Use a dropshipper like Doba for products after you’ve cleaned out the basement and house of excess items.

-Work from home - Not stuffing envelopes but legitimate jobs for typing, reading emails, editing, etc. Search the internet for opportunities.

-Be creative - Turn your skills into extra income. For example, do scrapbooking, computer repairs, photography, pet sitting, etc.

-Teach - Teach your area of expertise to others. You can be employed at a community college or start your own seminars at night.

-Franchise opportunities -There are many franchise opportunities including financial services, computer training, bridal consultant services, home remodeling, medical suppliers, physical fitness instructor, publishing services, and many more.

My sister recently called me and urged me to get the vaccine shot for cervical cancer. I had seen the commercials and advertisements on TV, but I hadn’t considered getting the shot.

I was surprised to learn that Human Papillomavirus is the most common STD, affecting over 20 million Americans. It can cause cervical cancer, genital warts, and other types of cancer. Although there is no “cure” for HPV, there are some things you can do to protect yourself from getting the virus. First, you can abstain from all sexual activity . Second, you can get regular Pap smears. Third, get the HPV vaccine. Fourth, limit the amount of sexual partners you have in your lifetime. Fifth, wear a condom because it can reduce your infection risk by about 70 percent.

I also found some common questions answered and an article about the new vaccination that is sweeping the world. Tell me what you think about this controversial subject.

If you ask my husband, he will say that I worry too much about the future. In other words, I like to plan for the future. I’m not much for spontaneity, although I enjoy it, it just isn’t me. Of course you can’t plan for everything, but it’s better to be prepared, right?

Unfortunately, I didn’t plan ahead as usual and I lost loads of data on my computer because my virus protection had expired. Since I constantly use the internet, I’m sure I caught a virus from the web. Now I am looking into free remote backup so that I am ready next time.

Trust me, you don’t want to go through the frustration of getting your computer fixed and losing important files. Get your computer files backed up today, and update your virus protection and spyware too!

I have a gripe to write about…I have the most beautiful cherry armoire I inherited from my Grandmother. My only complaint is I can’t find anything to match it! I have scoured every furniture store in the state, internet retailers, even garage sales and eBay and have yet to find matching furniture in the exact shade of the armoire.

I know it sounds silly…how hard could it be to match cherry wood, right? Harder than you think! It has a deep, almost burgundy finish with just a hint of gold. I can find a rare china replacement piece, match the exact paint color from a magazine clipping, and find a matching vintage teacup missing from an old tea set. So what gives?! More rants and frustrations to follow…

Like most people, you would probably like to be debt-free. I am actively working towards that goal. Here are some ways I found to be helpful to pay off the debt sooner:

-Snowball credit card bills. Tackle the smallest first and pay it off. Then add the minimum payment that you were paying on that card (or the amount that you can afford) to the next credit card, and so on until you have all your credit cards paid off.

Set a budget. This is imperative so that you know where you are spending money and don’t waste money on entertainment or other things. Set a budget for all your expenses and don’t exceed that. (tip: don’t go to the grocery store hungry, make all meals at home, don’t raid your fridge late at night, and rent movies from Redbox).

-Try the Money Merge Account from United First Financial . If you want to pay off your mortgage early and save money, try using the money merge account software. This helps you calculate how much you need to pay towards your mortgage each month so that you can pay it off in about 10 years or less. It can help you save and budget your money too.

-Get a side job. Try making one of your talents, like teaching sports or piano, computer skills, scrapbooking, photography, etc. into a lucrative side business. You can do odd jobs for money. Or use the internet, sell items on eBay, do SEO work, etc. There are tons of ideas that can help you make extra income to pay towards the bills.

-Put your written goal somewhere visible. I stole this idea from my weight loss regimen, but it helps when you are trying to be debt-free too. Write down what you are doing to pay off your debt and hang it somewhere that you will see it. Perhaps put a note in your wallet so you remember what your goal is and you don’t spend!

As of Sunday, the 23^rd, fall has officially begun!  And that means the skiing season in Utah is getting ready to start!

Utah is hands down one of the best places to ski or snowboard in the country, if not the world.  Famous winter resort towns such as Park City and Sundance attract thousands of visitors each year to enjoy “the greatest snow on Earth.”

Perhaps a winter Utah outdoor adventure is just what you need!  Whether a fun trip with your girlfriends or a romantic getaway with your sweetheart, start planning for one of the most fun and enjoyable winter vacations you will ever take!

I recently found out that my Aunt Nancy gave up a child through adoption many years ago. Although I have never met this cousin, my Mom told me how difficult it had been for my Aunt to give away her child, but how she had wanted her child to have more in life than she could give him.

However, it was sad to hear that although adoption was the right choice, 30 years ago they didn’t let the birthmother chose the family. My cousin went to a European family who were very musical. Although there is nothing wrong with this, he didn’t exactly fit in because he was Hispanic and not musical at all.

I’m glad that adoptions have become more open these days, allowing the birthmother more control. This gives the birthmother the power to choose adoption as an abortion alternative, and place her child in the best family possible. She can choose a family that is the most similar to her own, but that can give her child more opportunities because of the adoptive family’s financial and emotional maturity.

Going back to work after having our last baby has been a challenge. We own a small internet retail business where we do a lot with drop shipping, and it can get complicated, especially when a lot of phone orders come in. It’s been a challenge for me to get back into the “working full time” mode and get into the swing of things.

We finally decided to bite the bullet and get a real phone system to help make things easier. Before we were trying to make one phone work for a bunch of orders, and I realized we were missing a lot of calls. After much research, we decided on the Avaya IP Office because it is simple for us to use, and it can expand as our business expands.

I’m excited for the new phone system. Hopefully it will all work out well, and we’ll be able to get things more efficient (and profitable!).

So I am getting married in the next couple months and I have to say, the wedding planning process has been a lot easier than I would have imagined.  It seems that everything has really come together; from the photographer, to the catering company, to my unbelievable wedding dress…I have been blessed to be able to find and get exactly what I want with little to no hassle or work.

For example, the reception venue I absolutely had to have was booked when I called to check the availability.  Heartbroken, I began looking at other with venues with little enthusiasm.  A couple hours later, the event coordinator from the first venue called saying the reservation had been canceled and my date was actually available!  How is that for luck?  Everything after that just seemed to come together seamlessly.   I ordered a gown I found online and it fit like a glove, I chose the most stunning floral centerpieces (at a fraction of what they should cost!) and my Utah photographer is known to be one of the best in the states!

If you are planning your impending nuptials, I hope you enjoy the process as much as I am!  Happy Planning!

…or better yet, abstinence.  It is truly the only way to ensure protection against a sexually transmitted disease, infection, or an unplanned pregnancy. 

You should always discuss safe sex with your partner, a health professional, or peer educator before you make the decision to have sex.  Not doing so can result in difficult, often devastating consequences. 

Never feel pressured into having sex, probably one of the worst reasons to justify such a big decision.  You should never have to compromise or your values or conform to social standards just to fit in or be part of the crowd.  If you do not want to have intercourse, be honest with your partner and stick to your decision.

Stay away from alcohol or drugs if you think things may get physical and go in a direction you do not want to.  Since substance abuse leads to impaired judgment, it will interfere with sound decision-making, which can lead to any number of consequences such as contracting an STD, date rape, or not using protection. 

Remember the buddy system from elementary school?  The same applies when you go out to a party or bar.  Go with friends and make sure you keep an eye out for each other.  Agree beforehand that you will let the other one know if you decide to leave and with whom.  Also, getting a second trusted opinion from a close friend could stop you from making a decision you most likely will regret later.

Respect everyone and the decisions they make.  Whether it is you or your partner that wants to abstain from sex, respect and support the decision.  There is no ideal age, unspoken rule, or point in a relationship where sex must take place.  Discuss and identify the reasons behind the decision and stick with it!