Women Empowerment Magazine - Women Empowerment Magazine

Kathy Jo Pollack, Certified Life Coach, Trainer, & Speaker

The A, B, C, Ds of a Healthy Financial Plan
By: Kathy Jo Pollack, Certified Life Coach, Trainer, & Speaker, www.kathyjopollack.com

The tough economic times have spared no one. But some more than others are feeling the impact more dramatically.

I offer some tools to help. I call it the “alphabet of a healthy financial plan”.
Start with:
A plan that includes the following four areas:
B udget
C redit
D ebt
S avings

Budget: Start with a simple written plan (budget). This is the cornerstone of a financial future that allows a reasonable lifestyle while paying down debt and saving. For a simple form click here: Budgeting Worksheet. You may also visit the links page of my website at www.kathyjopollack.com/links.

Another great eye opener is this simple tip. Track your spending for a month by saving receipts or recording all purchases in a small notebook. Little things add up to big things. A $1 cup of coffee each morning equals $365 a year. These little leaks in a budget can easily be plugged and redirected toward savings or paying down debt.

Credit: A credit report tells a story. Make every effort to make yours as accurate and positive as possible. Whether applying for a loan or credit, job, or even renting an apartment, chances are that your credit report will be viewed. Opportunity comes with good credit. Here is the link for the only authorized online source for your free annual credit reports:https://www.annualcreditreport.com. You may also call 1-877-322-8228. It is never too late to start building and maintaining good credit.

A key point to remember is that credit and debt are not the same. Do not build unnecessary debt in an attempt to build credit. Paying all bills on time and paying down your balances will help you to build a good credit report, which leads to the next area.

Debt: Total your monthly credit payments, excluding housing (auto loans, school loans, and personal loans as well as credit cards or other accounts that have a balance on which you are making monthly payments). Next, divide your total monthly credit payments by your monthly net income. Afraid to total the debt? Is the percentage higher than 20%?

Warning Signs of Too Much Debt
• Struggling from paycheck to paycheck
• Making only minimum payments on credit card balances
• Skipping one payment to make another
• Putting off doctor or dentist bills
• Using a credit card to pay for things you used to pay for with cash
• Arguing over money and bills
Reduce Debt with these Suggestions
• Stop using credit cards.
• Pay cash.
• Pay down balances; always pay more than the minimum on credit card balances.
• Work with your creditors to negotiate rates and arrangements.
• Consider debt consolidation or a lower rate balance transfer.

If you are still having debt problems, consider talking with a professional. Check with the human resources department of your employer or that of your spouse to see if you have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). With this program, you may be able to access free and confidential help ranging from counseling to legal and financial services as well. Also, consider contacting the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, www.nfcc.org, to locate a credit counselor near you.

Savings: Start small and build! Make savings a part of your budget, even a few dolars a week will grow. Work towards an emergency savings of $500 and keep going. With this $500 cushion, you will not have to resort to credit when faced with an emergency. Ultimately strive to have at least three months of net income saved.

A checking and savings account are invaluable to managing in today’s world. But some find that it may be difficult to open these in the wake of bad credit. Consider contacting a neighborhood bank or credit union to inquire about setting-up an account.

Helpful Tips for Saving
• Use direct deposit or payroll withholding.
• Save any additional income such as bonuses, overtime, tax refunds or extra paychecks.
• Set financial goals and keep them visible. This is motivational.
• Save loose change.

Other forms of savings such as Certificates of Deposit (CDs), IRAs, or even a college fund for children are wise. Do not neglect retirement savings. Check into your employer programs such as a 401K and make sure to contribute enough to get the maximum match.

Suggestions to Keep You on Track
• Stick to your budget and continue to save.
• Pay bills on time.
• Pay balances in full on credit cards, and only charge what you can afford to pay off each month.
• Keep your debt-to-income ratio under 20% (excluding housing).
• Track spending when money seems tight.
• Be a smart shopper. Comparison shop for everything, not just food and clothes, but insurance, banking, phone services, etc. Terms and fees vary and change frequently.
• Check, review, and correct your credit reports every year.

Always Remember Your ABCDs
A healthy financial plan includes:
B udgeting – know what is coming in and going out
C redit - use wisely and check reports
D ebt – keep a close watch and avoid overload
S avings – both emergency and retirement

While this may seem difficult at first, remembering and applying these ABCDs will help put you in control of your finances and also your life!
Copyright © 2010 Kathy Jo Pollack www.kathyjopollack.com

Kathy Jo Pollack is a certified life coach, trainer, and speaker whose focus is finance, relationships and etiquette. Her first passion, personal finance, began when she was the training specialist for Consumer Credit Counseling, where she worked with thousands of people from all walks of life. This launched her into her own business which offers individual coaching, teleclasses, and workshops. By focusing on the basics, she helps her clients build a strong & lasting foundation. Contact Kathy Jo at 1-724-224-6619 or mycoach@kathyjopollack.com. Visit her at www.kathyjopollack.com & download free tools: budgeting worksheet, cost-cutting tips, quizzes, and more!

www.kathyjopollack.com

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Kathy L. Gruver, MS, LMT, RM

Doctorate in Traditional Naturopathy

The words on everyone’s lips right now are about healthcare reform. We’re relying on the government and our political leaders to decide the fate of our wellness. But we can take charge of our own care. Through being in tune with our bodies, practicing preventative measures and working with all aspects of ourselves, body, mind and spirit, we can diminish our reliance on Western medicine. Since women make most of the health decisions in the house, it’s important that we have access to good health and wellness information so that we can make educated choices. We are bombarded with commercials for prescription drugs but the beneficial natural remedies don’t get equal air time. If we do hear about something “alternative” it’s normally in the light of scams and quackery. Are there some alternative therapies that are bunk? Sure, but there is also an arsenal of healing tools that we all have at our disposal. Things like acupuncture, homeopathics and herbs have been around for decades and are proven to help our bodies heal themselves. Eating better food and avoiding artificial colors, flavorings, MSG, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup and genetically modified foods give us a leg up in being healthier and fit. Adding in a high quality vitamin, mineral and amino acid supplement can help us with PMS, sleep and mood. Pay attention to how your body feels on a daily basis, pain is often communicating with us that something is wrong. And it might be an emotional or spiritual issue, not just that you played too much soccer or lifted incorrectly. We are so in tune with our cars that we notice the least little change in handling or that weird clicking sound. We can describe it to the mechanic, but pay little attention to those same changes in our bodies. Our bodies are the most important vehicle we’ll ever have and I encourage you to be aware, listen and note what is happening. If we can practice prevention, then we’ll have to rely less on prescriptions and surgeries. As a society, do we still need those things? Definitely! But for emergencies and accidents. Many of our diseases today could be prevented with some effort. Losing extra weight, having healthy emotions and choosing a different diet would benefit us so much as a community and as individuals. I appreciate having my Western medicine practitioner as there are sometimes when I WILL need an antibiotic, blood test or x-ray. But I also value my own inner physician and rely on her to tell me what my body needs. The statistics about health are scary right now, so much cancer, heart disease and diabetes. But it doesn’t have to be us. We can make different choices NOW, even if you have a history of these and other disorders, to help our bodies be healthy and whole. Explore your options, be your own advocate and take charge of your health! I look forward to sharing with you some healthy options in future articles.

Have a healthy day!

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The Alternative Medicine Cabinet by Kathy Gruver

Book is available at http://www.healingcirclemassage.com

Kathy Gruver, author of The Alternative Medicine Cabinet, has earned her Doctorate as a Traditional Naturopath, her Masters in Natural Health and is pursuing her PhD. She graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Theatre from Point Park University in Pittsburgh and was a working actor in Los Angeles for many years. She serves on the faculty of SBBCollege where she teaches massage, nutrition and pathology. She has a Body/Mind/Spirit Workbook available and produced, directed and hosted an instructional massage DVD, Therapeutic Massage at Home; Learn to Rub People the RIGHT Way!

Kathy is a dynamic and entertaining speaker and seeks to not only educate, but inspire. She has lectured for universities, organizations and the general public. An expert in natural health and wellness, Kathy has two decades and over 10,000 hours of hands on experience and a flair for communicating in a fun and conversational way. As a former actor she incorporates that creativity and humor into each of her presentations.

Gruver has been featured as an expert is publications such as Massage Magazine, SouthWest Blend, Discover, First for Women, SB Fitness, The Holistic Option, Bottled Water Web, DermaScope Magazine, and Pacific Coast Business Times. She has written dozens of health and wellness articles as well as business topics. She has appeared as a guest on over 25 radio shows covering topics such as back pain, mind/body medicine, healthy pregnancy, homeopathics, headaches, depression, nutrition, herbs, patient advocacy and massage for wellness.

Kathy serves on the advisory committee for The Holistic Option, a website resource for all your natural health and wellness needs. She was their featured expert on a podcast on the Emotional Components of Back Pain. And her business Healing Circle Massage was featured as a Best Practice by Massage Magazine two years in a row. Kathy is also available for corporate health lectures through her company Healthier Office.

Lecture Topics:

~Change your Mind, Change your Body
~Self-talk: Talk Yourself Well
~Eat to Live (Better)
~Staying Sick; How to Guarantee You’ll be Sick and
Unhappy the Rest of your Miserable Life
~Ten Things to Add and Subtract from your Life for
Optimum Health
~Natural Solutions for Depression
~Wellness for the Working Woman
~Corporate Health and Wellness

Please contact Kathy for testimonials or to view lecture footage.
healingcirclemassage@hotmail.com / 805-680-1984
www.healingcirclemassage.com http://www.kathygruver.com

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Welcome To The April Issue of Women Empowerment Magazine

Welcome to the first official issue of Women Empowerment Magazine.

My name is Lori Finnila and I'm a domestic violence survivor who is permanently brain injured due to violence. I created this magazine to help myself and other women heal, grow, voice themselves, inspire, aspire, and achieve their ultimate goals in life.

Please enjoy all the wonderful women I portray here as we share with you our voices and brightest capacities.

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Looking To Be Seen by Lori Newman

I am a survivor of things no one wants to talk about.
I am a statistic of too many numbers to count.
I am a fighter.
I am a believer that all things are possible.
I have hurt deeper than I thought possible.
I have looked up at the world,
I have stood next to the sun, and I have cried tears like rain.
I have hidden from life, I have asked "why" more times than I care to admit.
I have spoken my truths and fought for my beliefs.
I have lost but in losing I have won.
I am human; I am imperfect and I am as weak as I am strong.
I am no longer silent, I am no longer hiding.
I am looking for what everyone is looking for…to be seen.

Author of Looking To Be Seen and Here All Along at Amazon
Author Page
http://www.whenwelisten.com

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I WALK WITH GOD

Please forgive me for what I am about to write, I am responsible for so much pain, my ex husband and I caused to our son's.
My son were victims of Domestic Violence and it was wrong. No justification will erase any pain or damage which was caused.
For the past eleven years, I have expressed to my son's time and time again it was wrong. No excuse, it was wrong, I was wrong.
I will take full responsibility because as there mother I did not protect them as I should have. I have been reminded of the hurt my ex and I have caused our son's.
I have prayed to our God, for forgiveness, over and over, I pray for him to help me to help others and I prayed for my son's to forgive me.
My love for my children is unconditional, I hang my head low because of my love for them, I continued through the cycle of abuse.
For those who are with out sin, cast the first stone. I am with sin and I am deeply sorry for all the pain you have endured my son's.
To my daughter, I gave you my life, I love you and my grandchildren so deeply, and I ignored the abuse which continued in our home.
I will never disown you and your brothers you are my blood and my love I must stop the cycle, I must be held responsible for the cycle of abuse.
I walk with God, when my time comes, I walk with God. I will not take you with me I will wait when God decides for me to walk with him.
So, to my children, I love you more then you will ever know and I pray one day, we will come together again as a family.
To my past abuser, no matter what damage which has been caused, it is my memory and my choice to tell my story. Our children have nothing to do with this.
I wish you all the blessing in the world but...Please do not try to prevent me from helping others.
Madeline, was judge and almost stoned until, Jesus stopped them from stoning her.
So, to all my friends and supporters, please forgive me. I was wrong.
God bless all of you.

Written by Rosa Torres-Sadler

http://sad49-iwalkwithgod.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/torressadler

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Child Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention by Renee Cooper

Expect sexual predators to be after your children. They are.

Please expect sexual predators to be after your children. They are. The average girl is crossed CLOSELY by about 100 sexual predators before she reaches adulthood. And a boy, 10 maybe 20. So the ugly truth is, parents should expect sexual predators to be after their children. They are. Pretending abusers are not around, does not make your child safe. It makes your child vulnerable. Too vulnerable.

Abusers are waiting for you NOT to expect or suspect them. They are waiting for an opportunity when your back is turned. They come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Mine was a 15 year old boy next door. A predator only needs one opportunity, one. One violation can damage a child’s life. Expect sexual predators to be after your kids. Put in the block in their way. Be prepared and proactive instead of reactive.

Over a third of our children are sexually abused by someone they know. Someone close to the family or even in the family. Err on the side of safety. Children do not make up stories about sexual abuse. If they tell you that something happened, believe them and investigate. If you sense something is wrong, don’t dismiss it. Act on it. Know the major tells. Don’t ignore your good instincts and leave your child vulnerable. Don’t believe no-one will hurt them, unfortunately some people will. Eliminate the opportunities, please.

I hope this makes sense? It makes sense to me. As a child, I needed a block. I needed my parents and my family to know that sexual predators would be after me. I needed them to help me. As an adult, I am trying to give children the help I needed. My goal is that fewer children will be facing sexual predators alone if at-all. Let’s help the kids by admitting and resolving the problems today. Ok?

Thank you again for letting me share.

Renee Cooper

Thirst of Life

Help Me Find the Way

Renee Cooper Site
Renee's Blog

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Finding Your Voice by Jen Knox

Storytelling as a Form of Self-Expression

Every woman has a story, but her ability to present that story to the world might be more important than she knows. Let me make this clear, I’m not saying everyone should write a memoir. On the contrary, there are a myriad of ways that a woman can tell her story: through work, artistic expression, personal interaction, physical expression, and perhaps most importantly, she can present her story in the way she communicates in day-to-day life.

When I published a memoir about my teenage years and early-twenties, I bared it all. And I mean everything—I recounted my life after running away from home at age fifteen, the few years I spent as an exotic dancer, the tumultuous time I had re-establishing ties with my family members, and ultimately how I reconciled who and what I was (in other words, how I got my shit together). Writing the story was a powerful and cathartic experience in of itself, but ironically it wasn’t until after publication that I learned to truly own my story. I began to get mail and email that offered me diagnoses for my previous behavior. Men and women alike sent me responses to my writing that speculated about who (they thought) I really was; one woman, a teacher of mine, told me that I wasn’t mad enough at my parents. Another reader praised my strength and resilience, thanking me for telling not only my story, but hers. Yet another reader told me that I was obviously manic, and I should seek treatment.

In other words, I got a lot of varied responses to my work, my story, and although some were extreme, what I realized was that all were just opinions. At first, some of them hurt. Then, after a while, I learned that everyone will add his or her own experience to their interpretation of who I am and what my motivations are. As a woman who always used to worry about what people thought of me, I found it freeing that when I found out that what others thought, what they really thought, didn’t matter nearly as much as who I was to me. And this is the kind of lesson a person only need learn once.

Jen Knox is the author of Musical Chairs (ATTM Press available at Amazon). Her personal essays and short stories have been widely published, and she is currently working on a novel entitled Absurd Hunger.

http://www.jenknox.com/
Book Trailer Musical Chairs

Natalie McCann
Poet

My dreams, they keep haunting my head while I lay,
the images stabbing my heart holding love at bay.
Never for a moment have I really been free,
from the hatred and cruelty life has dealt me.
I try to escape with nowhere to go,
except inside myself where no one will know.

By Natalie McCann

Sit silently in the moment and you will feel the gentle breeze of the wings.
A tickle on your ear are the secrets of the past reminding you of who you are,
hoping that you will follow the path that is chosen and unobstructed,
making ways through good and bad, through lonely darkness trying to avoid pain and emptiness.
For on this journey travel slowly, reminisce in the moment and enjoy the beauty therein,
which is easily overlooked when not wanting to search for the goodness but the darkness.
They are both availing themselves although your choices shall defeat the darkness, shedding light on the glory.

By Natalie McCann

Over the rainbows and under the sun,
my spirit can soar, my heart can run.
I'm free as a bird although without wings,
My mind is no longer caged and can sing.
For wherever I am, I look to the sky,
and escape in the clouds without a tear in my eye.
For wherever I yearn for, that's where I'll be,

By Natalie McCann

Trudy Kells
Model and Songwriter Coming Soon