Guru-Goddess Women's Magazine

How to Avoid Common Credit Repair Mistakes

There are indeed some very serious credit repair mistakes you can make that will kill your chances of raising your score. Here are five of the most deadly:

MISTAKE #1) Not taking any action

This is the worst thing of all. Many people just keep putting it off until it’s too late. Most of the things that hurt your score will remain there for seven years.

Think about all the loans and mortgages you won’t be able to get. In other words, you need to take action. Doing something is better than not doing anything at all.

MISTAKE #2) Not paying your bills on time

This is one of the biggest reasons people have bad credit. And some opt not to even if they can, in order to reduce their overall debt.

Obviously it’s no secret that getting rid of debt is critical. But remember that late payments will have a negative effect on your report for a long time, which is even more important. Only worry about your overall debt when your monthly expenditures are taken care of.

MISTAKE #3) Having multiple credit cards

Many people do this in order to “establish credit.” This is probably not a good strategy. Applying for too many cards will negatively impact your score, and will also make it more difficult for you to pay on time.

Think about it: having five different payments is much harder to keep track of then one. And the higher your credit line is, the more likely you are going to spend money on things you can’t afford. Therefore, you will dig yourself into a further hole.

MISTAKE #4) Avoid shutting down each of your accounts at the same time

You might think you should get rid of all your cards to help your credit. But keep at least one open. If you shut down each of your accounts while you still have bad credit, you don’t give yourself the chance to build it back up.

MISTAKE #5) Going with dishonest companies

There are a lot of scams in the credit repair industry. Many of the companies that claim to help you raise your score will just take your money and leave you in an even bigger hole.

How do you spot the scammers?

Any company that claims they can help raise your credit score by disputing everything on your report should be avoided. Many of them will have you believe you can reverse just about anything on your score.

This is false.

Also, you can easily spot dishonest companies by just reading customer reviews. Check with the BBB as well. These steps will help you easily avoid scams and locate the right company for you.

Wedding Reception Centerpiece Activities

The question of who will get to take home the centerpiece can sometimes be a real bone of contention with guests, particularly if the centerpiece is particularly pretty or original.

Making a game of who gets the centerpiece, then, can be an amusing diversion and one many guests will enjoy participating in. It will also take out the envy element, the bossy one and the sense of entitlement issue. Here are some ideas for giving away that reception table centerpiece.

How about a game of 20 questions? Give each guest a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. The MC or DJ asks a series of 20 questions, but first gives the guests the basic background information, that is, that the answer is place, person or thing. Once that’s taken care of, people can shout out questions and the MC or DJ will answer yes or no, and whoever figures out the answer first gets the first centerpiece, and that particular table is done playing. The game is repeated until one person at each table has won the centerpiece. Obviously, this will work with small receptions.

One of the most popular ways brides give away the table centerpieces is to put a number on the bottom of the centerpiece and give each guest a number. At some point in the evening, a number is called, each guest checks his or her number and whoever has the called number gets the centerpiece. There are many ways to put a twist on this traditional activity.

For example, you might provide each table with a number, but make it a lower number (ie. between 1 and 10) and the DJ or MC could move from table to table and have each guest do something a certain number of times. So, at the first table, for example, the guests might need to do “head, shoulders, knees and toes” six times and whoever does it first gets the centerpiece.

Or, at the second table, the guests might be required to sing the alphabet 3 times or sing “twinkle, twinkle, little star” three times and whoever does that first get the centerpiece.

Another fun activity for divvying up the centerpieces is to require guests to produce a certain item. The DJ or MC moves from table to table, announcing what guests at that table will be required to produce in order to get the centerpiece. Maybe it’s a Georgia quarter or a mint, or a doctor’s appointment card. Whatever it is, the guest at each table who produces the requested item will get the centerpiece.

You can always make it easy and offer the centerpiece to the oldest person at the table, or the one who took the least or most number of years to finish college.

Perhaps you could create an activity where the person who has the strangest talent (as voted on by the tablemates) wins the centerpiece. Then, if possible, that person might show off the talent for the entire reception party.

If you like musical chairs, you can play a game of musical salt shaker in order to give the centerpiece away. The music begins playing, and everyone at the table passes the salt shaker. When the music stops, whoever is left holding the bill gets the centerpiece.

Or this game can be played a bit more traditionally with the person with the salt shaker being eliminated, and the game continuing until only one person is holding the shaker. That person can then be awarded with the centerpiece.

Or, for a fun twist, the shaker can be passed around and when the music stops, the person holding the shaker is told to return it to the person who first gave it to them. That is the person who gets the centerpiece.

Some fun, and fairly traditional, ideas include the birthday person getting the centerpiece. At each table, the person who has a birthday closest to the wedding date gets the centerpiece.

Or if there are married couples at the table, the couple who have been together the longest can get the centerpiece, or the couple who were married most recently.

Perhaps the centerpiece should go to the person with the longest hair, or the strangest shoes (again, this would be voted on by tablemates).

The wedding reception centerpiece is an integral part of the wedding but it can cause a bit of turmoil if people set their eyes on the same flowers and won’t take no for an answer, so having wedding reception centerpiece activities can solve that problem and make sure there are no hard feelings.

FURTHER READING:How to Live on a Lower Income

GREAT WEDDING ACTIVITIES AND GAMES: How to Entertain Your Guests at Your Wedding Reception and Other Wedding-Related Gatherings

June 5, 2012By pc Reception, Wedding Planner, Weddings wedding centerpieces, wedding planning, weddingsLeave a Comment

Buffet Table Activities for Your Wedding

Most wedding receptions include a buffet-style meal where everyone stands in an enormous line waiting for ages while those at the food table decide if they want Italian or Ranch dressing on their salad.

There has to be a more unusual way to get people to their food, and a faster one at that, right?

There are several fun options you can employ to feed your guests quickly, and with a minimum amount of impatience, or groans of hunger.

Here are some fun options.

One of the most popular is the number system. Each table is assigned a number and the MC or DJ calls numbers at various intervals. The people at that numbered table then find the buffet and begin their feast.

You can place the numbers in a variety of locations. For the most utilitarian version, just place the number in the flower arrangement on the table.

Some brides don’t like this look of numbered table as if at a convention. In that case, you can put the numbers under the flower arrangements, or under the chairs. If you have place cards at the tables, you can write a small number somewhere on the card so people know which table they’re sitting at.

For a fun variation, you can have the florist play around with the table floral arrangements. If the arrangements are going to have a dozen flowers, you could have the florist add one extra flower to table “one”, two extra flowers for table “two” and so on and make the guests figure out which number table they are based on how many extra flowers they have in their arrangement.

The flower method could be cost-prohibitive, of course, if you have a large guest list and many tables.

Now, if the number system doesn’t thrill you or make you think “unique”, there are other options. Each table can have a color and the DJ simply calls out the color name. Depending, again, on how many tables you have at your reception, you could coordinate the tablecloths with the color of the table. So you might have white, pink, lavender, beige, and yellow tablecloths, and the guests sitting at that table simply move to the buffet table when the color of their tablecloth is called.

Another popular option for moving people easily to the buffet table involves having a little fun with your guests. You provide each table with a buzzer, either a bell like you might find at a store, or a small silver bell. Just something they can buzz or ring.

The DJ or MC asks a trivia question, or a question about the bride and groom. The tables buzz in with their answers. The guests at the table with the first correct buzzed answer move to the buffet table. You repeat the process until everyone is finally on their way to getting some food. Just make sure you know the correct answers to the trivia questions yourselves!

The trivia method is an especially fun way to help guests to get to know one another, as they might have to work together to come up with an answer.

If your guests are hungry, you’re sure to hear muffled groans and sighs of exasperation. But even with the small complaints, this is always a crowd pleaser because it’s fun and gets everyone involved.

Now, this next option is fun but can engender a bit of jealousy sometimes. When people get their place card, whether it’s placed on the table, or they pick it up when they look at the seating chart, you can put a number on it. But not everyone at the same table will have the same number. If you have 100 guests, for example, you might choose to have 10 people at the buffet table at a time. So each person would be assigned a number 1 through 10. This works best with small groups.

In the same scenario as above, the DJ or MC will call a number and those numbers will head for the buffet table. There are sure to be more than one person from each table heading for the buffet table, but the guests at each table won’t get their food at the same time.

This staggered feeding can be fun or a nuisance, depending. It solves the problem of half the room being finished with their meal while waiting for the “later” table to finish theirs before the festivities start, but it can also mean that one or two guests might be long done with their food (or wanting to head back for seconds) when others at the table haven’t even eaten yet.

You might also want to start the buffet with the people at the rear of the room, so they don’t have to climb over people milling around on their way back to the table, and risk spillage.

You also need to consider people who love to go back for seconds. Make sure everyone is served first before allowing people to go back for more. Also make sure that not all the food is put away when the cake is served, in the event you have latecomers or people who eat slowly or don’t like dessert.

Cheese and crackers, salad and so forth are ideal for this.

Whatever you decide, buffet table activities at a wedding can be fun and memorable.

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June 4, 2012By pc Reception, Weddings receptions, wedding receptions, weddingsLeave a Comment

Bankruptcy: Your Alternatives

Should you file for bankruptcy or not? This is a decision many are wrestling with. The truth is, you probably have more options than you realize. Here are six of the best:

#1) Negotiate

Initially, you should call up the companies you owe money to and attempt to arrange an alternative payment plan. In many instances they will be willing to work with you.

#2) Hire a credit counsellor

This is more effective than the first option, unless you are a master negotiator. Sure it’s more expensive, but it’s usually much more effective. And in most instances your creditors are more willing to work with a legitimate company than an individual.

What will they do for you?

They basically help work out a more favorable repayment plan. But in most instances these firms will only deal with unsecured obligations.

What’s a “more favorable plan?”

They generally attempt to do either one of three things: get the grand total reduced, get better interest rates, or lengthen the amount of time you can pay it back by. All of these will make the payments easier to deal with.

How do the counsellors determine who they will work with?

They will want to know how much money you make. They have to know this to figure out if it’s possible for you to pay off your debts with the new terms.

So if they decide not work with you, do you have to file bankruptcy? Not necessarily. There are still more options.

#3) Get a debt consolidation loan

This is where you take out a loan for the amount of your home’s value in order to reduce your debt. Obviously you stand to lose your house if you can’t pay your debt. Therefore you need to think long and hard about this. It is worth speaking to a certified professional before making such a big decision.

For some, having a monthly loan payment is much more manageable than credit card debt. This is because the interest is applied all at the beginning, so it doesn’t keep accruing.

#4) Lower your expenses

This is the simplest and easiest method. Just take a very close look at where your money is going.

Check your credit card for the past month and notice the charges. Cancel any monthly payments from companies you aren’t using. Chances are, there are more than a few in this category. Focus on the big expenses, because those are the ones that are making the most difference.

#5) Sell nonessential items

Think about getting rid of that second car you own. Consider taking out the money in an investment portfolio and using that to pay things off. Sell your TV. All these things can make a big difference.

#6) Get a loan from a loved one

This is obviously not a good option for everyone but in some cases it may be the right thing to do. Only you can decide for yourself. Just be sure you have done your research carefully before you make your decision.

Cuisinart DLC-2014N Powerprep Plus 14-Cup Capacity Food Processor Product Review

Cuisinart DLC-2014N PowerPrep Plus 14-Cup Capacity Food Processor, White
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The Cuisinart DLC, has a round design. It has a wide feed tube that can take in a large capacity of fruits and vegetables to process. Its attachments include stainless, shredding, slicing, chopping and s mixture discs that are dishwasher safe. These attachments ensure that your work goes on faster and easily. The 14 cup capacity work bowl provides you scope to work on large quantities of food. The body has touchpad buttons with indicator lights, for better control.

Product Features

• 14-Cup Work Bowl Offers Maximum Capacity
• Wide Mouth Feed Tube Shortens Prep Time
• Touchpad Dough Control And Powerprep Dough Blade Make Dough Quickly
• Custom Spatula, Recipe Book, And How-To Video Included
• 10-Year Motor Warranty

Customers loved the operation of this food processor, which was evident when they said that it can easily handle even the toughest of the bread or cookie dough. They said that they were able to work with fruits and vegetables as whole without having to preprocess them. With respect to the design customers said that it looked good in their kitchen; many pointed out that they liked the way the cord can be wrapped underneath the machine. Customers also said that the food processor was built for lasting long and the work bowl also feels strong. Customers also noted the recipe booklet and video were nice additions to the product.

Cuisinart DLC-2014N PowerPrep Plus 14-Cup Capacity Food Processor, White

Wedding Cake Activities

Upon arrival at the wedding reception, many guests head for the cake table so they can admire the wedding cake. Some time later, the bride and groom come along for a picture opportunity and the grand ceremonial cutting of the wedding cake. Then everyone enjoys cake, and it’s just about gone. Believe it or not, there are many more activities that can make the wedding cake more about fun and less about tradition.

Of course, watching the bride and groom push cake into each other’s mouths is a long-enjoyed tradition, but there are many more fun – and less messy – activities to consider as well.

One new option that’s gaining popularity is to have cupcakes instead of a wedding cake. This is a method that is usually more affordable than having a many-tiered cake and it can be a lot of fun, and give your guests a lot of choices.

The little fancy cupcake holders can also double as wedding favors they can take home with them.

Cupcakes, like the wedding cake, can be decorated to match the wedding theme, but the cupcakes are instead arranged on tiered cake plates and displayed on a cake table until it’s time to eat them. The cupcakes can be simply handed out on plates to each wedding guest, or they can be sitting on the table to serve as wedding decoration, and, as we said above, as a wedding favor as well if it is in a cupcake holder.

Cupcakes instead of a whole wedding cake can save you a fair amount of money, since many reception halls and caterers charge a per slice fee to cut and serve the wedding cake.

You can also build activities into the cupcake presentation. For example, the cupcakes that are for the bride and groom can have a different decoration than the ones for the guests.

As an extra touch, you can have the baker include a special prize in one or several cupcakes. A small charm or tiny toy can be baked into the cupcake. Whoever gets the charm wins a special prize. These prizes can range from a gift basket or gift certificate to a restaurant, to a dance with the bride or groom.

Some brides like to use the Southern tradition and have charms baked into the wedding cake. Similar to the idea above for cupcakes, this involves baking small charms or tiny toys into the cake. The people who get one of the charms are said to have good luck. You might even consider having charm bracelet charms baked into the cupcake, which can then be made into a charm bracelet for the bride.

Not everyone enjoys cake. How about an activity for those who won’t be eating cake? They can be required to do the “Macarena” or the chicken dance during the time when everyone else is eating cake. If they manage to do the dance continuously while the other guests enjoy cake, they win a prize. Or they simply get to sit down, as now they are tired!

In keeping with the dance during cake theme, how about a requirement that in order to get a cake, a guest must perform an impromptu dance first?

There could be trivia questions about the bride and groom or about pop culture. Guests must correctly answer the questions before getting their cake. There could be competitions among tables or individuals for the most questions answered correctly while the wedding is going on and the cupcakes or cake is being served.

Many people believe that once the cake is cut, they are free to leave if they wish. Since cake cutting usually comes after the meal and after dancing and other traditional celebration activities, many people take the opportunity to leave the party after the cake is cut and enjoyed.

If the bride and groom want their guests to stay after the cake is eaten, it is worth some extra effort to build some activities into the cake-cutting event so people will stick around longer. This can be as simple as telling people not to leave, or can be more subtle and fun.

For example, each person could receive a slip of paper with his or her cake. These slips of paper could be prepared ahead of time and provided to the catering company with instructions that one folded strip of paper be placed on each plate with the cake.

The paper might give an agenda for the rest of the evening or might ask its recipient to perform a little dance, to head over to give the groom or bride a kiss, or might ask them to take the flower girl out on the dance floor for a spin. Everyone has to do their task before they leave, otherwise they don’t get their wedding favor.

By incorporating games into your wedding reception, particularly the cake cutting part, you will make your wedding memorable and keep guests of every age entertained. The unknown will keep all the guests guessing and provide some fun and excitement throughout the reception.

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June 2, 2012By pc Reception, Wedding Planner, Weddings weddingsLeave a Comment

Money Matters for June

Here is a calendar of events that will help you say on top of your finances this June.

1-30 National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month. Celebrate the fresh fruits and vegetables you can get from your local farmers’ markets this month. Save more money and boost your local economy by purchasing produce from farmers’ markets.

1 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins. Avoid experiencing a storm in your financial life. Take a look at your monthly credit card debt. Reduce unnecessary monthly fees and expenses by paying off all those balances.
13 Update your Resume. Spend some time reflecting on your career. Are you accomplishing what you’ve hoped to accomplish? Do you love your work? It’s good to keep your resume updated, just in case you decide to make a career move.
14 Flag Day. Today in the USA we celebrate the creation of our flag, which stands for the unity and independence of our country. Honor your country and community with responsible management of your finances. It’s a great day to open a savings account or add to yours.

15 Estimated 2nd Quarter Taxes Due. For those who are self-employed or have other income to report, now’s the time.
17 Father’s Day. Father’s Day is the perfect day to spend time with your dad. Why not take advantage of the opportunity to ask him for nuggets of wisdom about personal finances today?
20 First Day of Summer. Take advantage of this day to plan a relaxing vacation or weekend getaway. Save up cash so that unnecessary after-vacation credit card bills aren’t part of the memories.
28 Insurance Awareness Day. Today’s the day to look over your insurance plans — auto, home, health, and life. Do you have enough insurance? Protect yourself with judicious insurance planning.
30 Evaluate Your College Savings Plans for Your Kids. Now that this school year’s done, take some time to examine how you’re doing in terms of college savings plans for your children.

June 1, 2012By admin Frugal Living, Money, Shopping frugal living, money matters, smart shoppingLeave a Comment

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