Asking for help is difficult when it comes to financial issues.   People often try to conceal their financial situations from friends and family members.  Realistically speaking, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Digging the debt hole is easier than you think. According to Debt.com, only 32% of Americans establish a household budget.  We all can assume that those that do not keep track of income and expenses will incur problems with debt. Likewise, a report issued in April 2017 announced that a shocking 50% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck.  Basically 50% of the people you know have little or no emergency money on hand.  If you are having financial troubles, here are some tips on how to regain control of your finances.
Create a budget.  Your monthly budget can be elaborate or simple.  Start with making a list of what you have to pay and the due dates for a given month.  Also, list your income and pay dates.  Subtract the expenses from the income to make a simple budget.  There are a ton of budgeting apps you can download for free. Just keep in mind that you should never enter your account numbers or personal information on anything that may not be secure.  Use general info like "electric bill due on 2/28".  If you want to keep track of your usernames and passwords for your bills or other accounts, please use an offline spreadsheet program and password protect it or use a handwritten notebook. 
Get financial advice.  Most banks offer a review of your finances for free. Check with them first. They may end up trying to offer you products like CD's or Money Marketing Accounts, but the free help with making financial decisions is worth the up-sell conversation. If your financial institution does not offer free advice, try calling an agency for help.  See the link on the left. 
Make saving a priority.   Many people get a second job or create a side hustle to increase their income so they can start saving money.  Be creative in how you can earn extra money.  Having a yard sale or selling items on social media market sites can also generate some extra money.  Once that extra money comes to you, save it.  Deposit it into a savings account or stash it away for a rainy day. 

Remember it all starts with a budget.  Take control of your finances and have a goal to have at least $500 more in savings than you have right now over the next six months. You can do it! ​

Losing someone significant to me has been one of the greatest challenges throughout my life.  When I lost my sister, I spent most of the months following her passing thinking about how difficult the loss was to everyone else.  I masked my grief with thinking about how her husband and my other family members felt.  When the snowball finally hit the bottom of the cliff, I realized that I did not have a mechanism in place for dealing with my own sorrow. I prayed for strength.  I know God's Plan is powerful and everything that happens has meaning.  I also know that He would not give me more than I could bear. 

DO IT YOURSELF:
Making quality pictures at home does not require a lot of money or special photography training.  Setting up a home studio can happen in less  than a week.  Here are some tips to get you started on a great home photography adventure. 

1. Use your cell phone.  As you know, pictures taken by cell can look great with a little editing and proper lighting.  There's no need to buy a fancy camera unless you want to start a photography business.  Starting with your cell is a great way to experiment without adding to your cost.
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2. Buy a lighting/studio kit.  Bundle it! Check out which bundles are available before buying single items. Most studio kits come with two lights, stands, and a choice of backdrop cloths. The price of a kit is usually much cheaper than buying separate items. 

3. Don't forget a stand for your cell phone. Some stands come with a bluetooth clicker that connects to your phone so you can take photos independently while you pose. ​​

4. Be creative!  Pick a great backdrop for product pictures.  Add different backdrops as you grow your photography skills and your home studio. ​

5. Have fun! Like with anything new, there can be some frustrating times getting things set up and assembled.  Remember to relax, use trial and error, and make it fun.  

Tip:  Make it pay for itself!
Once you are comfortable with using your studio, remember everything is portable.  Try booking kids' birthday parties for a fee and work your way up to more formal parties or even weddings. The sky is the limit with your new studio. Take a risk!

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