I know it has been a while since I have written on this blog. However, it has not been a while since I have been writing. I have two other blogs that I also write on - moneytalkmatters.com and wifecfo.com .

 I wanted to come here and share with you about a very powerful resource for black women that are business women and looking for a place to network. It is Black Business Women Online and you can become a part of this wonderful site.

Be sure to go to this link and find out more information Click here to view more details Don’t be left out.

I decided to write this post because it pertains to personal finances and it can be seen as a testimony and spiritual food. Keep reading and you will see where I am going.

I have always been a giver and someone who has a heart to serve people. That is my heart to give, help people and make a difference in someone’s life. Today, a dear friend - reminded me that is who I am and have always been… a person who has a heart to serve.

For those of you that have known me a long time, I have always taught on personal finances for individuals, single parents and wives. I did that online and offline. Well, in late 2007 every time I turned around I was up at night thinking about personal finances and couples. It was keeping me awake at night with excitement.

Even to this day, this program Debt Stops At The Altar and Money Talk Before The Commitment walk that is a little over a year old, continues to keeps me awake at night with excitement. I started writing blog posts for Debt Stops At The Altar over a week ago and been having loads of fun with different issues that couples face. If you are new to my posts, you will soon find out I provide practical and realistic solutions. I do not believe in fluffing anything up. It is fluff that has caused some of us to get into trouble.

I encourage you to find out what keeps you awake at night. Let me assure you, it’s truly one thing. Know that your passion inspires you, motivates you, makes you reach outside of the box and make a difference in the lives of many. 

If you have money and marriage questions or would like to speak with someone who will listen and give you unbiased answers, I invite you to go to www.DebtAtTheAltar.com  and read some of the posts. You can also send me an email through that site.

Your answer is closer than you think.

This was sooo good that I thought I would share it here. Top 10 Forbidden Statements When Having the Money Talk Throughout Marriage

http://debtatthealtar.com/forbidden-statements-in-money-talk/

 Pass it on.

I was waiting to see when this would happen. Let’s face it what is happening with the economy is affecting many people. Sure enough, it will cause one to lean on their faith like never before. This is a time when you find out what you are made of.

I read an article a week or so ago that shared people are turning to their church for answers. Help with finances and some are receiving answers. Read it for yourself:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/02/20/faith.finances.courses/index.html

I have been there. If you are not getting answers or prefer to receive help without everyone knowing about it (I was there one time as well), you can find available resources through my website, www.Taffywagner.com. As a matter of fact, I’ve reduced the prices due to the economic situation. With one of the programs you receive three months of financial guidance at no cost.

Here’s to your economic health and wealth.

Technorati Tags: finances, debt, faith, church, money, economy, financial stress, financial strain, religious, relationship

That’s right, you will be able to attend a Money Talk and Marriage Seminar.

When:  March 5, 2009

Time:   7pm to 8pm MST

Location: In the privacy and comfort of your home.

Who Should Attend:  Engaged Couples, newlyweds, individuals seeking guidance on finances.

Questions that will be answered and more:

1) When should we talk about finances?

2) Discover how to talk WITH each other versus AT each other

3) What could possibly be the number one reason to keep separate accounts?

4) How do I start this conversation?

 We learn how to drive, we attend college to learn a profession or trade. Do not let money be a “taboo” subject anymore. It’s time to talk.

Click the link below to secure your spot today:

http://moneytalkandmarriage.eventbrite.com/ 

Technorati Tags: money, couples, marriage financial counseling, engaged couples, newlyweds, debt, talk

I got up this morning and went to the bathroom to begin my regular routine. I would start getting ready for work and my husband would continue sleeping for another thirty minutes. I would gently look at him and think he does not know what he has even gotten himself into. He loves me so much and it would crush him for me to share my secret.

I close the door to the bathroom and finish getting dressed. I decide to pick up a latte and a bagel on my way to work. I get my breakfast and walk back to the car. As I sit behind the steering wheel I think it is going to be a very busy day and I will be on top of my game this morning. I am going to make it a GREAT DAY despite my secret. I brush my brow and continue driving towards my place of employment.

I pull my car into the parking garage and grab my briefcase. I say “Okay, let’s do this.” I walk into the office and receive a few messages from the receptionist. Follow up with this person and that person. Also a reminder about a 9am meeting. I am cool, calm and collected. I can handle whatever comes my way this day…….

Technorati Tags:  secret, husband, work, routine, employment,

Last week when I launched my current promotion for Military Spouses and shared it on Twitter, I received a DM asking what did I know about Taffy Wagner.  Needless to say, that made me stop and think. Military Spouses might not know anything about Taffy Wagner. Hence this blog post.

Taffy Wagner is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. When she enlisted,  she had only graduated from high school a few short months prior. Her experience with money was very limited having grown up in a single parent household.

This was her chance to have more options for career, college and employment. There she was enlisted and moving away from home for the first time making a statement that most did not believe she would make because she was the youngest child.

Striking out on her own, she did not not do that bad. Joined the service, learned a skill and was receiving early promotions. Since she initially did not have a car, one of her biggest expenses was her phone bill. Taffy called home a lot because of her close relationship with her family. Mind you she was not home sick, but her ties with her family were deep.

During her first term of enlistment, she saw friends come and go. Reassignment, temporary duty assignments and short assignments to Korea and Japan. She experienced reconnecting with people several years later. She re-enlisted for a second term to accomplish all of her goals that she had set for herself.

Financial challenges she faced during her enlistment was emergency car repairs, learned about automatic deductions and had one or two credit cards. After separation within fifteen months, had unmanageable debt. So this is a veteran of the United Armed Forces that knows about money management, cleaning up credit and starting over.

Be sure and view her current promotion to assist military spouses:

http://debtatthealtar.com/military-spouse-marriage-and-money

She is ready to help!

As a veteran Air Force staff sergeant, Taffy Wagner, DMin, knows how challenging it is for young engaged women to military service members, newlyweds and spouses to be put in the position of money management when they have not had a chance to get used to the military lifestyle. The excitement of being a bride and saying “I DO” can quickly turn into sadness and feeling lonely because of a deployment or even a short temporary duty assignment.  Let’s face it, being “Married to the Military” is its own unique community. Finances are different for military service members and families.

 Wagner created Money Talk Before The Commitment Walk and Debt Stops At The Altar financial education program to teach couples how to communicate in a non-threatening manner throughout the lifetime of their marriage. “I believe this course would be a great starting point for military spouses who are placed in the position of managing money for their household.” Wagner said. “I know it is hard for spouses to be “thrown into” managing money when they might not have done  well on their own. What I teach will follow them wherever they go and equip them for financial harmony.” Wagner’s innovative Money Talk Before The Commitment Walk and Debt Stops At The Altar financial education program is a program that spouses can do in the privacy and comfort of their own home. This is the first of its kind for engaged couples and newlyweds. She’s offering a 25% discount to military spouses that purchase this program and is donating 15% of all purchases made from January 14, 2009 to January 30, 2009 to be divided between eMOM, National Military Family Association and Help A ServiceMember Out organizations to reach out to the community she still considers herself a part of. 

From her own independent research, Wagner was aware that there was not a financial education program specific for engaged couples and newlyweds. Wagner said, “As a veteran, who has talked with military spouses and had friends that were military spouses, I believed military spouses could  benefit from this program as well as civilians. I developed this program to help create financial harmony in marriage versus financial stress and division.”

As a happily married wife of 13 years, Wagner shares about bankruptcy, slow pays, cleaning up credit, the shopper in the house versus the saver and more. Wagner says, “There are many financial issues that couples will face some planned and others unplanned. There is absolutely no reason a couple cannot be equipped with financial guidance beforehand.”

 This program is being discounted for the next two weeks. Everyone that purchases this program will also receive a pre-release copy of Wagner’s deployment and financial program, FE4PPDS at no cost.  

For more information, go to http://debtatthealtar.com/military-spouse-marriage-and-money/

Join me for the interview regarding Marriage Surviving the Recession

http://www.ChristianWivesClub.com

tonight at 9pm EST. 

Technorati Tags: Christian wives, Christian, finances, recession, marriage, money, Christian wives club, The Debt Stops Here, wife

I shared with you earlier this week that my husband is participating in a national program titled Giving is Awesome. I am so moved by the nominations that are coming in. Keep on nominating if you are in Denver, Colorado. Go to

                       www.ericsportraits.com and nominate a deserving individual or family today.

 What an awesome way to say you care.

Technorati Tags: Eric Wagner, Denver, Colorado, family, giving, portraits, care