Characteristics of a "Financially" Virtuous Woman

Do you (or someone you know) want to be a "Financially" Virtuous Woman? I DO!

   

I've seen many articles about the characteristics of the Proverbs “Virtuous Woman.”  But, I haven't really found too many about how to be a "Financially" Virtuous Woman.  I not only strive to be a Proverbs Virtuous Woman, but I also strive to be a "Financially" Virtuous Woman as well.    

 

So, here are my interpretations of the Characteristics of a "Financially" Virtuous Woman based on Proverbs 31:10-31 (KJV). 

 

She knows her value.

“¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”

 

Like an authentic and priceless gem, she knows her value and doesn't settle. When a woman knows her value to an organization that she is working for, she will not settle for low pay or abusive working conditions. She knows that she is worth more and deserves better.

  

She is trusted by her spouse (or God).

“¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. ¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

 

She protects the financial security of her family and is fiscally responsible. She only has the best intentions and helps to reach her family's financial goals. Therefore, her spouse “safely” trusts her and in her personal financial management. If she is single, she is trusted by God.

 

She will work to provide for her household.

“¹³ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. ¹⁵  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.”

 

Whether it is going to work or getting another job, she will do whatever it takes to financially provide for her family, when and if necessary.

 

She is a homeowner or owns real estate.

“¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.”

 

She owns or has owned real estate as a homeowner or as an investor. This not only shows that she is financially self-sufficient, but it also shows that she is responsible with her finances and credit to be able to qualify and afford real estate.

    

She is fit.

“¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.”

 

She is not only physically fit with strength to handle the demands and responsibilities placed upon her; she financially fit with the strength of personal financial knowledge to handle or assist with the financial demands and responsibilities of the household.

 

She is disciplined.

“¹⁸  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. ¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.”

 

Even when she doesn't feel like it or want to do it, she is disciplined enough to do what is necessary to do whatever needs to be done for the betterment of herself and her family.

She volunteers to help others.

“²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.”

 

Whether it is at church, for a non-profit organization, or in her community; she gives her money, resources and time to help others who are less fortunate than she is. She understands that the Power of Prosperity lies in her Gift of Giving.

 

She is proactive and saves.

“²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²² She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.”

 

She plans for what is to come as well as prepares for what could happen. She saves for emergencies, establishes a budget, and ensures her household has what is needed at all times.

She respects her spouse.

“²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.”

 

She creates a strong financial foundation with her spouse for their family.  She may not agree with her spouse all of time but she respects him and his financial decisions.  Because of her power of influence, her spouse is respected within the community. 

   

She is an entrepreneur.

“²⁴ She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.”

  

She is a business owner or has an entrepreneurial mind and spirit. She is able to create a product or service that creates an income source to provide for her family.

 

She is respectful and respected.

“²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

 

She respects others and commands respect from others. She helps to educate those around her about finances with honesty and love. This is why people appreciate her advice.                                                                      

 

She is NOT lazy.

“²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”

 

She understand when it is time to rest and when it is time to get up and make it happen.  She is not lazy and idle with her thinking or her ways.

  

She is loved and respected by her family.

“²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”

 

She is loved and adored by her children and her husband and they appreciate everything she does to protect, defend, support and take care of the family. They know that the love she has for her family is her driving force to do what she does, only the way she can do it for them.

  

She is competitive.

“²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”

 

She is driven to do her best. She may not be competing with others. Rather, she is usually competing against herself with a goal to be financially better off than she was a month or year before. She reads books and seeks information and assistance to improve her personal financial management skills.

She is humble & loves the Lord.

“³⁰ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

 

Although she is beautiful and has nice things, she remains humble and does not boast. She also has a relationship with God and understands that all that she has is a gift from God. She tithes because she believes that "You can't beat God's Giving!"

She is a Role Model.

“³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

 

She is admired by others by the way she carries herself in public and at home. She doesn't take this responsibility lightly and understands her impact on her family and her community. Her financial success and freedom are her fruit she bears and shares.

   

  

How many characteristics do you possess? ;-)

  

Financially True,

Tarra Jackson
  

6 Strategies to Pay for College Without Going Broke

Are you (or someone you know) looking or ways to pay for College for you or your child without going broke? I am!!!  

   

Tameka Williamson, Your Own College Coach, shares 6 Strategies for Paying for College Without Going Broke!

    

We have watched the news and the trends of how student loan debt continues to surpass consumer debt, cost of tuition continues to rise, scholarship funding is more competitive and state incentive aid such as HOPE scholarships are no longer options that yield hope.  So, what is a parent to do?  This information is to help you think outside of the normal paradigm and look at strategies that can bring about viable college options.  We encourage you to have an open mind about your options and focus on making smart decisions not costly decisions.  It’s all about the end goal, and that is a competitive college education at the lowest cost possible.

   

The goal is to equip you with tools that will keep you from making the same mistakes many parents make. This is the only way we can change the landscape for our future generation. So, I hope you are ready to learn and take action based on what you’ve learned. Our mission is for you to obtain the maximum amount of money possible for child applies.

  

Strategy #1: Send Your Child To A Community College For His/Her First Two Years Of School. If your child works hard and gets good grades, they can usually transfer to a top private university. This way, they can get a diploma from a prestigious school for half the cost!

 

Strategy #2: Pick Colleges focused on Minimizing Student Loan Debt. The Project on Student Debt is an initiative of the Institute for College Access & Success, a nonprofit independent research and policy organization dedicated to making college more available and affordable to people of all backgrounds.  As a result, the colleges on their approved list have developed financial aid policies that limit or eliminate student loans from financial aid packages, reducing costs for students and families.

 

You also have National Association of System Heads (NASH) Access to Success Initiative project with The Education Trust. A2S works with 22 public higher education systems that have pledged to cut the college-going and graduation gaps for low-income and minority students in half by 2015. Together, these institutions serve more than 3.5 million students. They Meet 100 percent of their admitted full-time undergraduate students’ financial need for fall 2010. That means the average gaps between a school’s total cost of attendance—tuition, fees, room and board, books, travel, and other expenses—and every student’s EFC – Expected Financial Contribution was filled with some combination of aid.

 

Getting accepted into any of the schools on this list will almost guarantee your child will graduate with little to no student loan debt.  But please know that your child must be competitive and yet again, produce good grades and high test scores.

  

Strategy #3: Understand and Maximize the FAFSA Form.  By understanding the formula, you will start to see how different factors will affect your eligibility for financial aid. For example, “Should you move the assets out of your child’s name?” or “Should Mom or Dad take two courses at a local community college to qualify as a part-time student?” By knowing the formula in advance of applying, you can legally set up your personal and financial situation to maximize your eligibility for financial aid. Your bottom line goal is to minimize your EFC – this is what the government feel you can afford to contribute.

  

File Your Financial Aid Forms Accurately And On Time. Remember, financial aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis. 66% of the forms submitted have an error on it. If you submit your forms with errors or omissions, it will probably “bump” the financial aid forms, and you will have to resubmit them at a later time. If this happens, you will probably lose aid since they award money on a first come, first served basis. Most schools have different deadlines, and if you miss their deadline, you will almost definitely get less funding.

     

Strategy #4: Pick Colleges That Have The Best Histories Of Giving Good Financial Aid Packages. Many schools publish statistics on how much “need” they meet and how much FREE money and loans they give out. Know these numbers before you apply, so you don’t waste time and money applying to schools you’ll never be able to afford. If they offer loans, determine how many subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans are awarded. When loans become part of the equation, do your best to qualify for federally subsidized loans, which are interest-free and principal free until your child graduates.

  

If you still need to borrow more money, try borrowing from your 401k plan or a pension plan. Many plans will allow you to borrow up to 50% of the value of the plan or up to $50,000 interest-free. You can also think about refinancing your current mortgage (not a home equity loan) because long-term rates are typically low during these times, much lower than student loan rates and, under most circumstances, tax deductible (but consult your tax advisor, of course.)

  

Strategy #5: Don’t Be Afraid To Negotiate For A Better Financial Aid Package. Always Apply To, At Least, Two Or Three Schools That Are Rated Equally. This way, if your child gets accepted to all of them, you may be able to play one against the other when negotiating to get a better financial aid package.

 

A school’s financial aid package is NOT fixed in stone. Just because they offer you a certain package, doesn’t mean you have to accept it. If you know how to calculate your “expected family contribution” and you find out what the school’s history of giving out financial aid is, you can usually get a pretty accurate idea of what you should have received. If the school’s offer is way off – write a letter to negotiate. I have seen many cases where schools gave $2,000… $3,000… even $6,000 more than they originally offered just because the family asked. The moral is – Don’t Be Afraid To Negotiate!

  

Strategy #6: Have Your Child Enroll In Advanced Placement Classes And College Level Courses While Still In High School. Every college level course they place out of is money you won’t have to pay when they go to college. Considering college credits can cost as much as $300 each, having your child place out of these courses can save you a lot of money. This happens when AP classes are successfully completed and the subject tests passed when taken in May. By taking foundational core classes at a local college/university while in high school, will decrease the amount of classes a student take once enrolled on a full-time basis, could be covered through a high school – university collaborative and it proves to admission representatives your child is college ready.

  

There are many more strategies for you to implement. Hopefully, these 6 strategies will motivate you to get started and take action in looking at how to create a plan of action that will facilitate your child’s dream and future so they can achieve college success.

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Tameka Williamson is a Six Sigma Blackbelt in Lean and Process Improvement that analyzes and creates systems for change.  Being a certified speaker and coach for the John Maxwell Team, Tameka developed her signature programs around the 6 WILLs that help students Get Noticed, Get Admitted, Get Funded and Get Hired so they WIN in life, bringing about positive and sustainable change.  Winning Intentionally at Leading Life (WILL) is modeled around Standing out, Reliving your dreams and Removing the limits. Having successfully overcome several life changing events and a successful corporate career of driving change for over 15 years in Fortune 100 Companies, Tameka is maximizing her experiences to equip others with the tools to either avoid the same mistakes or bounce back quicker and stronger on their journey to fulfill their purpose. For more information about Tameka Williamson, Your Own College Coach, go to www.TamekaWilliamson.com.