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Investing In Women is a business resource and micro-grant program for women in the USA. Our focus is on women, but the website can be used by all entrepreneurs. The site does not require any registration or fee to access its resources.

There are two main goals of Investing In Women. The first is offering financial support to encourage women who want to start or expand a business. We do this by offering micro-grants, which are small amounts of money that do not have to be repaid. These are designed to give a business that little extra help. Even $500 can mean the difference between a successful business and a business that must close down. Our funding for the micro grants comes from advertising revenue and public donations.

The second goal is to encourage collaboration among all business owners, regardless of gender. We do this by offering reciprocal advertising through the website. In exchange for adding resources to Investing In Women, entrepreneurs receive ads on the site. We also encourage mentoring and reciprocal advertising with relevant businesses. Our site has grown because of reciprocal marketing and from several entrepreneurs who regularly promote the site for us.

It all began in February of 2009 however I have been working on the idea since 2008. Our first grant was awarded in 2009 to a business in New Jersey. We are currently raising money for a business owner in Georgia.You can learn more about the grant program on our site and meet the current grant finalist. Now is the time for a free business resource site that encourages collaboration among entrepreneurs. Support Investing In Women at http://iiwomen.com.

Chicken Soup
(This recipe is best made a day ahead. Store in the refrigerator overnight. Then skim the fat off of the top of soup, reheat and serve.)

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken 6.00
3 carrots, cut into bite size pieces .50
3 celery stalks, cut into bite size pieces .50
1 large white onion .50
6 chicken bullion cubes .50
Salt and pepper to taste
8 oz. flat noodles or Dutch pasta .50
1 loaf of crusty bread 2.50
Total cost : $11.00

Place all ingredients in a pot on top of the stove, except the pasta.
Cover chicken and vegetables with water and bring to a boil.
Place a cover on the pot and lower the heat to simmer.
Cook until the chicken falls off of the bone (approximately 1 1/2 hrs.)
Take chicken out and cut off any remaining chicken from the bone to use in soup.
Discard the bones and skin.

Boil 8 oz. (1 cup) pasta, drain and add to the soup.

Serve with crusty bread.
Makes 6-8 servings.

According to the National Bankruptcy Research Center, Chapter 7 bankruptcies, which allow for the legal removal or forgiveness of most unsecured debt obligations (except government-backed student loans, fines, alimony, delinquent taxes and child support), rose 42% in November 2009 relative to 2008.

In 2005, the government made the bankruptcy laws more stringent which included adding an income means test, forcing people with higher incomes to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy which involves a debt repayment plan. Consequently there was a spike in the volume of Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings at the end of that year. The change in the filing requirements, however, did not put a damper on the number of filings this year.

Because of the housing crash and the unemployment explosion, many couples and individuals from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds have been seeking bankruptcy protection as the only means to deal with their debt. This past year, people haven’t been trying to find an easy way out of a massive spending spree where they bought designer shoes and European sports cars. Instead the debt has predominantly come from credit cards that were used by the down-sized or unemployed as a means of survival when their income disappeared, from college students who couldn’t find loans or part-time jobs so they relied on credit cards to pay basic living expenses, from small business owners who had to pay suppliers while there revenue dried up, and from people with no emergency savings faced with unexpected medical bills. On top of all this, the housing market shed billions in value as demand came to a screeching halt, so homeowners have been squeezed from all sides.

Bankruptcy doesn’t have the negative stigma that it used to, but it still has the ability to trash your credit report. However, the law was created for a reason – to give you a solution where there isn’t another one. It gives you the opportunity to start fresh, at least where part of your unsecured debt is concerned. In fact, studies have shown that most bankruptcies are the result of very high medical debt. Yes, filing for bankruptcy can damage a credit report but if you have been struggling to pay or are unable to pay your debts over an extended period, your credit report will be suffering anyway.

There are lots of commercials on television and radio offering a way to legally eliminate your debt without filing for bankruptcy. In fact, what those companies are doing is getting the lenders to agree to a settlent for pennies on the dollar after your debt has gone into collection, which can take a period of many months. The amount of the settlement isn’t guaranteed and all the while your credit score is falling dramatically. And, what the commercials fail to mention, is the fact that when a debt is settled and a large portion is forgiven, the IRS considers the forgiven amount (over $600) as additional income so you have to owe income taxes on it.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy does stay on your credit report for ten years but if you get out from under a mountain of debt and show financially responsible behavior, paying bills on time and managing your debt, that negative notation will have less effect over time. Plus, there will be no tax liability after the debt has been legally eliminated.

January is a month of sales including groceries. If you live in New jersey, Shop Rite has it’s annual Can Can Sale. Stock up on the canned foods you enjoy eating regularly and think ahead about special occassion or holiday recipes that you might be making in the next few months where you could use these canned items. Remember food is always an expense you can control. Buy store brands since they are usually less expensive and tests have shown that they taste the same or better than name brand foods. You can enjoy your meals and still have money left to pay other bills or put into your savings account.

This is quick and easy.
Left over ham and eggs
Just fry up some of that left over ham next to a couple of eggs and enjoy a low cost hearty breakfast
The eggs will cost you about .24

Beginning January 15th, taxpayers who had an adgusted gross income (AGI) in 2009 of $57,000 or less will be able to get free tax preparation and e-filing through the IRS Free File Program. Filers can also get free help from VITA volunteers, subject to income limits that vary by state. For more information go to IRS.gov

Many people like to get a tax refund because they think of it as a type of forced savings or bonus program. In reality, this is money that they have earned throughout the year that Uncle Sam has the ability to use until it’s time to give out the refund a year later; it’s like giving the government a twelve-month interest free loan!

At the beginning of the year make sure that you are claiming the correct number of withholding allowances on your W-4 Form with your employer. If you are underestimating your allowances more federal income taxes will be taken out of your paycheck each pay period. Instead of the” tax-refund savings method” claim the correct number of allowances, work out a monthly budget then have a set percentage of your income automatically deducted from your paycheck and placed in an interest-bearing savings account. You won’t see the money and therefore won’t be tempted to spend it. And, it will also grow for your benefit throughout the year!

Go to WinterTrails.org. On Jan 9th participating locations will provide ski equipment rentals and trail access completely free. Check it out and have fun.

Pea Soup

Ingredients:
Left over ham bone
16 oz bag of Green Split Peas .79
1 small onion chopped fine .50
1 carrot (grated) .20
1 tsp vegetable oil .25
Salt and pepper to taste
Water
Total cost 1.74

In a large pot saute onion in oil (do not brown)
Add the ham bone, carrots, pepper, salt and peas to the pot
Pour enough water to cover all the ingredients.
Bring to a boil and cook at low heat for about 2 hours or until the peas turn to liquid.
Add water as needed while it cooks to keep bone covered as the soup thickens (every 20 minutes).
Scrape off any pieces of ham from the bone and remove the bone from the soup.
Let stand to cool which will thicken the soup.
Reheat the soup before serving.
(Optional: Garnish with sour cream or croutons.)

Sandwiches

Ingredients:
Left over ham
Long loaf crusty bread 2.00
1 can of pineapple rings .69
Mayonnaise .25
Total cost 3.94

Soup and sandwich for a family of four:
Total cost $5.68

Great for lunch or dinner.