Let’s face it – our American economy sucks right now. Big businesses are floundering, small businesses are struggling … let’s not even talk about e-commerce. The ‘average Joe’ is broke and it’s hard to keep afloat.

Research from The Harvard Business Review proves that face-to-face meetings can make or break business. But since a lot of businesses have to keep within a budget, meeting clients or associates face-to-face, especially if they are overseas, can be a huge financial drain. But there is one company who would like to help.

British Airways (who have – in my own humble opinion – the single best airline service I’ve ever flown on) is running a contest where 100 small-to-medium size U.S. businesses (who prove they are deserving) will be awarded a year of free Business Class travel and valuable business services and products to help increase their face-to-face meetings and hopefully – grow their business.

"Business Opportunity Grant" recipients will be awarded 10 British Airways roundtrip transatlantic Club World business class tickets to be used at their business’ discretion in 2010. British Airway partners Regus, Courtyard by Marriott, Canon will provide five Businessworld Gold Cards offering access to its business lounges worldwide, $1,000 toward accommodations, and a PIXMA MX860 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer, specifically designed for small businesses. British Airways World Cargo will also offer each winning company five free global shipments of up to 1100lbs, including fuel and security fees, shipped from any British Air World Cargo U.S. gateway.

Pretty sweet huh? Well – there are only a few more days to enter – so please visit the website and apply!

So, there is this website called Bills.com where you can learn how to pay down your bills and generally get a better hold of your money – be it with better budget planning or even some hardcore debt help. The website teaches you what plan would be best for your situation and provides articles to help you learn the best way to budget and successfully eliminate your debt. They even have a personal finance newsletter that you can subscribe to.

Some of the debt management information the website provides includes how to pay off your college loans, general budgeting and can even help provide you with a debt consolidation loan to help you along. The articles regarding finding a tax lawyer, settlement (bankruptcy), debt reduction, and even general terms are really informative and in plain English (even I understood them – and I’m not that bright when it comes to money management!)

Basically – you need to keep your money in check. I think if I had it to do all over again I think … okay, no, who am I kidding – I’d blow all the money the exact same way. But maybe I would’ve had a better budget? Or, maybe I would’ve gotten a real job? Either way, we’ve got a budget and we only use a single credit card and are making more than minimum (it’s the key here) on each card EACH MONTH. Someday, we will get some Debt relief.

Why am I so broke?
Because there are bills to pay.
Retail Therapy.

Hubby’s gone a lot.
I have lots of credit.
But little cash.

Bills are paid on time.
Someday we will pay it off.
Until then, we work.

I know it shouldn’t make me feel “better” - but its really nice to know that people we thought “had it all together” … don’t. I mean, well - that sounds awful - I mean, we’re in the same boat and that just because you make more money, you don’t always have “no debt” you know? The old, “the more you make the more you spend” perhaps?

I am waiting to hear back from my bank to see if the credit card credit limit has been made higher. I want to do another balance transfer and get a super low interest rate. It’s easier to pay off then really. I am also trying to decide which of our main credit cards to keep.

Ugh, I am in need of some serious credit card debt relief before I go completely insane. But, I have to say - it’s fun playing “balance roulette” lol ….

I’ve been checking out selling arena’s for a couple home businesses I’m working on. Well, it’s mostly ONE home biz - selling stuff online. But, there are a few items I’d be selling. A homemade items section (crafted items I make, and also items my two friends make) and also random things I’ve picked up along the years that I just need to unload (like, a virtual garage sale).

There are a few avenues to sell items - there’s Etsy for anything homemade, Big Cartel for just about anything, eBay (either plain auctions or an “eBay Store” or even Amazon or Half.com for other used or new items. They each have their own fees associated with them and I’m trying to find out what the pros and cons of each place and what each place’s fees are.

So what do you use? What do you sell? Handmade items? Maybe equestrian clothing? Merch for bands? Give me the downlow here on what you utilize to make your home biz run smoothly.

I was blogging yesterday about disclosing how much I’d like to pay off on our credit cards and such - so today is that day. Add to all this the fact that our brakes on our 2002 Tracker went the other day - so now we can add around $600 to all the debt (for things that are SUPPOSED to be covered by the warranty - yes, we’ve already spoke to “legal” at the base hubby works at).

Credit Cards:
Visa - Alan $4,717.98
Visa - Choice Priv. $5,592.00
Discover Card $4,547.97
Sams Club/WalMart $774.09
Children’s Place $71.93
Old Navy/GAP $51.65
Star Card $408.83
TOTAL = $16,164.45

Other:
Consolidation Loan $7,519.03
Vehicle Loan $29,224.02
TOTAL = $16,164.45

TOTAL PAYOFF-ABLE AMOUNT = $52,907.50

Housing:
House in Jacksonville - $1300
House in Virginia - $1245

The house in Jacksonville is currently rented out for $1100 per month - after management company takes share we get about $985. So, we’re paying about $400 out of pocket each month. Because of the housing market we cannot offload it yet. Yes, it was DUMB to buy the house - I blame my husband.

Right now, I want to work on the $16,164.45 from the credit cards. I will blog about my”plan of attack” when I figure it out in words, lol. I think after all this I might need drug rehabilitation from all the “Happy Pills” I will have taken to stay on course and not crying in a corner of my house. We’re in some serious debt - I know it! I have to stay positive because I know I can pay it off. Most of it was accrued over the past 1 year (or less). The buying of the new car did a number on our budget, plus the move and the two houses. It WILL be paid off!!

I’m going on the path set before me by “Blogging Away Debt” and I’m going to really CONCENTRATE on paying off our bills. Seriously guys - this is it! I’m tired of owing money! I’m going to kick “it” into overdrive and get going on all the different money making projects I’ve been working on. AND - I’m going to disclose how much I make with them AND I’m going to disclose how much debt we’re in so you can watch me pay it OFF!

This is scary. Mom’s going to kick my ass because I was doing really well in paying it all off - that is, until we had to move to Virginia and have 2 house payments for a month there. Don’t let that fool you though, we were in “debt” but not that badly before this move. Depression can do a lot for your checkbook/credit cards also since I tend to buy more when my husband is gone. “Retail Therapy” it’s called. Anyway. Done. Kaput!

Here we go!

On a side note: moving sucks! It’s draining on your resources and it’s a pain emotionally. I moved to Virginia, so I didn’t need any New York movers to move me - just Jacksonville ones. Lucky for me nothing went missing. A good hint if you are a military family though? GET RID OF STUFF!!!!! Why keep moving it every 3 or so years? I’m going list my extra crap on EBay!

Are you in search of an unsecured loan to start up your small/home business? Look no further then the friendly folks at America One Unsecured –a loan consulting and placement firm, specializing in providing unsecured loans and line of credit approvals.

I’ve learned that it does take money to make money, you can hardly start a successful business with no money involved whatsoever. (Yes, I’m sure there are cases where it has worked!) But, for me, I know that be it the candle business that I used to run or the website design & marketing firm I am currently running takes money to start up – no matter what they tell you. With my candle company, even though I was just a consultant and I earned most of the products for free to start up, I needed to buy monthly specials to really rev up my customers - my display was my storefront. Nowadays, my websites are my storefronts and I need to pay for domain names, hosting, graphics, licenses and more to keep them up and running. Now, I’m no John Chow, so this money has to come from somewhere. If I want to expand my business to a “real” storefront then I will most certainly need a small business loan.

Some of the advantages in getting an unsecured loan include no collateral required, no financial statements or tax returns required, easy application program and fast approvals. You can bet on full confidentiality and low interest rates.

America One Unsecured has been around since 1999 and has a reputation of being the US’s largest loan broker offering unsecured personal loans or small business loans. The company is listed with the Better Business Bureau, so you can count of them to be on the up and up.

You can also find on their website a blog and financial articles to better help you with understanding everything from the loan process to investing and debt management. It’s definitely a worthwhile website to visit if you are looking for information, aside from loan information.

This post has been brought to you by America One Unsecured!