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	<title>Traci&#039;s Christian Cottage ™&#187; To Be Debt-Free</title>
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	<link>http://traciscottage.com</link>
	<description>Musings on Quiverful &#38; Large Christian Families, Parenting, Homeschooling, Modest Christian Dress &#38; More!</description>
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		<title>Unemployment Stress and Homeless Parents</title>
		<link>http://traciscottage.com/to-be-debt-free/unemployment-stress-and-homeless-parents/</link>
		<comments>http://traciscottage.com/to-be-debt-free/unemployment-stress-and-homeless-parents/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 13:40:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Traci</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[To Be Debt-Free]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homeless parents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unemployed]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://traciscottage.com/?p=1364</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Times are tough everywhere; in the US and even in other parts of the world.  The economy stinks, employers are feeling the pinch and having to lay off workers.  Everyone is tightening their belts and trying to make ends meet. I don&#8217;t know the statistics, but I would image that everyone knows someone that has [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='wp_fbr_top'></div><p>Times are tough everywhere; in the US and even in other parts of the world.  The economy stinks, employers are feeling the pinch and having to lay off workers.  Everyone is tightening their belts<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1368" style="margin: 10px; border: 0px initial initial;" title="help wanted" src="http://traciscottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/MH900438012-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> and trying to make ends meet.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t know the statistics, but I would image that everyone knows someone that has lost their job and is currently unemployed.  I know unemployment hit our household in January 2009 when my husband took a buy-out with Chrysler.  Just a few short months after that, they closed the plant where he was working. We knew that was coming &#8211; and we chose the buy-out money to pay off all our debts, except our house.</p>
<p><strong>Not Ready for Retirement<span id="more-1364"></span></strong></p>
<p>That does not mean &#8211; that all has been rosy and easy for us.  It hasn&#8217;t.  It&#8217;s been stressful &#8211; just like when a spouse retires and your whole life changes &#8211; this is the way it has been for us. Only my husband did not want to retire, we weren&#8217;t at all prepared for him to retire as he was nearly 20 years away from retirement age in January 2009.</p>
<p>My husband has searched for and applied for more jobs than I can count.  While he was collecting unemployment benefits, he was required to do at least two job searches per <em>week</em>.  He did at least two <em>every single day</em>! No one works harder at trying to find work than my husband.  He <em>wants</em> to work; but jobs are scarce and so many are unemployed and looking too.</p>
<p>He&#8217;s gotten close to getting a job &#8211; more than once.  He would be one of the the final choices, then the job would go to someone else.  There are so many out of work and looking, employers can have their choice pick.  My husband has applied for jobs he&#8217;s grossly over qualified for, willing to take any job he can.  Still nothing.  It&#8217;s been over two years now.</p>
<p><strong>Putting My Skills to Work</strong></p>
<p>While I have been a web designer since 1999, and have always earned some money &#8211; I never had to push myself to earn a full-time living.  My husband always earned enough to pay our bills &#8211; my money was extra.  Thankfully I do have the skills and I have been able to pay all our bills &#8211; on time.</p>
<p>But I have realized that being the full-time wage earner is stressful and tough.  I commend all men who do this.  I would gladly go back to being a full-time homemaker and the work and stress load that goes with that; but it does not appear that&#8217;s what the future holds for me at this time.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t get me wrong, I love what I do &#8211; have fantastic clients; but 14 hour days are wearing on me. I&#8217;m trying to cut back and readjust &#8211; but when you own a service-based company, and have a Team of folks who also rely on you for their income for their families &#8211; I have to keep going. Doing.  Trying. Praying.</p>
<p><strong>Blessing in Disguise</strong></p>
<p>These past 2+ years have been stressful.  Life altering.  And it has also been one of the best things that has happened to our family.  We have truly had to life by faith; as on more than one occasion &#8211; we needed money to pay our mortgage, and the money would arrive a mere day or two before we had to make the payment.  The Lord provides!</p>
<p>I think God is trying to cure my husband and I of our Type A/gotta plan everything type personalities.  It&#8217;s working!  ;)</p>
<p>What really made me stop and appreciate all the blessings I have &#8211; and that even though we aren&#8217;t 100% sure every month how much money we&#8217;ll have to pay the bills, we always have enough.  That&#8217;s not the case for everyone else in this economy.</p>
<p><strong>Homeless Parents</strong></p>
<p>Many have lost their homes and are now homeless &#8211; with children!  Read this touching story of one such <a href="http://careyfuller.com/blog/2011/05/homeless-parenting/" target="_blank">homeless parent</a>.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m off to count my blessings &#8211; which are too long to list here; and enjoy the weekend with my family!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Water Fuel: Run Your Car on.. Water?!</title>
		<link>http://traciscottage.com/to-be-debt-free/run-your-car-on-water/</link>
		<comments>http://traciscottage.com/to-be-debt-free/run-your-car-on-water/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:00:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Traci</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[To Be Debt-Free]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fuel from water]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HHO gas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water as fuel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water fuel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water powered car]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://traciscottage.com/?p=871</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This article is another in my continuation in helping you and your family achieve debt-free living and cost-cutting measures. Gas prices to fuel up the family car have been outrageous; and if you are a quiverful or large family, then your family car isn&#8217;t a small compact, but likely a mini-van or perhaps a small [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='wp_fbr_top'></div><p>This article is another in my continuation in helping you and your family achieve debt-free living and cost-cutting measures.  Gas prices to fuel up the family car have been outrageous; and if you are a quiverful or large family, then your family car isn&#8217;t a small compact, but likely a mini-van or perhaps a small conversion van or mini-bus.  Or how would you like to drive the Duggar&#8217;s bus, at the cost of $500 to fill that beauty up?! Uh &#8211; no thanks!</p>
<p>Well, watch this video, and then below I have information on how you can order plans to convert your car to run on water. Yes, a water powered car that runs on regular <a href="http://tknoppe.centemax.hop.clickbank.net/" target="_blank">plain &#8216;ol water that converts to HHO gas</a> that just uses water as fuel.<br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="344" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vKM4pb9Oxrg&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vKM4pb9Oxrg&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>I don&#8217; t know about you, but I think this is amazing! What&#8217;s even better, is that it takes so little water.  You could capture and use rainwater, and go even more &#8216;green&#8217;, and not have to run up your water bill.   Notice in the video, they said the government and the auto industry has taken notice and are talking to this guy; and I would imagine that before long, the opportunity for the average consumer to convert their own vehicles may be gone.  Don&#8217;t know that for sure, but that seems to be the way it is. They also said in the video that <strong>this process is completely safe and has passed all safety testing</strong>. I don&#8217;t know about you, but I&#8217;m all for pulling up to a water hose and fillin&#8217; &#8216;er up, as opposed to the gas pump; or shoot &#8211; sounds like all I really would need is to share part of my bottle of water with my car and we&#8217;re good to go!</p>
<p>Sound good to you too? Then I highly recommend you buy the highly detailed 90 page conversion guide today. At only <strong>$49.97</strong>, it&#8217;s an awesome deal. There&#8217;s even a 56 day money-back guarantee.  <strong><a href="http://tknoppe.centemax.hop.clickbank.net/" target="_blank">Buy NOW</a></strong></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Make Electricity at Home: Make a windmill and homemade solar panels</title>
		<link>http://traciscottage.com/to-be-debt-free/create-electricity-at-home/</link>
		<comments>http://traciscottage.com/to-be-debt-free/create-electricity-at-home/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:00:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Traci</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[To Be Debt-Free]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[earth energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homemade solar panels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to make a windmill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar power system]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wind energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windmill power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windmill system]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://traciscottage.com/?p=869</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Make your own electricity? Yes &#8211; and you can learn how to make electricity at home with this guide that will show you how to make a windmill and homemade solar panels, without spending a fortune like you would for other do-it-yourself kits. Of course quiverful and large families are always looking to save money, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='wp_fbr_top'></div><p>Make your own electricity? Yes &#8211; and you can learn how to make electricity at home with this guide that will show you how to make a windmill and homemade solar panels, without spending a fortune like you would for other do-it-yourself kits.  Of course quiverful and large families are always looking to save money, but with today&#8217;s economy, families of any size are looking to cut costs.  Even if a family were to get debt-free, one cost that will always remain are the utilities.  I know here in Missouri, several elderly people die each year in the summer, because they can not afford to turn on their air conditioning. If each family were able to produce their own electricity, then no longer would people need to die in extreme heat for fear of paying the electric bill.</p>
<p>Solar and wind power are earth friendly renewable energies &#8211; can&#8217;t get much greener than that!  They will save your family literally thousands of dollars. This inexpensive <em>instant access</em>, how-to guide will show you how you can create a simple solar power system for as little as $200 with supplies from the local hardware store.  It&#8217;s only $49.97 and will save you thousands in utility bills.</p>
<p><strong>You don&#8217;t have to wait for shipping, this is a downloadable resource, so you get it right away.</strong><em> How can you not buy it!</em></p>
<p><strong>$49.97</strong> <strong><a href="http://tknoppe.earth4.hop.clickbank.net/" target="_blank">Buy it now</a></strong>!</p>
<div id="attachment_868" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 266px"><a href="http://tknoppe.earth4.hop.clickbank.net/"><img class="size-medium wp-image-868" title="Earth4Energy" src="http://traciscottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/boxcard-256x300.jpg" alt="Earth4Energy" width="256" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Earth4Energy</p></div>
<p>[ad]</p>
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