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Simple Compassion-Kiva Loans

October 25, 2011 in Simple Compassion

Kive is a super cool organization.  I have ment to loan to them for well over a year, but finally got to it today.  I have given to this lady to help her with her dairy business.

As I am typing this I am realizing that it is probably kind of strange for me to be giving her money for a dairy business when I am trying to be vegan ;) .  I liked her and I liked the fact that she had been already working for a while and her motivation was established.  I like that this is helping her become self-sufficient and my money has the potential to change her life as well as years down the line to her kids and grandkids.  Dairy doesn’t have the same animal cruelty issues in other countries and its high calorie content is much more needed.   There is lots more projects and stories.

Here is information from their about page. 

We are a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. Learn more about how it works.

Since Kiva was founded in 2005:

  • 633,471 Kiva lenders
  • $252 million in loans
  • 98.90% Repayment rate

We work with:

  • 143 Field Partners
  • 450 volunteers around the world
  • 60 different countries

Why we do what we do

We envision a world where all people – even in the most remote areas of the globe – hold the power to create opportunity for themselves and others.

We believe providing safe, affordable access to capital to those in need helps people create better lives for themselves and their families.

How we do it

Making a loan on Kiva is so simple that you may not realize how much work goes on behind the scenes.

Kiva works with microfinance institutions on five continents to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. One hundred percent of your loan is sent to these microfinance institutions, which we call Field Partners, who administer the loans in the field.

Kiva relies on a world wide network of over 450 volunteers who work with our Field Partners, edit and translate borrower stories, and ensure the smooth operation of countless other Kiva programs.

Learn more about how it works.

How we’re funded

100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes directly towards funding loans; Kiva does not take a cut. Furthermore, Kiva does not charge interest to our Field Partners, who administer the loans.

Kiva is primarily funded through the support of lenders making optional donations. We also raise funds through grants, corporate sponsors, and foundations.

We are incredibly thankful for the support that has enabled us to do the work that has touched the lives of so many people.

Learn more about our partnerships or make a donation.

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Stress Free Money at $40,000 and below

September 28, 2011 in Creating Simple Living

 

I found an article this morning about how a family of 4 was living on $40,000.  It was titled ’The Secret to Living Well on $40,000′.  Now I think this family is great and financially smart, but how can living on $40,000 be a secret?  This is above the poverty and welfare lines and includes tons of families in our country.  Shhhhh…. people all over the place are surviving on $40,000 a year.  

The key to simple, stress free money is that money coming in is greater than money going out.  That is it.  No matter what someone makes it is this where the peace/stress line is.   It is something that can be in balance even under $40,000 a year.  (gasp)

No matter what the ads say, your friends do, or TV portrays the median income in 2010 in the USA was $50,046 (and dropping) source.   That means that half of the families make and live on $50,000 or less.   In the midwest it is lower. In Nebraska where I live the median income is $47,357 source.   This means a large percent are living on $40,000 or less. 

Living on less money than comes in is key to living a simple, money-stress-free life.  It is huge in my life, and it is huge in most people’s lives (unless you are part of a very small amount of people who make so much you can’t spend fast enough…). 

I wanted to write-up the numbers of what our family does.  We are working on budgeting and cutting our bills back even more since we decided to simplify because we want to save up as money for the things we want as possible. (and we are trying to pay of the Prius)

Our family budget is about $2200 per month.  We don’t always balance but we have come out ok on the average on months when we aren’t traveling.   This is spendable income of  $26,400 per year (after taxes, contributions, savings).  This is how it breaks down:

Rent- $800

Food-$350

Car Gas-$175

Utilities -$75

Entertainment – $50

Misc (cloths, house stuff, etc) – $200

Savings pool for insurance (health and car), car expenses, school costs, medical costs – $550

Our phone and internet is paid out of our businesses. 

Since we are self-employed we don’t know what we will make from one month to the next so the less we have to make the less work stress we have.  We also choose to spend as little as possible for the ’everydays’ so we can take longer vacations and having more money in savings.  It is probably possible to live on even less and still provide food and shelter for a family of 4. 

What I want to get across is, for the most part in this country, people have way more financial freedom than they often embrace.  Most of our money is spent for wants and not for needs.  It is a choice. 

It is perfectly fine to spend money on whatever you want.  I am not saying that spending money on wants is wrong.  I just get frustrated by people’s excuses and pity party based on money.  If more money is going out than coming in and it is creating stress, fix it.  If you want money for something specific and don’t have it, fix it.  If it costs too much to live in a specific area, city or state… move.    Get to the place where it isn’t a fight to finish the month in the black and life gets better. 

Money is a tool, not a barrier.  Simple, intentional, and even possibly minimalistic living really helps prioritize and make sure money is not a secret and not a stressor.   It is true in this society that there is always a push to spend more and the myth that families can have it all is everywhere.  These things do make it feel like living on $40,000 or less is hard. 

Another great recourse is Dave Ramsey’s program and teaching.  He is super motivating and entertaining and has practical, usable advice.

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Making a Big Difference…. Simply.

September 20, 2011 in Simple Compassion

Welcome to my simple living blog!  Thanks for reading.  Take a look around and feel free to comment or e-mail me. 

I want to share a simple way that my family has been involved in making a powerful difference.  For the last 3ish years we have sponserd 2 children through World Vision.

First off I have a huge burden for those in 3rd world countries.  There are evils and poverty in our country, but here there are programs everywhere for food and medical.  Clean water and education are amazingly easy to come by no matter who you are or where you are.  In other countries it isn’t this way.   Lack of clean water, food and basic medical attention kill millions of people.  The education that could help pull them out of the cycle is often something they can’t get, don’t have time to get, or are too weak to get.  We did nothing to deserve where we were born and they did nothing to deserve where they were born.  In the world, we are all family and we should do all we can to help each other. 

What is neat about world vision is the connection.  We picked 2 children, matching ages and genders with our own as close as we could and have been able to write back and forth and learn about how they are benefiting from our support.  We know that these children will grow up to get the education that can give lasting help to their community. 

Let me introduce you to our kids:

Juster(below)-Juster is a 7-year-old girl in Malawi.  She seems shy, but likes to draw us pictures and is doing well in school.  Her aunt writes us letters because she isn’t old enough to write yet.  As she does more school I am looking forward to seeing letters from her.  Last Christmas we sent extra money and she was able to get several things including a metal storage container to keep the bugs from destroying her blankets, cloths and a goat.  We send $35 for Juster every month and a world vision worker checks on her everyday because she is high risk.  She is a Hope Child.

Phochland(seen at the top of the post)-Phochland is a little 4-year-old boy with lots of older siblings living in northeast India.  Still to old to do school or write he has done a few simple drawings or colorings for us and we send him lots of stickers.  He loves playing ball and is very healthy.  Last Christmas, with some extra money we sent, world vision purchased a bike for his dad.  We send $30 a month for Phochland and the world vision worker checks on him every week. 

Sponsor a Child

These are my additional kids.  It has been a great experience for our whole family.  Lily and Ian both write letters and pick out stickers and treats to send.  We would love to visit them someday. 

In this world we can’t fix all the problems, and it seems overwhelming when we hear all the terrible struggles people face.  I love that I can do something for someone.  These kids, their families and their communities benefit from a small amount that is automatically withdrawn out of my account each month. 

Will you help too?  Will you find a kid to help?  It is super easy, pick and kid and set up automatic withdrawal and they take it from there.  If you have time, when you remember, you can send a note, but your money is working even when you don’t think about it.

My reason for writing this article is two-fold.   First, I think all kids deserve a chance no matter where they are born, and I believe World Vision does a great job of offering sustainable help to communities.

Second, if I can convince 5 of you to sign up by the end of Sep to sponsor a child I get entered in a drawing for a trip to Peru.  So, if you sign up, send me an e-mail with your name and your sponsored childs ID number :)  I would also love to hear how it is going as you sponsor your child. 

This is such a great opportunity.  As much as I would love to fly over to some of these countries and try to help, I can’t figure out a good way now.  What my small contribution does every month provides the practical, educated, lasting help that I can’t physically give.  It is a blessing to be involved, simple to , and a bargain! 

Will you sponsor?  Sponsor Now! 

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