Khaleef Crumbley, Author at Faithful with a Few

Professional And Affordable Logo Design Service IS Possible!

[The following is a sponsored post, but all opinions, thoughts, and words are unbiased – you can read our full disclosure here.]

KNS Financial has been in business for a little over 7 years (existing in several different forms) and in that time, we’ve always had trouble finding dependable design services. Whether it was deciding on our basic color palette, trying to decide on a logo, creating stationary, designing business cards, it has always been difficult to find professional help at a reasonable cost.

To get those things done can cost thousands of dollars, depending on what’s involved and what all the designer gives you at the end of the process. To be honest, we’ve heard so many horror stories about people either using friends (or even friends of friends), looking on various ‘classified-type’ sites, or even finding a cheap gig on freelance websites.

Fortunately, Sherrian is extremely creative and we’ve been able to use her color schemes and designs for most of our creative work (logos, headers, and even the design of our free course on worshipful giving). However, there are things that are beyond her scope and our software, and for that we need to look to professionals.

Since creating a side-business or even a full-time business is something that we strongly believe in and talk about often, we are always on the look out for companies or marketplaces where we can find designers with the right mix of professional and affordable. So when Deluxe Business Services reached out to me about their products, I immediately had to take a look.

Deluxe Business Services

When we’ve looked at other services and individuals, most of them simply asked for a list of keywords that represented our business and then went off on their own to create the design.

However, Deluxe Business Services doesn’t take such a minimalistic approach. They actually take you through an entire process that is designed to take as much of your input as possible and come up with the perfect logo that represents your business.

Great Prices for What You Are Getting

This process involves a “Creative Brief and Brainstorming” session, initial concepts for you to review, and then a chance for feedback & finalization of your design. What I found amazing about this process is that you can have up to 5 designers working on your project and receive up to 50 design concepts with unlimited revisions!

They have 3 plans that you can choose from: Bronze ($245), Silver ($395), and Gold ($645). The extremely low price for bronze (with 2 designers, 2 revisions, and 10 design concepts) initially caught my eye, but once I saw all that comes with the other packages, I believe that the Gold package would be the best option.

In addition to the unlimited revisions, 5 designers, and 50 concepts, you also receive the font and color codes used (so matching future designs to your logos will be simple even if you use another vendor or do it yourself), custom email signature design, stationary designs (letterhead, fax cover sheets, envelopes), and even 1,000 business cards designed by their team to include and match your logo!

Discounts for KNS Financial Readers

I guess you can see why I think that the Gold package would be the best option. However, if that is outside of your budget at the moment, you can still get a great deal for less than $250! Deluxe Business Services was kind enough to offer our readers a $25 discount on their inexpensive Bronze package. That discount goes up to $40 off of the Silver package, and $50 off of the Gold Design Package (bringing to price to under 600).

Even if you aren’t sure exactly which package fits both your budget and your goals, you can always reach out to them for a free phone consultation in order to figure out which plan is best.

If you are looking to represent your business and brand properly, having a professional logo and consistent design is a must. To be able to do that without breaking the bank is the dream of every entrepreneur, and with Deluxe Business Services, it is no longer a dream.

If you use Deluxe Business Services to create your logo (or for any other design services) let us know. We would love to see what you choose and how it turns out for you!

My First Experience with UBER

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

The other day I had to pick up my car from the mechanic. After 2 days and $700, I was less than excited about the idea of calling and waiting for a taxi – there aren’t too many taxi services in our area.

I reached out to my sister to see if she could give me a ride, but she was dealing with a stomach virus and was in no shape to drive. As I was just about to give up and call for a cab, my wife suggested that I give Uber a try.

Uber Review

I downloaded the app and was prompted to set up an account with the service. The great thing about this is that you include a preferred payment method in your profile, so you don’t have to enter your credit card information each time you use the service.

Because of this, no money changes hands between you and the driver. He never even sees your payment information – Uber handles everything for both parties!

My Uber Review: What About the Features?

Once my account was set up, it only took a few seconds to request to be picked up near my house. They allow you to either enter the pickup address or let your GPS send your location to the driver. Once they connect you with a driver, you are given an ETA and can even track the exact location of the driver on a map!

I was told that my driver was 14 minutes away and I immediately spotted him on the highway near our home.

Once I walked to the pickup spot, I just watched both the map and the traffic while I waited. I knew what car to look for because Uber gives you that information when they first make the connection – you are also given the name and a picture of the driver along with his rating!

My wife asked me to text her once I got picked up, so I searched the app for the ability to text from within. Not only was I able to send her my current location, but I was also able to allow her to track the entire trip on a map!

If you don’t want to give someone that much information, you can just send them your ETA or (I think) just text alerts when you are picked up and dropped off.

The driver was very pleasant and the car was exceptionally clean! He was a former taxi driver and spent the trip explaining why he feels that Uber provides a better service for customers as well as a more desirable work environment for the drivers.

Based on my experience, I would recommend Uber to anyone who needs a quick ride and wants more options than a traditional taxi.

If you use this link to sign up for the service, then you get your first ride for free (up to a $20 value)! If you’ve used the service before, please leave your own Uber review in the comments’ section.

Groupon Coupons: Introducing A New Way To Save

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

By now, most of us have heard of, and possibly used, Groupon – the website that specializes in offering deals on just about everything that you can imagine. I know so many people who have been able to try a new restaurant, taken dance lessons, joined a gym, found a new spa or salon, and even taken day trips for a fraction of what they would normally have to pay for such things.

Using Groupon is a great way to try out services/businesses for the first time or save money on a product or service that you already love. So you can imagine my excitement when I learned about Groupon Coupons!

What Is Groupon Coupons

Unlike the traditional Groupon service which is a great way to take part in local activities and services or find smaller, more regional businesses; Groupon Coupons provides a way for us to save money when shopping at larger stores.

They have partnered with over 8,600 national retailers to provide a completely free way for you to find thousands of coupons and exclusive promo codes from stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Best Buy, and Target. You can also enjoy deals on things like tax preparation with Turbo Tax, airfare with Hotwire, and flowers with FTD.

Groupon Coupons: Use It Or Lose It?

One of the other ways in which this new feature is different than the “traditional” Groupon offerings is that you do not have to put out money in advance of getting the service. Typically, a Groupon deal is purchased ahead of time and then redeemed by the deadline, and if you don’t take advantage of the deal, you will lose your money. So, if you get a deal for $300 worth of dance lessons at $75, you have to pay the $75 up front and if you fail to use the offer by the deadline, then you are out $75!

But as they specify with this new feature, “At Groupon Coupons, you don’t need to purchase anything to use these great savings offers. Choose from a database of over 55,000 completely free coupons from more than 8,000 stores.” So unlike the typical way of buying a discount in advance, this is a discount that you receive at the moment you actually buy a good or service.

In addition to the stores and services I listed above, they also have great deals set up with Sports Authority and Home Depot, so I would definitely suggest checking out Groupon Coupons before you purchase anything…we plan to!

Reader Questions:

Have you used either Groupon deals or the new Groupon Coupon before? If so, how did you enjoy the experience?

Have you ever purchased something because it was a great deal, but then you never or rarely used it?

Do you expect to visit the Groupon Coupons site before making your next purchase?

photo credit: Coupon Pile Stock Photo via photopin (license)

5 Things To Do With A Windfall

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

Even though tax season has come and gone for some, many people are still facing the prospect of getting a lump sum of money in the near future. Events such as graduations, birthdays, and unfortunately, deaths can lead to one getting their hands on a decent amount of money at one time.

Here are 5 great ways to put those windfalls to use…

Pay Off High Interest Debt

I think this one is at the top of my list because we, like many Americans, are dealing with a great deal of debt (just a hair under $90k at our last update).

If your debt carries interest, then it most likely makes sense to use any extra money to pay off debt. That is because you will probably not be able to earn more interest with your money than you are paying in debt. Also, for a number of reasons, having debt is akin to financial bondage, so even if your interest isn’t 30%, it can still weigh you down financially, emotionally, and psychologically.

Save For Retirement

This is one of the most overlooked areas in finance. Yes, we hear a lot about saving for retirement with various commercials from the big money managers, and as the “baby boomers” generation moves into retirement age, we are constantly hearing about how they failed to save for their retirement.

However, every time I talk to someone younger than 45, they have very little saved for retirement and it’s not even on their radar! So, with this in mind, take the extra money and add it to your IRA, or throw it in the bank and use it to offset your income as you increase your 401k contributions.

Pay Down Your Mortgage

I listed mortgage separately from other debt, because they are usually taken out at much lower interest rates than credit cards, so people don’t consider their mortgage in their list of debts (which is a mistake in my opinion). Anything you can do to pay less interest overall and be in debt for a shorter period of time is a good thing!

Take your windfall and pay down the principal of your mortgage, as long as you don’t have any other debt that is charging a higher interest rate.

Save Money For A Big Expense

Many people are not able to save a large amount of money for certain large expenses such as, a new car, vacation, new computer, or some other big expense that’s expected in the future.

Since this isn’t part of most financial plans, it makes sense to use this extra cash to save for one or more of these expenses.

Build Your Emergency Fund

I have written plenty of times about the importance of an emergency fund. For most people, and emergency fund is a must! If you are out of debt, stash away at least 9 months worth of living expenses in a high-yield savings account (My suggestion is that you open a new Checking or Savings account with Capital One 360 [Full Disclosure: this link contains my referral code]), and don’t touch it unless you have a true emergency.

The purpose behind this account is to prevent the need to using credit cards or taking out other loans when an unexpected, but necessary, expense comes up.

Interview With Dorethia Conner of #MoneyChat

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

A few days ago we posted a review of #MoneyChat The Book, by Dorethia Kelly Conner. This new personal finance book was born out of the popular ‘money chats’ that Dorethia hosts each week on Twitter.

To coincide with the launch of the book, we are posting a Q&A with the author about the book and how you can take control of your finances.

Why did you write #MoneyChat: THE BOOK?

Before the book was the website and before that the online Twitter Chat – which is the catalyst for the #MoneyChat movement. It is a way to take a conversation that can often be shameful or awkward and make it less intimidating.

It’s a community, I want people to know we are all in this together and there is no judgment. After doing the chat and workshops for a few years, I decided it was time to put on paper some of the key things that we had discussed , some of the reoccurring topics I heard during the chats and in my financial coaching practice, thus we have #MoneyChat THE BOOK.

How should readers apply this book to their personal finances?

I wrote #MoneyChat THE BOOK in 3 sections based on common themes I was finding in my financial coaching practice. Most people wanted to get out of the debt hole and learn successful money management so that they could save, invest, retire and create college funds for their kids. Throughout each chapter there are ‘how to’s and action plans’. Highlight, dog ear and underline the things in this book that resonate with you and follow the action plans.

What are some of the best tips you can offer people who have tried, but just aren’t good with their personal finances?

First, I’d say don’t beat yourself up, only look toward the future, but do learn from your past mistakes. You don’t want to repeat the cycle.

Second, get back to the basics, a notebook and pencil. List all your monthly income and subtract your monthly expenses. Do this at the start of each month on a new page in the notebook.

Third, there are all kind of websites and cell phone apps that are free! You may have to log your information into them once and then monitor or update. These sites/apps are perfect for people who can’t keep up with a written budget; don’t know their investment status, etc. You can print graphs, reports directly from the sites. It is also easy to update changes in your financial situation.

If none of this works, get help. There are free community programs and you can also hire a financial coach. Financial coaches help you create a financial strategy and teach you how to handle your money yourself with education and guidance.

Your book dives into the topic of Investing. Why is investing important yet intimidates so many people from doing it?

It’s all about educating yourself; people are intimidated by what they don’t understand. In the book I show people how ease into investing little by little, help them understand the basic terms and then dig deeper.

Investing is a viable way to build wealth and is an important key to lifelong financial planning.

You talk about getting out of the hole in the book, what about dating/engaged couples who are both in debt? Should they be out of debt before they get married?

Whether one or both are in debt or facing other financial challenges, I would first ask if the two are on the same page of becoming financially stable. Are they both determined to get out of debt and committed to traveling that path together?

Have they both been completely honest about the good, bad and ugly of their finances? If one is better at money than the other, is the other willing to learn? If the answer is yes, then you can work to get out of debt together after marriage. If there is a continued pattern of poor financial decision making from either or both, I would not suggest marriage until those issues are resolved.

They will only cause big arguments in the marriage.

As we know, student loan debt is crippling a lot of people financially. What can people do to lighten the load?

I believe in accountability, the fact of the matter is that we all signed on the dotted line and used the money for our tuition, books, living expenses pizza, parties, etc. Therefore we are responsible. That said, I do believe the system needs an overhaul, I too am paying back student loans, it’s one of my final debts.

There are various payment options, call your lender to inquire before you start to feel the pinch. There are also forbearance and deferment options. Just be careful, because those only prolong the debt, make sure they are absolutely necessary.

Lastly, there is a lot of legislation being proposed around student loan debt to ease the pain for borrowers. Set up Google alerts so you can receive emails whenever it is mentioned in the news. Bookmark the Federal website so that you know immediately if a new program is implemented that can help you with your student loans.

What made you write about gambling in this book?

I have personally seen how gambling has crippled households, from casinos to gambling house parties. In the book I discuss how one man lost his family over scratch-offs.

It’s a real issue that is rarely talked about in mainstream but people are losing houses, life savings, and families over it. I had to address it and offer help to those who are faced with this struggle.

I also address IRS debt, pay day and cash advance loans because they are a detriment to financial success.

If you need help in your financial journey, regardless of your income level or financial knowledge, this book is relevant and essential to help you achieve your goals. I recommend this book for someone who is ready to hit the ground running and begin doing what it takes to get their money in order.

You can purchase the book here from Amazon.

Dorethia Conner Kelly, MBA is the president of Conner Financial Coaching, LLC, providing results-oriented personal finance and business coaching services. She is also the founder of the popular #MoneyChat personal finance blog, themoneychat.com and online Twitter chat.

Dorethia’s financial expertise has been featured in various national media including Black Enterprise, U.S. News and Nerd Wallet. She lives in Detroit, Michigan with her family.

Connect with Dorethia at @MoneyChatLIVE & @DorethiaKelly Visit www.themoneychat.com and www.connercoaching.com