Gigi,

First let me complement you on the position of your website...great job! Luckily I have not had that problem because I try to make sure I have at least 6 mos living expenses in savings but one of my agents had that problem and they got their commission advanced from http://www.commissionadv.com

It worked great and really helped her hope it helps you too!

Gigi-Yes "You can do all things thru Christ who gives you strength"!...Life doesn't have to be a roller coaster ride-you control your destiny.  Money doesn't sound like your problem.  It sounds like your Plan is your problem.  You need a savings and disaster plan.  To stop this roller coaster ride you must change your plan.  Ginny is right about having a backup saving acount.  You can start on your very next commission check.  Set your goal amount(3 to 6 months worth of income) and start saving for that amount.  From each comm. check take a small amount(10 to 20%) and put it in a savings account.  It make take several months or even a year or two.  It is a plan.  Stick with it.  You will be amazed how a little bit of money in the bank can ease your burden.

As for money now!  Get a part time job. Have a yard sale.  Sell your old jewelry to a pawn broker.  Sell something on Ebay.  Clean somebody's home.  Wash cars....But don't give up!  Remeber, You can do all things thru Christ who give me strength!   If God takes care of the Birds of the Air and the Fish of the Seas...don't you think he will take care of you and your family.

May God Bless you and your family,

Cal Griffin

Hi Gigi,

You have my sympathy, you're in a tough spot...but obviously you are a strong lady.

I try to keep a certain cushion when possible (but then again I don't have 3 children, I'll bet that makes it challenging), and always have a home equity line of credit on my primary residence for times when there's a gap, and it has saved me many times. Are HELOC's available to you there, or must you wait until your legal issues are ironed out?

Would talking to your creditors about your situation and keeping them up to date on your progress help? Perhaps if they know what is going on they can justify being flexible with you.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing. I hope lots of business comes your way, and congratulations on your website - very nicely done. I've always wanted to visit your beautiful country, perhaps some day!

Gigi:

I said a prayer for you today.  May God give peace beyond all understanding.  

I was brought up to be RESPONSIBLE and had PERFECTIONIST stamped all over me... Early on, in Real Estate, I learned that it's not the end of the world if everything does not get paid on time.  I was not a slacker and therefore learned that I need feel no shame if timing of income is different than outgo.  As long as I worked toward the right goals, it would all work out.  Once the closings come, you can get caught up.

You and your daughters will make it and the world will not fall apart if you cannot pay every single bill on time.  Let Go of the concern, Do the right things each day, and Let God Fill In The BIG HOW.  

Ginny, I can empathize with you.  While I do have other family members who live with me they can't contribute much (which is why they're living with me!).  I'm the primary breadwinner for them and my two children. I understand the droughts.  

One thing I've found helpful is, when I do have a closing, I try to get ahead on utilities.  Trying to pay at least three months in advance. It takes some stress out of the leaner times. I also set aside as much as possible for other anticipated expenses (i.e. mortgage, sports fees, school trips,  etc.)  This money goes into a separate account and is used only for those expenses. .

I don't know how old your children are but I'm fortunate that my daughter is now older and earning her own money.  She's now responsible for all her own personal expenses, including her cell phone and, since she can't yet drive, she gives me money for gas.  It has given her a sense for what things cost.

Also, with regard to utilities, I went through all of them with a fine tooth comb and found almost $150/month in savings just by eliminating some extra features.  Things like call waiting/caller ID/call forwarding, which I never used anyway!  Changed my cell phone plan. Changing my cable plan to basic, rather than digital (how many channels can you really watch?)  No one missed any of these features.  

I think everyone should have a couple of income streams. I never gave up my 'day job' as a writer when I got into real estate, even when I got crazy busy. It's what I'm doing on another screen right now, in fact! :)

Gigi, this won't instantly solve your problem but I'd suggest thinking up a side venture doing something you enjoy for others, for pay. It could also be a nice diversion during times of high stress which we all get in this wack biz.

And I am sending you the best prosperity energy right now! :)

Hi Gigi,

My prayers are with you....just want you to know I have been there too and God took care of me...you will look back a few years from now and say I did it....God Bless!

I hope I have the pleasure to sell one of your listings!

Cathy My prayers are with you too...God is on your side!

My daughter began as my assistant at 11.  By all means use her!  Get your son going now on the website!  It is in their best interests to get involved and help Mom out.  My daughter began doing CMA's about a year ago.  Heck, she'd rather do that than mow the lawn to earn her keep!  She knows my market and neighborhoods pretty well to pull comps enter them into my program, and then I adjust accordingly.  Saves me a ton of time.  

She can also pull potential listings for buyers based on requirements/wish list, I narrow down, she maps them out and calls for appointments.  She's teaching my 13 year old son how to do it now.

They also both work on my powerpoint presentations, pull active pending and sold comps for current listings, and know how to run market condition reports from MLS.

Your children may be able to free you up to focus a little more on those clients you're losing!  It'll take a little time but start simple.  They'll learn more rapidly that most adults you may hire!

Good Luck!  Don't give up. We're all gonna be OK!

Unforseen occurrences sometimes makes it hard for us to honor our commitments, and what do we do, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start all over again.  As was mentioned before Gigi, start with a budget, call it The Survival Budget and make sure to add funds to it each time you get a commission.  Whether you succeed in making your budget work depends to a large extent on how realistic it is.  

Another very important factor in making a budget work is good communication among family members. Yes your kids are young, but they too are affected by this so give them an opportunity to express their viewpoints and feelings. If family members involved understand the needs and wants of one another and realize what the family’s financial situation really is, (instead of why can't I have this or that) there will likely be better cooperation and a better chance that the family budget will succeed.

We need to exercise practical wisdom in coping with the challenges of a downside property market and or a finicky clientele and keeping a budget may be just the thing to help you do that.

This (financial situation)too will past Gigi and know that you are not alone.

I don't remember seeing your post.  If this is the first time or a return, welcome, welcome welcome.

I'm praying for you as well.  I make my house payments 3 months in advance for the lean times.  Great idea for the utilities as well.  I'm going to start that.  Hang in there.

Gigi,  

"My question is left unanswered"...   I'm sorry you didn't get an answer to your question, can you remind us again what is the question?