Monthly Archives: October 2013

50th Kiva Loan!!!!!

My total Kiva “investment”

My Kiva Experiment is working…I’m excited to share that I just lent out my 50th loan through Kiva.

As you can see in the image to right, my initial deposit of just over $1k has been relent over and over to total $4,550 in value…now that’s what I like to call return on your investment!

I’ve now lent money to 50 groups of people in 26 countries. Eventually I would love to give loans to people in all 73 Kiva Countries, but the truth is that I’m called to lend more in some areas of the world, especially Africa. I’ve also decided to be rather random and spontaneous in my selection process, so it often depends on who happens to be featured first. If it’s a vocation/place that I would like to support, I’ll often lend to the first one on the list, like I did this time.

However, I do take enough time to read through the lending details, since I would rather give to lenders who have loan terms of more than 18 months. If I can find a loan that six-months, then it means that money can be lent twice in a year. That’s not my only criteria, but my aim is to keep the average loan length under a year.

When I started my experiment, I also decided to only lend out in increments of $100 dollars. I figure that keeps ten loans going at any one time, and that’s plenty to keep tabs on.

Lastly, giving this last loan really made me smile. It was a loan to the Hodari Group in the Congo. The groups buys second hand clothing in large bales that has been shipped from around the world. When I visit sis in the Peace Corps in Ghana, we went to the second hand markets…the direct translation was “Dead White Guy Market,” since they figure the person must have died to give away such nice clothes! My Twin Sis has also worked a great deal in the Congo and I have an inspiring friend in my Rotary club, so I’ve made several loans to the Congolese. It’s such a beautiful war-torn place…if you really want to help there, you can donate to my friend’s EduCongo project to build schools.

Have you started lending with Kiva?
Use this link to lend your first $25 for free!

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Sustainable Family Finances
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.

Introducing Teagan & Announcing Darcy’s Utopia

Hello beloved Sustainable Family Finances readers,

I’ve been busy making babies lately. 

Teagan Brenna Cronin – 5 weeks old

This belated post is to share the exciting news that I have a new baby girl, Teagan. She’s already given me the best birth story imaginable and more joy than I even anticipated. 

My second baby is a new blog and business optimistically entitled Darcy’s Utopia. The blog will reflect on my experiences implementing Simplicity Parenting (while leading new workshops in Portland, beginning in January). I’m very excited about these new endeavors, and would love for you to follow along as my family grows.

Yet, even though I haven’t written regularly on this Sustainable Family Finances blog lately, I’ve decided after a great deal of thought that I’m not ready to abandon it. In fact, given that we are currently down to a single “Sugar Daddy” salary, I’ve been forced to focus more on my finances lately. Plus, I’m still passionate about all things earthy and green, so I’m certainly not ready to give up writing about my family’s efforts to-do-as-little-harm-as-we-can-manage. I only hope that I will be able to take the time to reflect more regularly.

Thanks again for your time and support!

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Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.