When it comes to church management software there’s a ton of different options, some with bells and whistles, some without. Regardless of which software you go with make sure you do a ton of internet research and due diligence. There are many companies that develop software for churches-some have been around for years, some companies are relatively new-whether you go with one of the new kids on the block or with a company that’s been around for a decade it’s all about finding the product that’s the best fit for your organization.

Computers, the internet and smart phones are all things that most modern American consumers are utilizing on a daily basis, and for some people peeling them away from their devices.

Some people are addicted to technology!

Technology’s ubiquity whether you believe it’s better your life or made it worse-is here to stay and will continue to advance. Technology also plays an integral role in business, and for non-profit organizations like churches technology will promote growth, manage your members, retain your visitors and help you facilitate your small groups.

Attention Churches: It’s Time to Get Tech!

Things are changing at an alarming pace, and when it comes to technology as it pertains to your business or your church organization. The way things are progressing with technology there is something new out every week. If you’re considering about getting a church management software of some kind it would probably be a good idea to get something that is constantly updated and has a community of developers or subscribers that you can ask inquire about certain features, upgrades and benefits. Just do a simple search for “church management software” on your favorite search engine and you will find hundreds of companies offering some sort of solution.

Making a Decision

We’ve all been there, wandering the aisles of your local consumer electronics store, like a cat without whiskers trying to make a intelligent decision on which LCD screen to buy for your computer. You ask the pimply faced freshmen with the blue polo and nametag for help but he sounds as lost as you are.

When it comes to church management software there are many decisions that may leave you scratching your head.

If you are having a hard enough time making a decision on which TV to buy for your living room you’re going to be in a serious predicament when trying to make a decision on a church management database for your organization.

Luckily there are many resources on the web and many blogs out there that may help you along the way to making a wise church management database decision. We are going to review the two most popular church management software solutions in the market, and then we’re going to check out a new kid on the block. Hopefully this post will help you with church management software decision, but we recommend that you get out there in your community, maybe call some of other local churches that are within your network and find out what they’re using.

Icon Systems Church Software

Icon systems are creators of the IconCMO and they take church management very seriously. Co-founder and company president Bill Gifford has been involved with church management solutions for almost two decades, and their church management software is probably one of the most popular solutions in the marketplace today.

Icon systems has been around since 1993, and there church management software is currently being used by thousands of churches worldwide and significant market share in the church management software industry, and have developed the one of the few truly web based church management systems in the IconCMO+ solution.

IconCMO is no short-order, there are many bells and whistles with this system, the web-based application has many plug-ins, add-ons and additional features that can integrate almost any facet of your churches organization or to facilitate the streamlining of your administrative or accounting efforts.

IconCMO Pricing

Your Church Size Monthly Payment Annual Price:

Bottom Line: If there is a equivalent to Microsoft in the ChMS (church management software) industry, then IconCMO is the SaaS to beat. With their competitive pricing and payroll module that’s available for any of their packages. You should definitely check them out and inquire with other churches that are currently using IconCMO.

Logos CMS

Logos Management Software is another popular ChMS that is not only utilized by churches it’s also used by non-profit organization, schools, and other government entities. Logos has several SaaS products but their flagship product is Logos II Database, which integrates a traditional ChMS with their accounting product to accurately and efficiently track giving and tithing.

Some of the largest churches in the world utilize Logos II Database, including Archdiocese of New York, Grace Community Church, and Cornerstone Church out of Simi Valley, CA. There are some other non-profit organizations that are utilizing Logos.

Some of their core features are:

• Family and individual information with highly flexible profiles
• Track strengths, talents and ministry roles, attendance and more
• Confidential contribution records
• Comprehensive child check-in system
• Fast attendance check-in
• Small group management
• Barcode Scanning
• User Access Controls

Logos Database II also integrates something called PeopleFlow which is a neat little feature within their Database II ChMS solution, on their website it totes that it “one-stop staff and volunteer management system, allowing you to track them from beginning to end; from filling out their application, through submitting background checks, screenings, and other essentials, through to retirement.”.

Bottom line:Strong product offering, competitive pricing. If you’re looking for a general purpose ChMS this would be a contender.

WebChurchConnect’s Church Management Software

WebChurchConnect’s church management software is the NKOTB, although they’ve launched their ChMS recently it’s already gained interest from one of the largest international churches, C3, and is garnering some buzz in the blogosphere. They offer tiered pricing as well, based on member numbers, and they have a SaaS package for almost any size organization.

With other ChMS’s a smaller church may get lost in the shuffle, but due to the fact that they are a growing, and nimble organization their emphasis is customer service and making sure that every organization that makes the decision to use their product-not only gets the top product on the block but they also get top-notch service.

Although they may lack the payroll modules and fancy plugins, taking one look at their user interface it’s apparent that their focus was on minimalism, simplicity and function,

WebChurchConnect's cool looking User Interface!

so if you’re looking for a no-frills, economical yet efficient ChMS then WebChurchConnect is going to be a good bet.

Many ChMS’s will offer a 30 day trial to try their free church software and WebChurchConnect’s trial will give you a taste of the quality of product that is to come.

Bottom line: WebChurchConnect’s software is probably one of the most comprehensive, yet economical ChMS and should be kept on the short-list of ChMS to review and demo.

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The only way you will get out of debt is if you stop unneeded spending and start allocating the money you are saving toward your debts.

Here are some small ways to cut down spending:

1.  Stop eating out. Even if you only eat out once a week, if you spend $25 each time you eat out, you’d be saving $100 per month—so there you go, that’s already $100 you are saving.
2.  Stop spending at Starbucks. Let’s low ball this and say you spend $3 each weekday on coffee, meaning you spend $60 per month. Now you’re at $160 saved.
3.  Use coupons wherever you go. Coupons.com has a plethora of coupons that you can print out. No one wants to be dubbed coupon-crazed, but one or two dollars here and there will definitely add up. Just make sure you aren’t buying something just because you have a coupon for it (and you don’t need it).
4.  Cut out luxuries. If you’re serious about getting out of debt, you can find alternatives to these luxuries. For example:

• Ladies—getting your hair done; either go natural or do it yourself. Color out of a box will save you at the very least $50. This also goes for getting your nails done.
• This one is for guys and girls—cancel your gym membership and go hiking instead. You’ll save $20-$30 per month and you’ll get some fresh air in the meantime.
• If you can think of some other luxuries you can live without, like massages or having a monthly cleaner for your house, you’ll notice that you’ll save at least $100 on those alone.
• Now for something a little harder to cope with for some—cable. Cancel cable and watch shows for free online at hulu.com. Most shows are available online and you can watch them at anytime. This will save you at least $30 per month.

There are several other ways to cut down your spending, like buying generic and only spending on the necessities. Whatever you do, be realistic and you’ll find that even with these examples you’ll save about $200 per month that you can use to pay down your debt.

There are also some ways to cut down spending on a larger scale.

5.  Downsize your living space. You won’t have to stay in this situation forever, but this could be an easy way to save a few hundred dollars a month.
6.  Downsize your car. Sell your car and buy a less expensive car if you would be able to make a significant amount on the sale. If your family has two cars, try downsizing to one and sell the other. It may not be very convenient, but if you are serious about getting out of debt as soon as possible, these are some options that could help you right now.

Now for some ways to save up or increase the amount of money in your bank account:

7.  Sell some of your items on Amazon or eBay.
8.  Work overtime or ask for a raise (only if you deserve it). This also means it’s important to make yourself an asset at your company–do your job.
9.  Take side-jobs if you can. Learn a new skill or use a skill you already have to make some extra cash outside of your current job.
10.  Rent out an extra room in your house if you have one. Advertise this availability amongst your friends and family and post it at church. You’ll need to choose a renter wisely since they will be living under your roof.

Have more tips to add? Share them in the comments below!

1.  Warehouse clubs & grocery stores. Membership-based stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club have discounted gas available to their members. These places tend to consistently be the cheapest gas around. The only drawback is that you need to be a member to save–each membership ranges between $35 and $55 per year.

• If you don’t want to buy a membership, you can always purchase gas at a grocery store that offers a discount, like Vons. Vons Club cardholders automatically received 3 cents off gas and can earn 10 cents off depending on the amount of reward points they accumulate.

2.  Use cash. Remembering to get cash out at the ATM may not be the most convenient option, but you will find many gas stations will offer a few extra cents off per gallon if you pay with cash. In addition, there are gas stations, such as ARCO, that charge $0.35 per transaction for using a debit card (they don’t even accept credit cards).

3.  Shop smarter. Using apps like GasBuddy.com will help you save time and money. The user-updated app uses your phone’s GPS to give itemize a list of gas stations around you by distance and price. You then have the option to get directions to the gas station you choose. So whether you want to find the cheapest gas in your area or you’re running out of gas (we do not recommend this), this app will get you where you need to go.

4.  Fill up mid-week. Fill up your tank on Wednesdays and fill up all the way. Gas prices increase on Thursday mornings to prepare for weekend traveling and it’s important to fill up all the way since a break in price increases doesn’t appear to be in the forecast anytime soon.

5.  Avoiding idling. Aside from warming up or cooling down your car, avoid keeping your car on at a standstill. If you are going to be waiting for someone in your car for more than one minute, it is better to cut the engine than keep it on. It wastes more fuel to leave your car on than it does to start the engine again. This also goes for drive-through’s; it’s faster to park and go inside.

6.  Use a rewards card. If you qualify for a credit card that offers gas rewards, now is the time to take advantage of the offer. You can receive an average of 2-3 percent cash back on these types of cards. The important thing to remember is to pay your balance in full EVERY month. This way, you won’t be charged any interest and it won’t be tempting to carry a balance each month, which would cause you to easily slip into debt. If you don’t think you will have the discipline to pay the full balance, don’t sign up for a rewards card. It isn’t worth the risk.

Have more tips to share? Leave them in the comments below!

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Image credit: Groupon.com

When Valentine’s Day gifts are mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind are flowers and candy for her–not him. This isn’t going to change anytime soon, but if you are looking for something nice for him without having to dip into your shoe fund, group buying is always a great option.

We found six pretty cool gifts for guys, all available on Groupon Goods. But you’ll have to hurry; half of these deals expire TOMORROW.

1. Leather iPad Folio Case: $19 ($100 value) Deal expires on 2/12/12
2. Coby Android Touchscreen Tablet: $99 ($180 value) Deal expires on 2/12/12
3. Iron Gym with Ab Straps: $19 ($37 value) Deal expires on 2/12/12
4. Heated Massaging Cushions for the Car: $19 ($40 value) Deal expires on 2/7/12
5. NFL Sandwich and Waffle Grill: $29 ($50 value) Deal expires on 2/7/12
6. Cigar of the Month Subscription: $65 ($92 value) Deal expires on 2/7/12

Make sure to read the fine print so you are aware of shipping time and costs and expiration dates. However, if you forget to redeem your purchase, Groupon is always happy to credit you the amount you payed and they will even put it back on the card you used to make the purchase. No one likes “store credit”.

Have you found some great deals on guy gifts? Share them here!

This offer expires on 11/7 so if somebody stole your little red stapler you better take advantage of this offer now!

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