This is my last post for a while on money. I hope I haven't worn you out, but have gotten you excited about what you can do with your money. It is a movement! There are many websites, books, and devotees of this new way of living called, “Financial Independence, Retire Early” or “FIRE”. The … Continue reading The Finale-F.I.R.E.
Your Money or Your life
Budgeting for the Rest of Our Lives
How dreary that title sounds. Does it bring to mind a Scrooge-like character, hunched over his shabby notebooks, worrying over each entry? Who wants to be tracking every expense and earnestly being careful? This is the opposite of what our culture teaches--especially on Black Friday! Spend, Spend, Spend! An incredible discount is still not a … Continue reading Budgeting for the Rest of Our Lives
Pay Tithes and Offerings
As we were going through those three years of working to be completely out of debt, I would comb through our budget and try to see ways I could save even more. Something that had been a weakness was becoming something I really enjoyed doing. One day as I was writing out the check for … Continue reading Pay Tithes and Offerings
Look To Leverage More Than We Earn
As I move into my sixties, I love the word "leverage". Understanding that word means I don't have to do as much work. In so many areas of my life, I am looking to do a small powerful action that produces big results. How can we leverage the money we make from whatever our jobs … Continue reading Look To Leverage More Than We Earn
Save More Than You Spend
I have worn my adult children out, telling them this story about Amy Dacyczyn, my frugal mentor that I have written about earlier. I want them to learn from her free spending 20’s: Amy moved to Boston in her early 20’s with a graphic design degree. She said she worked for ten years and enjoyed … Continue reading Save More Than You Spend
Avoiding Debt
We have always been told there is “good debt” such as getting an education and a house, and “bad debt” which is credit cards and buying things that don’t appreciate, like boats, campers and cars. What if every debt was considered a bad debt? To be avoided only when there was no other way, and … Continue reading Avoiding Debt
Educate Ourselves With Sound Financial Principals
Where to start? Start looking at our bank statements and see what we could have cut out this month, how much do we actually make and how much interest are we being charged on each credit card and loan and write it down so it stares us in the face. Make a spreadsheet or have … Continue reading Educate Ourselves With Sound Financial Principals
Wake Up and Take Responsibility With Our Money.
In The Atlantic Magazine, Neal Gabler wrote an article about his struggle with financial woes with startling vulnerability. Titled The Secret Shame of Middle Class Americans, Gabler shone a light on the hardship of almost half of America! He wrote: “The Fed (took a survey) and asked respondents how they would pay for a $400 … Continue reading Wake Up and Take Responsibility With Our Money.
Managing Our Money Well
This Learning Packet is called “Managing Our Money Well”. The word “well” is a critical addition at the end of that phrase, because that means we are prospering and building so that money is blessing our lives. This is not a grit-our-teeth-experience to endure through until we die. There is a better way to live! … Continue reading Managing Our Money Well
Lucious Fruit in Season
My husband and I are in Dubrovnik, Croatia, home to an incredibly pristine example of a medieval walled city, the clearest water I have ever seen in a city harbor, and luscious, perfectly ripe apricots. When we eat fruit in season, we are getting it at its best tasting, and it's cheapest. This is when … Continue reading Lucious Fruit in Season
"Peace Like A River…" 