When times are tough or uncertain, switching to a bare bones budget can extend your ability to manage through the uncertainty. A bare bones budget is a streamlined version of your original budget that only includes the minimum to run the household and meet your financial obligations. The pandemic has brought about the need for…
In the summer I try to keep the cooking in the kitchen to a minimum, to cut down on the heat 😊 and I really enjoy grilling. Living in the Midwest, we don’t cook outside year-round (although I’ve seen a few people out cooking with snow on the ground). When I have a taste for…
Money is such a sensitive topic EVEN among family. I’m not sure why we struggle so much with talking about money since it’s a necessary part of life. Now a little transparency here, I haven’t always been enthusiastic about a money conversation BUT I knew I needed to change that behavior especially in trying to…
Yes I know it’s July but ever look at your bank or credit card statement in January and say, WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?!?!? Yeah, me too! I get caught up in the holiday frenzy and totally forget what a budget is. Too much of getting caught up and that can lead straight to what I…
I LOVE to travel! I set out years ago to visit ALL 50 states. It all started with a desire to have my son visit ALL 50 states before he graduated from high school to show him that there were no limits on where he could visit or live. Obviously, that didn’t happen but we…
One of the mistakes I see people making with their money is NOT HAVING A PLAN for it. Now I’m not judging here because there was a time when I didn’t have a plan for my money. It led to: living paycheck to paycheck being inconsistent with making financial progress limited future financial opportunities Not…
Fall Semester is here for College students. Your high school graduate is starting the next step of their journey to becoming a self-sufficient adult. That is the goal, right?!?!? 😊 As parents we want to make sure that our children get off to a good start and are set up to succeed. We spend time making…
When there is a reduction in income whether it is due to a job loss or reduction in hours, it can really take a toll on the family. Before we get into the financial aspect let’s consider the emotional and psychological impact job loss can have. Now is NOT the time to shy away from…
It’s my favorite time of year! Where people are frantically searching for the PERFECT holiday gift. I enjoy being out and about enjoying the holiday festivities but what I most enjoy about the holiday season is time spent with family. For many years I would shop until I dropped, spending in some years waaayyyy over…
My New Menu Strategy
*This post contains affiliate links. Food is one area that can make or break a budget. Trust me! I’m not telling you what I heard I’m telling you what I know. (as my grandmother used to say 😊) This category has generally been the demise of my budget, I would look up and say how…
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