That’s it, you’re going to do it; there’s no excuses this year. You are going to save money, stick by a budget and have so much more money this year that you can buy that house, boat or other expensive item. You probably said that in 2011, and in 2010 and even in 2009. It’s like the “I’m going to lose weight” resolution: easy to make and easy to break. However, there are some helpful tips to make 2012 the first year that you actually stick to your money saving resolution. Make a Realistic Budget When making a money saving plan, you need to first make a budget. This will help you know how much money you can spend, and how much you want to save. Write down all the little things you have to buy, and compare it with the money you bring in each week. Before finalizing your budget, make sure it’s realistic. Be honest: if you have to spend $500 a week, there is no way you are going to just spend that $500. You may want to eat out, buy something fun or go out for a … [Read more...]
It’s Okay To Wish Me A Merry Christmas
It's okay to wish me a Merry Christmas. You don't have to say Happy Holidays, unless you want to. I'm not religious, but I sing Christmas carols and have a Nativity I put out at Christmas. For me, Christmas is about traditions. My parents gave me the Nativity they had been putting out for years, when they decided to upgrade to a fancier one. I love it. I'm a huge geek about Christmas. We went to Walmart last night, which was decorated from top to bottom, and after we walked in, I let out a huge sigh and said, to no one in particular, I love Christmas. I love garland and lights, I love driving by houses at night that are all lit up. I love Christmas commercials - the one for Folgers, where the guy comes home from the Army and his sister says "you're my present this year"? Chokes me up every time. I LOVE Christmas music, I've had the radio in the van tuned to the all Christmas music station since before Thanksgiving. I love Christmas movies, and have a stack of them I watch … [Read more...]
Things That Worry Me About Getting Kaitlyn Off To Kindergarten
Thanks to Michigan law, school here doesn't start until after Labor Day, because Labor Day is a huge tourism weekend here and the law makes student workers available to work their butts off peddling Mackinac Island Fudge and Traverse City Cherry Jam and commemorative plates bearing the image of the Mackinac Bridge for one last weekend. It also gives families more opportunity to go Up North, resulting in more sales tax revenue for the state, also resulting in massive headaches for the people dumb enough to go North that weekend, unless they just really enjoy massive traffic jams and hotel rates that are 30% higher and nowhere to park (exception - Mackinac Island, which you get to on a ferry, no cars allowed). ANYWAY... so school starts Tuesday September 6th, and Kaitlyn is going to KINDERGARTEN, and because I'm me, I have a bunch of things I'm worried about. First, she barely eats breakfast, because the kitchen here is always open, so her three bites of morning cereal … [Read more...]
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