Blog Feed: Everyday tips and thoughts.

Life is full of change. Change Can Be On A Grand Scale This happened to me when I planned on being a hugely successful career-woman, but ended up turning to mush when my oldest child was born. Once I held my son for the first time, work didn’t matter anymore. I just wanted to spend [...] > read more

Get Your Summer Budget in Order!

Published on 2012-05-11 11:43:25

The following is a guest post from Jenna at Adaptu.com: Money looks a little different in the summer. Between day camps and extra trips to the ice cream truck, your budget is probably going to vary a little from the September-May routine. Taking time to create a budget specifically designed for summer can save you [...] > read more

When Something Is A Great Deal, There Is Usually A Reason…

Published on 2012-04-17 18:37:17

Recently, I wrote about the house in my neighborhood that was on the market as a ‘short sale’, and shared my frustration that people who can fully afford their mortgage payments are allowed to just abandon their homes. When I wrote about this house previously, it had originally been offered ‘for sale’ normally at $299,000. [...] > read more

Miscellaneous!!

Published on 2012-04-12 18:42:10

Greetings! Sorry for my hiatus of late. I didn’t mean to be gone so long. Life just got a little crazy and I needed to tend to some other things. So, I think I will share just some miscellaneous thoughts that have been going through my head over the last few weeks- it has been [...] > read more

Health Tip: Don’t Exercise Before Blood Tests

Published on 2012-03-13 16:17:24

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am only sharing my own experience, and also some information that I found while researching elevated white blood cell counts. Once a year, many people go to the doctor’s office for a physical. Usually, when the physical is set up, the patient is told not to eat [...] > read more

Winning The Lottery and Still Accepting Taxpayer’s Money

Published on 2012-03-09 08:16:36

My blood is boiling…. I have read many stories of people that take advantage of the system and scam their way through life. However, the story I describe below takes parasitism to a new level: Unemployed Michigan resident Amanda Clayton has been receiving $200 per month in food assistance through the state’s Bridge Card program. [...] > read more

A Vent About Walking Away From Mortgages

Published on 2012-02-28 22:21:36

In a previous post, I discussed a home in our neighborhood that was basically abandoned by the previous owners. (They up and moved out of state, leaving the home to languish.) In a nutshell, the home was put on the market in August of 2011 for $299,000 and when I last looked about 6 weeks [...] > read more

Mitt Romney, Please Stop Calling Me- Plus A Link Roundup

Published on 2012-02-26 18:10:23

Here in Michigan, our presidential primary is coming up this Tuesday (2/28/2012). All I can say is, I will be so glad when it is over. Every single day, several times a day, I get a phone call from “Private Name, Private Number”. At first I answered thinking “oh, I wonder who is trying to [...] > read more

Will Your Retirement Dreams Be Delayed?

Published on 2012-02-24 05:00:06

When I first started working at the age of 23, retirement seemed like something that old people did. I started contributing to a 401k plan with my first paycheck, but retirement seemed so far off that I didn’t put much thought into it. I didn’t really have a goal of retiring early, I just figured [...] > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Dance Moms!

Published on 2012-02-23 05:04:50

Last year, I started watching the television show “Dance Moms” with my teenage daughter. For those of you who have never watched the show, the gist of it is this: Abby Lee Miller is the owner and instructor at the very successful “Abby Lee Dance Company” in Pennsylvania. Now, Abby is not what you would [...] > read more

Short Term ‘Pain’ For Long Term Gain

Published on 2012-02-20 21:25:13

Just about six weeks ago, I had surgery to reconstruct my Anterior Cruciate Ligament. (ACL) Having this surgery was a big decision. For one thing, I really wasn’t debilitated by my injury. I could still walk (straight ahead), I wasn’t in pain, I had full range of motion. However, pivoting even slightly caused my leg [...] > read more

Housing More Affordable Than Ever?

Published on 2012-02-16 22:22:14

I was born at the wrong time, at least when it comes to housing. When my husband and I got married in 1991, there was no way we could afford a house. I had student loan debt, we had wedding debt, and I had credit card debt from my last 2 years in graduate school. So, [...] > read more

Jeremy Lin Can Teach Us All Something

Published on 2012-02-15 05:00:13

Jeremy Lin is an unexpected success story out of the NBA. In a nutshell, he was a star basketball player in high school. Although he was talented, colleges were not pounding down his door and handing him scholarships. Some colleges said he could try and walk on, and Harvard and Brown both said he could [...] > read more

Thoughts On Investing

Published on 2012-02-13 04:59:49

I have invested in the stock market with my very first paycheck out of college. Initially, my stock ownership was strictly through my employer’s 401k program. That system was very easy- pick some stock ‘types’ (large cap, small cap, etc) and the individual stock investing was done by the brokerage. About a year later, I [...] > read more

The Power of Choice

Published on 2012-02-08 07:35:30

I recently had Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction in my left knee. Recovery from this surgery usually requires a full ankle to thigh brace, and the patient has to be very careful to not pivot or twist while the new ligament is healing. Because I was terrified of falling or twisting in the shower, I [...] > read more

5 Things I Could Eliminate If I Had To

Published on 2012-02-05 19:32:05

I am a pretty frugal person. I save where I can, and I don’t have expensive tastes. So, when I read articles about how to cut your expenses, much of the information does not really apply to our family. We don’t drink, we don’t smoke, we don’t gamble, we don’t drink expensive coffee, and we [...] > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Ten Questions I Have…

Published on 2012-02-02 04:56:45

I was born in 1967. Television was always a part of my life, along with cars and many other modern conveniences. I have often wondered though, if human life was obliterated today and started over from scratch, what would it be like? How would the new world look? (We are removing religion from this conversation, [...] > read more

A List Of My Health Care Expenses So Far This Year – Yikes!

Published on 2012-02-01 04:56:49

Well, this year is turning out to be an expensive one, and we still have a long way to go. Here is a list of some of my expenses for the year that I will be forced to pay soon, or have recently paid: ACL surgery: $5,000 (that is our family’s health insurance deductible for [...] > read more

Stocks Are Not Risky For Those Willing to Tune Out the Wall Street Mumbo Jumbo

Published on 2012-01-30 05:00:32

This post was written by Rob Bennett, who often writes about the pros and cons of index investing. His bio is here. I had the chance to meet with and talk with Rob during FINCON11, and his ideas are very interesting and thought-provoking. I am happy to host a post of Rob’s on this site! Investing is [...] > read more

Fix For Motorola Droid 2 Keyboard Issues

Published on 2012-01-24 07:11:43

I bought a Droid 2 in August, 2011. I loved the phone when I first got it. I really wanted a keyboard with real buttons as opposed to a touch screen, which is why I went with a Droid vs. an IPhone. Having easy access to email was great, and I will admit, I do [...] > read more

My ACL Reconstruction Recovery – And Some Tips For Dealing With Post-Surgery Life

Published on 2012-01-20 15:46:39

It has been a week since I had my ACL surgery, and thought I would share some how recovery has been going, and some tips I learned along the way: Now, for those that don’t know what takes place during ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) reconstruction, the surgery is mostly done arthroscopically. (The ACL is a [...] > read more

What I Would Do With Found Treasure – Help Fix Detroit

Published on 2011-07-06 04:46:47

A recent inspection of vaults in an old Hindu Temple in India revealed at least $22,000,000,000 in diamonds, gold, and other valuable objects. This discovery is surprising to many, and the vaults were only opened and inventoried on orders of the Su > read more

My Thoughts on the Ipad

Published on 2011-07-05 04:38:20

Last Christmas, I bought an Ipad for my husband. (This was before the Ipad 2 came out.) We are not ‘gadget’ people by any means, but I thought he might enjoy the convenience of an Ipad. Plus, I secretly hoped to use it some for writ > read more

Happy 4th of July, and A Link Round Up

Published on 2011-07-03 14:26:22

Time is flying so fast. First, Father’s Day snuck up on me, now it is the 4th of July (weekend). Next thing you know, my kids will be back in school and I will be heading to the local cider mill. I currently do not have any plans to watch f > read more

15 Random Vacation Thoughts

Published on 2011-07-01 05:05:48

Well, by the time you read this, we will be on our way home from our vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I thought I would share some random thoughts about our trip… 1. Myrtle Beach is a lot of fun. I was a little nervous that it would be > read more

Saving Money On Vacation

Published on 2011-06-28 22:14:10

Whenever I plan a vacation, I try my best to plan ahead and keep our costs as low as possible. However, on this vacation, we have saved money in a few ways I didnt really plan for or anticipate. Our first unexpected savings occurred on our way down t > read more

My Vacation Suggestion That Could Benefit All

Published on 2011-06-27 10:11:10

This is a public service announcement: When taking a family vacation, please remember that parents do not have the right to take a vacation from parenting. I am sure mom would love to sit and read by the pool all day and dad might want to drink beer > read more

Dumb Things People Do Volume V: Leaving The House When You Should Stay Home

Published on 2011-06-24 07:10:31

(I wrote this post in February and never actually scheduled it for some reason. So, when you read references to snow and bad weather, don’t think I moved to the Arctic or something.) I have a confession to make. The star of this ‘dumb thi > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Work Ethic

Published on 2011-06-23 07:56:06

This week, I have been sitting in a college gym watching high school basketball scrimmages. It is actually quite interesting to just sit back and observe. One thing that has really stood out to me is the difference in work ethic between players. Some > read more

15 Reasons To Quit Smoking, and Discussion of Proposed New Cigarette Warning Labels

Published on 2011-06-22 05:29:25

According to CNN, the Food and Drug Administration will be forcing cigarette makers to place graphic labels on their products which will depict the negative effects of cigarette smoking. Examples of such labels are organs that have been ravaged by > read more

Happy 20th Anniversary!!!

Published on 2011-06-21 05:19:10

This is going to be an unusually personal blog post today. It is long too, so don’t feel like you have to read all the way through it… As you can tell from the title, today is a very special day for me- it is my 20th wedding anniversary > read more

Outfits Guys Secretly Hope You’ll Wear? Not My Guy (I Think)

Published on 2011-06-20 05:54:01

I think many, many years ago, I had a subscription to the magazine Redbook. My subscription was short-lived because I found I wasn’t really reading the magazine when it showed up, and honestly, many of the articles seemed pretty shallow to me > read more

Think You Are A Great Driver While Talking On A Cell Phone? Think Again!

Published on 2011-06-17 09:29:17

Are you one of those people that thinks you are the same great driver whether you are talking on your cell phone or not? Then this post is for you! My Conclusion On Cell Phone Drivers I have been conducting an unscientific study this past month where > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Why I Love The Waltons

Published on 2011-06-16 06:40:40

Ok, so my secret shame is that I love the TV show “The Waltons”. I remember completely hating it as a kid, but I love it in reruns now that I am older. Most people who already know this little tidbit about me like to mock how much I enj > read more

Avocados Or 5 Dollar Bill?

Published on 2011-06-15 09:14:37

I was cleaning up the kitchen the other day when I saw three avocados sitting on the counter, drying up before my very eyes. As I glanced down, I didn’t think of them as avocados anymore. Instead, I saw them as a five dollar bill that was goi > read more

Take Care of Your Health-Don’t Hesitate To Get Medical Care

Published on 2011-06-14 04:00:35

Picture this: You wake up on a Saturday morning with a strange rash, a fever of 103 and you just started a new medication. You want to see your doctor, but of course, it is the weekend so you won’t be able to get an appointment until at lea > read more

My Father’s Day Mistake

Published on 2011-06-13 15:22:12

OK, so I made a Happy Father’s Day post yesterday, because I totally, somehow stupidly thought June 12th was Father’s Day. Well, it wasn’t, at least not in the year 2011. (Father’s Day in the U.S., it is always the third Sun > read more

Happy Father’s Day + Links!

Published on 2011-06-12 12:04:36

My how quickly Father’s Day has crept up this year! I really noticed this year that Mother’s Day seems to get so much more attention than Father’s Day. Probably because holidays seem retailer-driven and jewelers in particular ad > read more

A Previously Unnoticed Feature In A Photograph

Published on 2011-06-10 03:46:17

It’s Friday, and it is summer vacation, so I thought I would share something amusing. (Or at least I think is amusing.) The other day, my youngest son told me about a picture he came across in one of the many photo bins in my room, and he was > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Random Reflections On My Kids and Parenting Teens

Published on 2011-06-09 04:00:33

Disclaimer: I am not stating we are fabulous parents by any means. I am just sharing some tips that have worked for us so far when raising teenagers. My kids are still 13, 15, and 17, so we still have many parenting years ahead of us. We are > read more

Tips For Knowing If You Can See Northern Lights Where You Live Or Not

Published on 2011-06-07 21:04:37

I have seen the Northern Lights once in my life, and it was surreal. We were visiting my in laws, who live about 30 miles north of Detroit, when all the sudden these green waves sort of swept across the sky. It was absolutely unbelievable. Since > read more

Don’t Get Trapped By Fixed Expenses

Published on 2011-06-06 04:02:51

I graduated from college in 1991. Unfortunately, the economy was not at it’s best and a lot of graduates did not have jobs. As a matter of fact, I remember some kids wrote on their cap ‘Will work for food’ as a joke. My husband > read more

Link Round Up: Goal Updates, Legal Documents, Insurance Scams, Home Safety, and More!

Published on 2011-06-04 23:17:48

Has anyone noticed how fast this year is going by? Maybe my brain is just confused because Michigan totally bypassed Spring and jumped directly from a 6 month Winter to Summer. My kiddos get out of school in just a few days, and it seems like I am > read more

Lyme Disease – Symptoms, Prevention, and My Personal Experience

Published on 2011-06-03 03:57:02

This article was posted on my blog when I first started writing. However, with summer approaching, I thought I should re-post this information about Lyme Disease. I wanted to share my experience with Lyme Disease in hopes that my story can either p > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Why I Hate Clothes Shopping

Published on 2011-06-02 04:15:04

I was reading a post over at Squirreler’s about shoes, and the article mentioned how women require more shoes than men. I started thinking about all the TV shows and movies I have watched that showed women just loving their shoes, and needing n > read more

According to FEMA, My House Is Suddenly In A Flood Zone?

Published on 2011-06-01 03:56:02

We have lived in our house since 2001. Out of the blue, I received a notification in the mail from our mortgage bank stating that I now live in a FEMA designated flood zone. Of course, there is very little information about when this was decide > read more

Adventures In Grocery Shopping

Published on 2011-05-31 04:00:13

I went to the grocery store this weekend, and for some reason, I was extra observant of the other shoppers. Sometimes it is fun just to see what other people buy, although I do not stare or dig through anyone else’s cart. So, on Memorial Day, I > read more

Link Round Up: Shivs, Focaccia, Batteries, and Losers!

Published on 2011-05-28 22:12:55

I cannot believe it is already Memorial Day Weekend. Maybe it is because the weather has been so cold that it just doesn’t seem like it could be the end of May. As usual, I am spending Memorial Day weekend at a soccer tournament in Ohio. Th > read more

Confronting Your Home Finances

Published on 2011-05-28 05:04:38

The following is a guest post that was written on behalf of HSBC Credit Cards Do you feel overwhelmed by simple financial issues around the home? How do you deal with such issues? Do you just put your bills in a pile and deal with them when you f > read more

Diversify Your Retirement Savings Now!

Published on 2011-05-27 03:55:47

I was recently having a conversation with a friend about retirement. She and her husband have had corporate jobs for about 25 years, and have steadily contributed to retirement accounts along the way. I asked my friend when she and her husband thou > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Watching A Mom and Her Son

Published on 2011-05-26 03:59:02

I was at Jet’s Pizza, picking up dinner, when I sat on an uncomfortable bench with a little boy and his mom. The child was four years old, and I am guessing his mom was around 22. This little guy was just sitting on this bench looking out t > read more

Tips For Tackling Big Projects

Published on 2011-05-24 03:55:22

Do you have a task that is looming out there, that you just can’t seem to get done? I do, and it is a big one… I need to get pictures in photo albums before the containers of photo printouts take over my room. (Or the saved photos from > read more

Working Full Time and Managing Everything Else In Life Is Tiring!

Published on 2011-05-23 03:55:46

I know maybe people out there work full-time and handle family duties and more. However, I don’t know how you do it. I am starting week 2 of my full time assignment, and I can tell you, I am exhausted! Maybe my system is in shock, but I just > read more

Link Round Up: You Are Still Here Edition

Published on 2011-05-22 10:33:53

Well, I woke up this morning, and the world is still here. Either I didn’t make the cut, or Judgment Day didn’t happen yesterday. (I know it was supposed to happen during the late afternoon on Saturday, but I wanted to give the predic > read more

Just Because You Do Not Work Does Not Mean You Cannot Contribute To Household Savings

Published on 2011-05-20 06:59:17

This is a post from my past, when about 4 people read my blog… Since my kids were born, I have mostly been a stay-at-home mom (SAHM). When at least one of the kids was still at home, I felt like I was ‘contributing’, as I was bus > read more

Thoughts For Thursday – Candy From The Past

Published on 2011-05-19 04:05:55

I was at CVS the other day looking at the candy and I suddenly had a flashback of a Marathon Bar. I loved Marathon Bars. It was basically chocolate covered caramel, but the caramel was in kind of a braided pattern that was about 8 inches long and > read more

Target Or Walmart? Does Perception Affect Where Or How You Shop?

Published on 2011-05-18 04:05:45

A recent article was written by The Street discussing who has cheaper prices, Walmart or Target. The gist of the article is that for the first quarter of 2011, research showed Target generally had cheaper prices than Walmart. In addition, it was > read more

Tips For Setting Priorities And Getting The Right Things Done

Published on 2011-05-16 03:56:15

When you get up in the morning, what is the first thing you do? Do you have a lot of structure to your day where you have activities planned out? Or, do you go with the flow, and get things done on an as-needed basis? Many people out there have a > read more

Link Round Up: Bad Advertisers, Hanging Pictures, Babci’s Thoughts, and More!

Published on 2011-05-15 11:52:13

I am spoiled… The next two weeks, I have to actually go in to the office to work. I don’t mean my home office, that would be ok. But I have to get up, get dressed, and drive in to work. I have not done that in ages! It isn’t t > read more

My Attempt To Kill Quack Grass

Published on 2011-05-13 03:55:10

Aargh! I had stated in a previous post that I would be going chemical free this year with our lawn. However, our lawn is getting overtaken! I thought the invasive species that was growing in patches in our yard was crab grass. Turns out that I ha > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: 10 Bad Elementary School Memories

Published on 2011-05-12 04:00:08

Last night, I was at my youngest son’s choir performance at school when I suddenly had a memory flash from my grade school days. I decided at that moment I had to write a post about those memories. Maybe writing these recollections down will > read more

Financial Lesson Learned From “Half Broke Horses”

Published on 2011-05-10 04:05:22

I recently read the book “Half Broke Horses” by Jeannette Walls (which is a book I highly recommend). Half Broke Horses: A Summary – But I Am Not Ruining The Book For You! The book is about Lily Casey, who raises her family in var > read more

Don’t Make Excuses – The Psychology of Debt and Spending

Published on 2011-05-09 04:13:39

This post was written by me (Kris), on behalf of Debt Advisory Line. Have you ever sat down and thought why you do the things you do – the things you do as a part of everyday life, the decisions you make based on your own life experiences and l > read more

Happy Mother’s Day 2011!

Published on 2011-05-08 07:56:29

I cannot believe it is already Mother’s Day! It seems like I was just digging my car out of the snow! (Oh wait, that really wasn’t that long ago…) Today the sun is shining and the temperature is in the mid 60′s, which is s > read more

Want A Convertible BMW? Then Start Mowing Lawns!

Published on 2011-05-06 04:04:28

When you bought your car, what was important to you? For some, gas mileage may be the deciding factor, while others feel they need a vehicle that projects a certain image. However, sometimes people end up buying a vehicle that projects the wrong im > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Great Customer Service

Published on 2011-05-05 04:01:26

In the past, I have complained about the poor customer service I received a Walgreen’s and at Kroger. Now, I would like to share my experience with a business that I have consistently received great customer service: Arby’s. Ok, so ma > read more

Getting The Right Business Premises

Published on 2011-05-04 05:29:42

This is a guest post from Rob Clymo, who writes on behalf of www.officegenie.co.uk, the UK’s first proper online marketplace for desk space and shared office space. Starting up a business or expanding an existing one can involve lots of hurd > read more

One Of My Favorite Pictures From Vacation

Published on 2011-05-03 04:18:03

As regular readers know, I recently went to Florida for vacation. We started out playing in the Gulf of Mexico, and then headed east to Disneyworld. We have been to Disney quite a few times. Therefore, we know the parks pretty well. We know wha > read more

Bin Laden Is Dead, and Remembering 9/11

Published on 2011-05-01 21:49:18

Osama Bin Laden is dead!!! According to President Obama, Bin Laden was killed May 1st during a United States ground operation near Islamabad, Pakistan. After a fire fight ensued, the US took custody of Bin Laden’s body. Reportedly, Bin Lad > read more

Farewell Michael Scott – I Will Miss You!

Published on 2011-04-28 22:41:12

I don’t watch a whole lot of network television. However, I have to say I love having a DVR just so I can record Thursday night TV, just in case I am not home. I have become hooked on both ‘The Office’ and ’30 Rock’ > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Miscellaneous Musings Volume III – Spring and Coupons

Published on 2011-04-28 04:08:49

Here are a few topics I have been thinking about lately, none of which could fill an entire post individually: Has Anyone Seen My Coupons?? This past Saturday, I went grocery shopping with both my list and my little coupon organizer. I bought a > read more

How The Closure Of The Last Typewriter Factory May Relate To You

Published on 2011-04-27 04:00:38

I was born in the late 1960s. I grew up watching a TV that required you to get off the couch to turn the channel (the few you had to choose from), I rode in a car that took ‘regular’ gas as opposed to unleaded, and I learned how to type > read more

Seller’s Remorse 10 Years Later?

Published on 2011-04-26 04:14:30

I have been having trouble sleeping lately, so I have been spending a lot of time just thinking as I wait for sleep. I have a lot of great thoughts during this time, although I should probably put a pad of paper and a little flashlight on my nights > read more

Can I Save Money On Gas? Maybe I Just Need To Move…

Published on 2011-04-25 04:14:42

There is a lot of talk about the surging gas prices lately. Since it is such a hot topic, there are also a ton of articles written about how to handle the high cost of gas and what you can do to ease the pain. One suggestion is to walk more. I w > read more

How Expensive Is Easter For You (If You Celebrate Easter)?

Published on 2011-04-22 04:04:36

I loved Easter as a kid. I have great memories of Easter Egg Hunts sponsored by the park (except for the year they didn’t have enough of the prizes that were promised on the little slips of paper found in some of the eggs). Our parents gave > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Things I Don’t Care About

Published on 2011-04-21 04:18:30

Do you ever look at the headlines and think “who are they even talking about”? That is basically how I feel, especially when it comes to Entertainment ‘News’. I guess it isn’t just that I don’t know who these peopl > read more

Saving Money and Eliminating Chemicals At the Same Time

Published on 2011-04-20 04:10:31

The calendar says April, which means that technically it is Spring! Of course, the weather we have had recently is not indicative of Spring, but I have hope that it will feel like Spring in the not-too-distant future. When I think about Spring, I t > read more

Hate Your Job? It Could Be Worse…

Published on 2011-04-19 04:06:02

Do you ever have days where you hate your job? Do you take your job for granted? Do you wish you were in a different profession and dread going to work each day? I know I have felt that way in the past, especially because my ‘career’ > read more

Money Mistakes Women (Besides Me) Make??

Published on 2011-04-18 04:06:50

I was perusing the web this weekend, and I came across an older article at Money Ning titled ‘Money Mistakes That (Mostly) Women Make’. I knew I had to read the article to see all the things I may be doing wrong. The following is > read more

Link Round Up – Recovering From Vacation Edition

Published on 2011-04-16 15:32:16

It seems like forever since I wrote a round-up post. Being gone for two weekends has thrown my writing off a bit! First, I would like to give a big thank you to authors of the following blogs for providing guest posts in my absence: Faithful With A > read more

Take the Jung Typology Test- and Share Your Results!

Published on 2011-04-15 04:28:45

One thing I have really come to enjoy from blogging is getting the opportunity to interact with readers. When a member from the Yakezie blogging group I am a part of suggested we write about the Jung Typology Test, I thought it would be a perfect. > read more

Garlic and Sinus Infections

Published on 2011-04-14 04:01:15

Just as a disclaimer, I am not a doctor and I am not suggesting anyone avoid obtaining medical care for any illnesses… Since my son came down with Cdiff a couple months ago, I have been investigating ways to avoid antibiotics. (FYI, people on > read more

‘Extreme’ Couponing? What About ‘Balanced’ Couponing?

Published on 2011-04-13 04:01:21

The new show ‘Extreme Couponing’ on TLC has gotten a lot of attention lately, and I admit, I have watched a few episodes. Extreme Couponing features individuals that are ‘gifted’ at the art of getting a good deal at the grocer > read more

Lessons Learned From Vacation

Published on 2011-04-11 19:39:14

Each new day in life is an opportunity to learn something, and vacation is no exception. Actually, for me, I learn more during ‘off’ days because I actually have a few minutes to really pay attention to what is going on around me, inste > read more

Do I Have To Go Home?

Published on 2011-04-08 04:55:15

In case you have not noticed my absence, we have been on vacation the last eight days in Florida. The weather here has been wonderful. We have had some storms, but for the most part, it has been sunny and warm. What has really struck me this vacation > read more

Do You Need A Debt Consolidation Loan??

Published on 2011-04-07 08:43:47

Note: I wrote this post on behalf of Debt Advisory Line, which is an award winning debt management company; one of the largest in the UK. They’ve already helped thousands of people who thought bankruptcy was there only option. They offer > read more

How To Write A Resume That Stands Out: 6 Tips To Help You Get Ahead

Published on 2011-04-06 04:58:42

From Kris: This is a guest post written by Khaleef, author of two blogs: Faithful With A Few and Fat Guy – Skinny Wallet. After you read this post, go check out his sites- they are two of my favorites! I was recently asked to review a gro > read more

Tips for Handling Large Medical Expenses

Published on 2011-04-05 04:11:56

This is a guest post from NerdWallet.com, which is a website dedicated to helping consumers understand and choose between credit card offers. Medical expenses are a huge concern for most of us, whether we have insurance or not. And when a big bill > read more

Why I Don’t Want A Smartphone

Published on 2011-04-04 04:39:21

The following is a guest post from Barbara Friedberg, MBA, MS, who is editor-in-chief of Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance.com, where she writes to educate, inspire, and motivate for wealth in money and life. Learn about personal finance from a r > read more

Not Enough Hours in the Day – An Example of Time Management

Published on 2011-04-01 04:19:22

The following is a guest post from Crystal at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff, where she writes about finding the balance between paying your bills, saving for your future, and budgeting in the fun stuff along the way. For those of you who haven’ > read more

Password Management Gone Wild!

Published on 2011-03-31 04:10:09

This is a guest post written by by Denise, the author of the website The Single Saver. Denise is a single woman herself who grew up in a small family. A reformed spend-a-holic, she now enjoys the challenge of finding new ways to live a frugal > read more

Losing Weight On A Budget

Published on 2011-03-30 04:25:23

The following is a guest post from Michael, who represents the website payplan.com My philosophy in this area is that being frugal and being healthy is a perfect match. The one invaluable, vital ingredient – determination – doesn’t cost a cen > read more

What NOT TO DO With A Tax Refund

Published on 2011-03-29 04:15:52

I was watching a local news show recently, and there was a ‘money’ segment. The subject was what Americans should do with their tax refund, and the segment featured an interview with a ‘financial expert’. The ‘expert&# > read more

Miscellaneous Musings Volume II: Final Four, Babies, and More!

Published on 2011-03-28 04:29:02

This past weekend was a nice relaxing one for once, which means a lot of thoughts were whipping through my head. None of these thoughts were worthy of their own post, so I thought I would just share what’s on my mind: Our family enjoys a litt > read more

A Small Example of How Being Too Busy Has Cost Our Family Money

Published on 2011-03-25 04:37:57

Things have been kind of crazy here since the beginning of February and I have to admit, I have let a few things slide. Namely, grocery shopping. I looked in the pantry a few days ago, and I don’t think I have ever seen it so empty! I usu > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: 3 Year Old is 132 Pounds – Indulgence Or Medical Problem?

Published on 2011-03-24 04:18:35

How much do you think a three year old child should weigh? Forty pounds maybe? I can’t remember how much my kids weighed when they were three, but I do know what they didn’t weigh… There is an article in the UK Dailymail about a > read more

How Not Working Paid Off – Can You Say Tax Refund?

Published on 2011-03-23 04:22:15

So, I finally sat down to do my taxes last night. I have used Turbo Tax for years, and importing data from the previous year makes life so much easier. I have been dreading doing the taxes because we have owed money for years, and I hate paying t > read more

Observations From A Weekend Trip

Published on 2011-03-21 08:48:06

This past weekend, I hit the road with my youngest son and traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for a soccer tournament. We live in Michigan, so it was about a 6 hour drive. It was a very pleasant drive, even though many people do not enjoy driving thro > read more

My New Car Reveal

Published on 2011-03-18 04:19:41

Do you ever think you should be excited about something, and are disappointed when you are not? That is how I felt while trying to find a new or used car for myself. I had been researching and pricing American cars for a month or so, and there just > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Cars, Driving, and Smoking!

Published on 2011-03-17 04:37:33

Automobiles have been on my mind a lot lately, and you will know why after reading tomorrow’s post. So I felt I should share all the thoughts going through my head regarding cars, and driving in general. Ready? I often look at really fanc > read more

Flying Experiences

Published on 2011-03-15 08:03:42

I was reading a post over at 101 Centavos that provided tips for airplane travel. The tips that were given reminded me of some of my airplane experiences. I started chuckling when I thought about one memory, and I suddenly had the urge to share i > read more

The Market Determines Price, Not You

Published on 2011-03-14 04:30:05

Do you ever watch something on TV or overhear a conversation, and want to just smack the people and say “you brought all of this on yourself”? Well, had I been Elvis, I would have shot the TV while walking on the treadmill Sunday morning. > read more

Link Round Up: Daylight Savings Time Edition

Published on 2011-03-11 22:39:15

I cannot believe that it is already time to ‘Spring Forward’ and move the clock ahead an hour. (Thank you to Khaleef at Faithful With A Few for reminding us!) Whereas I hate losing an hour of sleep, I will happily accept the extra hour > read more

How Much Savings Do You Need?

Published on 2011-03-11 04:56:37

The following is a guest post from Forextraders.com: We all know that saving money is important. Consider this question: Do most people want to be rich or poor? Of course, one would assume that most people want to be right, right? Let’s take > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Commercials

Published on 2011-03-10 07:45:19

As I write, I quite often have the TV on in the background. Sometimes I pay attention, sometimes I don’t. However, there are a couple commercials that almost always catch my eye. I am going to share a few examples: Lifetime’s new sh > read more

Planning, Preparing, and Diversifying

Published on 2011-03-09 04:30:38

Well, many of you know that 2010 was kind of a rough year for me in many respects. I had welcomed 2011 with open arms. Well, those arms are clamped shut and I am waiting for 2012. Oh wait, the world is going to end that year, guess I better mak > read more

Grandma at 23? Oh My!

Published on 2011-03-08 04:53:49

When I was born, one of my grandmas was 63, and the other one was somewhere in her 50s. Typical grandma age, nothing exciting there. I knew some people had younger grandparents than I did, but nothing compared to what I just read on Monday. Appar > read more

Say Goodbye to Late Fees!

Published on 2011-03-07 05:21:15

This is a guest post from CareOne Credit, who is glad to help answer any debt consolidation questions. Does this sound familiar? You’re lying in bed, just about to fall asleep, when you sit straight up and think, “Great, I forgot to pay that bi > read more

Do You Know What Today Is? It’s My Blogiversary…Blogiversary

Published on 2011-03-04 04:11:29

OK, many of you are probably too young to remember, but there was a horrible song in the 90s called “It’s Our Anniversary” by Tony! Toni! Tone!. (All pronounced ‘Tony’.) Anyway, ever since I thought about my Blogiver > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Totally Random…

Published on 2011-03-03 08:16:25

This is a guest post from the author of one of my favorite blogs, 101 Centavos. 101 Centavos is a blog about gardening, investing, business and career, yard sales, and (mostly Italian) cooking, all in very unequal portions. Enjoy! I have all th > read more

Ways Kids Are Expensive That I Never Thought Of (Until I Had Them…)

Published on 2011-03-02 04:01:23

Quite often, I hear of people saying that are waiting to have kids until they can ‘afford them’. Well, I kind of did the opposite. My husband and I both graduated from college at 23, got married a week later, and I had my first child at 2 > read more

Why You Shouldn’t Combine Your Credit Cards

Published on 2011-03-01 07:00:14

This is a guest post from Marc Chase, President of Product Development for My Credit Group, a website dedicated to helping consumers with managing their credit. Consumers on the lookout for the best methods of repairing credit seem to be willing to > read more

Antibiotics – A Double Edged Sword | Our Experience With C. Diff.

Published on 2011-02-28 03:30:24

As many of you that follow my blog know, I have been much less involved with writing these past few weeks. The reason being, my oldest son came down with a stomach bug called Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff). I have spent a lot of time researching > read more

My Most Interesting Job – Candy Factory Worker

Published on 2011-02-25 04:05:00

Do you ever have experiences in your life that you think you will hate, and you actually end up loving? That is how I would describe my seasonal job at a candy factory in Detroit. I kind of fell into this job. I was friends with the guy that ran > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Are Kids Getting Bolder?

Published on 2011-02-24 04:05:51

I was talking to someone the other day about how when I was a kid, I gave total respect to anyone that appeared to be 18 or older. (Except maybe a couple of teachers…) I was actually kind of afraid of adults when I was younger. I was al > read more

“Nothing Bad Ever Came From A Tiffany Blue Box”

Published on 2011-02-23 04:24:04

I have to tell you, I am the perfect wife. Well, actually, I am not perfect in about a million different ways. However, I do have one very redeeming quality. I am low-maintenance. Maybe not emotionally, but financially, I am very low-maintenance. > read more

Change and Perspective

Published on 2011-02-21 04:13:04

If I have learned anything about life, it is that you can never, ever predict what will happen next. You can plan for the future, but often, those very carefully laid plans can get thrown right out the window in the blink of an eye. Each time life > read more

7 Tips For Salespeople

Published on 2011-02-18 04:56:17

The other day, I received a phone call from a local car dealership. They were calling to remind me that the lease on our car was coming due in a month and we could pull the lease ahead if we purchased or leased another vehicle. Wow, pulled-ahead > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Streams of Thought

Published on 2011-02-17 07:20:31

Again, my apologies for my absence, and my thanks to Deidre for the guest post this week. Anyway, it is Thursday, which means I get to share my thoughts. I won’t share all of them, as then this post would be about 14 billion words long. It > read more

How To Make Cuban Coffee The Highlight Of Your Day…

Published on 2011-02-15 04:20:55

This is a guest post written by Deidre Lin. Deidre is an author, artist, advocate of Healthy Living and owner of TransFormX – a blog & website focusing on Healthy Living for Body, Mind and Spirit.. The other day I read about coffee on Ever > read more

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Published on 2011-02-14 04:08:04

First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! Valentine’s Day snuck up on me this year, I cannot believe it is already mid-February. My husband and I are not big celebrators of Valentine’s Day, but we do always get each other a c > read more

Sorry For My Absence!

Published on 2011-02-13 11:45:08

To all my blogging pals, I am sorry I have not been around much this week. I see many of you included me in link roundups, and unfortunately, I am unable to put together a roundup this week. I also have barely left any comments anywhere, I feel s > read more

10 Miscellaneous Thoughts, Volume I

Published on 2011-02-11 07:24:19

Ok it is February, and we are really just over half done with winter. Traditionally, the worst half of winter should be behind us now, but who knows? All this global “warming” has my brain frozen and I don’t know if I can come > read more

Save Money By Being Prepared!

Published on 2011-02-09 04:22:44

I was at the hospital the other day with my son. He ended up with some awful stomach flu, and he needed some hydration to get him going again. We actually had a very pleasant day at the hospital, as the rooms now have just about anything you coul > read more

Stock Investing Without All the Drama

Published on 2011-02-08 04:15:08

This is a guest post from Rob Bennett. Rob created the first retirement calculator that contains an adjustment for the valuation level that applies on the day the retirement begins. His bio is here. I could do without all the drama. How about yo > read more

Trading One Vice For Another, But In A Good Way…

Published on 2011-02-07 04:36:36

If you have been reading my blog the last couple months, you may know that I gave up soft drinks as part of my goal setting for 2011. (Well, reduce my intake by 90 percent. I knew that I would have a hard time getting through the Super Bowl witho > read more

Link Round Up- Superbowl Edition

Published on 2011-02-05 15:04:08

Well, tomorrow is the Superbowl, are you ready? Have you done all the requisite grocery shopping? Are you having people over? I love the Superbowl, but not because I love football. What I enjoy is the fine eating and the time spent with family > read more

10 Tips to Radically Improve Productivity in the Home Office

Published on 2011-02-04 04:22:19

This is a guest post from David, who works at Money Choices, a home loan comparison website for Australians. I particularly like this guest post since I work from home myself, and I appreciate any home productivity tips I can get! Working from hom > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: A Simple Thank You Goes A Long Way

Published on 2011-02-03 04:04:33

I was sitting in the family room the other morning, doing my work, and my husband thanked me out of the blue for saving us money by clipping coupons and paying attention to what is on sale and such before I go grocery shopping. I have no idea what > read more

Winter Storm Preparation Tips

Published on 2011-02-01 17:07:30

If you live in a part of the world that rarely sees snow, you may be thinking “Ha! So glad I don’t live where those suckers do!”. However, the rest of us have to think of what to do in the event of severe winter weather. We are > read more

Tips For Saving For Vacation and Minimizing Vacation Costs

Published on 2011-02-01 04:58:17

I am so tired of winter, and it is only January. February is almost always miserable, but at least March provides a few days of nice weather. I also start my tomato plants and such for my garden indoors in late March, so I at least can ‘fee > read more

How An Improved Economy Can (and Should) Affect Your Job Situation

Published on 2011-01-31 04:06:34

The recession has been declared as ‘over’ for a while now. Restaurants are hopping, sales are picking up, and some companies seem to be opening up their budgets again. Does this new booming economy affect you in ways other than making y > read more

Link Round Up: Getting Sick of Being Sick Edition

Published on 2011-01-30 05:00:16

OK, I have had it. I need to be able to open some windows and get some fresh air in this house. Four out of five people are sick here, and I can’t stand the sound of coughing anymore. If we had a dog, I bet he would be coughing too. Perha > read more

Why is it important to get a Gas Safe engineer to fix your boiler?

Published on 2011-01-29 22:38:41

The following is a guest post from Alex, who represents Home Serve. When something goes wrong with your boiler or another gas appliance, a Gas Safe engineer should always be your first – and only – port of call. While we’ve all got a friend who > read more

Can A Health Journal Help Me? Can A Health Journal Help You?

Published on 2011-01-28 04:30:50

Have you ever woke in the morning with barely any energy, even though you got plenty of sleep? Have you ever just jumped out of bed feeling refreshed and energized even though you only got five hours of sleep? I have experienced both scenarios an > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: I Am So Glad I Am Not A Teen Anymore (But I Am Terrified For My Kids)

Published on 2011-01-27 04:11:20

Oh my gosh, here I am at Starbucks again, and the conversation occurring next to me is scaring me half to death. Keep in mind, I am not eavesdropping this time. They are so incredibly loud that everyone can hear their conversation. People all aro > read more

Financial Mistakes, In Game Form

Published on 2011-01-26 04:52:58

I was reading the post “Never Have I Ever” over at Sustainable Life Blog where you list 5 things you never did, and it was a very fun exercise. While coming up with my answers, I found that it was easier to think of things I ‘did > read more

10 Home Renovation Tips – Learn From Our Experience

Published on 2011-01-24 04:37:31

Our home renovation started because of a power outage… We lost power for a week. Because of the power outage, we had to manually empty our sump in the basement so the basement would not flood. It was pouring rain one night, and my husband le > read more

Link Round Up: 3 Teens Edition

Published on 2011-01-22 18:15:28

I cannot believe it, my youngest child turned 13 this weekend. Where did the time go? I can officially say now that I am a mom of 3 teenagers- that is crazy! (Even though the youngest is still too small to sit legally in the front seat…) > read more

More Great Financial Advice From the Media “Don’t Rush To Pay Off Your Mortgage”

Published on 2011-01-21 05:00:26

One of the reasons I like to read the financial articles on the Yahoo Finance website is because they are often completely ludicrous, and it is like watching a train wreck. (This is my own personal opinion, I am sure there are plenty of people out > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Cell Phone Etiquette

Published on 2011-01-20 05:00:37

Cell phones are a known distraction, even though many people do not necessarily see them that way. The other day I was driving up the aisle in a parking structure nice and slow. Next thing I know, some is pulling out of their spot and is about > read more

Tips For Fighting Indoor Allergies

Published on 2011-01-19 04:59:21

This is a guest post written by Deidre Lin. Deidre is an author, artist, advocate of Healthy Living, and owner of TransFormX – a blog & website focusing on Healthy Living for Body, Mind and Spirit . After my house was destroyed durin > read more

Planning For The Next Phase Of Life

Published on 2011-01-18 04:56:49

I am the youngest child in our family. I don’t have any cousins, and nephews didn’t enter the picture until I was 24 years old. I think that kind of gave me a ‘younger’ mindset. I will always be the youngest, no matter w > read more

Planning For The Next Phase Of Life

Published on 2011-01-18 04:56:49

A Couple Quotes From Martin Luther King Jr.

Published on 2011-01-17 04:50:31

I wasn’t even a year old when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Therefore, I cannot fully understand the impact he made at the time on the civil rights movement. I have heard speeches, I have seen clips, but I did not live it; I was > read more

A Couple Quotes From Martin Luther King Jr.

Published on 2011-01-17 04:50:31

Link Round Up – When Will Spring Be Here Edition

Published on 2011-01-16 12:19:28

I love snow. I love winter. That is, until Christmas. Come January, I have had enough of the wind and freezing cold temperatures, and I want to think about my garden. Mother Nature does not agree with my plan though. We have been getting a i > read more

Link Round Up – When Will Spring Be Here Edition

Published on 2011-01-16 12:19:28

The Best Financial Advice I Never Received

Published on 2011-01-14 14:01:48

This is a guest post from Penny Saver, who is a frugal mom making the most of meager means and saving her quarters to save a quarter of her income. She blogs all about it at The Saved Quarter and is challenging you to save with the The Saved Quar > read more

The Best Financial Advice I Never Received

Published on 2011-01-14 14:01:48

Has Ophiuchus Turned Me into A Leo????

Published on 2011-01-13 21:39:01

There are no tips in this post, nor are there really many thoughts. It really just miscellaneous information that could affect your future if you turn to your horoscope daily to plan your life. According to astronomer Paul Kunkle in Minnesota, ther > read more

Has Ophiuchus Turned Me into A Leo????

Published on 2011-01-13 21:39:01

Thoughts For Thursday: Who Invented Robot Phone-Dialers? I Want To Smack Whoever It Is

Published on 2011-01-13 05:03:08

This past Saturday, I was relaxing a little bit when the phone rang and startled me. I ran to get the phone because I figured it must be important; most people do not call me at 8:00 a.m. on the weekend. I picked up the phone, and there was dead > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Who Invented Robot Phone-Dialers? I Want To Smack Whoever It Is

Published on 2011-01-13 05:03:08

The Snowball of Savings and Health Benefits From Eliminating Pop/Soda

Published on 2011-01-12 05:03:40

Ok, so I am only two weeks in to my pop-free life, but I am loving it so far. Keep in mind, my goal is not to eliminate caffeine. I don’t really think caffeine is all that evil. My reason for eliminating pop is that I don’t wan > read more

The Snowball of Savings and Health Benefits From Eliminating Pop/Soda

Published on 2011-01-12 05:03:40

OK, Here Is A Revelation – My Kids Are In Private School

Published on 2011-01-11 05:02:22

There, I said it. It is interesting how the topic of public school vs. private school evokes such emotion, and I really don’t understand why. I live in a very good school district, and I chose private school for my kids. You would think tha > read more

OK, Here Is A Revelation – My Kids Are In Private School

Published on 2011-01-11 05:02:22

From the Mailbag: Question On How to Track Spending and Pay For Current Expenses

Published on 2011-01-10 05:06:42

I recently received an email from Holly, who has a some questions about tracking spending, and covering expenses as they occur: I’m atempting to really focus on budgeting better this year. I have not really successfully tried a great meth > read more

From the Mailbag: Question On How to Track Spending and Pay For Current Expenses

Published on 2011-01-10 05:06:42

Link Round Up: Tired Edition

Published on 2011-01-08 08:47:53

You know how everyone says “I need a vacation from my vacation”? Well, I need a vacation to recover from Christmas Break. I thought I would get so much done this week with the kids back to school. But, life got in the way. Issue > read more

Dumb Things People Do Volume IV: Packaging Items Poorly

Published on 2011-01-07 05:05:41

Over the Christmas holiday break, I got to spend some time at the post office shipping a couple of packages. During this time, I saw a couple rather stupid ways to prepare items for shipping that I thoughts I would share. Event one involved a boy > read more

Thoughts For Thursday: Lessons Learned From Drag Queen Bingo

Published on 2011-01-06 05:03:27

We all have dreams in the back of our minds. If I could do anything in the world I wanted, I would get paid to travel the world and taste-test the hot chocolate served at various cafes by the ocean. More realistically, I would love to be a highly > read more

New Year’s Resolutions – The Five S’s…

Published on 2011-01-05 05:02:17

Ok, so I already wrote about my goals for 2010. However, Sandy at First Gen American issued a challenge to bloggers to state their New Year’s resolutions, but with a twist. There must be 5 resolutions, with the focus being either increasing > read more

Personal Finance ‘Keys To Success’ May Not Always Apply

Published on 2011-01-04 05:03:37

I was recently poking around the website for Kiplinger’s magazine when I came across the following article: 8 Keys To Financial Security This is not a new article, but the 8 keys mentioned are things you hear over and over: Invest in yourself > read more

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Blog Feed: Everyday tips and thoughts.

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