Lifestyle blogger – cruises, organizing, managing money, and parenting.
A debt snowball is an incredibly powerful way to pay off debt quickly and easily. They are fairly easy to set up and use, and they are very powerful. They can literally save you thousands in interest over the life of a loan and help you get out of debt years earlier. I have a […] Read more…
Last year, my son ran up more than $78 in library fines and fees. That’s some serious money for something that is theoretically free. Fortunately, they agreed to let him pay his library fines online and we were able to negotiate a reduction since it was a first-time occurrence. Keep in mind, this wasn’t […] Read more…
I’m writing this on my bill pay day, so it got me thinking. Paying bills is an important part of our financial lives, maybe one of the most important parts, so I’m wondering what is your bill paying strategy? – Do you pay your bills right when they hit your mailbox?– Do you have […] Read more…
As the owner of four cats and a dog, I have paid out my share of vet bills. Maybe even more than my share. Last year, our St. Bernard – Joe got out of the yard, got hit by a car, and ended up with a broken leg that cost us about $800. It really […] Read more…
I just finished yet another cruise last week, so while I was on board, I was thinking of you guys and picking up little tips I’d like to share with you on how to enjoy a cruise if you have a chance. A cruise can be SO much fun, but they can be a LOT less […] Read more…
Every New Year’s Eve, what is the absolute number one resolution? Hands down, it is always to lose weight. It’s like the Holy Grail of resolutions! Because of that, the diet and exercise industry is one of the richest in the world. People spend thousands of dollars each year with hopes of losing weight – […] Read more…
Like just about every other girl these days, my granddaughter wants to be Princess Elsa from Disney’s Frozen this year. It seems to be the most popular costume of the year! After MUCH searching, I finally found her the costume for a reasonable price. But of course she needed the signature Princess Elsa braid. Materials […] Read more…
This is one of my rare crafty posts, but this little gift idea was just too easy and too good to share. I’ve used it for graduation gifts or birthday gifts, but you could use it for so many different gifts for people of all ages – a neighbor, a co-workers, a friend from church. […] Read more…
If you want to know how to manage your overspending, try switching from plastic to all cash. It will make you so much more aware of what you are spending and you’ll think about your purchases more carefully since cash is a limited commodity while plastic seems to be unlimited (although it really isn’t when […] Read more…
So, my middle son Matt got married about a month ago. I haven’t posted the pictures from it because it’s taken a while to get the pictures back from the photographer. But it was a lovely day and we were all excited to see them married. Great weather – perfect since it was a rooftop […] Read more…
I am always surprised when I find that most people have not heard about a water alarm. I think it’s just as necessary as a smoke alarm in your home. These things are BRILLIANT and have saved our bacon more times than I can count. Water damage can be very expensive. We’ve had water in […] Read more…
These 90 days* same as cash deals can be really good or really bad. Here are some tricks to keep them on the good side of things and save you money. These deferred payment deals can be very effective when used correctly. (*I say 90 days, but many of them are like 6 months or […] Read more…
Most financial experts agree that the best way to teach kids to be a smart shopper is to actually let them TRY it. They need to learn from their own successes and failures. Since one of your biggest recurring expenses is your grocery budget, this is a great place to start. I think everyday finance […] Read more…
Fast food seems like such an easy and harmless thing – a burger here, a pizza there, maybe a latte in the morning, but before you know it, it can really sabotage your budget. Take a look at some of the statistics below: Quick Fast Food Statistics Most Americans eat fast food 1-3 times a […] Read more…
I’m a big fan of Dave Ramsey. I bought one of his books on his debt free strategies years ago and it really impressed me. I’ve read lots of similar plans, but this one really got my attention and it seemed like something I could really do, especially the debt snowball plan because at that […] Read more…