Benjamin Franklin has been credited with saying some of the coolest things. I’ve quoted him in my blog twice before (I checked!), in July 2020 and May 2021. And I’m going to do it again today. Here goes: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Okay, maybe he wasn’t the original author. Still, he did refine and improve the original saying that has origins traced back to Plato (thus you accuse me of plagiarism, you can check the reference here ). “Ok, but what do apples have to do with finances?” you ask. I’m getting there! If you eat healthy, exercise, refrain from things you know are bad for you, and get regular checkups, you’ll be less likely to need a doctor. The key word there is “checkups.” It’s FINALLY spring. Summer is on the way. It gets hot where I live, but it's relatively short-lived compared to the rest of the country. On the other hand, some places get HOT and HUMID, and repeated heat abuse can do a number on your house. Take advantage of the warmer temper

Those of you who have been following me for some time now know I am a warm-weather person. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I COME ALIVE when Daylight Saving Time starts. As far as I’m concerned, LIGHT IS LIFE. And that proclamation is a perfect segue into today’s topic. As the days get longer and warmer, most venture outside a little more and hibernate less. So it’s the perfect time to adjust our schedules and homes that can help save the planet and some of our hard-earned money. How? Well, there are lots of little things you can do that, added up, can make a huge difference. Switch out your regular light bulbs for LEDs. If you plan to buy a new appliance, purchase one with the ENERGY STAR seal and recycle your old one. Insulate your doors and windows. Save rainwater to water your landscape in the drier days ahead. Use the sun to dry your laundry by hanging it on a clothesline. Want more ideas? Google is LOADED with suggestions! Get the whole family involved and m

Six months ago, I got a new driver’s license because two things had changed: my state of residence and my last name. So, I remarried and moved into a lovely home that has now become “ours” instead of “his.” But, typically, when a formerly-single woman my age moves into the home of a formerly-single man of the same age, some woman’s-touch stuff needs to happen. But I am okay with that. I had the time and means and L.O.V.E. to organize stuff! It is pretty therapeutic to me. Periodically I still rearrange a closet, the contents under a sink, and even my filing cabinet. And then there is SPRING CLEANING! Don’t even get me started… The point is, financially speaking, now is a GREAT time to organize your life. Go through your old paperwork. Throw out things you no longer need. Did you know that, according to the IRS , most American taxpayers only have to keep their tax records for three years? (I didn’t! Until I wrote this blog, I thought it was seven.) Get organized. Need additional he

Today’s blog post title might strike a little bit (or a lot) of anxiety in some of my readers, and rightfully so. But, of course, getting called into your boss’ office to discuss one’s work performance over the last year can do that. But that is not the kind of “annual review” I’m referring to. Because change is constant, and everything changes, sometimes we need to reassess things in our lives. For example, I’m sure many of you recognize that the cost of homes and rent has skyrocketed in the last two years, and some have doubled in value. But I’ll bet your insurance coverage hasn’t. The increase in home values necessitates more insurance, but it doesn’t happen automatically. So now is a great time to call your insurance agent and ask a few questions to ensure you’re covered for the right amount. Of course, ask about your home and auto, too. 

Warning: this material might cause anger and frustration in some readers. But don’t shoot the messenger here. Oh, how I wish I could tell you that this post is based on a joke, but I cannot because it’s the cold, hard truth. So here it is: if you have gotten relatively large tax returns in recent years, those days are probably far behind you. Don’t count on it this year. Things have changed. Our refunds will be much smaller for the 2022 tax year. Why? Many Americans thought that the stimulus payments they’d received were basically “free money” and were excited to get them at the time. But, unfortunately, nothing is ever free, and those stimulus payments are returning to bite us now. A couple of tax credits have expired ; the expanded Child Tax Credit and certain Covid-related breaks are no longer in existence. During the pandemic, the IRS also gave breaks to those who filed their taxes late. That, too, has been taken off the table. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you

If you know me at all, then you know I love Dave Ramsey. In fact, I not only attended a Dave Ramsey affair when it once came to an event center near me, but when I went through Tennessee on a road trip, I hunted him down and visited his studio. I have a picture to prove it (well, it’s somewhere). I always listened to Dave when his show was featured from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on my local talk radio station. One of the things he said frequently (something that he actually borrowed from somebody else–John C. Maxwell) was, “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” If you are getting a tax “refund” this year, I will first invite you to review last week's blog post and the three links to previous blog posts. I would then encourage you to plan for that “refund” money, and I don’t mean blow it as most Americans will do. Be smart. Use it to pay off some debt if you, as most Americans do, have some. If not, save it appropriately.  We've discussed deb