So, maybe over the last six months or so you’ve been contemplating a rather large purchase…let’s say a vehicle. You have saved some money and have not been affected financially by COVID-19. You filed your tax return and got back the money you overpaid to the government in 2019, and you pocketed the stimulus (that will be taxed…don’t forget that). You are ready to go car shopping! Hold on–do you have enough cash to pay for it outright? I suppose that depends on what type of vehicle you’re buying, if you’re buying new or used, and how much money you were able to save. Are you planning to make payments (not the course I recommend, but I digress).? Do you know how much you think you can afford monthly? Before you get out there and find the car you think you can’t live without, I have a suggestion: practice making the monthly payments to yourself. But, how? If you think you can afford a monthly car payment of $450, then actually take that $450 every month for at least six mont...

When I was a kid, I remember my mom losing a lot of weight. She did it by going to Weight Watchers (now WW) with a small bunch of her friends. In fact, she lost more weight and did so faster than the other ladies in her group. She once shared with me what she thought it was that made her so successful. It can be summed up in one word: competition. There is a chemical reaction that occurs in our brains when we put our efforts against those of another person. It makes work harder to outdo our rivals. We’ve seen race horses do it, so why not humans? You know you need to save money. You want to save money. But you still need things on which you must spend your money. Challenge (another thing that works on the brain) your spouse, significant other, or accountability partner to find the best deal, online or brick-and-mortar store, on the next purchase you need to make. Make it a game.

My community has been slowly reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown since May 1. I drove by Lowe’s last Saturday and the parking lot was PACKED. I should not have been surprised. Maybe your neighborhood is also coming out of the quarantine closures, too, and you are DYING to eat at your favorite local restaurant. Well, I support you in supporting your local businesses, just don’t go overboard and justify it by saying, “Well, we haven’t been out in WEEKS, so let’s splurge.” That sets a precedent and it’s a bad idea. It’s kind of like going to the grocery store without a list; you might get out of there having spent too much money but still there is nothing for dinner–admit it, you’ve done that too. I suggest implementing some of these ideas: Share a meal. We Americans get HUGE portions and let’s face it, taking home leftovers that usually go in the garbage is just a waste. Get an appetizer as your main dish. Drink water instead of a carbonated beverage. The markup on soda i...