Skip to main content

Don't Be Jealous, But Do Go Green

I am so popular. I get MULTIPLE phone calls per day from numbers I don’t recognize–so many I don’t even have time to answer them all and chat. They are SO concerned about my car warranty. I also get lots of mail from my adoring fans–more than I have time to read–many of which want to “give” me some money (well, credit, anyway)! And they are SO dedicated...even when I move 4 times in less than 2 years, they still manage to find me!

In case you couldn’t tell, that was my attempt at sarcastic humor. By the way, don't fall for the money giveaway thing. Just burn those "checks" that come in the mail. While I do get a few scam calls during the day, I just turn my Android phone face down and it mutes the ringing (iPhone users, don't despair, I think you can enable this feature too). The mail? I shred and recycle it. Like you, I’m annoyed at the waste of paper and postage from unsolicited correspondents. What to do?

There are “Do Not Call” lists that you can get on, and I think some even work. But if you want to save a few trees, try this: OptOutPrescreen.com. Make sure you complete the process if you want to eliminate the unwanted mailers that your postal carrier leaves in your box. Then check out Wattson’s Financial Calendar for more tips for 2022. 

And while you’re feeling earth-friendly, the next time you log in to your bank’s website, change your statement selection and “go paperless.” Get your reports sent digitally. Future generations will thank you.   

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

It Happens Like That

And, in what seems like the blink of an eye, Memorial Day is over, school is out (or almost out), and my favorite time of the year is here! I love summer. I love it when the sun comes up early and wakes me. I love flip flops and shorts. I like to be warm (ok, not HOT, but warm). This is when I thrive. And I think it’s an excellent time to take a vacation or road trip. That being said, I plan a long time in advance for a vacation because I won’t finance one–and I’ve taken some pretty amazing vacations! I don’t usually just take off on last-minute road trips, either, but I’m learning to be more flexible in my old age. So I have done that on occasion, too.  Now, this blog post isn’t about the last-minute drives I’ve engaged, cruises I’ve embarked, or the countries I’ve explored (being a debt-free, self-employed, budget-loving, young, empty-nester has its perks!). This post is about getting you to a point where you, too, can take vacations without stressing about paying for it late...

Know Your Limits

When I was 17, I drove a 73 Nova. It used to be really easy to do things like changing taillights myself. That is no longer the case. If I tried that on my later-model vehicle (which is more like a computer than a car), I’d do more damage than good, because there are some thing you should just not do yourself. It will cost you more in the long run. That being said, there are probably some things that you usually pay someone else to do that are not getting done right now. My advice is to just be patient; depending on what it is and your skill level, it might end up costing you more to fix your mistakes. Let’s discuss some of those… Obviously, most if not all car repairs are just better done by a licensed, trained professional, including oil changes. They can also correctly dispose of used petroleum products. Depending on your tax filing status, a professional can help you avoid overpaying the IRS. I remember cutting my daughter’s hair when she was little, and I made a me...

The One Nobody Wants to Talk About

A young, twenty-something wife and mother of three in my neighborhood lost her husband unexpectedly a few years ago. He died with no life insurance. It left the family financially devastated . She had to sell her house and move into her parent’s basement. A Go Fund Me account paid for her husband’s funeral. I have another friend who lost her husband to a horrible illness when they were in their early forties. This couple had planned ahead and made sure they had the right amounts of the right kinds of insurance in place, including life insurance on the major breadwinner of the family–my friend’s husband. A year or so after he passed, I asked her how she was doing financially. She said her husband had taken care of her financially in death just as well as he had in life. Life insurance is crucial for a specific portion of your life. Do not overlook this. There is more to losing a family member than the overwhelming grief of the loss itself. No one needs financial hardship heape...