I have four adorable grandchildren–two boys and two girls. The youngest, a girl, is 5-months-old and I have the pleasure of watching her quite frequently because she lives so close to me. So far, she has been pretty easy to read, if you know her. It has been her pattern to cry if she’s hungry, tired, or in need of a diaper change. But, all of a sudden, she gets irritated and cries if she gets BORED. As our worldwide social distancing/stay-at-home/quarantine lingers on into yet another month, we all might find ourselves facing this feeling. And we might be tempted to spend money, especially online. We are all smart enough to figure out when we should and should not be shopping, but these are unprecedented times, and just maybe we need to adopt a new strategy so we don’t overspend. Before you buy anything, I want you to H.A.L.T. and ask yourself if you are one of these four things: hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. We will throw bored in with lonely since they often go hand in ...

I read this week that in late March Kenneth Rogoff, a Harvard economist, said regarding our national debt and the COVID-19 outbreak, “The whole point of not relying on debt excessively in normal times is precisely to be able to use debt massively and without hesitation in situations like this." I respectfully (okay, maybe not so respectfully) disagree. We should NEVER rely on debt, especially in “situations like this.” Right this very minute, we might be in survival mode instead of planning mode. But, like everything else in this world, this "situation", too, shall pass.  Let us come out wiser and more determined to be prepared for the next “situation like this,” because we are certain to experience another “situation like this” in the future.  Life pretty much guarantees it. 

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...

I like chocolate. With nuts. I can pass by any other kind (and I do mean ANY KIND) of candy without hesitation. I usually keep my appetite for the delectable confection in check, but when I’m stressed, I start cleaning out the cupboards to see if there is any chocolate hiding somewhere. Obviously, it is NOT a healthy way to relieve stress. I know some people that stress-shop (if you’ve never watched the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic , I highly recommend it). With the world connected by small fiber optic cables, it’s easier than ever to satisfy that craving when under pressure. So, today I’ve decided to come up with 10 things to do during the Great Quarantine of 2020 that are not fattening, immoral, illegal, or just plain stupid.   Here they are… Meagan’s Top 10 List of Things To Do (sans stress-eat or stress-shop): Find a new podcast Make and use a homemade face mask Give yourself a manicure or a pedicure (or both!) Read a new book or reread an old fav...

So, you’re excited because the government is going to be handing out “free money” in the next few weeks because of Covid-19 aka Corona virus. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but nothing is ever free. So please, please think before spending all that money frivolously. Let’s talk this through…right now, all financial matters are kind of in a holding pattern–some people are not getting paid at all while others might be receiving partial payments. Many people are applying for unemployment. Banks and landlords are being restricted from foreclosures and evictions, and utility companies are not allowed to discontinue services. This will not last forever. Eventually everything is going to catch up with us and we will all be required to pay back whatever we are not required to pay right now. And let us not assume that this money will not be taxed. I suppose people that usually do not have to file income tax returns will have to do so for 2020. Just don’t do anything you’re goin...

Wow, finances have really been whacked the last few weeks. People have been laid off or had hours cut and have been hoarding necessities which can result shortages and price gouging. What are we to do? If you have been working the financial independence plan (eliminating debt, saving, etc.) that we have been teaching for a while, you probably won’t feel the panic like those who live paycheck to paycheck. Regardless, here are a few things to do to help with the money crunch: Prioritize your bills – we have talked about that in previous blog posts. Now is a good time to revisit that (see Decisions, Decisions from January 16). See who might be offering assistance or a payment-skip, if you’re desperate. Really reduce your spending (see Do You Know Where You Stand? From January 23). Reach out to creditors, many have hardship programs. Some can even be restructured. Stop any automatic payments. Watch for the price gouging I mentioned. There are 2 sites that show historic pric...

Someone I know recently made a trip to the grocery store. Another shopper thought she was buying too much bread for her family of nine and assaulted her. My friend is shaken but okay. The assailant was escorted from the premises. Unfortunately, emergencies bring out the worst is some. Whenever there is some sort of trauma going on in the world (and when is there NOT these days?) all kinds of crazies are going to come out of the woodwork. Don’t fall prey to one of them. You’re probably going to get phone calls from people claiming to be from different charities that are raising money for this and that. I used to try to tell them “No” politely. Now I just hang up. Or, better yet, don’t answer numbers you do not recognize, even those with the same area code you have. If you can and want to contribute to a charity, use one you have used before. While disasters bring out the scary, they also can bring out the best of us.   Be one of them. We are all spending more time a...