We humans are interesting creatures; if we aren’t careful with what we put into our brains, we can really let our actions get out of hand (and this will be the subject of another post, because it’s powerful). As you have probably noticed, things are a little crazy right now–there are some things going on right now in society that are making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. And when a large percentage of mankind appears unstable, the stock market follows. According to Google, this is the definition of the adjective volatile: liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse. Those of us that have monies in the stock market might be a little freaked out right now, and understandably so. Emotions are definitely running high on many levels. So I’m going to remind you to take a deep breath and let things ride on this crazy amusement park ride. Like my friend, Dave Ramsey, says, the only ones who get hurt on a roller coaster are those who jump off in the mid...

When I blog, I try to title my posts with a word or phrase that conveys the meaning of what I’ve written about without too much repetition in the verse (see what I did there?). It turns out there is no other word that conveys the meaning of what I want to blog about today–nothing can substitute for patience. I have recently had some experiences that have made me a more patient person; I’ve had to be, otherwise I fear I would drive myself insane or be eaten up with worry. I KNOW that you can ALL relate to what I’m saying. After all, we want what we want and we want it now! This is true with weight loss, a new car, a vacation, and even revamping one’s finances. We want the debt GONE and our lives under CONTROL. I totally get it.  Please, be patient with yourselves. Making changes, even minor ones, is hard and involves a lot of work. And when you throw more than one person into the mix (and there are two people in EVERY couple), it can amplify everything. There is no rea...

I have had some changes in my life recently (not pandemic-related) and they are giving me the chance and the desire to try new things. One of the things I want to try is mountain biking; a friend introduced me and I’m a little hooked on the idea. Since I have a little extra time on my hands and the weather is getting nice, I’m looking for a used bike. Well, apparently, I am not the only one with this idea because I’m having a devil of a time finding one at a decent price. Many people have lots of time on their hands right now–the pandemic has large numbers of us working from home, and we’re probably getting bored. Why not use this time for a little makeover? Maybe now is the time to get rid of some extra junk in your life. Some experts think that there is a correlation between finances, the condition of your home, and the condition of your body. Peter Walsh is the author of a book with a title that cracks me up– Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? I believe there is somethi...

A few weeks ago we talked about pulling the trigger on a huge purchase–your “new” car. We discussed practicing making payments, and you are well on your way to saving a huge chunk of cash for this long-awaited, glorious event. Hold on, we aren’t quite done yet. Can you REALLY afford this car? The “payment” is not the only cost of the car. Different cars come with other different costs. Don’t forget to take a few more things into consideration: Depreciation occurs rapidly and not everybody can absorb that cost Taxes, licensing and other fees occur every year or every other year, depending on where you live Insurance differs widely from car to car and can also depend on the age and model of the car, your  driving record, and your age Cost of financing can really get you if you don’t pay cash Is it a gas guzzler? Maintenance and repairs–while some may require very little, others are quite expensive Just make sure you do your research about ALL th...

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...