I don’t know about you, but I was not 100% prepared for what 2020 had in store for me. In fact, I was so wrapped up in some of my own challenges that I kept forgetting there were other worldwide problems related to the pandemic. Even though my trials were not necessarily the same as everybody else’s, I was certainly not the only one being tested. However, because I had previously taken some general steps in overall preparedness, I was in a place where I could better handle the changes coming at me, especially financially. I had some money saved, and that helped immensely. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased.” Please keep chipping away at your financial plan. Implement an emergency plan with your family, as well. There are many state and community governments that are providing valuable information on putting together emergency plans for families and n...

Earlier this month, a branch of the US government clearly overstepped their bounds (in my humble opinion, anyway) by putting a moratorium on evictions for renters who cannot pay their rent. What business does the CDC have messing with housing issues? And you are probably asking, “What does a ‘moratorium’ mean, anyway?” Google says a moratorium is “a temporary prohibition of an activity.” In this case, if you don’t pay your rent, you cannot get kicked out of your rental until the end of the calendar year, at which time, all the rent you have NOT paid will be due, in full. But chances are you will already have spent it on other things, especially if you haven’t been following my blog. A friend of mine who owns a few properties shared her thoughts with me. She said the government is basically encouraging tenants to “use the next 4 months of rent to spend on things [they] don’t need and can’t afford for Christmas, and then end up evicted in the dead of winter. What is going to happen...

It’s technically still summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but it seems that the Rocky Mountain West (where I live) has already moved on to winter. No, not fall, winter–on Labor Day we had a record-breaking windstorm that downed scores of trees, tree limbs, fences, and walls on my friend’s house that was under construction. It damaged and/or displaced trampolines, garbage cans, outdoor furniture, and anything else that wasn’t tied down. It left lots of people without power for over 24 hours. I felt very fortunate that mine was only off for about 3 ½ hours. When I was out assessing local damage, I noticed a dusting of snow on the mountains near my home. This does not make me happy. But I digress because my blogpost this week is NOT about my dislike for the cold, it’s about being prepared. In the middle of the storm, it was too late to stock up on anything, including batteries, flashlights, and bottled water. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but when something like this happens, as...

A friend and I recently had a conversation about oatmeal–yes, oatmeal. I love oatmeal (and so do my cholesterol and my waistline). I eat it almost every day for breakfast. I don’t buy it at Starbucks ($3.49), McDonalds ($1.99), or even in the Quaker instant packets (25 cents). No, I buy generic oatmeal in the 50-pound bags (about 5 cents a serving). Some might call me cheap, but a very good friend called me frugal, and he meant it as a compliment. It made me smile. There are many things on which we choose to spend our money that might have extremely inexpensive alternatives. Determining what your trick is (mine is obviously hot breakfast cereal) will take a little research and effort. Don’t wait until you are on your way home from work and too tired to think before you figure out what your trick is…plan ahead a little.

I was grocery shopping the other day and I noticed that my store of choice was clearing out what was left of the back-to-school items in favor of Halloween candy and decorations. I realize this happens with every seasonal change, but honestly, how many of us take full advantage of it? With a little planning and some smart budgeting, we can grab end of season items that will hold over just fine at about 10 cents on the dollar. I have a good friend that buys up the leftover Easter candy, freezes it, and hands it out to trick-or-treaters. She is one smart cookie–no wonder we hang out together. If she can do that, who says you can’t buy up candy on sale in November and stuff Christmas stockings with it? If you spend a lot of money at Christmastime on paper, ribbons and gift tags, you might want to watch for the clearance sales afterward. And get in this mindset. I’ll bet once you notice what goes on clearance when, it will get your own creative juices flowing.

In case you did not notice, I had a few weeks off from the blog. I took my own advice and did a "staycation" of my own.  I had family come from out of town to celebrate an achievement, and it was wonderful.  Unfortuntely, all good things must come to an end, summer included.  So, back to school it is. But it sure isn't back to school like every other year. There are new  pieces at play in this old game, and every district is tackling the challenges differently.  Many, but maybe not all, of my suggestions from last August (see Is it August Already?!? dated 8/9/2019) will  work for school clothes and supplies, but we have something exciting to add to the mix  this year–masks! I don't want to wear them very bad, and I'll bet most kids don't either. Parents, be patient  with your children. If you or a friend/family member sews, let your child pick out a fun  pattern or two. Check Pinterest. There are also lots of people advertising masks for sale...

I have a friend who recently posted some pictures of some of the recent trips “close to home” that she and her husband have taken in the last few weeks. She said that this year, they decided to “explore their own backyard.” What a fabulous idea! This year, during the crazy-coronavirus conundrum, many of us might not have the courage, ability, desire nor the wherewithal to take a “regular” vacation to an exotic beach or a theme park. Why not explore some of the areas near where you live? My friend and I live in the Rocky Mountain West which is full of all kinds of different landscapes–mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, red rock, dessert–the only thing we’re missing is the ocean. We can camp, hike, mountain climb or rappel (if we’re brave enough), or just take a drive through a canyon. What can you do near you? Do you live near a state or national park? Are you on a coast? Is your town or city famous for something like the world’s largest ball of twine (way to go Darwin, Mi...