$140. That’s how far we went over our budget last month. In just one category. As far as our budgets go, it was a bloodbath. It was also proof that if I give myself an inch financially, I’ll take a mile. Or at least a few hundred dollars. Rather than wring my hands or cry … [Read more…]
Today is a holiday. My inbox has been celebrating for over a week. Each day, more and more emails arrive. I can’t unsubscribe fast enough. Weekly ads. Daily deals. For a limited-time only. The limited time, though, seems to grow in sync with the commercialization of each holiday. Today, a day intended to honor better … [Read more…]
I logged onto Facebook. That was my first mistake. Every once in a while, I can’t resist the temptation to check in with far-flung relatives, so I log on. There were three messages waiting for me. I knew what they were without even clicking. Like death and taxes, there is another certainty, albeit much more … [Read more…]
My son is starting daycare. Real daycare. The kind run by licensed professionals total strangers. While most people mark the start of a new school year with back-to-school shopping based on supply lists and maybe even child requests (and peer pressure and clever advertisements), I’m shopping for a whole different reason. I’m shopping because I’m … [Read more…]
Normally, my money wins are modest. Don’t get me wrong. I really relish the kinds of wins that don’t see the light of day in most blog posts. Because really, if it weren’t for the small wins, would we even have the big ones? But. This is a big but. I’m making an exception today. … [Read more…]
“We don’t do Show and Tell here.” It was a bold proclamation. Especially because it was nowhere on the daycare orientation agenda. Show and Tell is a staple of early education curricular design. It is as familiar as Play-Doh and and the “Clean Up” song. How many times have you done Show and Tell in … [Read more…]
There’s a dirty little lie in the personal finance world. Fine. It’s not a lie. But it’s not the universal truth that it’s held up to be either. “You can always make more money.” Can you really? Can I?
Free. It’s a powerful word. Magical, really. Out of all the four letter words, this one really stops people in their tracks. People clamor into stores en masse, wading through a sea of people only to endure time-halting lines. And free is good. In a world that often has complete disregard for their bottom line, … [Read more…]
Three years ago, I became a line item in someone’s income report. OK, fine. I wasn’t a whole line. But I certainly contributed to their affiliate income for the month when I launched this blog with Bluehost. I was promised that blogging was a way to make money on the side. Or full time. Luckily, … [Read more…]
How much money will I have to make before I stop getting excited about free food at work? Alright, friends, I must confess. This is a trick question. I don’t think the dollar amount exists. My money win for the week is actually a look ahead. Teachers are scavengers. Truly. If you think the kids … [Read more…]