My Perfect Life

January 26, 2012

TweetToday, for some reason, my life is perfect. Maybe the stars are all aligned just so or maybe I had a good night’s sleep. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s a wonderful feeling. You know how some days you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Well, today I [...]

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The Fiercest Love

January 6, 2012

TweetToday, more than ever, I am convinced that nothing will ever compete with a mother’s love. I always knew my mom loved me, but could not grasp the depths of that love until I had my own children. I loved Caity from the moment of conception and that love grew and grew with each passing [...]

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Charity Begins at Home

November 5, 2011

TweetEvery year, around the holidays, my family does something charitable. Last year we donated to Toys for Tots and Operation Christmas Child. There is no shortage of ways to give to the needy. I’ve thought this was a great way to get our kids to learn the spirit of giving. But, after some soul searching, [...]

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Are You Involved in Your Family Finances?

September 18, 2011

TweetSince I got married in 1996, I have been the CFO of our family. The decision was an easy one, since I liked doing bills and budgeting. Shawn, not so much. As a result, naturally, I know everything from how much we have in retirement to how much we pay in taxes each year. I [...]

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Don’t Drive Yourself Crazy for a Dollar

September 15, 2011

TweetI don’t know about you, but to me, being lost is one of the most unsettling feelings around. Based on the stereotype of how men hate to ask for directions, there must be something sacred about figuring it out on your own. Google Maps is great, but nothing beats having directions at your fingertips. A [...]

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Take the No Spend Challenge

August 31, 2011

TweetEvery week, I take money out of the ATM and every week, just like magic, it disappears. I can’t figure out where it goes. Never mind the coffee, magazines, bottled water, and lipstick I bought. So, I decided I need to give myself a challenge. For one whole day, I am not going to spend [...]

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You Have to Sacrifice to Get Out of Debt

July 31, 2011

TweetWhen we first got married, Shawn and I both owed thousands of dollars in credit card debt. In addition to the stress it caused, it was delaying our lives. If it had been up to me, I would have started a family right away, but Shawn had it in his head that, before we could [...]

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Outdoor Movie Theater at Home

July 21, 2011

TweetWe love watching movies outside. There is something about having all the space and fresh air. But drive-in movie theaters have become so scarce these days. So we decided to make our own drive-way theater by getting a projector and outdoor screen. And then we realized it could also be a dive-in theater next to [...]

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Cook with Friends to Save Money and Add Variety

July 17, 2011

TweetOver the years, I’ve participated in local book clubs, newcomers clubs, and even a babysitting club. One day my friend, Anita, was over for lunch. As we were sharing recipes, we had a fun idea. We would start our own cooking club. Granted, it would just be the two of us, but nonetheless it felt [...]

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Start Shopping for Christmas Now

July 13, 2011

TweetChristmas in the 90’s was like Spendapalooza. But things changed at the end of the decade, when I became a SAHM in 1999, and I simply could not afford the insanity anymore. We were on a budget and I was determined not to go back into the credit card debt I’d escaped a few years [...]

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