What’s Next?

  It’s been ages since I posted and this year has been filled with twists, turns and unexpected trials and triumphs.  With my son moving up to 1st grade and my daughter going into her last year of nursery school, I found myself at a crossroad with no idea of the next direction I would go.  BeingContinue reading “What’s Next?”

Be Rewarded for Shopping Online

As I’m sure many of you can relate, shopping with kids in NoT exactly my favorite thing to do.  There is always the fighting over who sits where in the cart, then the whining that I’m taking too long, and of course the dreaded tantrum over the desperately needed toy they just HaVe to HaVe!  My kidsContinue reading “Be Rewarded for Shopping Online”

How I am avoiding a stressful Christmas this year…

I know…it is only September…but I already have half of my Christmas shopping DONE!  The motive for starting so early?  I’m tired of stressing out during the holidays! The reason I’m starting so early has to do with money.  If I began now, I could spread the cost of gifts over the course of several months, instead ofContinue reading “How I am avoiding a stressful Christmas this year…”

Shop at Home and SAVE!

Those of you who know me or follow our blog know that if deciding between shopping at Target with my two kids or a root canal…the stress free option would hands down be the root canal!  I am always the mom with the kids climbing in and out of the shopping cart, yelling at themContinue reading “Shop at Home and SAVE!”

The Financial Lifesavor

A few years ago I did something that iMpRoVed our financial stress.  In addition to tracking our monthly expenses, I made a simple spreadsheet that estimates what our bank account will look like in six months. Whenever I log our monthly expenses, I also update this 6-month sheet (to see an example, click 6-Month Spreadsheet). Continue reading “The Financial Lifesavor”

Put Your Blinders On

Do you make decisions based on the people around you?  DeeP dOwN did you decide to buy a new car because all your friends and family recently upgraded theirs?  Did you put your kid in t-ball because you felt the pressure from the other parents?  Have you recently felt the need to go on anContinue reading “Put Your Blinders On”

{The Answer Is In The House}

With a tough EcoNoMy like the one we’re in, many people find themselves in a challenging financial position.  Many are looking to take on second jobs to make ends meet.  It reminds me of a talk I heard back in college.  My alma mater, Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Ok required us students to attend chapel twice a week.  These were aContinue reading “{The Answer Is In The House}”

I’m working hard and getting nowhere

Do you ever feel like that?   I have felt that way on our jOurNey to get out of debt.  On Tuesday, I shared the story on how we got out of denial and started tackling our finances in my “Getting Out of Financial Denial” post.  Does that mean the process has been easy and IContinue reading “I’m working hard and getting nowhere”

From the Confessional: Financial Denial

I remember 2011 Super Bowl Sunday like it was yesterday.  The game was about to wrap up and I sat in the living room staring at our computer, logging our expenses for the month.  I told Doug what I was woRkiNg on.  He responded by asking, “Lara, WHY do you even do that? We’ve beenContinue reading “From the Confessional: Financial Denial”

$ailing The Financial $ea$

I have to AdMiT, I was a little (or a lot) hesitant to write a post about money.  You may have read my earlier post “Broke Was My Goal” where I talked about being a teacher with a financial mess on my hands and how I got out of that mess by taking one small stepContinue reading “$ailing The Financial $ea$”