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Live Better For Less!

How to Raise Successful Kids: What Works Now?

I recently saw a quote: Don't try make your kids have more than you; try to make them better than you. Good advice. Yet our grown children need to have enough money to live on and to raise their families. So we try to teach them about money and about treating others with respect. We live in changing times, so it's a challenge to guide them toward … [Read more...]

Unplug the Kids for Some Downtime This Summer!

Simple CampfireHow's your summer going? If you have kids, you know how hectic summer can be. It can be difficult to carve out a little time when you are not running to this place or that. Time to just be. Even with a family you can make time for some down time. It's a choice. Just say no to some of the requests.It seems we need to unplug from all … [Read more...]

Teaching Kids About Money: Would You Pretend to Be Poor?

I heard of a family the other day that had fooled their kids for years about their true financial situation. They had actually inherited quite a bit of wealth, but they didn't want their kids to grow up being "spoiled." The kids did not go to very expensive colleges. They wore clothes like everyone else. They did not take lavish vacations. It … [Read more...]

Giving Up Network TV or How I Save $70 a Month the Easy Way

So Many Choices; So Little Quality We are joining the many people who have stopped getting cable/satellite tv. We will save $70 a month this way. Woo! I read about many people who have taken this step and wondered if we could do it. Now I know. We've noticed that we don't watch much tv anymore. Isn't it amazing that with so many channels … [Read more...]

Cleaning Out Mom’s House

Old Photo AlbumsApril 12, 2013In case you noticed there haven't been many new posts this week, it's because I've been busy clearing out my mother's house. She's in a nursing home, but will soon go to assisted living. It's been an experience.So many conflicting emotions appear when clearing out a house of over 50 years' worth of stuff. While you … [Read more...]

Giving Hugs in Winter

I can't watch the tv coverage of the tragedy in Newton, Connecticut. Being a former teacher, a parent and grandparent, it's just too difficult. I feel like the icy hand of fear has reached in to grip my heart.I keep thinking of winter. Winter is a shared experience, especially when there is a heavy snow. This feels like we got about 3 feet of snow … [Read more...]