Maybe today’s society rewards the hares, or perhaps, it encourages or even forces us to be hares or be left in the dust. When I was younger I could run and get everything done and then collapse at night. When I bought my first car, I had a car payment and then the rent went up and wow, car insurance! I had to get a part-time job — I went to work at…
…Pizza Hut as a waitress so I could afford to eat. Literally, I would get a free personal pan pizza whenever I worked. Usually, I at least made enough in tip money to put gas in my car. Normally, I made a lot more if I got to work on Saturday night.
All my life I have tried to become a turtle (slow and steady), but, somehow my spirit is the hare. I will say that as a single mom I often felt like the hare. It seemed like never enough time or money. Always in a hurry to get my kid to school and me to work and then back again. Weekends were housework and errands. So by the time I was worrying about saving money for retirement, I was already behind. And then there was saving for college!
I am sure many folks are familiar with the scenario. How do we catch up? What do we prioritize? Some experts have these strict “cash in the envelope” strategies for budgeting and say cut out your morning coffee or breakfast stop. Others are like go cold turkey and sell things, go bare bones, etc. to cut expenses. If you have credit card debt, things are even more dire.
The reality is that the best solution is something that you can and will do. Maybe you need to be the hare for a little while and look at how to do something quick to stop the money leaks — can you stop eating out and cook at home. Maybe buy a Keurig and make coffee at home before you run out the door. Eating out and buying expensive drinks are the common money thieves. However much this saves you, does it really help you catch up. It’s more like the hare starting to get a head but not actually winning the race. How long can you cut back — eventually, you will get tired and stop.
If you have credit card debt, due to the compound interest2, you may still be losing ground. Well, of course the first step after stopping the money thieves, is to figure out how to get compound interest working in your favor.
If you haven’t heard of the “snowball” method. How it works, is a bit counter intuitive. You pay more on the card with the smallest balance while paying the minimums on the other cards. The goal is that you pay off the smallest card and then you can put that payment amount on the next card that has the next lowest balance and so on. I used that after my divorce to pay off my credit cards. If you do this while cutting back your spending -this works!
That said, if you need to — you may need a side-hustle (aka second job). Do you have a hobby that you can make some money? It could be as simple as baking cakes (folks at work may pay for a nice cake for a special occasion) or even just making hair bows (yes, someone I knew did this at night while she watched TV). The side hustle may only bring in a small amount of money but it almost counts as double – yes!! It’s money that doesn’t come out of your budget AND if it’s under a $400, you don’t have to claim as income. While $400 may not seem like much, it might cover a new coat or feed your holiday shopping fund.
You get the picture, the hare gets busy fast to make a dent. Next is the where the turtle wins the race. Many folks work at a job where there is a retirement savings plan (e.g. 401(k) or similar). Most companies will put money in if you do– they will match your contributions up to say 5% for example. If you do not contribute enough to get the match, then you are missing the best gift! I have coworkers who have told me they can’t afford to — actually you can’t afford not too! It may be hard at first but it’s literally free money. And you get a tax break on your contributions. Maybe you have to start after you get your credit cards paid or the easiest time to start is when you get a raise. If you get a 3% raise, put in 3% – it’s not the full match but it will be easier – and it’s as if you put in 6%!!. Next year do the same. Here is why even a little makes a difference — compound interest! Really the longer you have money in there to grow, the better. So it’s really best even if it’s only 3% to get started and then just let it grow.
Next you have to decide how to invest. Easiest is to pick a good “Target Date” fund. These are funds that are usually named with a date: Investment A 2050 or Investment B 2065. So which one to choose. Hopefully, your company has several in the fund offerings. Think about how long you plan to work and calculate the date you plan to retire — the earliest date. So if you are 30 and plan to retire at 67 then select one that is 35 years from now. You can change your strategy later if you need. The goal is to get started. The more time you have funds saved — the more time it has to grow. The target date funds will start more aggressive and then slowly move more conservative as it comes time to use the funds. So, as you get older you may want to start contributing to a fund with a later date (10 years or so) to cover your lengthy retirement.
Now, you are like “Hey, wait! What about the kid’s college?! Let’s get into that. Well by now you have your debt eliminated — at least the credit cards are paid. You are saving for retirement. What about a car or house payment? Have you saved money for a house? With the cost of buying house, let’s discuss college funds. Seriously, the earlier you start a college fund the better. A 529 plan can be your best bet. Each state offers one and you don’t even have to pick the one in your state. That said, if you can put some money into one to start the ‘snowball’ growing that is a huge help.
Maybe feeding the college fund is hard. Even $50 here and there will make a difference. Grandparents may even wish to contribute a yearly gift. Your goal of saving the possible $100-200k for each kid may not be practical. That said, if you can save enough for the first year for each kid — that can help them get started. Then help them pay while in school. And, if you can have them only borrow the last year or two of school and then you can pay the interest. This sentence looks simple but it’s not. The biggest issue with student loans is the interest and even though the payments don’t start until they graduate, the interest starts compounding.
If you can get your child the student loan that is the equivalent to a home equity line of credit then it will often allow for interest payments. This is critical to keep the snowball at bay. Let’s say your child borrows $20k a semester for the last 2 years at 7%. The interest is going to really start adding up. However, if while the kid is in school — you may not be able to pay the tuition but you can pay the interest. Therefore, your child’s loan may still be a serious chunk but not nearly as much since you paid the interest.
Rather than feel like you need to save/pay all of your kid’s college costs upfront, please remember your son or daughter can live with you after college. If you can let them live rent free or help with groceries, etc., they can work to pay off loans and save money. That is a huge help. Additionally, many companies offer tuition assistance to repay student loans. Please don’t sacrifice your retirement savings when your child has more options to get ahead. With the real estate market the way it is, saving and buying a home will be a different post!
In the end, your child will be most happy if you can fund a your own happy retirement without having to live with them! And this is a very comfortable place to be.
1Aesop’s fables are a collection of ancient Greek stories, credited to the storyteller Aesop (c. 620–560 BCE) that teaches moral lessons. They often feature animals with human characteristics and are designed to convey a moral, such as “don’t judge a book by its cover” from The Lion and the Mouse or “slow and steady wins the race” from The Hare and the Tortoise.
2Compound interest is the interest calculated on the initial principal amount plus any accumulated interest from previous periods. It is interest on interest, causing money to grow at an accelerating rate over time. This can be beneficial for savings and investments but costly for debts, as interest can grow quickly on both the original amount and the accrued interest. This is why it is compared to a snowball that grows as it rolls downhill.
I am not being paid or sponsored for the mention of any companies or products. These comments are from personal experiences and I am providing links to either my blog or others for reference.
analysis paralysis! Which means you may stick with the old paint rather than make a costly mistake. Well, for my fear-laden friends — what do we do? I recently lived this and didn’t want to waste more time. Years ago, I had painted the main level and a few other important walls a nice shade of “biscuit, which took me months to agonize over, and the kitchen was white with a chair rail and taupe down below.
Now, it was time to paint again and for some rooms that builder antique white really needed to go! So I thought — let’s make it simple and pick white! Do you know how many shades of white there are?! A LOT!!
Anyway, so I tried to just look at samples in the house and out on the deck in the sunlight– it wasn’t helping. Then I decided to use the online tools to see the white in rooms. That didn’t help enough – ugh. I knew that you need to know where your light comes in — from the East, West, North or South. With my town house, I have East/West facing light. Believe it or not you can google paint colors for East/West facing homes which led me to some interior designer blogs which were very helpful.
So I selected one color of the two that I had narrowed down. Then I started to rethink the two colors (from two different designer’s blogs) plus my contractor had recently painted another house a different color. So I called and asked him if he could do samples of the two and he added in the third without telling me which was which. He then sent me a video of them all three on the same wall. It was great because I was able to see the color in the house in the daytime and again later at night. I selected the color that was my original selection! It turns out it was the one selected by several other folks. Trust your gut but verify!
The color I selected was for walls and trim. We went with “ceiling” white for all of the ceilings and it really brightened the house. The contractor fix all the cracks and years of settling and stripped away the old wallpaper in the powder room. And it is amazing what a fresh coat of paint does to a home. This paint in my house does have some barely there gray under tones. I am good with that since I chose gray carpet and some gray marble like Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVP).
I chose Sherwin Williams Pure White (SW 7005). https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/color/color-family/white-paint-colors/sw7005-pure-white
I am not being paid or sponsored for the mention of any paints, blogs or designers. These comments are from personal experiences in renovating my property.
As evidenced from my infrequent posts, I have been a bit uninspired for the last year or so. Therefore, I feel like I need to reintroduce myself and my blog. I am hoping to share ideas, knowledge and just some camaraderie. I do like to cook and bake — baking is really more of my thing. I will try recipes, especially some of the older (mom/grandma, favorite) recipes and share my results. Also, I am still experimenting to find a “healthy” cake recipe! I like to try new restaurants so
a review or two may appear. I also have a dog, a 20 lb Sichon* (Bichon Frise mixed with Shih Tzu). I may share some tips to save time/money and just to make life a bit easier. If you can share some good food with your family and friends, life is always better and that is a very comfortable place to be.
*I don’t receive any monetary compensation from sharing this link.
Have you ever had one of those days or months where it is hard to get motivated? I am not sure what happened because I tried to write a post for the Super Bowl (“Souper” Bowl) but then I didn’t feel like making soup! Then it was tax time! While I can do my taxes, I had a hard time pulling all of the stuff together, much less actually using the tax software to complete them. Some of this was due to the time change, I really. hate Spring forward. Not to mention, Spring hitting very hard – green pollen covering the deck, the cars, me and the dog after taking her for a walk. My allergies flared terribly and I had no idea when I started watching that there are 17 seasons of Heartland! So I apologize to my loyal followers — do I have any loyal followers – besides the spammers?? So while all those things were just distractions, I woke up this morning thinking about writing this post. It’s almost Mother’s Day so let’s think about how to make your Mom’s or your wife’s, or any special lady’s, day a little better. One of the best ways is
to cook a meal and most importantly to clean up afterwards! This is one of those win/win gifts as everyone needs to eat! And, with some planning and careful shopping, you can “cook once and eat twice!” The wise old adage, “measure twice and cut once,” refers to being precise as it’s better to spend an extra minute measuring again before cutting since the cut is permanent. Wood is expensive, and nowadays, groceries can be expensive. Let’s talk about meal planning because I know when I have set out to make some new recipes that use different spices, etc., it feels like it costs way more! And I have heard folks say that French cooking can be very expensive but it doesn’t have to be. A lot of what makes cooking expensive is trying to buy ingredients that are not “in season,” meaning they aren’t growing/ready for harvesting. To get them, they have to be imported from another area or even another country which pushes up the price.
Cooking with the ‘in season” foods can save you money and also help keep your dinners fresh! I was talking with a coworker last week about eating (no surprise) and she was excited because it’s almost “asparagus season.” I happen to love FRESH asparagus – canned or even frozen is not the same. Fresh young, tender asparagus is really good. So if you are not a fan, could be you have not had the best asparagus or maybe never had bacon-wrapped asparagus – it’s a real thing! A Thai restaurant near my house makes this wonderful Asparagus Stir-Fry and I get it with chicken and extra spring rolls! So enough about asparagus – you get the picture.
When cooking for a special occasion it really helps to create a menu that focuses on your special person’s tastes as well as the seasonal vegetables and fruits. Of course, you usually can’t go wrong with roasted chicken and a nice garden salad. Adding a special appetizer and/or a favorite dessert, setting the table with a nice tablecloth and fresh flowers makes the meal more of an event.
Think about breakfast as well. A nice warm coffee cake with hot, fresh coffee to start the day. Maybe serve with some fresh, seasonal fruit. One year, after a visit to the doctor, my mom said the doctor told her that she needed to watch her cholesterol– the woman loved her sausage! So, I suggested that she eat some fruit with her breakfast and she responded “fruit?! for breakfast?!” I was like … you used to eat cantaloupe and a lot of folks eat that for breakfast and she glared at me. So serve fruit at your own peril!
Along that line, think about eating healthier and reducing the sodium intake. For simple dinners – choose a pasta sauce with lower sodium or even better no salt and low/no sugar – check the back label and compare to ensure the brand actually is lower salt. It’s really easy to use prepared pasta sauce for a simple pasta dish or even jazzed up with some ground beef and extra spices. While it may not be intuitive, adding ingredients can “reduce” the sodium. Adding no salt added, stewed tomatoes can “freshen” the premade sauce and reduces the sodium and adds potassium. Ensure you choose tomatoes that are steam-peeled without chemicals. It isn’t really “reducing” but rather diluting the sodium. This is a really important concept as most of the time, excess sodium can cause health issues, but by adding potassium rich veggies to the sauce, it can also help balance the sodium. Cutting carrots into the “dimes” or even chopping such that they cook down, adds more nutrition and may get kids to eat more vegetables. Adding an “MJ” version of a mirepoix (onions, green peppers and optionally add carrots vice celery) to prepared pasta sauce along with some browned hamburger makes a quick bolognese.
Here are ways where you can use the “cook once and eat twice” methodology:
1- Brown Hamburger 1-2 pounds along with the MJ Mirepoix. Drain the fat, add a can of the aforementioned stewed tomatoes, the jarred pasta sauce (I like the Barilla Marinara). If you are making 2 lbs of hamburger, go with two jars of sauce and 1-2 cans of tomatoes. Bring it together and simmer until for 10-30 minutes – portion out what is needed for the current meal. If you want, you can freeze the rest of the sauce in individual servings. Portion out the noodles and cover completely with the sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and seal the container. Or put just the sauce in a freezer bag or freezer container, and mark with the date and freeze. I am always happy when I get home late and find a some home-made spaghetti dinner that I just need to microwave. This version of the frozen dinner is so much healthier than the store-bought.
2 – I often like to brown the hamburger like the above adding in the green peppers (carrots are optional). Cook until the veggies are soft – drain the fat, sometimes I add in tomatoes here. Save some hamburger to finish cooking your current meal. Portion out the rest of the meat for later to have a jump start on making Tacos, Chili or another pot of spaghetti. You can even add the cooked meat to Mac-n-cheese to make a cheesy hamburger pasta dish, a homemade hamburger helper. Just add in some extra shredded cheese and a bit of milk or cream to blend.
This is a good way to handle buying hamburger in 5 lbs – when it’s often cheaper. Spend an hour or two to brown some of the meat for dinners and portion out some of the meat into hamburger patties and perhaps, a meatloaf. The burger patties can be wrapped individually in wax paper and frozen – take out 1 or 2 at a time or cook all for use for a quick dinner. Even better if you have time to grill. The goal is to do the prep ahead of time and this way the hamburger will be in an easier state to freeze and use later. Especially important these days with everyone’s busy schedules.
Of course, if you would like to lighten up, ground chicken or turkey can be a great substitute for the hamburger. If kids or adults are picky, using the ground meat in the pasta sauce or tacos with the great seasonings may help with the transition. Also, while I am not a huge fan of Quinoa, I like it in tacos! Rinse the Quinoa before cooking it … rinse it several times and pick out anything that doesn’t belong. then cook per the package, don’t over cook since it will cook a bit more when mixed in. Brown the ground meat, add taco seasoning and add extra seasonings and a bit more water. I always use more liquid than the package says. Add 1/2 -1 cup of cooked quinoa. Maybe try 1/2 cup to 1lb of meat at first and then work up to 1 cup. Quinoa is lighter and texture-wise seems to blend well with taco meat. I would not add it to pasta sauce unless you really like the taste – I tried it and I didn’t enjoy it.
Another healthy tip to lighten things up, is add around a 1/2 cup quick cooking oats instead of breadcrumbs when making meatloaf. It helps keep it moist and adds extra fiber which is always a good thing. And since you are adding all the seasonings to include: mustard, eggs, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper — you won’t taste it. Of course, if you have a family favorite meatloaf, perhaps you can’t change it up without folks complaining, but that is ok. I even make “meatloaf” burgers on the grill. They stay more moist on the grill no matter your skill level and it’s helps stretch your money and helps your heart! See the links at the bottom of this post for more information.
While much of this article is about stretching your time and food budget, this is a good way to save money. This savings can help you splurge for other things. So with Mother’s Day coming, think about how best to celebrate the wonderful “Moms” in your life. Whether it is taking them out to eat or a special home-cooked meal or cookout, bringing flowers or just letting her sleep in, I am sure they will be grateful. And if you can help to keep them happy and healthy, life will be more comfortable!
The holy trinity is the Cajun and Louisiana Creole variant of mirepoix; traditional mirepoix is two parts onions, one part carrots, and one part celery, whereas the holy trinity is typically one or two parts onions, one part green bell pepper, and one part celery.
A Sofrito is used more in Puerto Rico and latin countries. It varies by region but can start with the MJ poix and add tomatoes and garlic and spicier peppers. Actually, see the link below for a basic recipe.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/basic-sofrito-recipe-2138283
https://www.allrecipes.com/bacon-wrapped-asparagus-6572419
https://www.livestrong.com/article/250246-the-psychological-effects-of-low-potassium/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/530885-the-effect-of-magnesium-on-sodium-potassium-balance/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/bell-peppers#benefits
I loved the indoor mall full of local vetted craftsmen. We walked down to the Long Wharf Pier and saw the “Boston Harbor.” Very modern now with jets taking off from Logan Airport just across the Harbor. While I am saying I enjoyed this walking tour, my body that is accustomed to the mostly desk sitting did not. So a detour for Advil was required along with a festive and hot Peppermint Mocha to warm us up. I can’t help thinking that “wow, I need to be training for old age!”
Now, with the New Year here I can’t put off that doctor’s quiet admonition, he wrote on the paper that you take up to the desk and hand them to check out, “diet and exercise.” After several knee injuries, an ankle sprain and foot fracture I may have gained a pound or 10. So, I know he is not wrong and, in the past, I have successfully achieved a healthy weight. However, in the past it may have been running (now out of the question), extreme calorie restriction (not healthy) or both — ended up sick. Therefore, I started researching to see if there was anything new and healthy to try. And there are some new schools of thought to approaching lifestyle changes but they still require will-power. I have heard that if you make something into a game, it is always more fun. While this may not become your favorite game, it may help you “up your game!” What game you say?
I think most folks are aware of the Jenga game of stacking little blocks and then pulling out blocks randomly to add to the top — all the while trying not to have it collapse into a heap. Did you know the root of the word Jenga is from a Swahili word, kujenga, which means “to build.”
Recently, I have been reading about “Habit Stacking” where you take a habit you already have — a healthy habit and then stack a new healthy habit onto it to “build” your healthy routine. Which also reminded me of Jenga … especially if you are trying to remove a bad habit and replace with a good habit on top of other good habits. I couldn’t help but think about how this can be a metaphor for our diet and exercise habits. Actually, most studies show that diet can have more impact than exercise on your weight.
Remember the old food pyramid? The USDA has redesigned the food pyramid to be “My Plate.” to aid in building a healthy diet. When looking at your diet, it’s not just about the calories but also the nutrient content. You may also hear folks talking about the “Macros” which is short for macronutrients. Macronutrients is a term used to describe the carbohydrates, fat and protein your body needs. And, not sure about you, but I am very sensitive to sodium so I am always looking to achieve a balance of the electrolytes. What I have found is, it’s not just about the liquid electrolytes but balancing the sodium and potassium content in your solid food can really improve your blood pressure. This is now starting to get complicated! And, it can be a bit overwhelming at first.
So we need a way to make this more of a game. Food Tower! is what I am going to call this New Year’s eat healthy game. I really would love to call it Food Jenga! but Jenga is actually trademarked! In our Food Tower game, and in keeping with the aforementioned habit stacking, we can break this down to pulling out a block and replacing it with a healthy block. Habit Stacking, like in Jenga and your electrolytes, balance is key!
Good eating habits can also go along with saving money. Even though everyone has been complaining about the prices of groceries, there are things you can do. Tiny good habits can stretch your groceries, improve your health and save you money 
The roasted turkey was actually enough for two people for several meals. So even though it may have looked expensive (approx. $19), the whole meal above cost about $35 to buy the ingredients (minus the wine). So per person per meal brought it down to less than $10 per person which honestly is less than 4 people eating at a fast food restaurant and arguably more healthy. Cooking a turkey breast on a Sunday would provide a lovely meal and then the meat can be sliced for sandwiches for lunches.
Cooking fresh and/or frozen veggies (without sauces) are naturally low in sodium and low in calories. Also, even if you have no time and you make the frozen pasta meals, throwing in a handful of frozen veggies can stretch the meal, add potassium and fiber. Frozen peas also add zero cholesterol plant-based, protein. Keep bags of peas, corn or your favorite veg, in your freezer to add extra veggies in to your diet. Also, if you have a pup, you can help with your pup’s diet — steam some peas and before you add butter or seasonings, scoop a tablespoon or two out to cool. Mix in with your pup’s dinner to provide some extra low-fat nutrition.
One of the keys to changing your habits is to realize it takes on average 3 weeks for something to become a habit. Therefore, it can be best to slowly add in or otherwise stack the new habits. Perhaps, create a plan to swap out one bad habit for a good habit each month, using the habit-stacking idea. So think about what new habits that you can do to replace a bad habit or add in to improve your health, wallet and over all life. Small changes that you stick with will be easier and lead to a much healthier life which is a very comfortable place to be.
Summer is vacation time for many people, especially, folks with kids! While out walking my dog, I ran into one of my younger neighbors walking her pup. We somehow started talking about vacations and my neighbor asked me these questions: How do you plan for a vacation? How do you start? How do you budget for that? While I didn’t have a ready answer then, these questions have been on my mind. Maybe, planning a vacation is an easy task for some, however, others may have a harder time. How do you know where to go or how much you can afford?
If you are lucky and have friends who live at the beach with a free guest room, this might be an easier task. Or… if you like to camp and have all the stuff, there is probably a campground not that far. But, what if you have that wandering feeling and want to go to some far and exotic place … Las Vegas, Paris, Istanbul, or Greece!
I remember when I was much younger and a coworker invited us girls over for a cook-out – bring your own ‘raw’ meat and she would grill and provide everything else. She had a nice house all by herself and I was amazed! I knew she was an accountant/CPA meaning good with money. But still… it made an impression on me. She mentioned savings and said we each needed an emergency fund. I wanted to have a nice house and so the next day I started saving $30 per pay period and let me tell you, this was not easy in the 80’s with a 17% interest rate on my car loan!
“So how will this help me with my vacation planning?” Knowing that you have a savings account with a good balance for emergencies will help you feel more comfortable taking a vacation. Perhaps, start a specific vacation savings account to put aside for vacations and have funds from each pay check automatically sent to the account. Yay! You are saving for your vacation. And, if you were already saving – how much more should you save specifically for this vacation?
How much will be enough? If you would like to take a European vacation to Paris, first look to see the best time of year to visit Paris. Paris in the Spring… sounds very lovely to me! And, one day I will visit Paris! The most popular time to visit vacation spots will also be the most expensive, due to the economic concept of “Supply and Demand.” However, that doesn’t mean don’t do it! Just need to do some research on hotel prices and airfare. And here is a big secret … sometimes international airfare can fluctuate a LOT, so check the prices. Perhaps, you can get the best deals if you can vacation “some other time!” A few years ago, three of my friends and I went to Greece in mid-September and found way better airfare prices than in the summer. I have also found the best airfare mid-November around Veteran’s Day. If you can be flexible, you can afford to go on an exotic trip!
Planning the trip took some research and asking my friends to each pick one island they wished to see. Then we knew we wanted to go that year and we were planning during early summer. That said, the airfare and hotels were more available in September. We checked the weather and squeezed in 9 days (11 with the 2 travel days and time changes) before the “bad” weather was going to hit. In Greece this makes a big difference in being able to move between islands. Due to time constraints, we narrowed it down to Athens, Rodos (Island of Rhodes), and Santorini (very popular).
We traveled Turkish Airlines via Istanbul with a quick plane change on the way to Athens. We had a few days in Athens (Acropolis!) and then we took a small hop to Rodos for a few days. In Rodos – such a fun place with a UNESCO Walled City (sprawling and beautiful old castle) and then to Santorini — the history and the views!! I will say this was a wonderful trip and I loved being in Greece. I would definitely go back. And to cap off our trip, we (I) made a small oversight booking on our return flight and had a 22 hr. layover in Istanbul! Our planning party had a bit of wine flowing before dinner ….. Anyway, I found this when I plugged our itinerary into a spreadsheet and made sure all of dates/times for flights, hotels, tours and excursions, and taxis/cars to/from the hotels and the airports were in sync. Well, it was going to cost a LOT to change the flights. Thankfully, we found a nice hotel in Istanbul with a rooftop restaurant and a VIEW that was amazing and the food was safe and delicious. Crisis averted! We all made it home safe and sound with a quite a few mementos.
While I ordered the transportation on the smaller islands, I thought Athens would have ‘larger and more available transportation’. Well, I learned that you have to order the transportation for 4 women and luggage to ensure you have a large enough vehicle to get to the hotels. It was fine, but took 2 cars!
Also, pack a bathing suit! We thought we only had “harbor” views in Athens and we did but also, across the street was beach access and we were able to swim. So have a suit and the water will come!
By selecting our hotel just a bit away from downtown Athens, we saved quite a bit of money. We also selected hotels with breakfast bars. This way, we could always get coffee and food without leaving the hotel and no need for a lot of translations early in the morning. That said, most employees spoke English. We did have to do an excursion to the bank to get money converted but we managed. We also managed the train/trams to get to downtown for a walking food tour. Once downtown, after walking up/down the Main Street, we finally found the starting point for the tour. It was worth it.
So … all of this was said, because you have to do some research and see what you would like to do. Having our breakfast covered every day as part of the hotel costs, was delicious and budget friendly. The breakfast bars had a mix of both the usual items and some of their specialties. It also allowed the earlier risers to go downstairs and grab a table and have their coffee while the rest made it downstairs.
Pre-booking excursions that picked us up at the hotel also made it easier to get around without getting lost and included the transportation costs. Therefore, when planning a vacation: decide on the goal of the vacation, e.g. touring new places or just relaxing. Even if it is a touring vacation, plan some downtime or a down day to relax and enjoy the location.
Decide what excursions you would like to do — do you want to visit the place where Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand (like me!) or see the Grand Canyon or just find a new beach to get a tan and some good food?
How many days will it take you to see what you would like? Or how many days can you get off work? That was part of our constraints. We basically had a week with two weekends plus I needed a day to finish laundry, pack (I hate it!), and get the dog to the kennel. Speaking of the kennel — that is another cost to factor in. I found out my kennel now charges higher rates in the summer!
We did all the planning and then split some of the charges on two of our credit cards and the others paid us. The spreadsheet helped with tracking the costs. If you do your research you can have a draft budget to help you decide what you would like to do. You can automate your savings so you know you have $XX amount of money every year for your trip and that can help guide you. There are a lot of different strategies. For me, it often depends on when I can take off work — and have I injured an important body part like an ankle (the dog tripped me) or a knee… which can limit which type of vacation. Beach is more restorative for a knee injury that is almost healed. That’s another story.
How long has it been since you went away? Now, you want …wait… you NEED a vacation! Some people just wing it and that is a strategy too, but just a bit of research and planning might save you a lot of money and bring you a much more comfortable vacation!
With school graduations happening everywhere, it’s not hard to reminisce about my own graduation. While some kids knew what they wanted to be when they grew up, many of us were still trying to sort things out. I remember thinking, how am I supposed to decide what I want to be when I grow up and select a college major and career trajectory for the rest of my life? I had barely been anywhere that didn’t involve visiting family or the place with the Big Mouse and his friends.
Unfortunately, just getting a college degree doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after, especially if that degree comes at a very high price in the form of student loans. So many people talk about living paycheck to paycheck and usually this is good in the sense that it means they have a job. However, it is not good as this also means the cash flowing in is usually already going out to pay bills, if there is even enough to cover the bills.
Cash flow is very important as it can be the difference in families keeping the lights on, feeding their children, and even keeping a roof over their heads.
Literally, a positive cash flow can mean someone does not end up moving in with family, sofa surfing, or worse, homeless. Ironically, this term – Cash Flow – is usually only discussed in the business realm even though it applies to personal finance as well. Lately, you may hear the term “income streams.” This refers to the various forms of cash flow. It’s trendy to discuss part-time jobs as ‘gigs’ and you can have several “side hustles” for income streams. This is another way to say having several jobs part-time, or otherwise, to keep the cash flowing in.
That all said, even having several income streams may not be enough to keep a positive cash flow. There are people who make six figures and still may be living paycheck to paycheck. If making a high salary or having several jobs is not enough to keep a positive cash flow, what else is needed?
Good Habits! Plenty of articles provide tons of financial advice so sorting out what is best or where do you start can be overwhelming. I have had friends tell me “I am not good with money!” Not being good with money is not a life sentence. It does require a change to live differently which is easier said than done. However, it CAN be done – baby steps! One of the first steps is to look at all of your bills and your income. Do you have any cash left after paying the bills? This is the hardest part: identifying where the problem lies, be it too many bills/not enough cash, shopping too much, or just not saving money!
Usually, it is a combination of multiple factors. And it can be ‘all or nothing’ thinking – meaning, if you can’t save a lot of money, it’s not worth trying. Step one is setting up an emergency/savings account – even if means saving only $5 per paycheck. Even $5 per paycheck is starting a good habit! Yes, even if you don’t think you can do this – you can!!
Next is to identify: are you spending too much on things that you could cut back on or change? Yes, most will say, cut out that “fancy” coffee and you know, if you have a daily Café Mocha habit – making coffee at home could help give you the $5 to start your automatic savings for your emergency fund. If things are not that easy for you, it may be time to look at what larger bills can be cut and/or do you need to find another income stream. Shoot, even if you are covering your bills – did you know (if you have Verizon), you can go to their website and it will review your usage and recommend the best (cheapest) plan! I have done this several times.
When I was in my early 20’s and first working, sharing an apartment with roommates and still trying to finish a degree, I was super busy. Buying lunch out every day was expensive, yet I also didn’t have a lot of time either. I admit for a few months, I made and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yes, on the days that I had evening classes, I made 3 peanut butter sandwiches (PB&Js) – one for each meal! I only had to purchase a drink. Before you feel too sorry for me, I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I only had to do this for a few months until I got a raise at work!
I bring this up to say that while it may sound painful, you need a short-term and a long-term plan to improve your finances. As much as I like PB&Js, even I couldn’t keep up that habit more than a semester or two. When my old car “left” me, I bought my new car and then, one of the roommates moved out! Instead of only paying 1/3 of the rent and utilities, I was paying half. Eek! I realized I had only enough money to cover some bills and none left for the car insurance, gas, and food money! Not even the PB&Js! Thank God for waitressing jobs – I was able to work a few nights per week. One of the great things about waitressing is – TIPS! I usually made enough to put gas in my car for the week, provide cash for lunch and some groceries, and while the paychecks were small, I was able to start a savings account and use that money to cover the car insurance. Also, guess what I love more than a PB&J – pizza! Working at a pizza place also provided a free meal on the nights I worked. Again, I only had to work the extra job until the next raise at my day job.
Depending on where you are in your financial situation, it may be harder than a few PB&Js along with an ‘extra gig’ here or there. However, a problem once identified is a problem that can be solved! Looking at your finances, you may need to put multiple strategies into action like the Debt Snowball method. It may take changing jobs to get that ‘raise’ at work to get the income stream positive. That said, starting – even with only saving $5 – can be the first step! And while it may feel impossible, dream about your future and where you would like to be financially. Keeping that vision can help you start and keep those good habits and that will lead you to a more comfortable life.
*Kaela’s Cookies – Falls Church, VA (@Kaelas.Cookies)
What does that mean? When you borrow money there is always a cost – even if funds are borrowed from family, where the cost may be emotional capital. The primary cost is the interest charged on the loan. It can also be the cost of your time in earning the money, e.g. how many hours did you have to work to pay for the item. Let’s look at interest rate costs and how you may use borrowing money to your best advantage.
While you may think this is “too financial,” as in “I am not good with money,” it is a very important concept to understand. You may already understand the concept but think “it doesn’t apply to me.” When thinking about money and looking at budgets and finances, the “cost” of money now becomes very important. Especially, when you are looking at big purchases or have started accumulating credit card debt.
The “cost” of money is the interest rate and the total amount you will have paid at the end of a loan. How do you know what that cost is? How much more per month do you need to pay off the 30 year mortgage early? Why does it feel like you can’t make progress paying off your credit cards?! How many years will you have to work to pay off these student loans? Using an amortization chart or table can help you calculate the total costs for your loans. There are many calculators out there (yay!) to walk you through the process.
The answers to these questions depends on your credit rating and your needs. If you are trying to decide if you should buy a new car or a used car or if you have a older car should you trade it in to lower the payments. Usually the interest rate on a new car is lower than the rate on a used car. And, a new car usually comes with a good warranty so the maintenance should be less costly.
The real advantage if you owe money on your credit cards and you have an older car to replace, then borrowing the funds for the new car and selling your old car outright could be a better financial decision. If you can pay off your credit card with proceeds from selling the older car, it may be a better financial decision. A new car loan may be at 4% and the credit cards could be at 16%. It may make sense to pay off the credit card and purchase the new car. Or, use the older car proceeds to start an emergency savings account to ensure you don’t have to borrow more money on your credit cards. Or use the funds to help pay for college for your son or daughter.
The main goal is to have your money work for you. Perhaps, you want that new designer purse and the sale price is only $300! So, you think $300 is not too much so you charge it. However, if you are only making minimum payments (like $50), now that $300 gets added to a continually growing balance. In the long run, that purse will cost a lot more than $300 and that is not a bargain.
What if you have more than one credit card with a balance — eek! The Debt Snowball Method is needed! I have used this method when I was younger and it does work. Looking at your options can save you money in the long run. It can be tricky getting out of debt and trying to save for an emergency fund. The emergency fund is going to be critical to eliminate debt. So start saving even $10 per pay period into a savings account — usually credit unions are more favorable for not charging fees on small balances. Once you get a raise, you can up the amount even if it’s only $5. Use direct deposit to automate the savings, even if you think you can’t afford it. You can’t afford not too. You can withdraw the funds if you need to but surprisingly you will get used to it and not miss that $10.
If you are working and have the option to have a 401(k) or similar plan, please take advantage of it. I know it may sound like, how can I save for retirement when I owe on my credit cards? Two reasons! 1) your company match is “free” money and it is actually part of your salary compensation package. 2) Tax benefit! You don’t pay taxes on the contributions to the fund. If you can, contribute the minimum to get the match. If you can’t at first, do the minimum to participate and increase your contributions at the next raise (or once you pay off your credit cards).
Once you have your credit cards paid off, have an emergency fund, and are contributing to your retirement fund at work, you may want to buy a home. Most realtors and mortgage companies will try to sell you a house saying you can afford the payments for the 30-year loan.
However, looking at the amortization tables, BankRate.com, has a nice one, you may find that a 20-year loan at the same interest rate is not that much more and will save you 10 years of payments!! Most lenders are not suggesting the 15-year mortgages and try to steer you to a 30-year loan. And, if you ask about the 15-year loan they will often say, “you can still make double payments and still pay off your loan in half the time.” The issue is that most people won’t make the extra payments. And, some banks will only credit you the real savings if you pay the double payments on the exact due date.
You may ask why does this matter so much? For example, a house with a mortgage of $330,000 for 30 years at an interest rate of 5.27% may not look that bad at a base payment of $1,826 (before taxes and insurance) but over 30 years, that loan/house will cost $657,490. That is literally, almost the same as if you bought “two” houses!! Or the cost of the house and putting a child through a private college. A loan of 15 years will cost $2,656 (before taxes and insurance) is only about $800 more per month and the total cost is $478,128. Yes, this loan will cost about $150,000 more but it’s less than half of the extra $330,000 with a 30-loan. So, when calculating if you can afford a new home, consider a 15- or 20- year loan over a 30-year loan. Of course, there are other factors to consider when buying a home than just the cost of the loan. Making educated money decisions can make for a more comfortable life.
References: https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/amortization-calculator/
It has been a while since I sat down to write an article and I didn’t realize it had been so long! It feels like some days there is so much to do. I went to visit my family and saw my niece graduate from high school. She has done so well and it was nice to see the family. Interestingly, even though it has been years since I graduated, in many ways, they are the same: exuberant graduates, relieved and happy parents, supportive and happy friends. Speeches and pomp and circumstance but now with big screen TVs — this grad ceremony was held in the Toyota Center!
So … after the speeches and celebrations, it’s up the graduate to decide the next steps: college, trade school, working, or maybe a gap-year full of travel? Big decisions that can be literally life changing!
College costs have risen so high, it can exclude many students. However, there can be ways to make college more attainable besides just expensive loans.
The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) can help students achieve college credits for a fraction of the costs. This can be a good option if someone is good at reading and taking exams. Many students are very smart and a regular classroom moves too slow. CLEP exams allow you flexibility to study and take the exams at your pace.
Tuition Reimbursement Programs at private companies can help as well. Usually, you have to get the class (and/or degree program) approved. Pay for the first class up front and if you don’t have the funds, this is a good use for your credit card. Pay the minimum payment until you pass the class with a B or better and then file for reimbursement and use that payment to pay off the first class.
Both of these options together can help a student pursue a degree. Maybe not as fast as the full-time path but it can be a jump start and you can earn valuable work experience with health insurance!
While it is great to pursue a vocation in an area you love, it may not make a lot of sense to pursue a degree that may leave you with a lifetime of debt. This is not an endorsement to suffer through college to get a job that is boring and/or you are otherwise unsuited for. Rather, most colleges have as part of their orientation classes, tests for aptitude, interests and personality to aid in career planning. Often there may be several occupations or career paths for which you are well-suited. Therefore, how do you choose?!
Well, one way is to look at the free Government resource: The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook. They even provide a helpful video to help you in your career search. I am so surprised that most high schools never mention this free resource. Well, that said, many adults have no idea that it exists. Why is this important. College is one of the most important investments you can make besides buying a house and saving for retirement. Well, there may be a few more things, but college may be the foundation of your earnings for the rest of your life!
So…when deciding to invest time, money and hard work towards a future occupation, there are things to consider such as:
- Job Opportunities and Locations
- Salaries
- Future growth and/or decline in Occupations and Areas
These are important factors since most students take an average of 4-5 years to complete a Bachelor’s Degree. If you desire to be a Lawyer or a Chiropractor where are the new job openings? What is the cost of living in the area? The job may pay more in NY City but the cost of living may mean your actual money after your bills may be less than if you took a lower paying job in Alabama. Often cities have higher rent costs than small towns.
When you first go the BLS site, it may be overwhelming. Another awesome and free resource is your neighborhood Librarian at the Public Library or the College Counselors. All of this information can also be useful for someone going to college, looking to make a career change or to move to a new location. The key takeaway is that investing wisely in you and your future can help you build a very comfortable and rewarding life! Best Wishes to all of the new graduates!
References:
https://clep.collegeboard.org/clep-benefits-for-everyone
https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator
https://myscholly.com/50-companies-with-amazing-tuition-reimbursement-programs/
It’s almost Thanksgiving Eve and everyone is making plans. Some are going to cook and host, some will travel to meet up with family or friends and some may just order in take-out and rest! My mom used to make her “Holiday” dinner for all of the special occasions. She would make the pies the night before, get up early to bake cornbread for the stuffing, and make a big Turkey — using up all those weird bits in the bag. We thought that bag was disgusting but she cooked it for stock and flavorings for the best Cornbread Dressing as us Southerners call it. We always had green beans, candied yams and the best mashed potatoes. This was the celebratory meal for Thanksgiving, Christmas and sometimes Easter with the added bonus of deviled Easter eggs! (recipe for the deviled eggs to come later in the Spring).
If you want to cook something delicious but don’t have the skills or the time to pull off a huge “Martha Stewart” dinner, there are ways to still have a warm comforting meal. You can make the infamous TV Dinner or …. there is also an abbreviated version aka a Merry “MJ Holiday Dinner!”
The Merry “MJ Holiday Dinner” is really for anytime you miss having the “Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.” And use these ideas to save time and focus on the family favorites. This is also, a good way to have the variety without the mega-leftovers. Don’t get me wrong, this is more cooking than microwaving the plastic tray for 41/2 min and letting it stand for 1 minute. That said, I think if you can boil water, you can pull this off.
What is this simple to make dinner that will still feel like a feast? Today we have all of the shortcut meals to help! This may or may not be THE healthiest but it is probably healthier than TV dinners! Also, Veggie Trays up the healthy ratio and are an easy appetizer!
Menu:
Chicken instead of Turkey – Plenty of options here
Mashed Potatoes – Use Instant Potatoes
Stove Top Stuffing — your fav flavor
Green Beans — Use the low-sodium version of your favorite canned beans — More experienced cooks may want to make a green bean casserole following the recipe on the back of the Fried Onions.
Cranberry Sauce — The canned stuff!
Candied Yams – the “Southern” brand – I know … you don’t like them so either add marshmallows or you can leave this off the menu – I won’t tell!
Rolls – Crescent Rolls or Hawaiian — this is the Cook’s Choice. Go Fancy and get French bread!
Jar of Gravy — Chicken or Turkey is preferred – tip — buy two jars and only make one for this meal and save the other for the leftovers if any.
Favorite Mrs. Smith’s Pie and Cool Whip or Real Whipped Cream or Ice Cream
The “helpers”
Worcestershire Sauce
Chicken Stock/Broth – low sodium
Butter, Sugar and Cinnamon
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Optional – Celery and Onions
So the most important decision is which short-cut to substitute for the Turkey. This is important as it impacts the timing. Lots of options: make the MJ Roast Chicken (https://mhockman.com/index.php/2021/01/10/a-chicken-in-every-pot/#more-77) or pickup a Rotisserie Chicken or a pack of Turkey Breasts or Chicken pieces to cook.
Next which pie did you select? Read up on the cooking times. Does it (pumpkin pie?) need an hour and then some chill time in the fridge? Or is it (chocolate or coconut cream or cheesecake) so just thaw and serve? Do you want to serve it (apple pie) warm from the oven? If so you can bake while everyone is eating dinner (or just after everyone finishes).
Set the table now so it’s ready and decide on the bowls and serving pieces you will need. The hardest part of preparing this meal is the timing. The other shortcuts will take very little time. Open the can for the cranberry sauce and put on a pretty dish and put in the fridge. If you are serving Red Wine then open the bottle and let it breathe while you cook.
If you are cooking chicken, it is easy to put a little oil in the baking dish, add chicken, skinless boneless breasts, and salt/pepper – if you like add some Italian Dressing on top to keep them juicy and add more flavor. (note: don’t add salt when using the dressing as it has sodium in it). The chicken may take 45 min or so. Once it’s in the oven, now put the yams in another dish and add pats of butter, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Add a smidge of salt (sprinkle from up high). The salt will keep it from tasting too sweet.
Now open the green beans and put into a medium sauce pan on medium heat. Add a sprinkle of Lemon Pepper Seasoning and a smidge of olive oil or butter. Let these simmer literally on the back burner. bwahaha.
Prep the baking sheet for the rolls. Prep the pans to make the Stove Top, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. Make sure you check on the Chicken and the Yams (swapping them around in the oven position 1/2 cooking). Once you take out the Yams and Chicken to rest, put the rolls in the oven. You will follow the instructions on the boxes/jar for the last sides. Here are the tips:
Swap the milk and water ratios for the Instant potatoes and add a bit of extra butter (it is the holidays!) and don’t forget the salt and pepper. For Stove Top — substitute Chicken Stock for the water or split it if you are really worried about your sodium. If you want… you can use some butter and saute the celery and onions before adding the Chicken Stock. Once they are softened add the the Chicken Stock and follow the box instructions. Put the lid on set aside.
For the gravy — heat up a little bit (1/3 cup of the chicken stock in your small pan, and add a dash of the W sauce. Heat over medium heat. Add in the jar gravy and add some shakes of black pepper and warm until it bubbles- turn down to medium low. Don’t let this get away or it will scorch. Once it has bubbled for at least 3 minutes, set aside with the lid. Check on the rolls, they should be ready!
Guess what — This meal probably took an hour and a half to prep and cook- something to think about! Which might sound like a lot, however, the full, unabridged version takes hours and hours. While I am a fan of making the full “Mom Holiday” dinner for Thanksgiving, this is often a good version for a cold wintery day in January or Christmas in July! Nothing says lovin’ like something tasty from the oven. You CAN do this! My table had a mix of home-made and shortcuts – see if you can tell <wink>! Have a wonderful time with your family and a Merry “MJ Holiday Dinner!”
